Commemorating 200 years in the making, Quincy, Illinois is 2025’s historic destination of the Midwest. Built on beauty and value, the scenic small city along the Mississippi River bluffs was established in 1825 for a whopping 60 bucks. John Wood of Moravia, NY set his sights on the sweeping landscape and a vision was born. Quincy and the County of Adams donned their names from the newly elected president, John Quincy Adams.

Historic downtown Quincy is truly the hub of some of the best offerings in the city. It’s centered around Quincy’s first park and contains landmark buildings galore. In fact the entire 12-square block area is a National Register Historic District. Scores of locally owned boutique shops, restaurants and pubs reside in The District, making it a premier destination  for dining, entertainment and shopping.  

The month of June welcomes flourishing gardens and Summer Flavor Tours in the heartland. SeeQuincy’s guided Foodie Tours delight visitors and locals all summer long, offering the best way to experience the culinary culture of Quincy. Passionate chefs of six locally owned eateries share prized food and drink menus each Saturday. The 3-hour adventures stroll through the historic streets around Washington Park, the Farmers Market, and boutique shops. Tour-goers see incredible architecture and hear entertaining nuggets of the city’s past with stories from knowledgeable guides along the way. The morning begins with coffee, of course, at The Pour Haus, which serves double duty as coffee house by day and cocktail lounge by night (translation: boozy coffee available). Tours proceed to fresh brunch courses, Italian favorites, and finger-lickin’ good barbeque — with the occasional side of yodeling. The affable owner of Platt Daddy BBQ not only has a knack for concocting sweet and tangy goodness but can belt out a classic round of yodeling on command. The afternoon concludes with the wildly popular Quincy Brewing Company, where relaxation is strongly encouraged, ice cold craft beer in hand.

Amazing incoming summer festivals for art, food and history lovers include MayFest and Midsummer Arts Faire. With a salute to German roots, MayFest is a one-day only festival at Dick Brothers Brewery Complex in the German Historic District on Saturday, May 10. Organizers have cranked up the gemütlichkeit for a day of feel-good fun, music, food, craft beer and family-friendly activities.  A few things on tap include a Craft Beer Showcase, local food trucks, live music and tunnel tours of historic underground brewery tunnels dating from the mid-1800s. Also onsite: The Ratskeller Bar, an underground German bar offering fantastic nightcaps.

Midsummer Arts Faire is an annual community celebration of the visual, musical and culinary arts on the fourth weekend in June. The three-day event takes place in and around historic Washington Park in downtown Quincy and features a fine and fresh art festival, street concert and food court. The festival garners artists from all over the country and showcases a juried fine art exhibition and sale, complemented by incredible entertainment and hands-on art activities for all ages.

Two new guides to the best attractions and adventures in a three-county area have launched. 50 Great Things to See & Do encompasses 50 square miles of architectural marvels, culinary wonders, action-filled recreation and nature’s evolving backdrop along the grandest river in America. Tour a Mediterranean castle on the Mississippi River bluffs, see powerful bison at the oldest Veteran’s Home in Illinois and explore the first townsite in the U.S. founded by an African American. Bonus feature: The Quintessential Quincy Itinerary. Discover 15 Favorite Things to Do in a Day, including a brown-bag picnic lunch from a 1948 corner deli, kayaking Quincy Bay, a self-guided walking tour of Quincy’s iconic East End Historic District and elevated fare from the retro Patio Restaurant & Lounge.

Off The Record reveals famous and infamous Quincy area residents who have left their mark near and far. The new

guide explores the fascinating lives of Hollywood stars and American pop icons. Through storyettes and local places, visitors learn of people like Mary Astor who co-starred with Humphry Bogart in The Maltese Falcon and John Mahoney who played the cranky but lovable Martin Crane in Frasier.

For all things drink related, the Mississippi Valley Wine Trail and 85 Watering Holes will satisfy a variety of thirsts, including locally produced wine at vineyards dotting the rural landscape and libations every way imaginable within Quincy’s bar scene. The wine trail includes seven scenic stops from Nauvoo to Rockport, Illinois, and the Watering Holes Guide outlines four suggested themed mini crawls throughout town. Cheers!

For more travel inspiration, download or request these popular guides:

50 Great Things to See & Do  

Off The Record 

Mississippi Valley Wine Trail

85 Watering Holes

2025 Quincy Area Travel Guide

  • Visit SeeQuincy.com to reserve Summer Flavor Tours and Kayak Rentals. 
  • Flavor Tours are Saturdays, 11a-2p, June-Aug and require 24-hour reservations (accommodate up to 20 people per Saturday and sell out quickly) 
  • Check out FREE 2-hr bike rentals through Bike Quincy

 800.978.4748 | seequincy.com