This is a very scenic area, with rolling hills, Civil War historic sites, and lots of river stuff. The Mississippi, Ohio, Wabash, Cache, and Saline rivers flow through here, and provide for a lot of interesting scenery.

The Great Lakes all have posted "Circle Tours" that provide a scenic view of the lakes, and a sampling of local flavor. In Illinois, the Lake Michigan Circle Tour follows Sheridan Road, Lake Shore Drive, and South Shore Drive from Winthrop Harbor to the IN line.

Great River Road

The Great River Road follows the Mississippi River from Minnesota to New Orleans. In Illinois, it is the following route:

Above and below at Kampsville IL

Illinois has a couple trails marked by IDOT, including these two. The Illinois River Road follows the Illinois River and is marked with brown signs. The Great River Road follows the Mississippi River through many states, and is marked with green signs. Above shows brown GRR sign. Brown signs are used for spurs to the GRR. This sign is NB IL-100 at Kampsville, and shows that the Kampsville Ferry (about 200 feet to the right) is part of IL-108. IL-96 heads west from IL-100 about a block or 2 behind us.

Below shows a green (Mainline) GRR sign. This shot is as you leave the Kampsville Ferry on the west side of the river.

Lincoln Highway

The Lincoln Highway was the first coast to coast route identified for automobile traffic. It has now been designated a National Scenic Byway, and Illinois has posted tons of "Historic Route" signs along the way. Most of the route is or close to what is now IL-38 in Illinois, once US-30. (Thanks to Kurt Glazier of IDOT)

Bob Lukens, from the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau says to check out the Byways web page at http://www.byways.org. This details several Byways in the area.

Originally it was posted by private organizations with pole markings like this: (Along IL-38 near Franklin Grove)

The Lincoln Highway Association is actively promoting the Lincoln Highway again, and arranging the recreation of markers along the route. These painted on markers on poles are springing up around IL's portion of the route.

Some towns are hopping on the bandwagon as well. Rochelle has Lincoln Highway banners all along it's portion of the route, mostly on IL-38 thru town. I have also seen these type banners in Morrison.

With the resolution reprinted below Illinois has posted signs around the state honoring former President Ronald Reagan, born in northern Illinois. In addition to the route shown below (IL-172, IL-92, IL-26, IL-29 and US-24) US-14 has been designated the "Reagan Highway" in Illinois.

91_SJ0003 LRB9101109KSks SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6, 1911 in Tampico, Illinois, the son of Nellie and John Reagan; and WHEREAS, When he was 9 years of age, the family settled in Dixon, Illinois, and at Dixon High School he played football and basketball, ran track, served as president of the student body, and first performed as an actor; and WHEREAS, He graduated from Eureka College in 1932 with a degree in economics and sociology; and WHEREAS, From humble beginnings, he went on to become a sportscaster, actor, Governor of California, and President of the United States; and WHEREAS, He was elected President of the United States in 1980; a favorite of the American populace, he was elected to a second term in 1984; and WHEREAS, Ronald Wilson Reagan, 40th President of the United States, warrants a public tribute as a son of Illinois; therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that the portions of Illinois Routes 172 and 92 from Tampico to Illinois Route 26 and the portions of Illinois Route 26, Illinois Route 29, and U.S. Route 24 from Dixon to Eureka are designated the Ronald Reagan Trail; and be it further RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation, in accordance with applicable State and federal laws and rules and in cooperation with units of local government, is requested to erect appropriate signs, markers, or plaques along the Trail in recognition of this designation; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.