We will be visiting Chicago from England for 2 weeks from 10th Sept,and would love to visit a few small towns in the Illinois/Wisconsin area.We have done this in
other states,and really enjoyed seeing places off the tourist track.Any suggestions?

K: How about Galena, IL? It's about a 3.5 hour drive west of Chicago - almost on the state border of Iowa. Beautiful rolling hills (so unlike the flat lands of most of Illinois).

K: Sorry, I should have added that you will need to stay overnight if you travel to Galena - & will need to book ahead, as it will be the beginning of the fall season & it gets crowded. You can try logging onto www.longhollowpoint.com for a place to stay in the "Eagle Ridge" area of Galena.

Western Illinois/Wisconsin is a great suggestion. Itis beautiful and thats a great time to be here. Colors should be wonderful. Are you by chance horse people?? If so, I may have another suggestion.

Although not really off the tourist track, Galena is a good suggestion.

Also not really off the tourist track, going into Indiana's Amish country, you can visit Shipshewana and/or Nappannee. There are a lot of family style restaurants, stores selling baked goods, quilts, craft items, antiques, etc. There's a flea market on Tues. and Wed. and an auction on Wed. It's about 2 1/2 hours drive from Chicago.

There are rotating flea markets at the county fairgrounds in Illinois. I think the 3rd Sunday of the month is Sandwich although it looks like the date this year is September 23 which is actually the 4th Sunday.

And here's a link I found with some other suggestions of day trips around the Chicago area
http://chicago.citysearch.com/feature/14566/

Up in Wisconsin, I thought Baraboo was a fun place to stop, there's a Circus museum and Devil's Lake State Park is nice. Baraboo is very close to the Wisconsin Dells which is very touristy.

Please don't stop in Wisconsin Dells. You'll leave with a very poor, inaccurate impression of an otherwise wonderful state, Wisconsin.

I grew up in the area referred to above.
A route I might suggest you consider:
Head northwest out of Chicago on state highway 12, follow through Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and on 12 all the way into Madison, Wisconsin. Madison is a wonderful college town, and the capital of the state. The University of Wisconsin is there, and in the fall this is a really beautiful city, with two lakes in the center. The University has around 30,000 students and is the hub of activity there.
From Madison, head west and choose one of two routes taking you over to the Mississippi River , either state highway 14 northwest out of town which connects to route 60, 60 takes you to Prairie du Chien on the Mississippi; or, take highway 151 southwest out of Madison, and follow 151 all the way to the Mississippi at Dubuque, Iowa (border).
Either of these routes will be a straight shot from Galena, Illinois as mentioned by others above.
To return to Chicago from Galena, follow state highway 20 to Rockford, Illinois, which connects to Chicago via Interstate 90.
You'd need to spend a couple days on this drive to be able to do it in an unhurried manner, but if you want to enjoy beautiful, unspoiled, rural scenery at its best in the central US, this would be an excellent itinerary.

Whats beyond Chicago? NOTHING! Thats why I'm getting the hell out next summer.

St. Charles & Geneva are a nice drive west of Chicago. They are on the Fox River & have nice shopping & dining & gives you a feel of "small" town Illinois, w/o really going to the small towns where there is nothing to do.

I think Jane's suggested route is wonderful. It will take you to some towns such as Galena with tourist attractions as well as through the countryside with towns where real people work and live.

Just wanted to clarify that I wasn't suggesting a stop in Wisconsin Dells. It's probably the most touristy place in the Midwest, not exactly what you are looking for. I just provided it as a landmark near Baraboo.

As Jane suggests Madison, although not a small town as it's a college town and the state capital, is a lovely place to stop as is Lake Geneva.

Jane: Excellent suggestions! Feel like taking a drive myself.
Chicagoan: Know exactly what you mean - there is really nowhere to go around this city within a 3 hour drive. My husband (who grew up in NY) complains that you can go ANYWHERE on the east coast within a 3 hour window - Boston, NY city, New England, etc. and Chicago has nada. (If he pulls that stinking NY map out one more time, I'm going to hit him with it.) Unfortunately, he's right.

You absolutely MUST drive Lake Shore Drive because the skyline and Lake Michigan views are awesome.

And for a gorgeous drive take Sheridan Rd. (Rte. 41) north thru Evanston and the north suburbs to see estates that are unbelievable and visit some of the richest towns in Illinois.(And so close to the city)

Also,if you are into architecture,the Oak Park/River Forest area with it's Frank Lloyd Wright mansions is a nearby drive.

Almost forgot...although it is,of course,somewhat touristy,a trip to Chgo. has to include eating pizza at Pizzeria Uno on Ohio St. (near north side,very close to downtown)

A small place with possibly the best pizza in the world!

I enjoyed visiting the Frank Lloyd Wright home/museum and the surrounding neighborhood including his Unity Church. It's very close to Chicago - Oakbrook, maybe - a 30 minute drive. I believe the Archictecture Society sponsored the tour.