By Domi Garcia
Getting away for a week or a weekend is fun, but it isn’t always practical. Between work schedules and the kids’ activity schedules, sometimes it can be hard to find more than a day to get away. But we don’t think that is a good reason to give up on going somewhere and having a good time with your family. Last spring, we offered you a few ideas for summer getaways right here in Illinois. This year we’ve decided to give you some ideas for day-trips.
Ride the Train into Chicago. While its culture is a world away from the small-town environment of central Illinois, Chicago is actually only a couple of hours away. Those adventurers who seek convenience can board the train at University Park and simply ride into the city. The sophisticated mass transit system in Chicago gives visitors an opportunity to see all the attractions without having to worry about where to park. And there are plenty of attractions for visitors to take in from museums to parks to theatre to shopping to sight-seeing. While taking the train to Chicago is possible in a day, you might need to do it several times to see all that you’d like to see!
Go Back in Time at Arthur. If you’re not up for the hustle and bustle of the big city of Chicago, maybe you’d rather slow down as you visit the Amish community of Arthur. In the fast-paced era we live in, it is refreshing to visit a place where horse and buggy are still used in the place of cars and where craftsmanship is still prized over convenience. Shopping in downtown Arthur offers visitors a variety of one-of-a-kind goods, including clothing, crafts, and furniture. Spend a day in Arthur, enjoying the friendly atmosphere, homemade cooking, and handmade wares that this Amish community is famous for.
Experience Large-Scale Farming at Fair Oaks. Living in a farming community, there are probably few of us who have not at least been on a farm. (And many of us have even lived or worked on one.) However, the agricultural operation at Fair Oaks is on a scale that we just do not see around here. You will get a glimpse into every aspect of the science of raising dairy cows (and now pigs too). The attention to detail that has been put into this dairy farm will amaze you. And, in case you don’t know, every visitor is guaranteed to see a calf being born!
We wish you all a great summer filled with lots of adventure, even if you only have the time to get away for a day. Central Illinois is a great place to live, and Federated Bank is happy to be a part of this community and to serve our customers here. Stop by anytime and see us with your banking questions or just to say hi!
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