Explore the wonders of Kankakee County!

With miles of winding river, rural and urban destinations, rich history and natural beauty, there is so much to enjoy! Tucked along I-57 just an hour south of Chicago, Kankakee County has something for everyone. The 4,000-acre Kankakee River State Park is the perfect destination for a day trip or campout under the stars. With over 10 miles of trails suitable for walking, biking and chasing little ones, you’re sure to find nature’s beauty at every turn. Kayaking or canoeing treats adventurers to spectacular views of Kankakee County’s rich, rural landscape. The local kayak and canoe outfitter, Reed’s Canoe Trips, offers drop off and pickup with multiple options for length and duration of trips.

Make a whole day of it and stop for drinks and food along the way! Or, if fishing is your sport, this Federal Clean Stream offers plentiful opportunities to catch a whopper when shoreline wading, boat or fly-fishing.  Enjoy a great family day at Perry Farm Park where the young, as well as the young-at-heart, can feed the animals that roam the farm. Or explore the Exploration Station…a Children’s Museum, where kiddos can let their imaginations soar.  Kankakee County also boasts plenty of festivals and events each year offering a unique blend of heritage and fun.

Let the foodie in you roam the grounds of the annual Food Truck Festival where you can indulge in some of the county’s best barbecues, tacos and sweets. Or take in the art and sounds of the area’s top summer music festival, Merchant Street MusicFest, where area, regional and national acts all come together to celebrate music and culture. Kankakee County is also home to many restaurants, breweries and wine bars and are perfect for date nights, girls’ night out or guys night.  Experience fine dining at Flight 102 Wine Bar, Rigo’s Place and BrickStone Brewery.

Get your wine on at Grapes & Hops wine bar – the starburst wine slushies are a MUST TRY – or the new Lush Vine Wine Bar which features a creative cocktail list filled with fun wine spritzers, mimosas and all the bubbly creations you could imagine. Taste the hops at Knack Brewing & Fermentations while enjoying the fun eclectic atmosphere of their tasting room or by relaxing on the patio taking in the views of the Kankakee River. Take on a beer flight (We highly suggest the Hop Skip and the Cherry Bomb) at BrickStone Brewery, an Illinois Made Maker, while indulging in some of their top notch appetizers.

Read Also: Autumn Adventures in Cody Yellowstone

If you’re looking for a truly unique experience, head to Locavore Farm for their signature Saturday night Dine-on-the-Land Dinner Experience. This four-hour, five-course meal shines the spotlight on the bounty of the week’s harvest. You’ll enjoy the company of friends, new and familiar, enjoy acoustic tunes and catch a magical midwestern sunset as you dine at this beautiful 100-foot wooden table that stretches the length of the pasture.

You’re invited to immerse yourself in the history of the county while meandering through the Kankakee County Museum. Or visit the French Heritage Museum to learn about the county’s deep connection to French Canada. And you surely can’t miss exploring Frank Lloyd Wright’s first prairie-style home, the B. Harley Bradley House. Easy to get to, yet hard to leave, Kankakee County has it all!