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To all of the people that love to hate on Peoria,
Peoria has been my home for about the last 13 years. In celebration of the city I love, I am going to share 13 things with you that will help see what a wonderful community that we have. From the natural wonders that we have here in the river valley, to some of the best locally owned establishments—Peoria is a wonderful city that doesn't get the credit it deserves.
1. Grandview Drive: Did you know that President Roosevelt nicknamed this the World’s
Most Beautiful Drive? It is truly an incredible site that you have to see. If you drive
down Grandview Drive on a sunny afternoon you will see that there is no shortage of
people enjoying this part of Peoria. Head there and take a slow drive to enjoy the
scenery, take your hot girl walks with a friend, grab your dog and go for a stroll, take your family photos with the most glorious background, fill up a picnic basket with treats and have date night that won't cost you a thing (other than what you grabbed from your fridge and pantry); the opportunities are endless. From the winter to summer, to the leaves sprouting in the spring and changing to the most beautiful colors in the fall, you will never be dissatisfied with the beauty that you will find here.
2. The Sculpture Walk: Downtown Peoria/the Warehouse District is a place that some love
and others love to hate. Personally, I love the area. Developers are working to make it more vibrant and fill it with events and organizations that will help bring people together. One of the coolest things downtown in my opinion is the Sculpture Walk. If you walk up and down SW Washington Street beginning at the Peoria riverfront Museum, heading towards Dozer Field, you will see a variety of very cool sculptures up and down the sidewalks. The Peoria Art Guild offers guided tours as well. You can learn more about the Sculpture Walk and find information about the tours at the Peoria Art Guild’s website https://www.peoriaartguild.org/swp. I had never been on a guided tour of the Sculpture Walk until I was a member of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce’s Community Leadership School and it was offered as part of the series. I learned so many cool things about the sculptures and how they were selected. If you live in Peoria and have never checked this out, I highly recommend that you do!
3. Donovan Park: Donovan Park is enormous. It used to be a 18 hole golf course before it was changed over to be green space. Donovan Park is home to beautiful areas to walk and relax, a lot of local shrubbery and trees, a delicious restaurant, Cyd’s in the Park, walking paths, and there are beautiful sculptures throughout the park as well. Donovan Park is a place that I love going on a warm sunny day, and my dog Maggie does, too. It is really one of the beauties of our city and I love that the Peoria Park District made the choice to convert this golf course into an incredible green space for all to enjoy in our area.
4. Revival Music Hall: I just recently went to attend a performance of the Trippin’ Billies
and that was the first time that I have ever been inside the Revival Music Hall. I was blown away! I simply cannot believe that this was the first time that I had been in this building. I know that it is also rented out as event space as well as being an incredible music venue. I did not get tickets in advance when I attended the show there last month and I was able to find a really cool seat up on the balcony, enjoyed some drinks and had a wonderful Friday
evening. Revival Music Hall is officially a place that I will keep on my list of things to do.
If you haven’t been there, you need to go!
5. The Peoria Riverfront Market: This is something that is a part of my schedule every Saturday from late May to the end of September. I love the market so much! You can head down there on a Saturday morning and fill up on wonderful fresh produce from our local farmers, grab an amazing fresh Donut from Yoders, purchase something fun from a local vendor, and so much more. There is something for everyone to enjoy. Bring your dog or your kids in the wagon because this is something that is part of what makes Peoria so special. It can make such a lovely Saturday morning. I have friends that ride their bikes down there from different parts of the city to get some exercise in and enjoy a mimosa from Martini’s before they head home. There is always live music, a balloon man for the kids, and tons of coffee vendors from our local coffee shops. You can purchase fresh meat in bulk, buy a gift for yourself or a friend, and snack on delicious breakfast items and fun treats. In the warm months, the Peoria Riverfront Market is the place to be on a Saturday morning!
6. CxT Coffee: If you need to grab a caffeine boost, have a meeting with someone, or want
to enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee with a friend, this is my go-to coffee shop. There is
something about the vibe of the atmosphere, it's warm and bright, there is plenty of cozy
seating as well as tables and chairs. In the warm months they have a wonderful outdoor
seating area as well. I really do love all of our local coffee options in the Peoria area, we
have some truly special spots, but CxT is my favorite. They have two locations, one
downtown and the other in Keller Station. I generally go to the one at Keller Station but I
enjoy both spots. The coffee is delicious and you won’t be disappointed.
7. Childers in Junction City: This is my go-to Brunch Spot. Their menu is top notch. You
have choices from eggs benedict and frittatas to delicious pancakes, chicken and
waffles or grab something healthy with the quinoa bowl (one of my faves!). They have a
fun boozy brunch cocktail menu, incredible fresh squeezed juices, local coffee in a
coffee press and a fantastic espresso bar. In the warmer months their outdoor seating is
a coveted spot to snag and sometimes when I am in there with a friend we will pull up
stools at the bar. Childers gets really busy, so make sure you plan to be able to wait for
your table if that is something that you have to do, but I promise, the wait is worth it.
