Sheridan Journals

"Midwest Getaway off I-80"

An October 2004 trip to Sheridan by veetown

Quote: This is a beautiful, secluded getaway in central Illinois along the Fox River. It is close to parks and about a 45-minute drive to the Chicago suburbs.
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Best Things Nearby:The town of Ottawa is about 12 miles away. It has everything from quaint downtown shopping and dining to your national chains along I-80. Another 20 miles west on I-80 is the town of Utica, where Starved Rock State Park is located. You can spend the whole day hiking along trails or viewing many spectacular overlooks along the Illinois River. We also attended the annual Burgoo Fall Festival in Utica. All the streets are lined with crafts and vendors, which makes for a day of shopping fun. If you go north from the resort about 45 miles, you are in the western Chicago suburbs for more great dining and shopping. Best Things About the Resort:The resort has a lot...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 5, 2004

Silverleaf's Fox River Resort
2558 N. 3653rd Road
Sheridan, Illinois 60551
(815) 496-2369

Hank's Farm

Restaurant

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Our first attempt to eat here was a bust, on a Saturday night at 6:30. They said it would be after 8pm without reservations, so we headed up the road about a mile to New Chiam (see review). Our next attempt was for an early bird special through the week. All the dinners are served with fresh salad bar. What made this different was the several Italian-style loaves of bread, ready for you to slice thick or thin, to enjoy with dipping oil on each table. The rest of the salad bar had a wide variety. I had ribs, and coming from the Midwest, it was some of the best BBQ I ever had. They have a Curious Goods & Antiques store on the property, so if you have a long wait, you could spend time shopping.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 5, 2004

Hank's Farm
2973 North Route 71
Ottawa, Illinois 61350
(815) 433-2540

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When we couldn't get into a place down the road, a lady recommended this place. She said it had won awards for its cuisine. We started off with a tropical drink that we didn't know served two to four people. It came in a huge bowl with a flaming volcano in the middle. The straws were long enough to allow us to sit back while sipping. One table kept looking at us, and before long, they ordered one. We ordered the dinner for two. It came with appetizers, white rice, hard noodles, three entrees, and dessert. Needless to say, we had leftovers for another meal.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 5, 2004

New Chiam Restaurant
RR 71
Ottawa, Illinois 61350
(815) 433-3240

Starved Rock State Park

Best Of IgoUgo

Attraction

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Eighteen canyons, formed by glacial melt water and stream erosion, provide the back-drop for this activity. The park is best known for its fascinating rock formations. Since it is located along the south side of the Illinois River, other sights can be seen from the bluffs themselves. There are three trail markings: brown=bluff, red=river, green=interior canyon. We asked the guide at the visitor center, and depending on the amount of time you have, he suggested the trails to take. We took the river trail out two miles to Lasalle Canyon, stopping at the overlooks. On the way back, we took the interior canyon trails. There are maps at all trail access points and colored posts along the trails that corres...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 5, 2004

Starved Rock State Park
Route 178
Utica, Illinoias 61373
(815) 667-4726