In Woodstock, Illinois, Groundhog Day is the biggest holiday of the year. In fact, the town throws a six-day party called Groundhog Days to celebrate, which this year is January 28 to February 2. But really, every day in Woodstock is Groundhog Day.

That's because Woodstock, which is about 50 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, was the site for the 1993 Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell flick Groundhog Day. And the town takes the honor of being a stand-in for Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, seriously with a slew of events that revolve around the movie.]]> Jennifer Kester 2011-01-21T15:29:19-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/5/28/11124/2126

Two nights ago on May 26, American Idol's ninth season ended in Hollywood, naming Illinois kid Lee Dewyze as winner and immediately giving him and runner-up Crystal Bowersox sweet record deals. Like with any talented Idol contestant, DeWyze has a devoted following of fans, who will now follow his career and keep up with his live performances. For the truly obsessed, you can always track down the places that have meant so much to Lee on his trail to Idol stardom, and luckily they're all in the Chicagoland area.

Here are the top 3 Le DeWyze hotspots to visit:

· The United Center: Originally the huge stadium that's home to the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, the United Center also held the Chicago-area auditions for American Idol, and it's where Lee was included as one of only 13 finalists to continue on to Hollywood. To get into the United Center, you can buy a ticket to any of the many shows or games held here, and—bonus—even if you go for the cheap seats and end up in the nosebleeds, you'll truly get to appreciate the huge space in which Lee had to nervously perform. 1901 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL. ]]> JetSetCD 2010-05-28T11:35:43-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/4/14/20941/8846

It’s been a little bit since we last investigated a strange scuba spot, but there’s one in Illinois that deserves some attention. The folks at Mermet Springs Scuba will be happy to teach you all about underwater exploration, but the best thing that they offer is some of their underwater attractions.

The place is an abandoned quarry lake, but the owner has taken great care of the place and with a little planning has ensured things stay extra clean and clear. After all, it’s important to keep things clear in order to view the school bus, ambulance, and Boeing 727. That’s right they’ve got an airplane in the water, and it’s actually the one that was used in the movie US Marshals—if you’ve never seen the Tommy Lee Jones classic just watch TNT on any weekend afternoon. Divers can swim right through the main cabin and can sit in the cockpit to simulate the dreaded tarmac delay. And is that Pan Am livery we spy? ]]> kjb 2010-04-15T11:50:24-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/3/12/75343/0767

We have discussed our love for shocking McDonald’s locations before, but we this is the first one we’ve seen where you can’t order a Big Mac or even an order of fries. In Des Plaines, Illinois sits a replica of the very first McDonald’s that opened in April of 1955. McDonald’s purists don’t be alarmed—the very first restaurant was located in San Bernardino, California—but this Illinois location was the first franchise location that Ray Kroc opened.

The original place was refurbished a couple times, but the suits at McD’s apparently had enough dealing with its upkeep and the place was leveled in 1984. The restaurant was then reconstructed using the original blueprints with a few changes to make the place comfy and cozy for both visitors and staff. At least that means that there are no rogue French fries from the 1950s still hanging out somewhere. ]]> kjb 2010-03-12T09:35:04-05:00 42.0445481 -87.885976 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/1/22/3348/61892

Old State Capitol

It seems like George Washington gets all of the love during Presidents Day, so we'll focus on that other February-born president, Abraham Lincoln. To pay homage to the 16th president, of course you have to go to the Land of Lincoln, specifically Springfield.

As Illinois' capital, the city is the state's legislative hub. But Springfield used to be Lincoln's stomping grounds back in the day when he was just an up-and-coming politician and lawyer. ]]> Jennifer Kester 2010-01-22T08:35:04-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/10/21/3450/6598

When November comes around, people's mouths water for turkey—be it the white meat, dark meat or wings. Then there are those who salivate for turkey balls. Seriously. In Huntley, a small suburb about 45 minutes west of downtown Chicago, turkey scrota are as much a Thanksgiving tradition as stuffing at the annual Turkey Testicle Festival, which will swing into town on November 25.

What began as a local tradition has become a draw for tourists. Last year, more than 3,900 people turned out to to the Parkside Pub, the festival's home base, to munch on 1,280 pounds of turkey testes. The small bits—no offense to male turkeys—are coated in breadcrumbs and then cooked crispy in a deep fryer. They taste gamey, like chicken, or so we're told. Some douse them in ketchup or Tabasco, but most people just eat them plain. The bar usually sells out of the treats by 9:30 p.m. ]]> Jennifer Kester 2009-10-21T12:12:22-05:00 42.1683468 -88.405794 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/