Are you looking for a specific type of place to visit in the I&M Canal Heritage Corridor? If you're a craft beer fan, you will love the Heritage Corridor Ale Trail? Seeing a thrilling journey or just an escape, check out Adventure Outside Chicago. We've got all the info to unlock your next trip right here.

The Heritage Corridor is filled with events that are waiting just for you. Live music, fun festivals, learning programs, and active adventures await.

A visit to Starved Rock State Park consists of many sights to behold, including breathtaking views of its many canyons and awe-inspiring scenes of eagles flying during the winter month.

Freedom. The Open Road. The American Dream. All are still alive on The Mother Road. The nostalgia of diners, museums, tourist stops and neon lights are there for you to visit as you make the drive from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA. You can still get your Kicks on Route 66!

A mid-1800’s architectural wonder helped make Chicago the city it is today. The 96-mile Illinois & Michigan Canal (I&M Canal) connected the Great Lakes in Bridgeport, Chicago to the Illinois River at LaSalle-Peru, and amazingly unique towns sprung up that maintain their authentic charm to this date.

The Best Burgers in the Towns of the Illinois & Michigan Canal

Historic.

In most articles about the I&M Canal, you read about the 96-mile canal and locks system that connected the Great Lakes Basin to the Mississippi Basin back in the mid-1800's.

But not this article, we are going to talk about the historic burgers that you can indulge in while you tour many of the great Canal towns that shaped this country into what it is today.

We reached out to our social media followers to ask about the best burger in the I&M Canal towns. The top choice was Lemont's Nickburger.

The Nickburger - Nick's Tavern in Lemont, IL

If an establishment is named one of the state's "Delicious Destinations," you know their burgers are going to be really good. When they are also featured on WGN's "Chicago's Best," you are in for something amazing.

This burger is not for the faint-hearted. A full pound of beef, ketchup, mustard, pickles, relish, onions (raw or grilled). You can add on Cheese, lettuce, tomato, mushrooms and more.

This is a pure adventure on a plate. Finish it, and you'll feel like you have accomplished the impossible.





Jal-of-a-Hotty - Sizzles in Lockport, IL

Have a soda or water with you? You're going to need it if you try this burger, which is one of many tasty burgers at this restaurant with "Fire-grilled greatness."

Available in ¼ or ½ lbs, this firestarter includes breaded onion slivers, jalapeno slices, American cheese and jalapeno ranch. In fact, skip the water... get a Froot-Loop-And-Cheesecake Milkshake to go with it!





Signature Brew Burger - 99 Hops House in Joliet, IL

It's always a dilemma when you see a pulled pork sandwich on a menu. Do you go with pulled pork? Do you go with a burger? At 99 Hops House, the choice is simple ... and really tasty.

Their Signature Brew Burger takes a ½ lb Angus burger and tops with pulled pork. To complete this culinary experience, they add their special slaw, sharp cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato.





The Log Cabin - Honest Abe's Tap and Grill in Morris, IL

Burgers are always good. Pizza is always good. The Log Cabin takes the best of both worlds. Their 100% angus beef is topped with provolone cheese, fried mozzarella cheese sticks, and marinara sauce.

You can take your crack at a ¼ lb, ½ lb or full pound burger. Make sure to keep an eye on their rotating burger menu, as there are many treasures on this menu as well.





California Turkey Burger - Uptown Grill in LaSalle, IL

Uptown Grill offers an eclectic menu for any appetite, and their California Turkey Burger showcases a true west coast feel. The burger is made from ground turkey, topped with pepper jack cheese, guacamole and homemade salsa served on top of a bed of mesculyn greens and sprouts.

Don't miss their Burger Me Thursday's, where you can catch a burger and a beer for a really great price!





Bison Burger - The Lone Buffalo in Ottawa, IL

We are staying on the range and heading to The Lone Buffalo, where they focus on a farm-to-table menu. Start off with their bison burger, which has a uniquely scrumptious bourbon onion marmalade and spicy shallots on top.

Don't let the spicy shallots worry you either. With a tasty brew from Lone Buffalo (brewed on site), you will have your taste quenched and your stomach satisfied.

There are so many good burgers in the Heritage Corridor, that we can't name them all here. But, we will be featuring these, and many more burgers on our Facebook and Twitter pages. And, we will need your help in identifying more great meals, activities, and accommodations in the Heritage Corridor for future blog articles. Make sure to follow us for when we put out polls looking for your input.