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Find your Real Getaway in Northwest Illinois
Map of NW Illinois
Welcome to NW Illinois

100 miles due west of Chicago lie the rolling hills, old growth forests and the pristine rivers of the Blackhawk Waterways in Northwest Illinois. With its quaint cabins and darling bed & breakfasts, it's the perfect weekend getaway in Illinois. Every mile is steeped in history, surrounded by outdoor beauty and dotted with charming villages. The Blackhawk Waterways is what your vacation getaway looks like...
In Real Life.

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John Deere

Historic Site

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photo: Jack Hughes

Mississippi Palisades

State Park

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photo: Jack Hughes

Nachusa Grasslands

Bison Herd

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De Immigrant Windmill

working windmill

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Welcome to the Blackhawk Waterways in Northwest Illinois

Welcome to the Blackhawk Waterways in Northwest Illinois

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NW Illinois Travel Blog

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  • Conover Square Mall | A one-of-a-kind shopping experience

    April 10, 2023
    Conover Square Mall | A one-of-a-kind shopping experience
    From an old piano factory to a one-of-a-kind shopping experience While visiting the Blackhawk Waterways region of northwest Illinois (Carroll, Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside Counties), a shopping mecca straight out of the 70s must be put on your itinerary. Conover Square Mall is a historic shopping center in Oregon, Illinois,…
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