HotelTonight – Peoria Hotels Just for You
Driving through the Midwest is something that, unless you've done it, you can't fully appreciate. That's because as much as people who haven't spent time there think it's nothing but cornfields and cows, it's anything but. I've been traveling through this part of the world for work for years, and every so often something happens that allows me to explore somewhere new. As I was driving through Illinois recently, it happened again: I got a call from the home office telling me that my entire next day of meetings was canceled. I could either drive back to Chicago or keep going forward, waiting for the flight the next day. I chose neither, and instead decided to stop and explore Peoria, a city I had not really seen before other than during a quick stop for gas or lunch at a stop along the highway. I had 24 hours to kill and wanted to get to know this place a little better. I wasn't concerned about finding a place to stay, either, as I travel with my HotelTonight app. I'd just use that and book a Peoria hotel room as soon as I was ready to get some sleep.
The Culture
I would not have thought that a city of just over 100,000 people would be home to so much culture, but Peoria has a thriving art scene and a renowned museum. I stopped at the Riverfront Museum and was amazed at all that it contained. I walked through an incredible planetarium. I lost myself in its sculpture garden and spent hours looking at different works of art from time periods throughout history. I also got to talk to a few locals, as this is not a touristy-type of destination. People come here from nearby to enjoy the sights.
The Nature
After walking around inside for so long, I wanted to walk around under the sun, as it was a beautiful day. I drove just a bit west of the city because I had heard about a park that had a lot of trails. The park was enormous and stunning, and I walked around under trees, along water and next to some of the local wildlife. I was told by a local who was there that it wasn't unusual to see bison, bears and even cougars. I took a lot of different photos and spent the balance of the afternoon breathing the fresh air.
The Cuisine
For whatever reason, there seemed to be quite a few Italian restaurants in Peoria. I recognized one that a lady at the museum had told me about, so I decided to make that my destination for dinner. The place was very quaint, what with its wooden floors and white tablecloths. I ordered the lasagna, and it was perfectly done. The cheese fell through the layers of pasta and sausage, and the wine that they served with it perfectly rounded out the flavorful experience.
HotelTonight – Peoria Hotels are Available
I was quite full after a heavy and delicious dinner, so it was time to get some sleep. I opened my HotelTonight app and booked a Peoria hotel room in seconds. Soon, I'd be resting comfortably in a nice, clean and quiet room, happy that I had taken the opportunity to see somewhere new.
