Where to go in January 2022: Here’s Illinois’ Top Travel Destination

You've spent much of the last month either visiting family and friends or just staying home.

Either way, despite the snow and cold Illinois offers in January, there's one other thing that sounds like it might be worth checking out.

It won't break the bank either. So if you're worried about spending a lot of dough to do this type of travel, don't worry, you'll just need enough coin for gas.

Travel Pulse put together a comprehensive list of Every State's Best Place to Travel in January, and the truth is, I never ever considered this as "something to do."

Not because it's doesn't sound like fun, but for two reasons, one, I didn't know this was a thing, and two, I'm not entirely sure where Grafton, Illinois is located.

According to the Grafton Wikipedia:

Grafton is the oldest city in Jersey County, Illinois, United States. It is located near the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the city had a total population of 674. Prior to the Great Flood of 1993, Grafton had enjoyed a stable population of nearly 1,000 residents.

A quick Google search also revealed Grafton is about 4 and a half hours south of Rockford, so while it's a haul it also sounds like it might be totally worth the trek, and here's why.

Travel Pulse:

Grafton is the winter home of bald eagles and January presents the best chance to see them with fewer of the crowds that arrive later in the season.

According to Drive the Nation, you can see the "largest population of bald eagles at the Chain of Rocks Bridge" where "literally thousands of eagles migrate to the area to fish in the cold waters of the Mighty Mississippi and the Illinois rivers."

Are you going? If you snag a few bald eagle pics while you're there send them our way. We'd love to see them.