Seven Wonders of Illinois Unveiled

Top destinations around the state chosen by consumers

    CHICAGO, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- After thousands of votes were cast
 during the month of March, the wait is finally over. Today, Governor Rod R.
 Blagojevich and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
 Opportunity, Bureau of Tourism (DCEO/IBOT) revealed the official Seven
 Wonders of Illinois on its Web site http://www.enjoyillinois.com. The
 winning Seven Wonders are:
     -- Wrigley Field, Chicago - One of baseball's oldest and most beloved
        stadiums in the nation is best known for its charming ivy-covered walls
        and its die-hard Chicago Cubs fans.
 
     -- Baha'i House of Worship, Wilmette (Chicagoland) - One of only seven
        Baha'i temples in the world, the Baha'i House is an architectural
        marvel featuring a nine-sided dome surrounded by beautiful fountains
        and gardens.
 
     -- Starved Rock State Park, Utica (Northern) - Offering visitors a
        destination rich in history and natural beauty with lush forests,
        Starved Rock State Park features 18 magnificent canyons, spectacular
        ancient rock formations and numerous sparkling waterfalls in a
        breathtaking setting along the Illinois River.
 
     -- Allerton Park and Retreat Center, Monticello (Central) - This National
        Natural Landmark invites guests to explore a sprawling 1,500-acre
        estate with picturesque gardens, unique sculptures, winding trails,
        nature areas and a stunning mansion.
 
     -- Black Hawk State Historic Site, Rock Island (Western) - This historic
        site pays homage to the Sauk and Mesquakie (Fox) Indian tribes who
        occupied the area as far back as 12,000 years ago.  The site features a
        tree-lined park with walking paths along the scenic Rock River.
 
     -- Rend Lake, Benton (Southern) - Rend Lake is the state's second largest
        reservoir, and one of the premier vacation spots in Illinois offering
        travelers boating, water skiing, swimming, shopping, nature trails,
        golf, fishing and hunting.
 
     -- Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway, Alton (Southwest) - The
        33-mile stretch of highway where the Mississippi, Illinois and
        Missouri rivers meet to flow to the ocean, offers onlookers majestic
        views, natural wildlife, river attractions and quaint villages.
     "The Seven Wonders of Illinois program was not only an exciting contest
 for our communities to rally around their favorite destinations, but it's
 going to continue spreading the word about all our unique offerings across
 the state. These innovative tourism programs are bringing visitors from
 near and far, expanding our economy and helping create more good jobs,"
 Gov. Blagojevich said.
     Visitors to the Bureau's Web site, http://www.enjoyillinois.com, can
 now learn about each of Illinois' official Seven Wonders through a
 dedicated microsite that hosts a feature page for each of the wonders and
 downloadable videos. The videos offer a two- to three- minute narrative of
 each attraction, its history, offerings and related fun-facts. Visitors can
 also book a Seven Wonders of Illinois 3-Day Getaway featuring both the
 final wonders and many of the nominees. Those who take a 3-Day Getaway will
 also receive a free $25 Shell gift card.
     "We are so pleased with the success of the Seven Wonders of Illinois
 program," said Jan Kostner, deputy director of DCEO/IBOT. "This multi-media
 campaign encouraged consumers to tell us about their favorite attractions,
 and the response we received showed us how passionate travelers are about
 Illinois' most distinctive destinations."
     The Seven Wonders of Illinois program was launched at the 2007 Illinois
 Governor's Conference on Tourism in Chicago in February, when DCEO/IBOT
 Deputy Director Jan Kostner invited consumers to nominate their favorite
 Illinois attractions on the Bureau's Web site. The Bureau received more
 than 3,700 nominations during February, from which 84 destinations were
 chosen to compete -- 12 from each of Illinois' seven regions. During March,
 visitors to http://www.enjoyillinois.com were invited to vote on their
 favorite attractions throughout the state. Each week the field was narrowed
 down, based on votes, until only the final seven remained.
     To get travelers started on their journeys to discover the Seven
 Wonders of Illinois, the Illinois Bureau of Tourism offers additional
 information on one-of-a-kind attractions, events, accommodations and
 bookable 3-Day Getaways through the Bureau's Web site,
 http://www.enjoyillinois.com or its travel counselors at 1-800-2CONNECT.
 Travelers can also order the all-new Illinois Travel Guide, the most
 comprehensive guide to travel in the Land of Lincoln. Guides are available
 at Tourist Information Centers, local convention and visitors bureaus, and
 regional tourism development offices statewide.
     EDITOR'S NOTE: Media materials and downloadable images are available on
 the Illinois Bureau of Tourism online media center at
 http://www.illinoismediacenter.com. Additional photography, available
 electronically, may be obtained by contacting Emma Douglas at
 emma.douglas@edelman.com, 312-240-2730 or Stephanie Aenchbacher at
 stephanie.aenchbacher@edelman.com, 312-240-2688.
     The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Bureau of
 Tourism manages industry efforts that result in sustainable and significant
 economic and quality-of-life benefits for Illinois residents.
 
 

SOURCE Illinois Bureau of Tourism