5 places to explore in Illinois as an LGBTQIA+ traveller

Coastal states often steal the limelight for queer culture, but the Midwest state of Illinois is one of the most progressive in the country. From LGBTQIA+-owned businesses to attractions as diverse as its communities, Illinois packs plenty of welcoming destinations to explore across a state known for progressive rights, including strong anti-discrimination laws and marriage equality protections. If you’re looking for an alternative to New York City, San Francisco, or Miami, here are 5 places to explore in Illinois as an LGBTQIA+ traveller.

An easy choice for first-time visitors to Illinois, Chicago is the largest city between coasts and teeming with attractions for all visitors, but it’s particularly welcoming to the LGBTQIA+ community. Traditionally, the action has been focused in Northalsted, the country’s oldest recognised ‘gayborhood’. Once called Boystown, it’s far more inclusive of the full LGBTQIA+ spectrum today and is home to the world’s only outdoor queer history exhibit, Legacy Walk. Northalsted remains the center of nightlife for the community, but it’s no longer the only hotspot in Chicago.

Edgewater and Uptown both offer a less raucous selection of LGBTQIA+ nightlife venues in Chicago’s north-side, and nearby Rogers Park is similarly diverse. These are great neighborhoods for discovering favoirite community-centric eateries like Tweet, R Public House, and Lady Gregory’s in Andersonville, where you’ll find countless personality-packed shops and restaurants beloved by LGBTQIA+ visitors. Throughout the city you’ll find no shortage of community-owned businesses selling everything from artisan breads at Hewn and the city’s best barbecue at Lexington Betty Smokehouse to hand poured treasures at Edgewater Candles.

Just about 20 minutes west of Chicago, Oak Park is a vibrant suburb that has long welcomed diverse visitors. For an inclusive experience outside the city that’s quick to reach, Oak Park is an easy add-on to any Chicago visit but just as good for a quieter escape on its own. Here you’ll find distinct small-town charm with all the conveniences of a major city nearby.

Oak Park is home to one of Illinois’ two Frank Lloyd Wright creations that have been made UNESCO World Heritage sites:  Unity Temple. It’s a big draw to the area and emblematic of what people love most about Oak Park – its history and its architecture – but the welcoming community and breadth of LGBTQIA+ businesses and events make it especially appealing to queer travellers.

Sugar Beet Food Co-op is a community-owned grocery with a monthly makers’ market and Scratch ‘n Sniff sells a variety of quirky gifts for humans and pets alike. Latin fusion restaurant Maya del Sol regularly hosts events that support the LGBTQIA+ community, too.

Perfect for a relaxing weekend getaway, Galena is a quaint town about three hours west of Chicago near the Iowa border. Delivering serious Main Street USA vibes in Middle America, it still manages an accepting ambiance with a welcoming community, a fair share of LGBTQIA+-owned businesses, and its own annual Pride Picnic in June, when most of Illinois (and the US in general) celebrates.

To embrace the heavy dose of historic charm you’ll encounter in Galena, make a reservation at gay-owned Aldrich Guest House, a stately Bed & Breakfast that has hosted US Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. It’s just around the corner from the Ulysses S. Grant Home if you’re interested in more from this impactful period of American history. Just across the river, Main Street is the heart of Galena’s yesteryear allure, today offering more than 100 boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and tasting rooms. About 15 minutes from its Main Street tasting room, you can also take a full tour of Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery. Back in town, Galena Bakehouse is a gay-owned favourite for scratch-made pastry.

The birthplace of President Abraham Lincoln and capital of the state, Springfield Illinois, is intimately associated with the ideals of equality and progress. While history and politics may be the city’s top offerings, and sites like Lincoln Home National Historic Site and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum are feature attractions, a considerably LGBTQIA+ community makes Springfield equally welcoming to diverse interests.

Unique boutique properties and B&Bs abound in Springfield, but so do the recognisable hotel brands you’d expect from a more urban environment. The Hoogland Center for the Arts is a great stop for community-driven programming, from art exhibits to theatre and concert performances, and Springfield’s extensive calendar of local music and festivals includes annual events like the Springfield LGBTQ Film Festival and PrideFest.

Springfield is home to several LGBTQIA+ bars and nightlife spots, including Clique, which is one of the most popular in the city for community-specific programming, while Boone’s is a welcoming all-inclusive Western bar that’s also popular with queer locals.

A Mississippi River town, Alton offers a welcoming atmosphere to LGBTQIA+ travellers year-round, not just during the annual Alton Pride Fest. Just 30 minutes from St. Louis, the city’s history is rich with narratives of equality and progress, showcased in main attractions like the Alton Museum of History and Art and the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Site, where pivotal discussions about civil rights took place.

About 15 minutes north of town, The Loading Dock riverside venue often serves as a community gathering point. Known for its lively atmosphere and inclusive attitude, you’ll find a large patio overlooking the river and serving a broad menu including local craft beers and hearty bites with frequent live music and occasional themed events. Don’t miss the monthly flea market, where local vendors showcase unique crafts, antiques, and artisanal goods, drawing a diverse crowd of locals and visitors.

Back in Alton proper, a bounty of boutiques, shops and bars pack the downtown district, where you can easily spend an entire weekend alone. Aerie’s Resort serves up plenty of platforms to witness epic Midwest scenery on its range of attractions, whether it’s from up high on the Grafton SkyTour or whizzing through pristine forest on the Alpine Coaster.