Chicago and the Quad Cities (Self Drive)

Chicago, on Lake Michigan in Illinois, is among the largest cities in the U.S. Famed for its bold architecture, it has a skyline punctuated by skyscrapers such as the iconic John Hancock Center, 1,451-ft. Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower. The city is also renowned for its museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago with its noted Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works.

Explore the Millenium Park, Willis Tower, Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, Grant Park, Cloud Gate, Field Museum, Chicago Riverwalk and much more.

The Quad Cities are located where the Rock River meets the Mississippi River. They are Rock Island and Moline on the Illinois side and Davenport and Bettendorf on the Iowa side. The Quad Cities are noteworthy historically as the site of the first rail bridge across the Mississippi River. Davenport`s `River Renaissance` and Moline`s urban renewal funded by John Deere (a company local to the area) have energized these cities, while Rock Island and Bettendorf have each held the title of `most livable small city` by the National Council of Mayors.

Explore the Black Hawk State Historic Site, John Deere & Company Commons, Rock Island Arsenal, Mississippi River Visitor Center, Loud Thunder State Forest, National Mississippi River Museum, Mines of Spain State Recreational Area, Figge Art Museum, Putnam Museum and Science Center, Vander Veer Botanical Park, Colonel Davenport Historical House, and so much more!