Best Illinois downtowns

[ZachariahDaMan]

I was wondering what you guys thought were the best downtowns in Illinois.

[myrtlesquare]

Peoria has a cool downtown - majorly redeveloped in the past 25 years

[hood]

The only Illinois downtown I know anything about is Chicago.

[flamingomonkey]

I would second Peoria (after Chicago of course). I've only been there once, but was really impressed with the skyline. The whole city reminds me of a miniature Chicago, but much hillier.

[Xing]

Oak Park, Evanston, Joliet, Geneva , Bloomington, Alton ,Edwardsville, and Belleville.

[myrtlesquare]

Oak Park has a cool downtown that I've been to once.

Peoria does have a big hill dividing the town.

[dimebag1980]

Chicago is the ultimate Illinois downtown, and in my opinion the best-looking downtown in the country for its size. But I would have to put Peoria rigth behind it. For a city of only 100,000, it has quite an urban downtown.

[Rockford_IL]

Deffinately Evanston, IL

[cloudrays68]

-Peoria is impressive for it's size. It still amazes me that an Interstate run thru it's downtown core,

like you see in bigger cities, with exits to it's downtown streets, etc.

-Joliet downtown is dense, I really like those bridges that cross the Des Plaines River;

they have a unique architecture to them; unusual looking.

[jp1631]

After Chicago, I would say Evanston. Lots of great restaurants and pubs. And very close to Northwestern.

[chazman]

After Chicago, I would say Evanston. Lots of great restaurants and pubs. And very close to Northwestern.

[elginite]

Elgin has the best downtown!

- Great inventory of historic buildings.

- Density is just right.

- Plenty of free parking.

- Great public facilities.

- Diverse community.

- Great Mexican restaurants

- Best public library in Illinois.

- Largest municipal recreation center in Illinois.

- Train station for 50 minute commute to downtown Chicago.

- Fox River runs through it.

- Most popular casino in Illinois.

- Proximity to huge forest preserves.

- Fox River bike trail.

- Elgin Symphony Orchestra.

- Good mix of luxury condos and affordable apartments.

- Lot of picturesque churches, including national historic landmarks.

And a ton of other stuff.