If you ever find yourself in the Chicagoland area and want to see what middle America looks like, you should head on down to my (Josh’s) hometown of Bradley/Bourbonnais/Kankakee area. After having traveled all over the world, I realized that the American suburban small town is actually pretty unique as I haven’t seen anything else like it. It is something to behold and if the Kankakee area is the one you find yourself in, here is a nice guide to enjoy the locale.
Where to Stay
I would say, stay with my sister, but I am assuming she wouldn’t appreciate housing all of you. So a hotel is probably the best option. There really is only one section of town where the nicer hotels are located. This is by the Northfield Square Mall and includes the Fairfield Inn, Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn, and the Holiday Inn Express.
What To Do
On the surface it may seem like there is not much to do in this small town, however after reading this you will get to experience the Kankakee area like a local. If the weather is nice, which occurs between April to October, you can explore the nature of the area. There are a few different parks that you can explore.
Kankakee State Park
The Kankakee State park is a great place to go hiking, biking, fishing, or even camping. There is a 3 mile paved walking route along Rock Creek and a 10.5 mile bicycle trail that begins at Davis Creek. Parking and entrance is free and it is a very nice place to enjoy the surrounding nature.
Local tip – if you go to Rock Creek, instead of doing the trail, you can hike through the creek instead. You will get wet, but it is way more fun!
Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See is a great place to camp. This nature reserve also has hiking trails through beautiful wooded areas. If you want to go on an adventure and hike through Rock Creek, you can do so here at Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See.
Perry Farm Park
Perry Farm Park is a gem in this small town. This park includes a working farm where you can feed and pet the animals like goats, chickens, horses, and ducks. They also have a fun playground area for the kids and even a ninja warrior course for the big kids! If you are visiting with small children, the Exploration Station is a fun children’s museum located in the park. There are also many walking trails through the diverse prairie ecosystem. This part of America is known for prairies with tall grass and wildflowers.
Local tip- Inside Perry Farm is a creek carved canyon that is shallow enough to hike and explore. If you use Google Maps and type in “Indian Caves” you will see the area you want to hike to. A great way to start this specific hike is to park on Coyne Street by the gazebo. You will find a trail that leads to a bridge. If you follow this trail it will lead you to one of the bigger trails connected to Perry Farm. However, if you turn down the unpaved trail right after the bridge, this will lead to a fun hike that brings you all the way to the Kankakee River. Another way to enjoy this hike is to walk through the creek and see the crazy rock formations. This specific place is an unexpected gem because the surrounding area is flat corn fields and prairie.
If you are looking to canoe or kayak on the Kankakee River, a great company to use is Reed’s Canoe Trips. You can rent canoes or kayaks from them. They do all the work for you so you can just enjoy the river! Park your car at their facility, they’ll drive you up river, you get to paddle down the river and end at their location back at your car. It’s a great way to enjoy the river, some nature, and be outside!
If historic houses are your jam, Kankakee has not one but two Frank Lloyd Wright Houses. Located side by side, the B Harley Bradley House and the Warren Hickox House were the first houses Wright designed in the prairie style. There are tours available only on the B Harley Bradley House, but the Warren Hickox House is a private residence. Continue your drive down the river along Cobb Blvd to enjoy other beautiful historic houses and a nice scenic drive.
One thing that many people do not know about the area is that there is a quarry where you can snorkel and even scuba dive. Haigh Quarry is a divers paradise in the middle of a corn field. Don’t believe us, check it out for yourself. Many people come to this quarry to get scuba dive certified as it’s one of the only places in the Chicago area that offers this. They have sunk a bunch of things like a military dump truck, a 1962 fire truck, and they have even stocked the quarry with a diverse variety of fish! There is so much to see and explore below the surface. It makes for a really fun day for the whole family.
Downtown Kankakee
The downtown area of Kankakee is not very big, however the town is working hard to revitalize the area. Along Schuyler Ave, there are many small shops, boutique clothing stores, cafes, and bookshops. On Saturdays in the summer, there is a Farmer’s Market near the Public Library. We recommend you check out Stefari West Avenue cafe and if you like ax throwing check out Splitting Targets. Also you’ll walk past the Kankakee Train Station. They have a locomotive outside you can walk through and there is a small train museum.
Enjoy the Theatre
Kankakee Valley Theatre Association (KVTA) is a community theater that puts on many plays throughout the year. These include such shows like The Producers, Matilda, and Shrek. Starting in 1963 this theater company has been pleasing the masses for years in the Kankakee area.
Where to Eat – Restaurants
If you are looking for pizza, the area has a lot of pizza joints. We recommend Monical’s Pizza for the Family Pleaser which includes salad, breadsticks, thin crust pizza and drinks. They have three different salad dressings but we recommend dipping your pizza in the creamy Italian. Trust us, it’s delicious! Aurelio’s Pizza serves both thin crust and stuffed crust. Our go to is pepperoni and sausage pizza here as the saltiness balances well with the sweeter sauce. It’s a local favorite and worth checking out. Chicago Dough Company allows you to try the more traditional deep dish style Chicago pizza. With only two locations, it’s a true local spot. You really can’t go wrong with these choices.
If you want a family style diner, head on over to George’s Family House Restaurant. You can get all types of food, however their Saganaki cheese appetizer is amazing and don’t miss their Sunday soup special which is delicious Creamy Chicken and Rice! We normally get a few bowls to go!
If you are looking for a local brewery, Brickstone Brewery is the place to go. They offer refreshing brews and tasty food. Started by a few locals who advanced to win some national awards on their brews, it’s a classy place to enjoy some delicious food as well.
If you are looking for burgers, there are two great places we’d recommend. Burgers and Beer located in Kankakee offers specialty burgers like The Smoking Gouda Hash: gouda cheese, hashbrowns and a side of grape jelly or The Big Cheese: a regular cheeseburger but instead of a bun, grilled cheese sandwich on top and bottom! Another great spot is Hoppy Pig located in Bradley which serves a variety of sliders on brioche buns or burgers like the Bradley Porker: burger with pulled pork, smoked pork belly, bacon, onion straws, beer cheese and bourbon bbq. It’s not for the faint of heart but it is delicious!
If you are craving a hotdog, Jaenicke’s Drive In is a local favorite serving all the good things! Whenever we go, we all get a hot dog, chili dog, or chili cheese dog. Although there is nothing spectacular about them, they are just good old hot dog done well. Pro tip – don’t miss the green river soda and the homemade rootbeer. It’s so good and you can buy it by the gallon to take with you! Try it in a rootbeer float for an extra treat. Pro pro tip – they are only open March to October as it’s only outdoor seating.
