Let the Celebrations Begin!

This year, America’s Semiquincentennial is so big we had to get a month’s head start! America’s 250th Anniversary celebrations will dominate the summer season with events in all 50 states. July 4th is only the beginning. In fact, many events precede Independence Day. So, whether you choose a brief staycation or travel to all 50 states, River North Law Group wishes you safe travels and happy adventures with a few tips for summer fun.

Music festivals, food lovers’ events, movie themed tours, and sports travel provide a plethora of summer activities. Sit back, plan well, and make the most of Chicago’s best.

Navy Pier

Experience the energy, the pride, and the tradition of Independence Day at the place voted “Best Place to See Fireworks” by USA TODAY. Celebrate the Fourth with Navy Pier’s award-winning fireworks show, the largest and longest display in our history. This year starting at 10:00pm, they’ll light up the lakefront with an unforgettable 15-minute performance, fully choreographed to music and set against Chicago’s iconic skyline. The extended show commemorates the 250th anniversary of America, honoring the enduring spirit of independence that has shaped our nation for centuries. Check the Navy Pier website for more information.

Illinois: The Land of Lincoln

To see more of Illinois, explore museums, historic sites, community centers, and parks,, which are celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. They'll host free programs, exhibits, educational tours, and special events. Visit Illinois America 250 to browse a convenient list of events near you.

America is on the move and that means record level travel on American roads! This summer the options are limitless. From popular international destinations to local music festivals, you’ll easily find intriguing travel options to make this your best summer ever!

Destination Trends in 2026

Entertainment-focused tourism has been increasing for 5 years. This year many will head to the setting of  The Parent Trap – Napa Valley or London to remember their favorite movie scenes. Tens of thousands will visit the Roseman Covered Bridge in Winterset, Iowa to remember their favorite scenes in The Bridges of Madison County. Many vacationers surveyed indicate that they have been inspired to visit a destination after seeing it in a TV show or movie. You'll find 12 ideas for movie set destination vacations here.

Food-themed travel continues to be a popular summer choice, as well as health and wellness, and off road adventures. With remote work becoming the norm for many professionals, extended stays that combine work and play will also be popular this summer. Resorts and hotels have responded to this trend by offering top tier business amenities to their vacation packages. Internationally, top destinations in Italy, UK, and France will delight summer travelers. Popular US travel this summer trends toward New York City, Las Vegas, and Miami. Travel & Leisure Magazine offers 25 things you should consider before boarding a plane.

Cruising Continues to Trend

Despite the Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise reported to the World Health Organization in May, cruise bookings are growing faster than any other category for the Fora Travel Agency, NYC, this summer. They've seen a 256% year-over-year spike in bookings for August. Triple AAA projects that over 19 million people will book ocean cruises this summer. The sheer number of options for cruising is what's different in 2025. We advise you do your homework before making your cruise selection, especially if you're a first time cruiser. You'll discover there are many considerations when planning the perfect cruise.

Summer Fairs and Music Festivals

Quintessential to the Midwest lifestyle is taking in a memorable Summer Fair or Music Festival. Chicago's live music scene is so chock full of musical entertainment most travelers will have a hard time leaving the city border this summer! The dedicated music connoisseur could enjoy a festival every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day!  From Lollapalooza to the Chicago Jazz Festival, we found it necessary to consult The Music Festival Wizard to make sense of the calendar of summer music festivals. Summer Fairs from Old Settlers Days to the Rock County 4-H Fair are back this summer.

The Beauty of Illinois & Indiana State Parks

Outdoor vacation fun has never been more popular. That’s why each year River North Law Group highlights the beauty of our local state parks. Their easy access, and underrated amenities combine to create the perfect backdrop to memorable moments. We’ll begin this survey with the farthest northernly state park and work back to Chicago. We’re wishing you a safe, fun-filled, and cherished summer vacation.

 

 

Devil’s Lake State Park

S5975 Park Rd, Baraboo, WI 53913. The over 10,000-acre park anchors more than 27,000 acres of parkland and natural areas open to public recreation in Sauk County. Devil’s Lake State Park is located in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and is Wisconsin’s most popular state park with about 3 million visitors per year. Historically Devil’s Lake or “De Wakacak”, which means Spirit Lake, sits on ancestral Ho-Chunk land and contains ancient effigy mounds that are part of their cultural heritage. Learn more about Devil’s Lake here. https://www.devilslakewisconsin.com/

High Cliff State Park

N7630 State Park Rd., Sherwood, Wisconsin 54169. A 125-acre area within the 1,147-acre park is designated as a state natural area, because it has excellent cliff environments. You'll also discover an undisturbed wet-mesic forest, since it boasts more than a mile of Lake Winnebago shoreline. High Cliff is the only state-owned recreational area on Lake Winnebago, and it's Wisconsin's largest lake. The park has a marina, historic sites, a campground, picnic areas and shelters, a beach, watchable wildlife, an observation tower, and play areas. It's loaded with facilities including an accessibility designed cabin for people with disabilities.

