General idea = I plan to take me (dad) wife and two daughters(19&16) to the Springfield Illinois area in August. Mostly for the Redneck Fishing Tournament if it is still going on. At least do some boating and see the Silver Carp jump out of the water. The timing will be in conjunction with the Illinois State Fair. We will do the Lincoln and Capital sights also. I try real hard to find off beat stuff that is not generally widely advertised like the Pearson Museum. I can eat good food at home so I like to find unique eating places like the cozy dog

SO... any insider clues or tips on:
1) Redneck Fishing Tourament\Silver Carp experience
2) State Fair
3) Pearson Museum or others
4) downtown Lincoln sights not widely know stuff
5) Thomas Carillon
6) most charming\convienint or stay away from lodging tips
7) Cowboy spinning hall of fame in Divernon
8) different\unique eating places like the cozy dog
9) anything that is different no matter how small or seemingly insignificant

Travel up to New Salem and see the historic town that Lincoln once lived in, there will be character actors at the blacksmith shop, the homes and stores to give you a live reenactment of how times were then.

EXCELLENT TIP! I checked it out on the web and have added it to the plans. Thanks

The Illinois State Library is centered in Springfield, and the less than 2 to 3 year old Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is a not to be missed feature. If you have gone to Springfield and New Salem in the past, that was good- this is BETTER.

You won't believe the tech on this and everyone is touched emotionally etc. It's interactive and IL spent a few fortunes on this, so do not miss it. I know people who have done 2 days. I think that is a little much myself, but they didn't. The IL State Fair has some fun days too.

Thanks Author: JJ5 I will make sure we do not miss the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Check out the horseshoe sandwiches at one of the Springfield bar & grills. The are a local creation: an open faced sandwich with any of a number of meats, topped by french-fries and beer cheese.

A small one is call a pony shoe.

The place I like best for them is Norb Andy's Tabarin (not a typo for tavern).

Keith

Keith is so correct, have to try the ponyshoe or if you're really hungry the horseshoe! Take your cholesterol medicine though! They are sooo good and Norb Andy's is #1

AWESOME local\insider tip! Thanks Keith and fun2travel

Two downtown Lincoln sites that may not be widely known are the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices, and the train depot from which Lincoln left Springfield to go to Washington, DC.

Here are a few restaurants I would check out:

Cozy Dog Inn (which you already mentioned)

Cafe Brio (Latin American/Mediterranean & located downtown)

Alexander's Steakhouse (cook your own steaks)

Its a great little city, have fun!

Welcome to central Il. Get a sweet treat at the restaurant/bakery, Incredably Delicious. Its a Springfield secret. Also don't miss the Chesapeake House restaurant for great fish. Sixth street near the A.Lincoln Library has specialty stores for shopping.

If you like architecture at all, pay the fee to the Dana-Thomas House downtown. Frank Lloyd Wright was asked to design a new house, for entertaining, around an existing house. His furniture is cool but looks really uncomfortable; the big party room has a half-barrel ceiling, and the whole thing is really close to the railroad tracks, because that was the center of town in those days. Everyone says the new Lincoln Library is good for about 2 hours minimum - it's on my to-visit list!

This trip will happen June 22-28 2008 not 07.
I have everything mostly figured out except where to rent a boat to see the flying carp. Any idea where to rent a boat around New Salem area?