Springfield

 With rich histories and charming amenities, these inns offer a departure from busy downtown hotels.

Encompassing 421 miles in our state alone, Route 66 is the perfect road trip to map out attractions and food options that prove there’s definitely more than corn in Illinois.

“I consider myself the state cheerleader,” laughs Cory Jobe, a Springfield alderman who, in February, became the state director for the Illinois Office of Tourism. The combination uniquely fits the natural born tour guide, who was raised in the small town of Robinson, “home of the Heath candy bar,” and has big plans for boosting the profile of Main Street Illinois while keeping four consecutive years of visitor growth on track for the near future.