Planning the perfect weekend in Peoria, IL.

Less than a three hour drive from Chicago, Peoria is the perfect weekend getaway that is often overlooked.

If you’ve heard the expression “Will it play in Peoria?” then you’ve heard of this famous Illinois city. Located between St. Louis and Chicago, Peoria is the quintessential All-American town. It took us less than 3 hours to arrive, which for us, is the perfect distance for a weekend road trip.

Oddly enough in all my years living in Illinois I had never ventured out to Peoria. I actually designed the whole trip around one Pinterest photo of Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl, which is the first place we stopped for dinner once we arrived!

DINING

Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill

Amazing right?? Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill is located next to the Illinois River and is attached to a Bass Pro Shop. It’s part of a small chain of restaurants. From the moment you step into the restaurant you feel as though you have been transported to an underwater oasis. A giant ship with algae and a myriad of giant fish are suspended in the air as though they are floating above you. There are fishing nets and a giant aquarium in the center of the bar. And did I mention they have a bowling alley?

The bowling lanes are bathed in ocean lighting and crocodiles return your bowling ball after you’ve thrown your strike! Even the bowling balls are themed with fish or blue and green colors. My kids could not get enough of this place! They were able to select bumpers for themselves whereas my husband and I were able to compete without the bumpers. We decided to eat right at the lane but you can also choose to eat at the beautiful restaurant that they have there as well.

Our waitress Maria was very polite and attentive and made us feel very welcome there. The food was good, better than I expected for a bowling alley. I got the fried shrimp and my husband got the fish and chips. My kids got your typical kid menu items: grilled cheese and hamburgers. I was eyeing one of their fancy fishbowl adult beverages but I thought better of it as I had to go back to the hotel and document everything!

After bowling my kids enjoyed playing some games at the attached arcade and then we headed to Bass Pro shop where my son bought a remote control alligator that he attempted to scare his sister with in the pool the following morning. The kids loved checking out the store and seeing the giant tank of fish and animals. Can’t recommend this place enough to bring your family for a quick bite and some fun bowling!

Obed & Isaac’s Microbrewery and Eatery

Obed and Isaac’s has a long and interesting history. It used to be a church in 1889 and was later left vacant and almost purchased and destroyed. The current owners preserved the elements of the church and turned it into this amazing restaurant. Everything was well thought out. Beautiful lighting and stained glass windows surround you with high beamed ceilings. In the summers there is a bocci garden and patio area to enjoy as well.

Obed and Isaac’s Microbrewery and Eatery. Peoria, IL

And as amazing as the ambience was at this restaurant, the service and the food was even more amazing. My husband got a unique version of a Shepard’s pie which included lamb and beef. I got a pulled pork sandwich. Both were amazing. My kids got the usual kid menu items and the waiter accidently brought my daughter’s sliders with cheese (she hates cheese) but he quickly made her new ones and took the item off our bill. This was not necessary but we appreciated the great service. I highly recommend you stop here, it’s unforgettable!

What to do

Peoria Riverfront Park

We stopped to grab a few pictures and look at the bridge lit up at night. Its a great photo op and a nice place to let the kids run out some energy for a bit.

Grand View Drive

Grand View drive is a scenic, 2.5 mile drive along the Illinois river and was once called “the world’s most beautiful drive” by President Theadore Roosevelt. While I’m quite certain President Roosevelt has never been to Northern California, Grand View Drive was a pleasant drive and also made for a nice walk with the kids. We were visiting in March and the trees were bare, but I imagine most other seasons (especially fall) that it looks absolutely beautiful. We loved gazing at some of the most beautiful homes and mansions along the drive.

Peoria Zoo and Playground

We didn’t have time to go to the zoo but have heard that its a cute and well kept zoo and great for a short afternoon activity. We ended up going to the playground in the same lot as the zoo and the kids played there about 45 minutes. They told me it was the best “Hide and Seek” playground ever!

Peoria Playhouse

The Peoria Playhouse was closed due to Covid when we visited in March of 2021, so please check if they are open when you visit. We were so bummed that they were closed because the Peoria Playhouse is one of the highlights of children’s activities in Peoria. It’s full of fun, colorful and interactive exhibits that could easily keep your kids busy for 2 hours. Please check and see if they are open before visiting.

Caterpillar Visitors Center

The Caterpillar Visitors Center was closed due to Covid when we visited in March of 2021, so please check if they are open when you visit. My son would have loved to see all the big machinery, Caterpillar diggers and tractors. If it happens to be open when you visit, definitely stop in for all the interactive exhibits.

Courthouse Square

Stop for a quick photo op at the Courthouse Square.

Laura Bradley Park

We loved walking around the Laura Bradley Park. This large park, located adjacent to Bradley University, is great for a stroll and has numerous picnic sites. The park also features a beautiful Japanese bridge. The paths through Bradley Park provide paved walking opportunities and are stroller friendly and dog friendly.

Peoria Riverfront Museum

The Peoria Riverfront Museum had just opened up when we visited but we were pretty disappointed that a lot of the interactive exhibits that were more kid friendly were still closed. There was a new IMAX dinosaur movie coming in May that probably would have made the trip a bit more interesting. At the time they were playing Minions on the giant screen in the theater (they rotate all kinds of older family friendly movies) but since we had limited time in Peoria and it was a nice day out, we really wished we had chosen another activity. This could definitely change once all the exhibits open up, but at the moment we would skip the museum unless it was a rainy day and there were few other options.