15 Top Things To Do In Quincy Illinois, While Bonding With Your Family

1. Have a nice walk along Bill Klingner Trail

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Located inside Bob Mays Park, Bill Klingner Trail takes visitors through 53 acres (21.4-hectares) of restored prairie trees. Lit by motion-controlled LED lighting, the trail encourages visitors to take in the wonderful sights and sounds of nature as they come across other nearby facilities they may consider visiting later.

Some of these facilities include an 18-hole golf course that is over a mile (1.6 kilometers) long. The park also has a children’s playground for the little kids to play in. There is also a shelter house at the premises.

Bill Klingner Trail

Address: 2533 N 18th St, Quincy, IL 62305, United States

Website: Bill Klingner Trail

Opening hours: 6am - 9pm (daily)

2. See some old farm equipment at 1930s Ag Museum

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

1930s Ag Museum is a privately owned museum that aims to preserve John Deere US farm equipment and tools that were once used from the 1920s to the 1940s. It showcases a plethora of different farming implements and gives visitors a glimpse of what farming used to look like in years past.

Some of these exhibits showcase a 1936 Model B John Deere Tractor, an antique horse equipment collection, farmhouse furniture from the 1920s to the 1940s, and farm tools from the 1930s.

1930s Ag Museum

Website: 1930s Ag Museum

3. Go on a tour around Dick Brothers Brewery

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Despite having the word “brewery” in its name, Dick Brothers Brewery is an event venue built inside a historic building complex. It takes pride in not only its rich history but also in cultivating a community of arts, culture, history, and entertainment.

This attraction was once an active brewery and offers tours of the old brewery and beer tunnels in the building. In these tours, visitors will learn how beer was once kept cool before the age of refrigeration. There is also a museum room open and it showcases beer-related items.

Dick Brothers Brewery

Address: 929 York St, Quincy, IL 62301, United States

Website: Dick Brothers Brewery

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 4:30pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

4. Discover the rich history of Log Cabin Village

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Log Cabin Village is a historic village composed of Lincoln-era buildings that have been maintained for future generations to enjoy. The buildings include a log corn crib, stone smokehouse, log church, and four log cabins.

The village offers events to encourage visitors to check out the historic buildings and spread awareness of the beauty of this village. These tours include open houses and tours around the village. It also holds an annual Frontier Settlement Day where visitors are provided the experience of what it was like to live in the 1800s.

Log Cabin Village

Address: 1419 Bonansinga Dr, Quincy, IL 62301, United States

Website: Log Cabin Village

5. Check out Dr. Richard Eells' House

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The former home of Dr. Richard Eells, an abolitionist and former president of the Illinois Anti-Slavery Party in 1843. This historic house was partially built by the doctor himself as only the front portion of the house was credited to him. It would serve as his home from 1835 up until his death in 1848.

Other than being his house, Dr. Eells used this place as a safe haven for slaves seeking asylum and was a staging point to send escaped slaves to much safer havens around the country.

Dr. Richard Eells' House

Address: 415 Jersey St, Quincy, IL 62301, United States

Website: Dr. Richard Eells’ House

6. Go camping at Wakonda State Park

Let your children tag along with you and teach them how to survive in the wild. Wakonda State Park has two campgrounds with more than 100 campsites, including basic, electric and sewer/electric/water campsites you can choose from, depending on what kind of camping experience you want. The park consists of six lakes which draw thousands of migrating birds, and hence, attract bird lovers to the site every year. Living in the park draws you closer to multiple activities that you can do there.

Wakonda State Park

Address: 32836 State Park Road, 63448 La Grange, MO

Website: Wakonda State Park

7. Turn back the clock at The Quincy Museum

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Sitting in the center of Quincy’s Maine Street and inside of Newcomb-Stillwell Mansion, The Quincy Museum will wow you with its magnificent Richardsonian Romanesque architecture and marvelous exhibits. Entering the mansion, you will see vast round arches, gigantic stone exteriors with lovely architectural wood carvings. The mansion is made up of three floors, linking three towers on the front and a wide terrace.

The Quincy Museum

Address: 1601 Maine St, 62301-4264 Quincy, IL

Website: The Quincy Museum

8. Let your kids go crazy at Going Bonkers

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Your kids have lots of craziness that has no place to release? The maze-like playground will spike their imagination and playful manner. It provides four levels of healthy fun and exercise that are designed by a physical therapist. In this safe environment, your children can put their energy into jumping, climbing, bouncing, sliding and weaving, while you can put your worries at ease. For children under age of two, there is a toddler area especially for them.

