Family Fun and Some History Too

Chicago-based photographer and Instagramer Craig Hensel @thecraighensel and his family take a road trip around Central Illinois.

by Craig Hensel in Regional Getaways, History, Local Experts
September 01, 2016

Photo Craig Hensel

Craig Hensel's family stroll along a country road at the Great Pumpkin Patch, Illinois.

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Illinois is teeming with places to spend time with your family, and there’s also no shortage of history to learn about during pretty much any road trip around the state. Chicago-based photographer and Instagramer Craig Hensel @thecraighensel and his family take a road trip around Central Illinois.

Along the way, Craig caught some incredible photos as they learned more about Illinois Amish community, took part in some fall activities and learned a bit more about the history of Abraham Lincoln. Check out Craig's itinerary and share his Illinois experience.

Zebra at Aikman Wildlife Adventure. Photo Craig Hensel.

Day One

The Great Pumpkin Patch, Arthur

The Great Pumpkin Patch has more than 300 varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds from 30+ countries around the world; all grown on the farm at The 200 Acres. Amazing pumpkin towers, beautiful gardens and a petting zoo with goats, pigs, exotic chickens, rabbits, a llama and an alpaca, make this a great family spot.

Located in Arthur, a town of 2,200 residents, the Great Pumpkin Patch sits in the heart of Illinois Amish Country, with more than 1,000 Amish families living in the countryside. Established in 1865 by a handful of families, today more than 4,500 Amish live in the town and surrounding rural townships.

Aikman Wildlife Adventure, Arcola

Located between Arthur and Arcola, Aikman Wildlife Adventure is a drive-through park where you can get up close and personal with animals you’ve only seen on television or behind fencing at a zoo. Visitors have the opportunity to see and take pictures of animals walking around directly outside their vehicles while driving the one-mile long path through the park. Aikman’s also features a separate walk-thru adventure with kangaroos, cavies, wallabies and lemurs, and the large petting zoo area.

The dome of Old State Capitol, Springfield, Illinois. Photo Craig Hensel.

Day Two

Marcoot Jersey Creamery, Greenville

Marcoot Jersey Creamery, a proud maker in the Illinois Madeprogram, is a seventh-generation, family-owned farm that specializes in the handcrafted production of artisan and farmstead cheeses. At the creamery, visitors can take a tour and meet the cows, experience the milking parlor, and sample and purchase a variety of cheeses, ice creams and more.

Day Three

Abraham Lincoln Sites, Springfield

History comes alive around every corner in Springfield, home to more Lincoln sites than anywhere else in the nation. Visitors can explore everything from the historic Old State Capitol to Lincoln’s home, tomb and his must-see presidential museum.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Old State Capitol State Historic Site
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site
Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site
Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site (currently closed for renovations)

To take a trip similar to Craig’s, or to plan an entirely new trip, check out our Trip Ideas.

Q&A with Craig Hensel

Here’s what Craig had to say about his favorite memories of the trip and some of the information he and his family learned along the way.

Q: What were you most looking forward to before beginning the trip?

Craig: I was most looking forward to my time on the trip with my family and exploring Illinois. As far as a place I was particularly excited to see, that had to be Arthur and the Amish community. That was really unique to me, and I enjoyed watching my kids experience things they’d never seen before.

Q: Was there anything that surprised you about the trip?

Craig: One thing that really surprised me in Springfield was when we went into this shop that had antiques from Lincoln’s days; like an old muzzleloader. I didn’t expect that to be in the town, and I was impressed that the shop had such old stuff.

The other thing that surprised me was our visit to Marcoot Jersey Creamery. Marcoot’s story is incredible – now run by the family’s seventh generation. You don’t see family businesses handed down from generation to generation like that very much anymore, so it was a really special experience for our family.

The big surprise was when we were driving home, we stopped at Lincoln’s New Salem site in Petersburg, and that blew our minds. We felt like we were walking back in time.

Q: After you got back to Chicago, had anything changed in your expectations of the trip?

Craig: I expected to see the rural towns, but I didn’t expect to see the diversity in the communities, like the Amish County in Arthur. What blew my mind was seeing the Lincoln sites through the historic lens. It was very impressive to learn so much about our state’s history. I felt a deeper understanding of what Illinois is and who we are.

Craig’s daughter running towards a tower of pumpkins at The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur. Photo by Craig Hensel.

Q: Is there one specific memory or experience from the trip that’s going to stick with you?

Craig: The Lincoln museum was a big one for sure. The era of pioneer history is very attractive. Lincoln’s New Salem Site was probably the most memorable. We had time to walk through the woods and decompress as a family before heading back to the big city. Another good memory is from Marcoot Creamery. My daughter loves animals, and so here’s my kid in the middle of this little barn with about 25 calves that were just born. That visual memory of my kids is awesome. Also, when my daughter was picking up farm dogs and watching three or four dogs surrounding her. Those little memories in my mind are what will stick.

Q: Any last advice for other Chicagoans looking to explore downstate?

Craig: I think people are missing out if people don’t take time to take a three-hour trip. There’s a National Park right in Springfield!

Going downstate, don’t be afraid to take the back roads. Don’t be afraid to follow the brown highway signs. The food and the hospitality are amazing, and anytime you can, take advantage of the farm-to-table dining. If you haven’t already, make a stop in Springfield to visit the Abraham Lincoln sites, and see for yourself what it was like to live back in the 1800s. Experience local restaurants and mom and pop restaurants, which probably have the best food in the Midwest. Try to drive Route 66 if you can and go through the small, historic towns.