by As summer draws to a close and fall looms on the horizon in Illinois, where can you go to take in the state’s natural beauty?
Three Illinois state parks earned a spot on HomeToGo’s list of the 50 Best Destinations and Hidden Gems to Visit This Season.
Starved Rock State Park came in seventh as a destination to visit. Rock Cut State Park was named the second Hidden Gem State Park and Pere Marquette State Park was the sixth Hidden Gem State Park.
The list of top destinations is based on the site’s “State Park Index.” The index itself is formed using factors such as popularity score, size score, trail score, wildlife score, and scenic score.
The Hidden Gems list used the same criteria, in combination with search volume.
Starved Rock State Park, just outside Chicago, scored above average for wildlife, trails and natural beauty.
Rock Cut State Park is located in Caledonia and Pere Marquette State Park is in Grafton.
Both parks are in the top 10, alongside those in South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia, California, North Carolina and Oregon.
The exclusive list includes several other beautiful and scenic destinations, both inside and outside the Midwest.
It features a variety of landscaping and terrain, from coral reefs to grasslands.
“As more travelers become interested in visiting state and national parks, this index serves as a guide for vacationers looking to plan the perfect nature escape without venturing too far from home,” said Eleanor Moody, travel expert and spokesperson for HomeToGo.
