Begin your Starved Rock Country adventure by paying a visit to some of the region’s top-rated welcome centers. These popular tourist spots offer free local information, expert recommendations, entertainment for the kids, and must-have souvenirs. Join us as we take an inside look at five of the area’s visitor centers.
The Ottawa Visitors Center is a must-visit spot for anyone taking a trip to the Starved Rock Country area. This informational hub, located at the start of the picturesque downtown district, is home to a wide array of visitor pamphlets, along with helpful staff and a selection of great Ottawa-centric merchandise. While you’re there, be sure to grab a copy of Ottawa’s historic walking tour brochure.
The guidebook will take you on a stroll through the city’s turn-of-the-century Old Town – pointing out sites of historical and cultural significance as you meander along lush walkways, past boutique shops and unique restaurants. Located at the Starved Rock Lock & Dam, the Illinois Waterway Visitors Center is owned and operated by the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps maintains the lock and dam system along the entire Illinois Waterway from Lake Michigan to Grafton, Illinois, where the Illinois River empties into the Mississippi River. The water system conducts river traffic along 333 miles of waterway that drops nearly 160 feet in elevation between Chicago and Grafton – and the visitors center gives you the rare opportunity to see the process in acti.
