They were closed when we stopped by on our travel down Route 66. Even though we only got to see it…read morefrom the outside and for a quick drive around, I'm good with giving 'em a 5. It's every bit like you'd expect from an 'old prison'. It was built in the 1800's and, of course, when checking out the gate where Elwood picked up Jake in the movie Blues Brothers it looked exactly as expected. Even from the outside there's some good photo ops. Probably won't ever be in the area again, but am sure glad we had the opportunity to see it.

Tour guides are wonderful! Very friendly and knowledgeable. More than happy to spend as much time…read moreas you need answering questions and adding extra interesting bits of information.

Here's a great historical site to explore in Joliet. It's free, and it's all outdoors. Back in the…read moreday, Joliet was one of the leading iron/steel manufacturers in the United States, as it provided several locals with jobs. Many of those people were immigrants who had trouble speaking English. You'll learn about the history of Joliet Iron and Steel Works by walking the nearly one mile trail. I didn't spend more than 45 minutes here, but I felt like I learned a lot. I also didn't walk that far on the trail, but I was more than impressed with what I saw. There are lots of ghost structures of the old remains. Obviously, it is not recommended for anyone to go near them (or behind the fenced area). But they're great for photography either way. And of course, you can get your exercise on the trail, which connects to others. Make this a must-see if you're in the area.

First time coming here the other day. This place is amazing for urban explorers, people fascinated…read moreby history or something for the average walker to do to get their daily 10,000 steps. Parking is a bit tricky if your not familiar with the area. It's got a picnic table, restrooms and water. The path heads straight to the I&M trail as well but you'll see remants of a former Joliet in its prime. It's one of the few things that are actually fun to do in this boring city. (no offense) definitely check it out. The path is great and unique. Definitely check out the brick path. I only wish they described more of what the buildings and paths were originally used for with pictures provided.

When searching "museums to visit in Joliet" you will come across the Original Dairy Queen. This…read moredoesn't have much going on since the business is not functioning here. So you'll visit to see two plaques. If you're nearby it's fun to come see it but don't go out of your way.

Remember those who were massacred. Learn the true story. It's online. The new park is lovely.read more

In a cornfield north of Joliet, Illinois in 1942, Dominic Romano was developing a subdivision he…read morehad called Stern Park. When he heard of the Nazi atrocity against the village of Lidice, Czechoslovakia, he renamed the development Lidice in honor of those who lost their lives at the hands of the Gestapo. It was the first town or part of a town to be named in honor of the obliterated village, others would follow around the world. (Lidice is pronounced, roughly, "LEE-de-seh".) On June 9, 1942 the Gestapo surrounded the village and on June 10, rounded up everyone. They shot all men over 16 and children were separated from their mothers. The women and all the children, except for a few that were selected for "Germanization" were sent to a concentration camp, where many perished. The Nazis demolished the village, plowed it under, desecrated the cemeteries, and even diverted the river that once flowed through the village. Any trace of Lidice was gone. After WWII came to an end, the surviving women and children returned to Lidice where a new village was built near the old one. Crest Hill is a sister city to Lidice in the Czech republic. Romano created a memorial to Lidice in 1942 and the exiled president of Czechoslovakia attended the dedication of the memorial. This memorial is one of only two in the United States dedicated to Lidice. It is not easy to find, located in the heart of Romano's development. Still, it is worth a visit to remember and honor those who died at the hands of the Nazi war machine.

First time coming here and I'll definitely be back here when the weather warms up a bit more but…read morethis place was absolutely beautiful. Well maintained walkways. Plenty of scenic walking. Features some amazing sunsets, bridges too. It's so ambient and quiet, definitely recommend anyone to come here if you're looking to clear your mind.

Clean and well organized. Welcoming and helpful staff. Thought we could purchase the Passport…read morehere, but were directed to the Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of fame around the corner. There is an admission to go past the lobby and gift shop and only interested in getting our passport, we took a few photos and left. Looks and feels nice though.

First time coming here. I wanted a place to enjoy some walking around and educational sight seeing…read more This place is hands down amazing for what's crammed into this museum. For a small fee, you get to immerse yourself for hours and go back in time and learn the origins of this town from an Indian trail to being part of the industrial revolution and beyond! This place features a couple of movie theaters which go very in depth which I didn't have time to get through. It's got a mock 1920s down town area, beautifully detailed area showing what it was like building the I&M canal. They even do parties with rooms downstairs and upstairs on the rooftop.

First off the Station doesn't have a functional passenger platform any more and as far as I could…read moretell it's a shell of its former glory because there is a metal fence on the platform blocking you from getting on a train but I was not getting on any train so that's ok, I'm here for photography/videos. My purpose for today's visit was my nerdy train porn and it did not disappoint because it was full of action with 20 trains in four hours, what an hot spot of action. I mostly do food reviews but I'm going to leave a review for the Joliet union station for the rail fans who might look at Yelp for some info on this place which is probably very slim. For you rail fans this place has such a great variety of rail action with UP, BNSF, AMTRAK, METRA and NS trains flowing through the diamonds. The tracks go from N, S, E, and W with access to three passenger platforms out of the four coroners so there is plenty of access for the rail fan. AMTRAK, METRA and UNOIN STATION have the three coroners covered which is awesome for the rail fan. The bottom line is if your a rail fan and you want a photo/video shoot with lots of open access with out trespassing than this is a very cool place and worth the drive.

The trains as it is are clean and organized, yet the station itself was not what I expected. Since…read moreI was visiting the area for the first time, it was a challenge to find where exactly Union Station was located. I had to go to the police station and ask for definitive information on the address, since GPS wasn't picking it up. Upon arrival, I noticed that there were hardly any signs at all for the location itself. I figured out where to park, since the parking lot is directly across the street. When it came to receiving ticket information, the signs on the inside of the building were equally confusing. The employees within the station were busy at the time, so I wound up asking some of the locals about train schedules, etc. Would I return to this station? More than likely. Is it convenient to get to? I suppose. Its okay to me, yet could use improvement.

The inside of the building is beautiful! The theater itself is nice and has good seating to see…read morestage. They need more restrooms to accommodate guests. The restrooms also need an update and some repair.

I've been here twice now -- and this is probably one of the most gorgeous theaters I've ever been…read morein. The lobby area is stunning, as well as the inside of the theater. Take a moment to LOOK UP while you are in here. You won't be disappointed. And, I hear this place is haunted, and they offer paranormal tours. I would love to check that out at some point!