Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Normal, Illinois

Part of the Twin Cities in McLean County, Illinois, the town of Normal serves as the smaller, northern counterpart to Bloomington.

Normal is the site of the main campus of Illinois State University, established in 1857, making it the oldest public university in Illinois. Numerous attractions await on the campus, including art exhibitions, Redbirds games, and stargazing opportunities at the planetarium.

The Constitution Trail provides a scenic route for pedestrians and cyclists, connecting Normal and Bloomington along a serene green corridor that once hosted a railway line.

With charming, tree-lined streets and vibrant flowerbeds, Normal’s compact downtown area warrants exploration, featuring a stunning Streamline Moderne theater from the 1930s and a highly regarded Children’s museum.

1. Children’s Discovery Museum

Spanning three floors, this award-winning institution is filled with engaging, hands-on experiences for children, fostering open-ended education.

The thoughtfully crafted exhibits at the Children’s Discovery Museum provide multifaceted and interactive cognitive experiences for a range of ages from toddlers to pre-teens.

Among its attractions, AgMazing represents the largest agriculture exhibit at a children’s museum in the United States, where children can engage in activities such as feeding cows, operating a combine, and harvesting corn.

Healthy Kids-Healthy Future simulates real-world shopping scenarios at a market and café, emphasizing the importance of healthy choices. Additionally, children can explore a two-story climbing structure, a creative art studio, a paint wall, and the Fetch Lab, which hosts complimentary daily science activities.

2. University Galleries of Illinois State University

Founded in 1973 and operating year-round, this exhibition venue within ISU ranks among the leading platforms for contemporary art in the Midwest.

The permanent collection encompasses works from an array of artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe, Jennifer Bartlett, George Grosz, Kiki Smith, and August Sander.

Exhibitions feature both established and emerging talents and the galleries have presented diverse large-scale surveys of artists including Martin Wong, Dianna Frid, Bethany Collins, David Wojnarowicz, and Jeanne Dunning.

The galleries welcome visitors daily during the academic year and operate on weekends during the summer months.

3. Rader Family Farms

The Rader Family has been operating this dairy farm in Normal since 1945, opening its doors to the public for several weeks of agritainment each September and October.

Visitors can enjoy a plethora of activities on this expansive and picturesque property, which features a U-Pick pumpkin patch, a giant bounce pillow, a 10-acre corn maze, face painting, apple blasters, rat rollers, a double barrel chute, tram rides, and an array of climbing, swinging, and sliding apparatuses.

Dining options abound with various food stalls and eateries, including the Barnyard Grill, which serves hearty comfort foods such as breaded white cheese curds. Do not overlook the celebrated pumpkin donuts available throughout the farm.

4. Ropp Jersey Cheese Farm

With a lineage of seven generations of farming expertise, the Ropp Jersey Cheese farm specializes in producing a diverse selection of cheddar cheeses derived from registered Jersey cattle.

The farm boasts an incredible assortment of varieties, including Cajun, green olive, horseradish, smoked, dill, and ranch, complemented by other cheese offerings such as gouda, Monterey jack, and Swiss.

In total, customers can explore 45 different varieties available at the retail outlet, along with fresh cheese curds, queso, locally-raised meats, ice cream, homemade preserves, and a wide array of other farm-to-table products. Guided tours of the cheese-making process are also available for those interested in gaining deeper insights.

5. Normal Theater

Meticulously restored to reflect its original grandeur, this splendid Streamline Moderne cinema opened in 1937 and has earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Normal Theater temporarily ceased operations in 1990, but was acquired by the city and reopened in 1993 following extensive renovations.

The façade is accentuated by a striking red and green neon marquee and finished with cream stucco adorned with bands of black vitrolite.

Art Deco motifs are prominent within, featuring a recessed double neon ceiling hoop in the auditorium, sophisticated aisle lighting, and plush coral-colored seating.

Operating as a non-profit entity, the theater screens classic films alongside independent and international cinema.

6. Destihl Brewery & Beer Hall

Established in 2013, Destihl relocated to this remarkable production facility and beer hall on the town’s northeast side in 2017.

The beer hall features an impressive 48 taps, offering a diverse selection of small-batch IPAs, Sour ales, and a variety of other inventive beers, including tropical Blonde Ale, Hefeweizen, Pilsner, milk Stout, and peanut butter Porter.

In addition, patrons can enjoy hard ciders, house-brewed sodas, and unique mixed drinks known as “beertails.”

Enhanced by expansive green spaces, the beer hall provides plenty of outdoor seating and serves a delectable menu of American-inspired pub cuisine, featuring burgers, pizzas, and rice bowls.

For those interested in learning more about the brewing process and touring the state-of-the-art brewhouse, guided tours are accessible.

7. Constitution Trail

In the mid-1980s, Normal and Bloomington began acquiring land along the right-of-way of the disused Illinois Central Railway with the aim of establishing a linear park.