8. One of the places that I love, and I feel is so part of the culture of Peoria is One World by Bradley University. Their entire menu is incredible, I truly enjoy everything I
order. If you can’t decide, you must have the hummus. I never knew hummus
could be so special and delicious. Tasting it is something that you will not forget; it
is like a orgasmic experience for your taste buds.
9. Jimmy’s Bar in West Peoria: If I had to choose one bar in the area that makes me
think of Peoria it would be Jimmy’s. Jimmy’s is always fun when I go there. It is a place
where you will find an older crowd all the way down to college students. I can’t
remember the first time I went to Jimmy’s (there may be a reason behind that…) but I
love their Long Island Iced Teas. Jimmy’s is the place to hit up at noon on St Patrick's
Day (beware though, it is super crowded) or if you want to go out during the day instead
of the night on New Year’s Eve. On NYE you get to still watch the ball drop, but it is the one in Ireland, so then you can head home and be in your jammies, in bed early after having
the most fun day.
10. Peoria Symphony Orchestra: The PSO is truly an incredible symphony for our market
size. The musicians are incredibly talented and come from all over the country and the guest artists are world renowned for their musical abilities. The PSO generally has a performance monthly from the fall through the spring. Last year, there was an incredible violinist that joined the symphony that glided through the air above the crowd in the Civic Center Theatre as she played. It was incredible. I think that the PSO is something that some people just assume that they will not enjoy but I assure you, you will not be disappointed. I am a member of the Board of Directors and I am more than happy to help you with tickets, or give you a friendly face to chat with at intermission. It is a beautiful gem that helps make up the well rounded culture offered in the Peoria area.
11. The Moss Avenue Sale: The Moss Avenue sale is one of a kind. First and foremost,
Moss Avenue is one of the coolest roads in the Peoria area. Moss Ave is made up of
some of the oldest homes in Peoria, with the most interesting architecture and glamour.
A lot of homes on Moss Ave were built for the original Whiskey makers of our country.
(Peoria is known as the Whiskey City and years ago, before prohibition, Peoria was a
leader in whiskey distilling.) Moss Ave has some of the most beautiful homes. Moss Ave
is also home to a Frank Lloyd Wright home as well as the locally known, Not Frank Lloyd
Wright Home and is home to the Pettingill Morrin House which is owned and maintained
by the Peoria Historical Society. The Moss Ave sale is an annual sale that happens on
the second Saturday of June each year. There you can find very cool historical items,
locally made items, music, food vendors and it is a really fun way to spend your Saturday. The next Moss Avenue Sale will take place on June 8th, 2024.
12. Peoria Fine Art Fair: This is a weekend event that I always attend. I made it a goal a few years ago to make a purchase of a piece of art there each year and I have found some very
cool items. I always purchase something from a Peoria area artist. I have purchased
some small sculptures, to original pieces and prints and I even found a really cool piece
of wall art one year that is very unique. The Fine Art Fair in Peoria is one of the best in
our country. The artists that display there, go through a very thorough jury and selection process to be part of the fair. At the fair you will find plenty of people wandering through and enjoying the art, food trucks, cocktails, an area that is for kids, a place where you can make a piece of art to be apart of the community art project, music and some of the coolest art you may ever see. The next fine art fair is September 28 & 29, 2024 on the Peoria Riverfront.
13. Tanner’s Orchard: This isn’t in the city Peoria, but it is a Peoria fall tradition. Located
just north of Peoria off of IL-40, Tanners is a fall favorite. I personally love Tanner’s
apple cider donuts. I always head out there during the opening week of the season to
shop in their store where you can find delicious treats made from the fruit that the
orchard grows, incredible produce, sweet treats for both breakfast and
dessert, delicious cider and fun local finds. I have a tendency to go out there regularly
throughout the season from having fun with friends, to grab lunch or get a pack of the
most delicious donuts. Although Tanners isn’t located within Peoria City limits as the
rest of these are, it is still something that makes Peoria a fun place to be.
Peoria is my home. It is the place that I have lived longest in my life as my family moved a lot when I was growing up. I love being apart of the community from the nonprofits that I am
involved with, to the fun things I do to the wonderful friends I have made. I know that Peoria has a lot of “haters” as everywhere does, so I want to make sure that I yell from the rooftops how cool and wonderful truly our city is. We are a community of local businesses that help each other rise up, a place where there are so many family friendly activities and fabulous adult adventures. We are home to some incredible chefs that are putting Peoria on the map with the restaurant scene. Peoria is also home to one of the most affordable housing markets in the country, as proven through the Pandemic when it became a destination for so many people that had the ability to work from home and made the choice to move here. Do yourself a favor and don’t take this wonderful place for granted. It's one of a kind and I am so proud to call myself a Peorian.
- Heather
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