Top Things to Do in Peoria: Best Attractions, Activities, and Travel Tips

Peoria, Illinois, is an underrated destination that most people don’t know about, so this is exactly why you should visit. Cities like Chicago get all the attention, but Peoria quietly goes about its business along the Illinois River, and it turns out they are just growing with the tourism. Peoria offers a surprising history, a real arts scene, good food, and more natural beauty than you had expect from a mid-sized industrial city. It has deep roots in American distilling, in the early 1900s, it was one of the largest whiskey-producing centers in the country, a history that still echoes in the city’s craft beer and spirits scene today.

Whether you’re taking an unusual weekend trip with your friends or looking for a new family trip destination, you may plan to visit Peoria. In this blog, we will give you details on the top things to do in Peoria, including the most attractive places, fun activities and more, to help you have the best experience.

Note: Planning a group trip to Peoria? BUSXOXO offers charter bus rentals in Illinois, perfect for school trips to the Riverfront Museum, corporate outings, and family reunions exploring the Illinois River valley.

Top Things to Do in Peoria

There are many activities to do in Peoria. If a person is going for the first time, then these things definitely give them the best experience.

Note: Verify all figures against current official sources before publishing, these are estimates for illustration.

Explore the Peoria Riverfront

If you are going to start in Peoria, then start from the riverfront. It is the heart of the city and on an afternoon its really hard to leave. The area stretches along the Illinois River. It has parks, restaurants, event spaces, walking paths and great views that give you a fantastic experience.

During the summer, the riverfront really comes alive. You can find their music and local festivals like Fiesta en el Rio and it feels like the city is enjoying itself. There are also riverboat cruises where you can go to see many different things and that gives you a beautiful view of the skyline. Even if you are just travelling through, the riverfront is worth stopping at. You will love the riverfront in Peoria and this makes it special.

Visit the Peoria Zoo 

Going inside the beautiful Glen Oak Park, the Peoria Zoo is one of those places that quietly wins you over. It is not as big as others in size and which makes it better to go with their family. You can walk at your own speed without feeling like you are rushing through everything. They have a lot of animals in a zoo like giraffes, rhinos, spider monkeys, sea lions, and more. This zoo is clean, well-designed and has instructional signs that keep kids busy and curious. It also has a space for a picnic area and some open space to run around, which is what people are looking for when spending a good time with their family.

Enjoy the Peoria Riverfront Museum

The Peoria Riverfront Museum is a place that is connected to the Smithsonian. This museum has art, science, history and technology all in one building. The building looks really good when you see it from the river. In the museum, there are many things you can do like watching movies in a big dome theater or it has a planetarium and a sculpture garden for the kids.

There are many things you can see and do, so if you are coming with a group of people with different interests, they can also find something they like. Many people really like the science and space exhibits. The museum also has art from other places and you can see new and interesting things that you would not normally see in central Illinois. 

Attend a Show at the Peoria Civic Centre

The Peoria Civic Centre is the place to go for a time. They have all kinds of events like music concerts and comedy shows. You can also watch sports. You can also attend conventions at the Peoria Civic Centre. It has something going on all seasons of the year. This Civic Centre is located in the heart of downtown Peoria. If you want to go to a show, then make sure you look for tickets because some shows sell out fast. They also have shops and restaurants where people go before their show starts.

Enjoy Outdoor Activities at Forest Park Nature Centre

Some people who want to explore nature then Forest Park Nature Centre is a great option. Forest Park Nature Center sits within a 500-acre Illinois State Nature Preserve managed by the Peoria Park District, one of the largest protected natural areas in the region.. This centre has hiking trails that go through areas, woods and beside streams. It looks very beautiful and feels far from the city even though it’s only a short drive away. This centre offers many events that change with the season and the people who live nearby visit this centre all year because there is always something to see. This Forest Park Nature Centre is a place where you can walk in the woods and enjoy nature beauty.

Must See these Attractions in Peoria

These are the most popular places that always get the highest number of visitors:

Visit the Caterpillar Visitors Centre

This Center on the riverfront is a beautiful place to go. First, when you enter the centre, it looks normal but when you leave, you feel really impressed. The best part is that you can also go in a Cat 797 mining truck. This is one of the mining vehicles that has ever been built and it is really huge. Admission is affordable (around $7 at last check), verify current pricing at the official Caterpillar Visitor Center website before visiting, as rates can change. You will have a lot of fun looking at all the heavy machinery, including the mining truck, and you will spend a couple of hours there without even realizing it.

Explore Grand View Drive

Grand View Drive is famously said to have been called the world’s most beautiful drive by Theodore Roosevelt. This is a bold thing to say but if you go to the drive, then from there look to the Illinois River valley, you will think that he is right. It looks beautiful no matter which season you go in. In the Fall season, it looks very attractive because the leaves look red and gold which makes this valley so beautiful. So this is hard to believe, it is real. 

Walk Through Luthy Botanical Garden

This place is really something. It is huge, with five acres of green space. There are lots of sections to see like a rose garden, an herb garden and a tropical conservatory. The people who live around here might not think it is a deal but people who visit from other places love it. It is warm and full of plants and flowers when everything outside is cold and frozen. 

