Ottawa Area Guidebook
Food Scene
Some of our favorite restaurants in Ottawa and Utica.
Our new favorite local restaurant! The food is tasty and the portions are big. Their guacamole is the best!
El jinete mexican restaurant
711 La Salle StreetOur new favorite local restaurant! The food is tasty and the portions are big. Their guacamole is the best!
Great Asian fusion. We like eating on their patio. My favorite is the teriyaki chicken.
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BASH
1012 La Salle StGreat Asian fusion. We like eating on their patio. My favorite is the teriyaki chicken.
Great croissant sandwiches and sweet treats. Menu changes daily, never a disappointment!
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The Ottawa Bakery
630 Court StGreat croissant sandwiches and sweet treats. Menu changes daily, never a disappointment!
Tone's Cones
523 W Main StOur favorite ice cream! Be advised they're cash only. Fairly easy walk from the house.
Pizzas By Marchelloni - Ottawa, Il
424 W Main StAmazing pizza! Family owned and they're super nice!
R Grotto Ristorante
710 La Salle StThis is our second favorite pizza place. We like their beef roll a lot!
Jamie's OutPost
602 S Clark StGreat food! Good bar. We like the F*** it bucket
Nonies Bakery & Cafe
522 S Clark StGood for a light snack before/after hiking
You'd be shocked to hear that we love this gas station pizza! You can order it on their app and pick it up. Of course they are a good gas station too - but the pumps are close together, not easy for extra long vehicles.
Casey's
400 W Norris DrYou'd be shocked to hear that we love this gas station pizza! You can order it on their app and pick it up. Of course they are a good gas station too - but the pumps are close together, not easy for extra long vehicles.
Places to Visit
State parks and more, there's plenty to keep you busy in and around Ottawa!
Great hiking!! Get there early to avoid crowded trails. We love all the trails! You can rent binoculars for free from the visitor's center too if you plan on hiking up.
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Starved Rock State Park
2678 E 875th RdGreat hiking!! Get there early to avoid crowded trails. We love all the trails! You can rent binoculars for free from the visitor's center too if you plan on hiking up.
Although not as well known as Starved Rock, this park is also good for hiking, especially when Starved Rock is too crowded. We recommend going at the end of July when their massive sunflower fields bloom.
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Parco Statale di Matthiessen
2500 IL-178Although not as well known as Starved Rock, this park is also good for hiking, especially when Starved Rock is too crowded. We recommend going at the end of July when their massive sunflower fields bloom.
We like this park best for visiting the live Buffalo! There are usually 4 buffalo out and no hiking required to get to them.
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Parco Statale di Buffalo Rock
1300 N 27th RdWe like this park best for visiting the live Buffalo! There are usually 4 buffalo out and no hiking required to get to them.
Good for fishing. You can also park across the river and fish under the bridge.
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Allen Park
400 Courtney StreetGood for fishing. You can also park across the river and fish under the bridge.
This park is close to the house, you can almost see it from the kitchen. It's open to the public during school breaks and after school. It closes at dusk.
Lincoln Elementary School
1110 West Main StreetThis park is close to the house, you can almost see it from the kitchen. It's open to the public during school breaks and after school. It closes at dusk.
great park for kids - 2 playgrounds,fishing and boat dock, nice paved trail, frisbee golf course, and seasonal mini water park
Fox River Park
717 Hudson Stgreat park for kids - 2 playgrounds,fishing and boat dock, nice paved trail, frisbee golf course, and seasonal mini water park
Fun place for kids and adults alike. For the younger ones, there is an indoor play place. For the older ones and adults there are 4 escape In the summer they also have a nerf gun battlefield.
Starved Rock Entertainment
201 Donaldson StFun place for kids and adults alike. For the younger ones, there is an indoor play place. For the older ones and adults there are 4 escape In the summer they also have a nerf gun battlefield.
Great playground and paved trail for walking. There is also a small pond but not much fishing. Don't miss it on the winter when they have the biggest drive-thru lights show around!
Rotary Park
2837 E 5th Rd,Great playground and paved trail for walking. There is also a small pond but not much fishing. Don't miss it on the winter when they have the biggest drive-thru lights show around!
Shopping
Great little home town grocery store. Everyone is super friendly! Easy for a quick trip from the house.
Handy Foods
604 W Main StGreat little home town grocery store. Everyone is super friendly! Easy for a quick trip from the house.
Such a fun toy store. They have lots of toys open to play with so we go just to browse and have fun from time to time.
Rock Paper Scissors
820 La Salle StSuch a fun toy store. They have lots of toys open to play with so we go just to browse and have fun from time to time.
Walmart Supercenter
4041 Veterans DrThis is the closest Walmart to our house.
Neighborhoods
Head downtown to stroll through local shops and restaurants, don't forget to do at the Lincoln-Douglas fountain!
Be sure to check out the Ottawa Illinois Visitors Center Facebook page for events and local goings on while you're in town.
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Ottawa
Head downtown to stroll through local shops and restaurants, don't forget to do at the Lincoln-Douglas fountain!
Be sure to check out the Ottawa Illinois Visitors Center Facebook page for events and local goings on while you're in town.
Utica is the small town where Starved Rock is located. They have a small downtown area. Besides Starved Rock, the biggest draw to Utica are the baby little festivals and events the town puts on. Be sure to check out Facebook events while you're in town.
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North Utica
Utica is the small town where Starved Rock is located. They have a small downtown area. Besides Starved Rock, the biggest draw to Utica are the baby little festivals and events the town puts on. Be sure to check out Facebook events while you're in town.