Todate, Constitution Trail stretches 37 miles and officially opened in 1989, serving as an exceptional resource for walkers, cyclists, joggers, and cross-country skiers, connecting various locations across the Twin Cities.

The different trailheads provide ample parking, while the paths are equipped with benches, restrooms, picnic tables, and water fountains, along with intriguing remnants of old railway structures.

8. Redbird Arena

The home venue for ISU’s men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams, this 10,200-seat arena features a distinctive fiberglass-clad roof that illuminates during events.

Opened in 1989, Redbird Arena ranks as the second-largest university arena in Illinois, showcasing several innovative architectural details.

Its 12-sided roof ascends 100 feet above the playing surface and is supported by a robust concrete tension ring.

ISU’s Redbirds teams compete at the NCAA Division I level, with the men’s team having produced several notable NBA players, including Doug Collins, who served as the Bulls’ coach in the late 1980s.

9. Anderson Park

Located a short distance east of downtown, this expansive 13-acre park has been a community asset since the 1960s. Anderson Park offers a variety of amenities, including a ballfield, tennis courts, basketball courts, a picnic area, and a playground.

However, it is the outdoor Anderson Aquatic Center that draws attention during the summer months.

This complex features three pools, two exhilarating waterslides, various spray equipment, a smaller slide for young children, and a concession stand. The pools are nestled within beautifully landscaped areas, providing ample shade under large parasols.

10. Ironwood Golf Course

Bloomington-Normal is well-known for its array of high-quality golf facilities, receiving accolades from publications such as Golf Digest. Situated on the northern outskirts of the city is the public Ironwood Golf Course.

This 18-hole championship course was designed by acclaimed architect Roger Packard and features tree-lined fairways that meander through the Ironwood residential neighborhood, incorporating four challenging water hazards.

Facilities available include a grass-tee driving range, a 7-hole pitching course, a well-stocked pro shop, and an extensive putting green.

11. Maxwell Park

This land on Normal’s western edge was acquired by the town in the early 1970s. The southern section was developed into Parkside Junior High School and Elementary School, while the northern section serves as a vibrant neighborhood park with diverse amenities.

Available facilities include a disc golf course, tennis courts, ballfields, batting cages, picnic areas, a playground, and barbecue grills.

Additionally, a serene area has been preserved, allowing nature to flourish, alongside a popular dog park that features a separate section for smaller dogs.

12. Illinois State University Planetarium

Situated on the ISU Main Campus, the Felmley Hall of Science houses the university’s prominent planetarium, recognizable by its white dome.

Established in 1964, this venue accommodates 110 guests beneath its 30-foot dome, featuring a Spitz A-3-P planetarium projector.

This projector can illustrate the Milky Way, displaying 2,354 stars alongside eclipses, clusters, and binary stars. The planetarium regularly opens to the public for shows, with scheduling details available on the Department of Physics’ website; attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis.

13. McLean County Museum of History

Bloomington’s historic downtown is centered around the imposing former courthouse, which now serves as the county’s history museum.

Dating back to 1868, the building underwent significant renovations following a fire in downtown Bloomington in 1900. The museum houses over 18,000 items, spanning from prehistory to the present.

The permanent exhibit, Encounter on the Prairie, comprises four galleries that highlight the cultural diversity, industry and commerce, agricultural legacy, and notable political figures of the county, including Abraham Lincoln, David Davis, and Adlai Stevenson II.

Seasonal events like Christmas at the Courthouse and Evergreen Cemetery Walk add to its appeal.

14. David Davis Mansion

Equally significant in Bloomington is the residence of United States Senator and Supreme Court Justice David Davis (1815-1886).

Remembered as a close associate of Abraham Lincoln, Davis served as his campaign manager in 1860 and later oversaw Lincoln’s estate after his assassination.

A National Historic Landmark, Davis’s Italianate/Second Empire mansion was constructed between 1870 and 1872 and features 36 rooms, with 20 available for public tours.

The rooms are adorned with pieces of Renaissance Revival furniture acquired by David’s wife, Sarah Davis.

The mansion hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including Mr. Lincoln’s Birthday and a June garden festival, as well as elaborate decorations during the winter holiday season.

15. Illinois Shakespeare Festival

Hosted at ISU’s Center for Performing Arts as well as the Ewing Theatre in Bloomington, this significant cultural event is now in its 5th decade.

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival, launched in 1978, presents two Shakespearean works alongside contemporary plays in a period setting each season, utilizing a rotating repertory format.

Productions from recent seasons have included Henry V, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, and Twelfth Night, as well as adaptations of Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth Rex, and Pride and Prejudice.

The festival occurs from June through mid-August and features performances aimed at younger audiences, typically scheduled for Wednesday and Saturday mornings.