A Superhero of a town: Metropolis

Resting on the Ohio River, Metropolis is one of Southern Illinois’ hidden gems. It was founded in 1839 by two visionary settlers who set their sights on making Metropolis a riverside transport hub. It also happens to be the fictional city where the universe of Superman takes place. The town was designated “Hometown of Superman” by the Illinois General Assembly on June 9, 1972.

The town has taken this moniker quite literally over the years and began the “Superman Celebration,” an event featuring celebrity guests from the movie, television and comic book industries. Metropolis celebrated its 46th annual Superman Celebration in 2024. In addition to the event, Metropolis is home to Super Museum adjacent to a 15 foot tall Superman statue, featuring a massive Superman-themed collection.

But Superman isn’t the only thing this town is known for. Fort Massac State Park features a replica 1802 fort and lots of land for fishing, hiking, camping and hunting. Mermet Springs features swimming and first class dive training. In addition to the many natural parks and bodies of water in the area, Metropolis features shops, local dining and a casino.

Metropolis is a must-see town the next time you’re traveling through Southern Illinois.

To learn more about the town’s offerings, click here.

Chicago Named Best Big City in the U.S. for Eighth Consecutive Year

Over 575,000 readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted for their favorite destinations and venues, choosing Chicago as the Best Big City in the U.S. Chicago is a vibrant town full of endless opportunities to have fun and enjoy Illinois.

This award is truly a testament to all the wonders Chicago has to offer including the Chicago Waterfront, diverse neighborhoods, world class museums, public art, unique attractions, theatre, culinary delights, shopping experiences, and a wonderful sports culture. Chicago truly offers something special for everyone.

Chicago is a place that all of us can be proud of. The city has seen a major increase in travelers bringing in over 57 million people each year. Along with that, Chicago saw record highs in hotel revenue over the summer. Chicago doesn’t stop at summer as there are many more exciting things to look forward to in the winter months including launch of Theatre Season, Christkindlmarket, and the Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.

To see why you should visit Chicago click the link here. 

The Draconid meteor shower, lighting up the Illinois sky

Although less popular, Illinois’ brilliant night skies are perfect for catching mesmerizing astronomical events all year round, and soon our skies will be illuminated by the Draconid meteor shower from Oct. 6-10, reaching its peak on the evening of Oct. 7 into the early morning of Oct. 8.

The Draconid meteor shower, named after the constellation Draco the Dragon, is an annual meteor shower that appears in the sky during the month of October. The meteor shower is created when Earth passes through the dust debris left by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.

To increase your chances of seeing the Draconids, find a good viewing spot with clear skies, away from city lights. Illinois has the perfect viewing spots at various state parks and nature reservation areas. You can find one closest to you here.

To check if the Draconids are visible in your city, visit this link.

Happy gazing!

Notable October Birthdays in Illinois

• October Birthdays

October has just begun, and Halloween will arrive soon enough! Let’s take a moment to celebrate October in Illinois with recognizing multiple notable birthdays of those born in the state during this fall season. The famous, historic or otherwise distinguished figures who can track their birthplaces back to Illinois in October are as follows:

• Ray Kroc: American businessman credited for McDonald’s global expansion, born Oct. 5, 1902 in Oak Park
• Kevin Cronin: Musician and lead vocalist for the rock band REO Speedwagon, born Oct. 6, 1951 in Evanston
• Adlai Stevenson III: Democratic U.S. Senator from 1970 to 1981 and a captain in the United States Marine Corps, born Oct. 10, 1930 in Chicago
• Shawn Ryan: Screenwriter and television producer known for producing television series like “S.W.A.T.” and “The Night Agent,” born Oct. 11, 1966 in Rockford
• Johnny Loftus: American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey and first-ever American Triple Crown winner, born Oct. 13, 1895 in Chicago
• Mark Lenard: Actor, famous for his role as the father of Spock in the “Star Trek” franchise, born Oct. 15, 1924 in Chicago
• Anita O’Day: Jazz singer and self-proclaimed “song stylist,” born Oct. 18, 1919 in Chicago
• Craig Robinson: Actor and comedian known for his role in the hit television series “The Office,” born Oct. 25, 1971 in Chicago
• Hillary Clinton: Former First Lady and Secretary of State, born Oct. 26, 1947 in Park Ridge