East Peoria, Illinois, is a city located in Tazewell County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,402. It is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is across the Illinois River from downtown Peoria. It is home to a number of Caterpillar Inc. facilities and is near a number of other major attractions.

Forest Park Nature Center

Forest Park Nature Center is a staffed nature center located in the suburb of Peoria Heights, Illinois. The facility offers guided nature walks for families and other visitors. It is open daily, except for holidays. Admission is free. Visitors can enjoy guided nature walks, wildlife shows, and a nature bookstore.

Guests can hike seven miles of nature trails. The center also offers classes for children and adults. There is also a retail shop that sells fair trade products. The center is owned and operated by the Forest Park Foundation and the Peoria Park District. It also receives grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The nature center is located on more than 500 acres of land and is protected from development. This means that future generations will be able to enjoy the natural surroundings. The Forest Park Foundation oversaw the transfer of ownership from the Rutherford family to the city. The foundation sold the land to the park district for $1 million in exchange for a nature center. It also encouraged the park district to apply for an Open Lands Program grant to preserve the property.

In addition to offering nature tours, the center also hosts a monthly Shop and Stroll event. The event used to happen four times a year, but has been reduced to three dates. The events are held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Guests can purchase bird-feeding items, field guides, and other nature-related products. There are also toys for kids that encourage exploration and learning. The center also hosts monthly concerts. Among the many other activities in the park, the center is home to the Central Illinois Herpetological Society and the Peoria Academy of Science.

Peoria Riverfront Museum

The Peoria Riverfront Museum is a public-private museum located along the downtown Peoria riverfront. It has five major galleries and a dozen smaller display spaces. Its collection includes art, photography, history, and natural history. It also hosts special events and education programs.

The museum is open year-round, except for Mondays and certain holidays. A general admission ticket gets you into all the exhibitions and the planetarium. You can also enjoy a giant screen theater and classes for children and adults. Parking is complimentary.

There’s also a revolving sculpture exhibit and a garden with twelve different categories of plants. The museum also has a gift shop for all your gardening supplies. You can even take a Segway or a Quadracycle bike tour along the RiverFront. The guided tours include narration.

Peoria’s riverfront is known for its festivals. The city’s multicultural and ethnic makeup makes it a lively city throughout the year. There’s a festival or event just around the corner. The downtown area and riverfront are known as the city’s epicenter.

Peoria Zoo

If you’re looking for a family outing in East Peoria, Illinois, there are many places to see and things to do. The zoo is just ten minutes away and features a variety of animal exhibits. Visitors can enjoy an exhibit focusing on Africa or Asia, or take a trip through the Asian Trail. The Peoria Zoo also offers a fun Corn Stock Theatre.

In addition to the zoo, families can enjoy the water park in East Peoria. There is a colorful swimming pool and splashing activities for all ages. The Water Park includes a tube slide, lazy water ride, and three-story treehouse. The general admission price is seven dollars, and children three and younger are free.

Peoria Riverfront Museum is a family-friendly museum that includes art, science, and natural history. The museum also has a giant screen theater and a planetarium. The museum also offers group tours and rents out a Riverfront Museum Bus with seating for 28 guests.

Peoria is also home to several music groups, including the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, which is the country’s 10th oldest. The Peoria Civic Chorale and Peoria Ballet Company are just a few of the local musical ensembles.

Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum

Peoria, Illinois, offers a fun-filled environment for children of all ages. This museum features interactive exhibits, play areas related to art, science, music, and more. Its mission is to foster an appreciation for all things educational and fun. Families can visit this museum to spend quality time with their kids.

The Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum has created a makerspace area called Real Tools, which is one of the museum’s highlights. The museum sells carpentry tools and woodworking supplies to help children create their own crafts. The area is also filled with recycled materials, tape, and other materials for building.

The museum is also expanding its hours. From January to February, the museum’s hours will change. Visit Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum to experience six exhibit areas. The museum’s six different areas are designed to inspire and stimulate children’s imaginations. The museum offers exhibits that are appropriate for young children and celebrate the Peoria community.

Bradley Park disc golf course

Located in the heart of East Peoria, Bradley Park is a fun disc golf course for all skill levels. The park is historic and once housed a wading pool for children, flower gardens, and a Japanese bridge. Today, it offers sports facilities, picnic sites, and paved trails.

There are two courses to choose from: the White Course and the Fairfield Gold Course. The White Course is a 5020-foot course that’s perfect for beginners and intermediates. The course is hilly and features multiple tunnel shots. The Fairfield Gold Course is more challenging and geared towards the pro-game.

Both courses have challenges, but if you’re a beginner, sticking to the White course will give you the experience you need. The course is not overly difficult but it does require you to move through a lot of woods and steep hills. Some holes are even watered.

This park also hosts the annual Ledgestone Insurance Open. This tournament attracts hundreds of disc golfers from around the country.

Peoria Civic Center

The Peoria Civic Center is a multipurpose facility with meeting rooms, an exhibit hall, and a theater. Built in 1982, the facility underwent renovations in 2008 and now offers over ten thousand square feet of exhibit space. It is also home to the Bradley University Braves basketball team and the Peoria Rivermen, part of the Southern Professional Hockey League.

The park in East Peoria provides picturesque views of the Illinois River and Peoria’s skyline. The scenic Murray Baker Bridge is illuminated at night by decorative lights. The area also has a variety of restaurants and entertainment options, including Shogun Japanese, Culver’s, Texas Roadhouse, and Lorena’s Mexican. A walk along the riverfront is a great way to take in the area.

The city is home to a zoo and an extensive wildlife park. Both attractions offer Behind the Scenes tours and daily events. The Peoria Parks and Recreation Department also hosts mobile zoos for birthday parties and school events.

Peoria Historical Society’s 1837 John C. Flanagan House Museum

If you’re interested in learning more about Peoria’s past, visit the 1837 John C. Flanagan House museum. This historic house, built in 1837 by a Philadelphia lawyer, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The house features a collection of Empire furnishings and details about the town’s distillery industry. A tour of the home is also available.

The house has undergone many additions over the years, but the interior of the home is largely original. The original fire place, baseboards, molding, and most interior doors are all intact. Visitors are required to present proof of their visit, such as a photo of themselves or a GPSr.

The Flanagan family migrated to central Illinois in the 1820s. Originally, John Sr. bought 600 acres near Peoria. He had planned to become a land developer. Eventually, however, his wife’s health forced the family to relocate. Her husband died of typhus in New Orleans, but his wife continued to run the farm, earning a reputation as a strong pioneer woman.