Macon County: Nature, Water and History

Macon County combines vast prairies, forests, waterways and places with an impressive history. Those looking to make their trip varied will find a wide range of options here: natural areas for walks, museums and memorial sites for cultural discoveries, as well as Lake Decatur with various water sports opportunities. When choosing your vacation rental, you can therefore consider whether landscapes, history, family experiences or water should be the focus of your trip.

Prairie, Forest and Nature Trails

Rock Springs Land and Water Reserve encompasses floodplain and upland forest, restored prairie and a planted walnut grove along a 1.88-mile section of the Sangamon River. Spitler Woods State Natural Area covers 200 acres and is one of the areas with some of the largest expanses of old-growth forest in Central Illinois. Friends Creek Conservation Area, covering 621 acres, offers a different landscape, with two branches of Friends Creek, open meadows and tallgrass prairie.

Overall, the Macon County Conservation District offers more than 3,600 acres of prairies, forested areas, historic sites and scenic trails. Fort Daniel Conservation Area adds trails through varied terrain to this selection. In Griswold Conservation Area, a trail crosses a glacial kame to an observation platform overlooking the prairie. These differences make it easier to decide on your daily itinerary: You can deliberately give different emphasis to quiet landscapes, forests and open areas.

Discover History and Culture

Homestead Prairie Farm is a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It illustrates rural life in the Illinois Grand Prairie in 1860. The Macon County African American Heritage Trail includes historic markers, murals and other sites of African American heritage throughout Macon County. Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial commemorates the approximate location of Abraham Lincoln's first home in Illinois.

In Decatur, the Hieronymus Mueller Museum is dedicated to the achievements of inventor Hieronymus Mueller, who held more than 500 patents. The museum is located on Eldorado Street, which is also designated as U.S. Route 36. The cultural landscape also includes Preston Jackson Park, with public art connected to the legacy of Decatur-born artist Preston Jackson. Governor Richard J. Oglesby Mansion is a mansion on the western edge of Decatur, Illinois.

Water, Museums and Experiences for Different Interests

Lake Decatur is a 2,800-acre artificial lake with 30 miles of shoreline in Decatur. Boating, fishing, sailing and jet skiing are possible on the lake. This creates a different way to plan your day than visiting the natural areas: Those who enjoy spending time on the water can take this focus into account when choosing their accommodation and planning their travel itinerary.

For families with different interests, the Children's Museum of Illinois offers more than 60 interactive exhibits and activities that recreate everyday situations. Scovill Zoo is home to 400 animals from six continents; it also features the Z.O.&O. Express train and the Endangered Species Carousel. Automotive history is the focus of the Chevrolet Hall of Fame Museum. Chevrolet automobiles are displayed there, including various race cars, Indy 500 pace cars and original unrestored examples. The Central Park/Downtown Market in downtown Decatur takes place on Saturdays from June through October and can be considered a seasonal part of your trip planning.

The Right Base for Planning Your Trip

When choosing a vacation rental or vacation home in Macon County, you can use your preferred daily itinerary as a starting point.

For further orientation, you can visit the pages for Decatur and Mount Zion. In addition, pages for Wabash County, Dekalb, Gallatin, Kane, Cumberland County and Piatt are available.

For the higher-level travel overview: Illinois.