High Cliff gets its name from the limestone cliff of the Niagara Escarpment, which parallels the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago. This ledge extends northeasterly to the Door County peninsula and on to Niagara Falls, New York. https://www.stateparks.com/high_cliff_state_park_in_wisconsin.html

Harrington Beach State Park

531 County Road D, Belgium, Wisconsin 53004. Harrington Beach State Park has more than a mile of beach along Lake Michigan. This 715-acre park also features a white cedar and hardwood swamp, old field grasslands with restored wetland ponds. It also boasts a scenic limestone quarry lake. Camp, sunbathe, picnic, hike, bird watch, fish, or practice astronomy, and an observatory is open to the public. The Jim and Gwen Plunkett Observatory was dedicated on July 21, 2007, and has a 20-inch telescope that weighs over 2000 pounds. The telescope is designed to provide an extremely stable platform for instrumentation. The telescope accommodates four foci: two Newtonian, one Cassegrain and one Coude. https://friendsofharrington.org/

The Forge: Lemont Quarries Adventure Park

Not for the faint of heart, Lemont Quarries Adventure Park features 300-acres of historically significant land, with the largest aerial challenge course, tallest climbing towers, and longest ziplines in the tri-state area. If you prefer to keep your feet closer to the ground, it also offers mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboat excursions. Travel to this Illinois treasure will feed the appetite of adventure enthusiasts looking for unique challenges.

There is also a designated kid's activity zone that promises to excite and engage every young adventurer, in addition to promoting an active outdoor lifestyle, The Forge: Lemont Quarries offers opportunities for guests to engage in educational and entertaining activities such as skills development programs, school field trips, environmental education programming, customized team-building events, and private parties. Learn more here. The Forge

Starved Rock State Park

2678 E 875th Rd, Oglesby, IL 61348. Starved Rock State Park is a world apart from anything else in Illinois! Amazing, seasonal waterfalls are active in the spring and after heavy rains. We have 13 miles of trails to explore and the Illinois River offers fishing, boating, extraordinary views and great places to relax.

The park derives its name from a Native American legend. In the 1760s, Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa tribe, was attending a tribal council meeting. At this council of the Illinois and the Pottawatomie, an Illinois-Peoria brave stabbed Chief Pontiac. Vengeance arose in Pontiac’s followers. A great battle started. The Illinois, fearing death, took refuge on the great rock. After many days, the remaining Illinois died of starvation giving this historic park its name – Starved Rock. Please stay on marked trails at all times. Take out what you bring in and leave no trace that you were here. There is no swimming, wading or rock climbing allowed in the park. Have fun and hike safely. https://stateparks.com/starved_rock_state_park_in_illinois.html

Kankakee River State Park

5314 IL-102, Bourbonnais, IL 60914. Enveloping both sides of the Kankakee River for 11 miles, in an area 6 miles northwest of Kankakee, the park consists of approximately 4,000 acres. Illinois Routes 102 on the north and 113 on the south frame the park, with Interstates 55 and 57 both providing convenient access. On land treasured for centuries - first by Native Americans, later by traders and farmers, and as early as the 1890's by recreation seekers - Kankakee River State Park offers you its proud heritage in an unspoiled setting. Anglers, canoeists, hunters, campers, hikers, bicyclers, and other outdoor enthusiasts find the park's recreational opportunities unsurpassed. The naturally channeled Kankakee River, listed on the Federal Clean Streams Register, is the focus of the park's popularity. https://rootsrated.com/chicago-il/hiking/kankakee-river-state-park-hiking

Whether you enjoy camping, hiking picturesque trails, or gazing at the stars, our state parks have something for you to treasure. In just a relatively short drive you can be enveloped by natural wonders that feel much farther away than you are. All within driving distance, it’s hard to beat the convenience, affordability, outdoor health benefits, and sheer beauty of our local state parks. We hope you’ll visit one this summer.

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