If you’re looking for the perfect Midwestern destination to visit in the fall, Savanna, Illinois may just be it. Between the main drag of town being nestled right on the Mississippi River and the massively gorgeous state park in town, it’s a seasonal slam dunk.
Where To Eat in Savanna, Illinois
For a small town, Savanna has a lot to offer in the way of dining options. We ate at a new place each meal and still didn’t even make it to all the local spots.
Sunshine Restaurant for Brunch
This is where I had one of the most delicious, home-cooked tasting skillets I’ve ever had. We had breakfast here Saturday morning and the whole family raved about it! Even Alexis was highly impressed, as you could tell by how she absolutely devoured the food fist-fulls at a time. 🤣
They also serve lunch and are very family friendly. The atmosphere is very welcoming and was a great way to start our big day of Savanna adventres.
Sippi-Side Pub for Lunch
We caught some college football here during our lunch break on Saturday. It was perfect! The vibe was chill and friendly, not too busy at lunchtime so it made letting Alexis walk around a bit while we waited for our food easy to do. That girl is always on the move, the more places we can let her wonder some energy off, the better.
Kevin ordered a grouper sandwich and says it was one of the best he’s ever had! He told me specifically that I need to call out the tartar sauce, he thinks it’s homemade, but either way is phenomenal. Alexis enjoyed a nice plump hot dog and some fries along with a share of Kevin’s tater tots. Meanwhile, I got these sweet chili boneless chicken wings that were also exceptional. The order was large so you can definitely split them with someone if you grab a side of fries or something.
They also recently finished an upstairs deck that overlooks like Mississippi River (hence the name ‘Sippi-Side’ 😉) and a back room with an open air atmosphere and occasional live music. This is a must-stop place at night for couples or families with older kids who could enjoy the live music!
Manny’s Pizza & Tacos for Dinner
For a casual, fun family dinner that everyone will surely enjoy you HAVE to hit Manny’s. Folks travel from all around to try the tacos and we get why! For dinner we got a large pizza, tacos and jalapeno poppers, and every last bite was incredible. We think the ranch must be made in-house because it was also top-notch!
We were so into the food that I forgot to get a pic of our pizza, but let me tell you… it was GREAT! It was a really thin cracker-crust style pizza that Kev and I really love. We got half sausage and mushrooms, and half just cheese for us girlies.
They also offer jalapenos as a topping, which I loved, but my only knock would be that they won’t accommodate a quarter-pizza of ingredients (only half and half), so I had to pass. Baby girl isn’t exactly into that level of spice yet!
What to Do in Savanna, Illinois
Aside from dining there are a few key spots you’ll want to hit while you’re in town. Most notably the state park just three miles north of town.
Mississippi Palisades State Park
This Illinois State Park covers 2,500 acres full of recreation opportunities such as hiking, birding, rock climbing and camping. It’s a must-see part of the state in the fall and is commonly on the big Illinois leaf changing tour lists.
All of the main Mississippi River overlook points are paved so you can drive up to the area and make a very short walk to the actual outlook. You get an amazing view of the color-changing tree tops, Mississippi River, county highway and the railway below. Pictures just don’t do it justice.
We even saw a bald eagle soaring just 50-feet in front of us! I didn’t realize they had such a presence at this park so it was a fantastic surprise and one of the coolest things we’ve ever seen! We saw several others off in the distance as well, so be prepared for sightings when you go.
The park has TONS of camping and RV options too, so if that’s your thing I recommend staying here during your trip. Mississippi Palisades was very clean with lots of families staying there both in tents and campers, enjoying the perfect fall weather. There’s also a park near the entrance where Alexis enjoyed the swings!
Visit Havencrest Castle
The Havencrest Castle in Savanna, Illinois is a certified property of Historical and Architectural Significance by the Historical House Association of America in Washington, D.C. Currently, the castle is open on weekends in May and October for public tours but also host private events year-round.
Originally finished in 1901, Havencrest Castle, then known as “Hillcrest” was a Queen Anne with 22 rooms. Today, it’s the six-story, 63-room hilltop home of Mr. & Mrs. Alan St. George and is full of themed rooms and unique art, some even created by Alan himself.
Alan St. George has become known as the ‘Titanic Sculptor’ in recent years. Most notably, he recreated the only full-sized historically accurate replica of the Titanic’s famous clock. Adrianne and Alan loved the Victorian and Edwardian periods which naturally led to a keen interest in the RMS Titanic, and in particular its Grand Staircase and First-class appurtenances.
The Titanic pieces alone are enough to draw an audience to this historical landmark, but rest assured the entire castle will dazzle you with droves of unique art, decor and even a Harry Houdini artifact in the main entryway.
Plus, they hand out crowns to the kiddos! I highly recommend dressing your littles up if they’re into that sort of thing. Alexis looked adorable in the royalist outfit I had on hand for her ahead of the trip!
I could talk all day about the Havencrest Castle tour itself. As such, I’ll be sharing an expanded version of the experience and tons of photos of the estate in an upcoming post. Keep an eye out for it!
Other Attractions in Savanna, Illinois
While our time was limited and having an 18-month old effects what we can do, we didn’t make it everywhere we outlined. Leaving these additional Savanna, Illinois attractions below for your consideration ahead of planning your next trip!
Frank Fritz Finds
We actually did make it to the Frank Fritz Finds Antique Shop on our trip just briefly. It’s in the very historic Pulford Opera House building right in the center of downtown Savanna. You actually have to enter through the adjacent Hawg Dogs establishment, but there’s signage that makes it pretty easy to follow.
We visited while in town because Frank Fritz Finds is owned by Frank Fritz of the show American Pickers. Cool, right? It’s not a large shop but we did find a fun, eclectic collection of knick knacks and collectibles inside. It’s a tight squeeze, but we were still able to navigate it with a stroller. Plus, the building is supposedly haunted after the murder of a prominent local just outside in the early 1900’s.
Hawg Dogs
A popular spot for bikers and live music, Hawg Dogs is a longstanding Savanna staple. It’s a lively, happening spot but I’m not sure if I could recommend it to a family. When we cut through to visit Frank Fritz Finds Antique Shop we noticed there was only hightop tables. Meaning there are no tables to accommodate a high chair for littles. The menu looked good though, so if you’re able to stop in come hungry for classic bar food and reasonably priced drinks!
Poopy’s
Poopy’s is Illinois biggest biker destination. While there, you can grab food, get a tattoo, service your bike, buy jewelry and so much more. We drove past Poopy’s when we were there and it’s HUGE! They frequently have live music and live sports. Being as large of a space as it is they’re able to accommodate a wrestling ring and other larger-scale events. Though the reviews also commonly say it’s a family-friendly establishment we didn’t make it in given the live music schedule. Alexis is a bit small for live music, but I bet older kiddos would love it and enjoy the amount of space there!
