The Illinois Country Living Magazine staff thanks everyone who submitted entries to the 2017 Best of Illinois Reader’s Choice Contest. We received online and mail-in ballots nominating top honorees in the Northern, Central and Southern regions. Here we proudly identify the deserving winners of each category.
Eats
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Route 66 Restaurant
Central: Cozy Dog, Springfield
Southern: 17th Street BBQ, Murphysboro
Northern: Old 66 Family Restaurant, Dwight
Candy/Chocolate Shop
Central: Flesor’s Candy Kitchen, Tuscola
Southern: The Chocolate Factory, Golconda
Northern: Lagomarcino’s Confectionery, Moline
Home/Country Cooking
Central: Yoder’s Kitchen, Arthur
Southern: Goddard’s Barn & Grill, Anna
Northern: PJ’s Restaurant, Erie
Milkshake/Ice Cream
Central: Carl’s Ice Cream, Bloomington
Southern: Likkits Ice Cream, Cobden
Northern: Dairyhaus, Rockton
Food Festivals
Central: Blues, Brews & BBQ, Champaign
Southern: Shrimp Festival, Golconda
Northern: Taste of Chicago, Chicago
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Barbecue
Central: Pauley’s BBQ, Arthur
Southern: 17th Street BBQ, Murphysboro
Pizza
Central: Alfonso’s, Carrollton
Southern: Pizza Villa, Anna
Northern: Lou Malnatti’s, Lincolnwood
Desserts
Central: Mel’s Riverdock, Hardin
Southern: Davis Pastry Shop, Anna
Northern: Bennison’s Bakery, Evanston
Hamburger
Central: Pit Stop, Kampsville
Southern: Fat Patties, Carbondale
Northern: Barrel House, Moline
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Destination and Recrecation
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Agritourism/Pick-Your-Own Farm
Central: Rader Family Farms, Normal
Southern: Eckert’s Orchard, Belleville
Northern: Plow Creek Farm, Tiskilwa
Fishing Spot
Central: The McCully Heritage Project, Kampsville
Southern: Rend Lake, Benton
Northern: Snakeden Hollow, Victoria
Golf Course
Central: Stone Creek Golf Club, Urbana
Southern: Kokopelli Golf Club, Marion
Northern: Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, Galena
State Park
Central: Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton
Southern: Giant City State Park, Makanda
Northern: Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby
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Campground
Central: McCully Heritage Project, Kampsville
Southern: Crab Orchard Campground, Carbondale
Northern: Mendota Hills Campground, Amboy
Bed & Breakfast
Central: Green Gables Inn, White Hall
Southern: Rose Hotel, Elizabethtown
Northern: Farmer’s Guest House, Galena
Sporting Event
Central: Peoria Civic Center, IHSA Basketball Tournament, Peoria
Southern: Rent One Park, Miners Basketball, Marion
Northern: Wrigley Field, Chicago
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The Arts
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Museum
Central: Center for American Archeology, Kampsville
Southern: Cobden Museum, Cobden
Northern: Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Performing Arts/Venue
Central: Calhoun Entertainment Co., Calhoun
Southern: Marion Cultural & Civic Center, Marion
Northern: Coronado Performing Arts Center, Rockford
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Art Gallery
Central: David Stawn Art Gallery, Jacksonville
Southern: Anthill Gallery & Vintage Curiosities, Cobden
Northern: The Art Intitute of Chicago, Chicago
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Getaways
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Place to Take the Kids
Central: The McCully Heritage Project, Kampsville
Southern: Garden of the Gods – Shawnee National Forest, Harrisburg
Northern: Chestnut Mountain, Galena
Scenic Drive
Central: Spoon River Drive, Canton
Southern: Great River Road, Macomb
Northern: Illinois Route 84
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Weekend Get-A-Way
Central: The McCully Heritage Project, Kampsville
Southern: Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, Jonesboro
Northern: Galena Area, Galena
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Shopping
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Antique Store
Central: Paddy Wagon Antiques, Tuscola
Southern: Countree Peddler, Goreville
Northern: Rubies n’ Rust, Rockton
Farmer’s Market
Central: Bloomington Farmers’ Market, Bloomington
Southern: Carbondale Community Farmers’ Market, Carbondale
Northern: Galena Farmers’ Market, Galena
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Flea Market
Central: Third Sunday Market, Bloomington
Southern: Fox’s Fleas, Carbondale
Northern: 3 French Hens, Morris
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Events
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County/Regional Fair
Central: McLean County Fair, Bloomington
Southern: DuQuoin State Fair, DuQuoin
Northern: Boone County Fairgrounds, Belvidere
Festival
Central: Old Settlers Day, Kampsville
Southern: Apple Festival, Murphysboro
Northern: Art Fest, Stockton
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Craft Show
Central: Calhoun Art Guild Craft Show, Calhoun
Southern: Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mt. Vernon
Northern: River Ridge Craft Fair, Hanover
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Winner of $100 Gift Cards
Congratulations to Margo Brooks, member of Jo-Carroll Energy; Barbara Webster, member of Norris Electric Cooperative; and Peggy Henson, member of Egyptian Electric, for winning the $100 Gift Cards for entering the Best of Illinois contest. Keep watching the magazine and our website for the next contest. You could be our next winner!
