McLean County: Route 66, Nature and Culture

McLean County can be explored through a range of themes: natural areas with lakes, routes for cycling and walking, and places of historical and cultural interest. When planning your trip, it’s worth first considering whether outdoor activities, Route 66 or museums will shape your stay. The attractions offer a variety of experiences, from a wide range of recreational activities to special insights into history and culture.

Nature, Lakes and Outdoor Activities

COMLARA Park covers about 1,300 acres. Activities offered there include camping, swimming, boating and fishing, as well as picnicking, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. This gives you several ways to enjoy the outdoors, whether you’re planning to spend time by the water or get active on the trails.

Moraine View State Recreation Area covers 1,687 acres and includes a 158-acre lake. One specific natural feature is the 0.5-mile Tanglewood Self-Guiding Nature Trail, which passes a beaver lodge and dam. Sailing and motorboats of up to 10 horsepower are permitted on Dawson Lake. The lake also has a two-lane boat launch, a dock and boat rentals.

The two areas offer different ways to plan your visit: COMLARA Park focuses on a wide range of recreational activities. Moraine View combines its acreage with a lake, specific boating options and a short nature trail. If you’d like to focus your time on water activities, you’ll find specific information about boat types and motor power on Dawson Lake. For a nature walk, the Tanglewood Trail is a clearly defined destination, with its stated length and the beaver habitats it passes.

Bike and Walking Trails, Route 66

The Historic Route 66 Trail identifies sections for non-motorized traffic, more bike-friendly local roads and separate recreational routes along the historic highway. Its bike and walking trails connect neighborhoods, schools, parks and commercial areas. The trail types therefore vary: the trail includes not only sections for non-motorized traffic, but also local roads and dedicated recreational routes.

The Constitution Trail offers another point of reference. It stretches for more than 50 miles through the Bloomington-Normal area and includes paved paths for walking, running and cycling. Since it was commissioned in 1926, Route 66 has connected the Bloomington-Normal area with the rest of the world and passes through communities in McLean County. This means that, alongside trails for active pursuits, the history and regional significance of the historic highway can be a distinct part of your trip.

S.H. West Park also connects a specific place with local history: the 20-acre park was donated by Simeon H. West in 1908. These details add a historical dimension to your visit without requiring you to plan a long route.

Museums, Film and Regional Traditions

The David Davis Mansion in Bloomington is a notable landmark: this National Historic Landmark has 36 rooms. Visitors can tour 20 rooms on the second and third floors; some feature Renaissance Revival-style furnishings. The total size of the house and the rooms open to visitors are two different figures.

The McLean County Museum of History has seven exhibition galleries and more than 18,000 objects. Its entrance is on Washington Street, on the south side of the building. As entrance details may change, check visitor information before your visit. The Prairie Aviation Museum displays 11 aircraft and two helicopters. The historic Normal Theater screens art-house and cult films and hosts live events. Together, these attractions range from exhibitions and collections to films and events.

There are also specific attractions for particular interests: Rader Family Farms has a 12-acre corn maze with a digital map for your phone that shows your location in the maze. The Funk family’s maple syrup production in Funks Grove is a longstanding regional tradition that dates back to 1824. These two themes offer very different experiences: finding your way through a maze on the one hand, and a food tradition maintained across generations on the other.

Use the activities you’ve planned for your trip to McLean County to guide your hotel search.

Discover more destinations: McLean, Normal, Chenoa, Bloomington, LaSalle, Montgomery County, Piatt, Sangamon County.

For the broader travel overview: Illinois.