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Metropolitan Statistical Area in Illinois, United States
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Champaign-Urbana is a metropolitan area in central Illinois, composed of the towns of Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy. The community is the site of the main campus of the University of Illinois, one of the great public universities of the United States.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Cattle Bank
Houses quilts and other historical artifacts documenting the history of Champaign County.
Constructed in 1914 as a movie theater, it has been converted to a children's museum.
KAM
Permanent and rotating collections on exhibit.
Cultural artifacts from around the world.
The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music (SACAM) acquires and preserves significant archival records and historical artifacts in multiple media formats that document America's local and national music history and its diverse cultures. Tours are available at no charge though donations are accepted.
A free museum with interactive exhibits teaching about the history of people living in prairies as well as local history exhibits.
Exhibits on local nature plus opportunities to see owls and deer along boardwalk trails that meander into the adjacent Busey Woods and Crystal Lake Park.
Houses informal and formal Japanese tea rooms constructed by Japanese artisans, and surrounded by Japanese-style gardens. Tea ceremonies are held every other week throughout the year ($5, reservations required). Classes and free tours are also available.
Urbana Farmer's Market
At the corner of Illinois Avenue and Vine Street, Urbana.
IMC
Community-run center for community media and social events in downtown Urbana. It regularly hosts independent music, cultural, and political events as well as a variety of classes and community group meetings. A schedule of events can be found on the Independent Media Center's website.
The University of Illinois Student Union hosts many dance, music, comedy, and other assorted social events in its ballroom or outside in its patio. A link to their schedule of events can be found on their online calendar (linked).
Most Thursdays throughout the year (check calendar), Krannert Center holds a free wine tasting for those who are 21+. Each week, a different local bar/winery/store brings in one white and two red wines to sample. Generally, a sample of each will range from 1-3oz. Free chex-mix and cheese & crackers available.
Library
Beautiful renovated library with lots of spaces for all users. Free wifi. Special area for children with toys, puppets and friendly librarians.
Farm on the outskirts of town embodying core sustainability and social responsibility principles. They sell high-quality goat cheeses. They occasionally host community days where one can visit the goats on the farm, peruse the grounds, and eat tasty farm-produced food.
A 7-mile bike trail that goes from Urbana to St. Joseph. The trail is quite flat, and there are some nice restaurants at the end.
Book readings, poetry readings, book clubs, and other events.
Built in 1921, the historic theater is home to the annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival and is also used for monthly film series, live concerts, and theatre. It retains its original Wurlitzer pipe organ which is played before many of the shows.
Standard big-screen movie theater with stadium seating, digital projection & sound, party room, assisted listening devices, handicapped seating, open caption events, captiview closed captioning, and special events. The theater has 16 screens including a 3D IMAX theater.
Seats a total of 2,800, with 600 in their "Big D" auditorium alone. Modern theater, with combined concessions and ticketing. Standard AMC amenities, including their in-theater bar, Coca-Coca-Cola Freestyle machines, Accessible seating and listening. Discounts available on Tuesdays and for Matinee showtimes.
SoDo Theatre is a developing space for visual and performing artists and arts organizations. The stage hosts a variety of live entertainment on a regular basis, including improv comedy, music and magic.
An intimate, "black box" playhouse, and home to the Celebration Company, the theatre is in downtown Urbana. The theatre was built as a passenger station of the Big Four Railroad.
At the edge of campus in Urbana and is an excellent musical venue; draws some big-name acts regularly. Must be 18+ to enter.
The main venue in town for music, theater and dance. Features community, university, and world-famous performers.
The Rose Bowl Tavern has live music most nights, ranging from country, folk, jazz, rock, and hip hop. The Urbana Hootenany is a particularly unique event, which features local musicians.
Assembly Hall
Home of the Illini basketball teams (men's and women's). Also hosts large rock performances. Elvis Presley, Aerosmith, U2, The Rolling Stones, Phish, and Garth Brooks have all performed here.
