Lev Lazinskiy

Springfield Illinois

Trip Dates

May 1 - May 3rd 2019

How I Got There

I was in Chicago for business, and I took the Amtrak from Chicago to Springfield. The train ride was similar to the one I took a few years ago from Indianapolis to Chicago, except we got off to a bumpy start and it took nearly two hours to get out of Chicago proper.

Where I Stayed

There is no Marriott in Springfield. I ended up staying in the tallest building in the city at the Wyndham. The hotel was a bit dated, but there was an excellent restaurant on the roof with panoramic views of the city.

How I Got Around

Downtown Springfield is pretty walkable, so I walked. I took a bus here and there, and also took an occasional Uber.

What I Did

After a bumpy start out of Chicago I arrived in the afternoon and was able to check in early to the hotel. After dropping my things off, I explored downtown. I visited the old statehouse, Lincoln museum and presidential library, and Union Station. Afterwards, I got dinner at Nick and Nino's steakhouse at the top of the hotel and it was excellent, especially compared to my microwaved cheeseburger on Amtrak earlier that day.

The next day I explored Lincoln's old neighborhood, which has been preserved as a National Park. I walked down to the State Capitol and after touring the interior, visited the Illinois history museum.

On my last day, I didn't do anything too notable. I checked off a few more Lincoln themed spots such as the old railroad station that he left from when he became president. I spent the afternoon working from the Library and then made my way to Springfield airport for my flight back to San Francisco.

What Was The Fuss

Two words – Abraham Lincoln.

I've learned throughout my travels so far that every state in the Union claims Abraham Lincoln as their own. Springfield takes this to a whole new level. Their entire economy is essentially "Lincoln lived here for a while".