Tour the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum

If you are planning to go with your kids, then the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum is the best place for you to go. This Museum has lots of things for kids to do with their hands and places where they can use their imagination. You can also enjoy yourself with your kids and this museum is good for kids of all ages. This Museum is a place to go when it is raining outside. You can also stay in the museum.

Discover Wildlife Prairie Park

This park is located to the west of Peoria City. In this park, they have different wild animals like bison, wolves, cougars and black bears, etc. They live in natural areas where no one can harm them. These parks also have hiking trails that go through forests and wetlands. Wildlife Prairie Park also offers overnight accommodations, cabins and yurts set apart from the animal habitats, so you can wake up surrounded by nature without the noise of the city.

Outdoor Activities and Nature Experiences

Peoria has more green space than most visitors expect. After the places shown above, here are some more worth knowing about:

• Glen Oak Park: This is one of the best parks in the city. It has many popular places like the Peoria Zoo, Luthy Botanical Garden and picnic areas that are good for families. This park is big and well-maintained. You can easily spend a whole day there without getting bored because it has a fun area. 
• Peoria Park District Trails: They make trails from natural areas to the city where people enjoy walking, jogging or biking. The riverfront trail is the most popular one and the most beautiful one which gives the best experience. 
• RiverFront Market: This market is open on Saturday mornings from spring to early fall. It helps us go for a morning walk along the river and buy some local products, handmade goods and fresh coffee from local vendors at the market. 

Best Places to Eat in Peoria

• Thyme Kitchen and Craft Beer: This is a nice place to eat with your friends. The people who live nearby think that this is one of the best places to eat because of the good variety of things to eat. They also have a menu that depends on the seasons.
• Jonah’s Seafood House: This shop is on the river. People really love eating at Jonah Seafood House. They have a lot of seafood and good drinks. It feels special to eat at this house because it shows the beautiful view of the river.
• Alexander’s Steakhouse: Alexander’s Steakhouse has been open since 1983, is known for its hibachi-style grills where you have to cook your own steak by yourself on a fire. They also have a bar that gives a lot of special drinks that people like. You can only do this kind of thing at Alexander’s Steakhouse in Peoria.
• Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern: This is the place where you can get barbecue in the city. They cook the meat slowly and make it taste good, which makes it special.
• Rhythm Kitchen Music Cafe: It is also a beautiful place to eat where you can enjoy food with music, as they do in New Orleans. It is a nice place to go for dinner with your family.

Shopping and Local Markets in Peoria

• The Shoppes at Grand Prairie: This is a big shopping centre in the city. It has different stores and restaurants in it. You can spend your time there with your friends and family. The Shoppes at Grand Prairie has some national stores and smaller local places to eat and get coffee.
• The Metro Centre: It is located in East Peoria and it is another place where you can buy things you use in daily life. The Metro Centre has a lot of stores and offers affordable prices on the products.
• Downtown Peoria area: There are some nice stores in the downtown Peoria area where you can find different old things. They have old stores and places where they show art. These stores are worth looking at because they have interesting things that are not available online. The stores in downtown Peoria stand out for their antique finds and curated vintage pieces you won’t find online.

Best Time to Visit Peoria

There is no specific time to visit Peoria because in every season it has something to offer us: 

• August to October: This is the best time to go there. The air is not moist and the weather is nice. The leaves on Grand View Drive are looks really pretty. At this time, the Peoria Oktoberfest is also organised. It makes the whole area beautiful and this is when Peoria looks the best. Winter brings cold temperatures and fewer outdoor options, but indoor attractions like the Riverfront Museum, PlayHouse Children’s Museum, and Caterpillar Visitor Center remain excellent choices year-round.
• Late April to June: It is the next best time. The weather starts to get warm and the garden has a lot of flowers. The RiverFront Market is open at this time and it is not crowded. So you can do all the fun activities from the riverside and purchase things from the market. Peak summer heat and humidity, but also peak festival season, Fiesta en el Rio and other riverfront events make this a lively (if hot) time to visit.

Travel Tips for Visiting Peoria

Here are the common tips you should keep in mind before going to Peoria:

• When you are in Peoria, you should pack for humidity because Peoria summers are very humid. So you need to pack clothing.
• You should also keep cash handy. It is an idea to carry small bills for parking and for shopping at the seasonal weekend Markets in Peoria.
• The weather in the Midwest can change fast, so you should layer your outfits. This means you should always carry a jacket or sweater for the evening cold wind by the river in Peoria.
• It is also a good idea to bring an umbrella to Peoria. Sudden rain showers are common in Peoria, so you should keep an umbrella in your day pack or car.
• You need to protect your skin when you are in Peoria. You should wear sunscreen and a hat when you are taking boat tours or walking.

Conclusion

Peoria is a city that will surprise you if you do not have a lot of plans when you get there. It is a city with a lot of character. Peoria has good food, pretty natural scenery and fun things to do. You can do many things like going to world-class museums, taking a walk in a garden, and having an old things market that you like. In Peoria, you can climb inside a mining truck in the morning. Then you can walk through a garden in the afternoon. After that, you can eat barbecue by the river at night. 

You can visit Peoria for a day or a long weekend. Between the riverfront, the zoo, the museum, and the surrounding parks, Peoria offers more than enough to fill a memorable weekend. This place really gives you the best memories than you thought you would. That is what makes Peoria so nice.