Home of the Illini football team.
This biannual festival, started in 2005 and named after Ellnora Krannert the founder of KCPA, features live concerts and workshops by some of the greatest names in the music business. Adrian Belew, Bubby Guy, Taj Mahal Trio, Bill Frisell, Luther Dickinson, Dan Zanes, Sharon Isbin - they've all been there. Jazz, Rock, Steel Guitar, Blues, whatever! If it riffs, sizzles, strums, it's at this hot festival in September at Krannert Center for Performing Arts (KCPA).
The only full marathon in central Illinois. Half marathon, 10k, and 5k distance races are also available. Held in late April.
Annual fair held by the county in Urbana in late July.
Ebertfest
Annual film festival begun by critic Roger Ebert, a Champaign-Urbana native, every April. Held at the Virginia Theatre.
Annual event in late June where dozens of restaurants, artists and music groups set up on West Side Park in Champaign.
Indie music festival in late September, lasting four days.
Annual film festival, started in 2010, featuring films by local filmmakers in Champaign-Urbana and downstate Illinois. Held every April at the Art Theater.
Held each February on the campus. Motto: "Scaring the general public with horrific films and horrific filmmaking since 1984."
The Annual Sweetcorn Festival is organized by the Urbana Business Association each August in downtown Urbana. This is a family friendly festival with activities for all ages. There are two entertainment stages, food and merchandise vendors and activities for children. And the highlights of the event are the hot buttery ears of sweetcorn.
Occurs each April and is hosted throughout Champaign-Urbana.
An event at the beginning of the fall semester in which student organizations at the University of Illinois showcase their clubs on the main quad. Although mainly for students, many clubs put on interesting showcases that are quite entertaining and worthwhile to see.
This annual event has become the largest festival in Champaign County. The main course: hot, steaming ears of sweetcorn! The festivities kick off on Friday at 5PM and will last until 11PM, and all day Saturday from 11AM-11PM. Bring your family and friends, enjoy food, music, and more fun than you can handle. Activities include a petting zoo and pony rides, a rock climbing wall and live entertainment.
Some of the best BBQ in chambana. Can fill up quickly at dinner time.
Great local American diner. Don't miss the biscuits 'n gravy and, of course, the famous Apple Dumplin'.
"Burritos as big as your head."
For students, a popular place to have breakfast with their parents. For locals, a comfortable place to have burgers, malts, and fountain drinks. Several options for vegetarians.
Custard Cup
Local favorite for frozen custard desserts, including "snowstorms" -- custard mixed with toppings or cookies.
Palestinian food.
Maize
An inexpensive restaurant featuring tacos, burritos, tortas, tostadas and other Mexican treats made with fresh ingredients.
A local diner and favorite late night eatery. Open 24 hours.
Chinese, good whole steamed fish as well as their shrimp with lobster sauce. Has some interesting sweet cocktails.
Order meat like you're at a bar.
A quirky vegetarian restaurant. Awesome soups served with fresh bread.
Steak and salad bar that locals love
Taiwanese restaurant popular with international students from China, also serving dishes from numerous regional Chinese cuisines.
The Spice Box is a student-run restaurant associated with the University of Illinois Hospitality Management Program. Each Spice Box meal has two menu selections, a prix fixe four-course meal option, and a special two-course meal option.
Classy American steakhouse with specialty cocktails & a retro vibe in a circa-1880s building.
Small brewery near the heart of downtown Urbana, sells flights. Happy hour 4-6PM with $1 off drafts.
GSC
It began as a hookah bar before the smoking ban, but now is a popular bar with students. They have daily specials, gambling machines and darts.
Sports bar & restaurant popular with upperclassmen and graduate students. Generally not very crowded, usually no cover. Has an exclusive Riggs Beer Co beer on tap, Legends Lager.
Traditional pub with no cover. Popular with upperclassmen and graduate students. They have a logo glass night on Wednesdays. Has an exclusive Riggs Beer Co beer on tap, Murphy's Irish Red.
