| Discover More in Our Neck of the Woods... |
 | A Getaway Like it Used to Be!
Do everything or nothing at all.
The Blackhawk Waterways region, in Northwest Illinois, is filled with opportunities for wildlife viewing, hiking and biking, boating and fishing, shopping and antiquing, and exploring our nation’s rich history, or just sitting in an old-growth forest and reading a book. Blackhawk Waterways is packed with history and mystery – 2,700 square miles of woodlands and wonderful attractions, charming small towns and villages, unobstructed views and pastoral settings that will have you returning time and again.
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 | Ronald Reagan Trail - Making of an American President
Maybe it’s something in the water, or maybe it’s Illinois’ warm, pragmatic nature. Four American Presidents have called Illinois their home at one time or another but one of them stands above them all in Northwest Illinois. Ronald Reagan, 40th American President, the man who helped end the Cold War, Hollywood movie star and hometown hero of the Blackhawk Waterways region.
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 | Country Fairs, Our Summertime Ritual
The pigs have been soaped. The cucumbers have become pickles. And the strawberry rhubarb pie has been baked and tasted again.
It’s country fair season, when rural culture is translated to the masses. The soundtrack: Country. The fare: Pork chop sandwiches, snow-cones, cotton candy and funnel cakes.
Like political candidates that have finessed their image to win over an electorate, locals have groomed their skills – and their prized livestock – in the hopes of finding a 4-H blue ribbon attached to their entry: A floral arrangement, bantam chicken, table setting, canned good, or most unusual looking vegetable.
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 | Wildlife Viewing At Its Best!
Birdwatching at the Franklin Creek State Natural Area
Watching and observing wildlife is an exciting activity, providing a sense of discovery for all ages. Whether you look at, photograph or sketch wildlife, or listen to the sounds of unseen creatures, wildlife viewing has become an increasingly popular hobby. And here in the counties of Carroll, Lee, Ogle and Whiteside, dozens of opportunities exist for quality wildlife viewing that can be matched to your budget, time and travel needs.
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 | Great Golf Awaits You!
If golf is your game, be sure to bring your sticks when you visit our region!
Nearly 20 courses are here, waiting for your challenge. You'll be only minutes away from 333 holes of great golf and great rates, no matter where you find yourself in our four-county region. And with many hotels and courses teaming up to offer special packages, there's even more reason to "stay and play" in the Blackhawk Waterways region. view our great golf packages
We're a GREAT golfing destination!
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 | Windmill worth the trip to Fulton
FULTON, Ill. — A sunset was on the way. We knew the sun was breaking its way through after a day of clouds, wind and rain, so we couldn’t wait to head for the windmill. Just the word “windmill” is all that is needed when you breathe the name “Fulton.”
“De Immigrant” is the towering icon of this town, which is sometimes known as “The City on the Narrows” because it claims to be at one of the narrowest points on the wide Mississippi.
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 | Discover the Open Roads by Motorcycle
Anyone who has ridden a motorcycle will tell you that the ritual of wrapping your legs around a motor churning out raw horsepower with the wind in your hair and the sun on your back is one of the most freeing experiences known to man. Without windows and a roof riders are free to soak in the surrounding landscape from plush, hilly vistas to vast rolling plains. Illinois comprises a playground of smooth cement roads that twist and bend through some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
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 | Prairieland splendor at Nachusa Grasslands
Located about 10 miles south of Oregon, near the Lee County village of Franklin Grove, you can wander nearly 3,000 acres of rolling landscape consisting of a mosaic of 11 natural community types, including dry prairie, tallgrass prairie, bur oak savanna, sand savanna, fen, sedge meadow, and streamside marsh. You’ll hear the songs of at least 90 species of breeding birds and you’ll delight in the many colors and hues of the prairie landscape.
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