Going Bonkers

Address: 229 North 48th Street, 62305 Quincy, IL

Website: Going Bonkers

9. Enjoy a story of the past at John Wood Mansion

This mansion of historical charm tells the story of John Wood. It was passed on to his son but was eventually sold. It will not exist now if Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County hadn’t purchased it and restored it to the original look. Inside this Greek Revival style house, there are traces of John Wood like the period furnishings that belonged to him. The mansion has four large Doric columns that were built by Wood himself, four chimneys and fancy details throughout.

John Wood Mansion

Address: 425 South 12th Street, Quincy, Illinois

Website: John Wood Mansion

10. Explore your interest and potential at The Kroc Center

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The Kroc Center gives a whole new definition for the community center. Its aim is to create an opportunity for the community to be engaged in spiritual and physical wellness, educational enrichment, and learn some life-long skills. They offer classes and programs such as swimming lessons, yoga classes, volleyball league, art classes and workshops, rock climbing classes and even tai chi for seniors.

The Kroc Center

Address: 405 Vermont Street, 62301 Quincy, IL

Website: The Kroc Center

11. Get hands-on experience in arts in Quincy Art Center

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If you are one of those that learn things through the practical, come to Quincy Art Center! There are plenty of workshops and events here for you to learn art through hands-on experience. Gather your family or friends to join different art parties, such as ‘Kid’s Parties,’ 'Private Paint Your Own Pottery Parties,’ and 'Public Thirsty Palette Adult Painting Parties’ where you can use your creativity to make your own paintings and pottery. There are interesting events like Art Crawl where you get to meet local artists or the Art Fest where every member of the family can join in and be engaged in activities like a collaborative mural, caricatures, live painting and more.

Quincy Art Center

Address: 1515 Jersey St., 62301 Quincy, IL

Website: Quincy Art Center

12. Have fun for all ages in Scotties Fun Spot

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Define fun and you will get all types of definitions from Scotties Fun Spot, as they offer a variety of attractions that let you experience fun in many different ways. Your whole family can join in and challenge each other in the space-themed laser tag game where you will be playing in a fog, hiding and attacking each other. Race each other in the electric Go Karts where there’s a button for you to boost your speed, just like in the video games.

Scotties Fun Spot

Address: Scotties Fun Spot, 8000 Broadway St, Quincy IL

Website: Scotties Fun Spot

13. Learn all about wars at All Wars Museum

To celebrate the contribution of the soldiers in war and preserve the artifacts relating to the history of America’s military engagements, All Wars Museum had been set up 30 years ago. This valuable museum, sitting on the grounds of the Illinois Veterans Home, is open for public for free. The museum exhibits artifacts and visuals and interactive displays from different eras of America’s war times. Outside the museum, there is a lake and a picnic pavilion.

All Wars Museum

Address: 1707 North 12th Street, Quincy, IL

Website: All Wars Museum

14. See Villa Kathrine, a combination of history and architecture

Villa Katherine is Moroccan-style castle sitting on the cliff by the Mississippi River. It was owned by W. George Metz but it is now the official tourist information center of Quincy. Admiring the castle, you will notice that the design of the castle resembles buildings in the Middle East as it is influenced by the Islamic architecture that he observed during his global travels. A brief introduction will be given at first and after that, you are free to explore the castle on your own.

Villa Kathrine

Address: 532 Gardner Expy, 62301-4829 Quincy, IL

Website: Villa Kathrine

15. Drool over the food at Fat Back's Smokin' Racks

Enjoy your meal at Fat Back’s Smokin’ Racks, a relaxing and family-friendly atmosphere with music running in the background and hot fresh food in front of you. Stepping into the restaurant, you will be greeted by a friendly young man recommending a variety of choices from the menu. You will not be disappointed by their moist and tender ribs, pulled pork sandwiches with a smoky taste, BBQ nachos and pulled pork, beef brisket and smoked chicken with their famous BBQ sauce.

Fat Back's Smokin' Racks

Address: 901 N 24th St, 62301-2267 Quincy, IL

Facebook: Fat Back’s Smokin’ Racks

Creating memories during precious times

With the busy lifestyle nowadays, it’s hard to find time to spend with family. So when it comes to a family trip, make sure you make full use of the time together.