The definition of a Greek bar. Large open dance floor. Loud techno. Very popular with Freshman Greeks, making it the 'hook-up' bar. Cochrane establishment.
A small hole in the wall bar where becoming a member of the 'Mug Club' is a popular campus tradition.
Four distinct areas give everyone a place at Joe's. Large beer garden, bar area with indoor seating and pool tables, upstairs that can be rented out, and the main draw: the dance floor with a stage and stripperpoles. $2 U-Call-It every night.
Older age range, has pool tables and bar food. Also has complimentary peanuts whose shells can be discarded on the floor.
An English-style pub with the largest beer selection in Champaign-Urbana. Has a rotating list of more than 20 draft craft beers. Nationally known for great beer selection!
Blind Pig's 2nd location that doubles as a brewery and a pub.
Upscale club which has been rumored to deny admittance to people who are dressed sloppily.
Sometimes books nationally-known bands, hosts salsa dancing nights.
A dive bar with cheap beer, oldest bar in Champaign.
Best thin crust pizza in town, pool tables, decent beer list.
Sports bar and restaurant.
A bar/restaurant with a good selection of beer and quality food.
A bar in downtown with a wide beer selection.
A nice neighborhood bar.
A chilled bar with daily food and drink specials.
Live country music.
Local brewery. The venue has ample outdoor seating right in front of the fields from which the beer is brewed.
Also serves sandwiches, beer and wine. WiFi access.
Also serves sandwiches
Also serves sandwiches. Secure WiFi. Once visited by former President Obama.
Multiple locations around town.
Serves a very unique selection of sandwiches and baked goods. Free WiFi is available.
Bakery and coffeeshop.
Located in the center of the University of Illinois campus and adjacent to campustown, the Illini Union offers guests the unusual experience of sleeping in a student union -- in this case, a grand colonial building built in 1939 on the north end of the University's main quad. The building has a bowling alley, video games, food court, art gallery, reading rooms and lounges, walk-in massage clinic, and other amenities (additional charges apply). Room rate includes parking, but it will be off property when the hotel is busy. Often completely booked far in advance. Accepts reservations by e-mail.
Has a restaurant/bar in the lobby which opens at 5PM.
Close to the University of Illinois, Carle Medical Center, the Champaign County Fairgrounds, and Market Place Mall.
Stained and decorative glass gallery. Also sells supplies and teaches classes.
Meat Lab
One of the stranger local institutions, this University of Illinois facility sells a variety of meats produced by the agriculture college. Offerings vary widely depending upon what classes and experiments are in session. The beef jerky is a local legend. Call for price list & specials.
Art coop that specialize in art, architectural, photographic and craft supplies. They also carry a vast selection of unique papers, fountain pens, greeting cards, posters, frames, notebooks, books, toys, black & white film/chemicals, photo paper, paint pens, tote bags, and a large variety of gifts.
A nonprofit offering a vast, uncommon array of reusable materials for arts, crafts, education, and beyond. All quality, all safe, and all donated by community members and local businesses.
A unique spot to buy and read a used book
Buy a book, wine, coffee, or pastry
By train
Champaign-Urbana is on the Amtrak system, and is served by three regularly-scheduled train routes, the 58/59 City of New Orleans, the 390/391 Saluki and the 392/393 Illini.
By car
Interstate 74 runs east-west. 120 miles east is Indianapolis and continues to Cincinnati.
By bus
All of the following buses and trains (Amtrak) arrive at Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign which is also a hub for public buses (CUMTD, DMT).
By bicycle
Champaign-Urbana has a lot of bicyclists who cycle for transportation and recreation. The flat geography of the community makes it easy to get around on bicycle.
By bus
Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (+1 217-384-8188) is an award winning municipal bus system.00.
By car
Most of Champaign-Urbana is easy driving. However, the campus area is complex.
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Savoy · Regional · CMI
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