Illinois Office of Tourism to enter first-ever float for Tournament of Roses Parade

The Illinois Office of Tourism is making its first-ever float for the annual Tournament of Roses Parade along Route 66 on Jan. 2 in Pasadena, California. The 24-foot-tall float features nearly 30,000 flowers and took about 22,000 volunteer hours to create, according to a news release. More about the float: The Enjoy Illinois float will … Continue reading Illinois Office of Tourism to enter first-ever float for Tournament of Roses Parade

Illinois touts Route 66 to young people in new “Up for Amazing” campaign

The Illinois Office of Tourism recently released its new "Up for Amazing" advertising campaign designed to draw tourists from the millennial generation and Generation X to the state. Route 66 features prominently in at least two of the 30-second ads. And several other attractions -- including Abraham Lincoln sites in Springfield and Chicago's Willis Tower -- … Continue reading Illinois touts Route 66 to young people in new “Up for Amazing” campaign

Exporting the buzz of Route 66 to England

The Outside Collective, a London-based creative and illustration agency, last year helped create a huge Route 66 mural featuring several Illinois landmarks. I just now found out about it. The mural was at on the side of The Hat & Feathers pub on the corner of Clerkenwell and Goswell roads in London (map here). It was 52 … Continue reading Exporting the buzz of Route 66 to England

Funks Grove Maple Sirup featured on Illinois Made series

The Illinois Office of Tourism features Funks Grove Maple Sirup near Shirley, Illinois, as one of eight businesses in a new Illinois Made series. According to an article in the Bloomington Pantagraph, Illinois Office of Tourism director Cory Jobe said Illinois Made contains videos, exclusive web content and travel ideas. “Travelers really want to travel to a destination or … Continue reading Funks Grove Maple Sirup featured on Illinois Made series

Chicago plans Route 66 birthday party Saturday

On Saturday, Chicago will host a 90th-birthday party for Route 66 near the eastern terminus of the Mother Road. According to Time Out Chicago, the Illinois Office of Tourism will throw up a pop-up birthday party for Route 66 on Jackson Boulevard in downtown Chicago, near Michigan Avenue, where the historic highway begins. The nearby Bow Truss coffee shop … Continue reading Chicago plans Route 66 birthday party Saturday

Palms Grill Cafe honored by Illinois Tourism

The historic Palms Grill Cafe in Atlanta, Illinois, has been given an “Enjoy Illinois: Delicious Destination” award from the Illinois Office of Tourism, it was announced Monday. According to a news release from Illinois Tourism and Logan County Tourism: “From family-owned restaurants with long and storied histories to the hottest new cuisines in the world, … Continue reading Palms Grill Cafe honored by Illinois Tourism

New statues coming to Route 66 in Illinois

A series of new statues and wayside kiosks will be erected in nine towns along Route 66 in Illinois, according to a news release. The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway project was paid for by grants from National Scenic Byway Program and the Illinois Office of Tourism. The new kiosks and statues add to the 31 wayside exhibits and … Continue reading New statues coming to Route 66 in Illinois

Mini Abe gets his kicks

You have to hand it to the folks at the Illinois Office of Tourism for coming up with novel campaigns. You'll see a miniature Abraham Lincoln take in multiple sights in his adopted state, including Route 66. https://youtu.be/7u1hYL-2quE Mini Abe reminds me of a more macho version of Mr. Bill. (Hat tip: Adweek)