Best hotels in Champaign
Courtyard by Marriott Champaign
1811 Moreland Boulevard, IL, 61822
Situated just north of Downtown, this modern hotel offers spacious rooms and suites for business travelers, leisure guests and prospective UIUC students alike. Take a dip in the heated swimming pool or lounge in the lobby’s comfy armchairs with a good book.
Hyatt Place Champaign/Urbana
217 North Neil Street, IL, 61820
Stay close to campus at the perfectly positioned Hyatt Place hotel. Well-equipped rooms feature plush beds, spacious workstations and 42-inch TVs, while amenities such as the indoor pool, fitness center and on-site restaurant ensure you have a comfortable stay.
Champaign Garden Inn
411 West Hill Street, IL, 61820
It’s impossible not to be charmed by the historic roots of this cozy bed and breakfast, set within a 1901 Victorian mansion. Elegant guest rooms showcase antique furnishings and luxury linens alongside modern flat-screen TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi. Relax on the porch overlooking beautifully landscaped gardens or enjoy your morning coffee in the communal dining room.
Best restaurants in Champaign
Sakanaya
403 East Green Street, IL, 61820
Literally translating to ‘fish market’ in Japanese, Sakanaya is known for its fabulously fresh seafood and sushi. Enjoy classic California rolls and signature sushi, like the Champaign-Urbana roll with deep-fried tuna and avocado. On colder nights, the spicy ramen will warm your soul.
Seven Saints
32 East Chester Street, IL 61820
Sliders, salads, sandwiches and sides – the Seven Saints menu has it all. Share a sinners crowd pleaser platter with hand-battered cheese curds, onion rings and marinara sauce – the perfect finger food. Check out the themed sliders too, from the Chicago-style hot dog slider to the Asian slider with wasabi aioli and crunchy chow mein noodles.
Silvercreek
402 North Race Street, IL, 61801
Pay a visit to Champaign’s sister city, Urbana, for a modern fine dining experience. Beautifully plated dishes showcase the rich flavor of home-grown herbs and produce. Indulge in unctuous lobster mac and cheese, superior jumbo shrimp and grits, or the chef’s daily mixed grill.
Best attractions in Champaign
Krannert Art Museum
500 East Peabody Drive, IL, 61820
Explore one of the largest fine art museums in Illinois and discover global works of art from the Bronze Age to the present day. Exhibitions focus on art movements, time periods and themes such as memory and social justice. Outside, the postmodern architecture is a sight to behold too – from the golden decorative screen to the Neo-Egyptian Kinkead Pavilion.
Orpheum Children’s Science Museum
346 North Neil Street, IL, 61820
Engage your little ones in the world of science, art and technology at this interactive museum in the old Orpheum Theatre. Kids can dress up as astronauts and rocket into space, dig for fossils and bones in the Dino Dig, and meet geckos, tarantulas and bearded dragons in Critter Corner.
Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve
1505 North Broadway Avenue, IL, 61801
Just a short drive from Champaign, this forest reserve offers plenty of outdoor fun. Hike or bike the three-mile trail through Buffalo Trace Prairie and Rayburn-Purnell Woods, then climb the six-story HI-Tower for breathtaking views of the park. You can also visit the Museum of the Grand Prairie and Mabery Gelvin Botanical Gardens, with its charming bridges and waterfall.