Giant City down by Carbondale is kinda nice. Nice lodge built by the CCC.
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
Lincoln’s Boyhood Home
https://trips.klarna.com/en/adp/united-states/springfield-illinois/lincoln-home-national-historic-site-a25442855/
426 S 7th St, Springfield, IL 62701
Lincoln Tomb
1500 Monument Ave, Springfield, IL 62702
Air Combat Museum
https://aircombatmuseum.com/
Old State Capitol
https://dnrhistoric.illinois.gov/experience/sites/central/old-capitol.html
1 Old State Capitol Plz, Springfield, IL 62701
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
https://www.lincolnpresidential.org/
212 N 6th St, Springfield, IL 62701
Don’t miss the Lincoln Presidential library in Springfield.
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2024/apr-8-total/where-when/
Paducah, KY has the best pulled pork in the country. KY and Barkley Lakes. French Lick was mentioned, Nashville, IN is a tourist trap, Hoosier National Forest is pretty. I would IL like the plague, and now avoid it altogether even tho 69 is not finished.
If you go through Champaign-Urbana, there is a World Heritage Museum in Urbana near the U of I campus.
If you follow I 55 South out of Springfield you come to Cahokia Mounds State Park just at the east edge East St Louis. The site is a state monument but being Illinois is not Federal. It should be. I advise heading back north after your visit and avoid East St Louis. From the top pf Monk’s Mound you get an interesting view of the Gate Way Arch across the river at StLouis
Cahokia had a population greater than London at the time at around 25,000. The site is a truly fantastic American treasure. Cahokia is an extremely important site.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahokia
Pick someplace else to go for vacation.
Next question?
There are two naturist campgrounds in northwest Indiana worth checking out. I’d go during the week when it’s less crowded. Cabins for rent. Lots of forest and sand dunes for hiking. Swimming pools. Google for more information.