Lonely Town

So, I didn't really have high hopes for Peoria when yesterday we asked the cab driver what's there to see, and she said Big Al's, the "world famous" stripclub. Yet I still thought there must be something to do in this city besides that. I was wrong.

The only nice part of the city is down by the river, where there is a nice riverwalk lined with restaurants and an artistic community that is just starting out. Besides that, the rest of the city is basically banks, business buildings, and old bars. It's kind of like if you took a small, older town, like Herkimer, NY, and then kept multiplying it. I walked into a "shopping center" and it was basically a really sad little privately owned food court. There is only one street that is semi-decent and it's right by the college. There is literally NOTHING to do. Good thing I found this public library that is fairly new and pretty nice.

Anyway, the pictures I took are mostly of the riverwalk area, so that's what I'm going to share haha:

The Contemporary Art Center, kind of disappointing. One of the galleries was closed, half of it is an apartment complex, but there is a cool cafe on the first floor that has live music in the evening.

A sculture to commemorate the first toll bridge that was built here

Another view of the water

The Hooters we ate at yesterday haha

This was just in the park, no explanation, but I thought it was kind of neat.

Picture of the riverwalk

This is Joe's Crab Shack, seems like a place I'll probably visit before we leave here haha

More riverwalk

Fountain area by an outdoor stage

Not sure why there is a Mark Twain hotel...did Mark Twain ever go to Peoria?

Headquarters of Caterpillar, one of the few things in Peoria

The Soldiers and Sailors monument. This spot was chosen because it's the site of the Lincoln-Douglas debate, and also where Peoria's War Memorial once stood.

Plaque for the monument

The Peoria Civic Center

So suffice it to say, downtown Peoria is pretty terrible. At least tomorrow we are going to go mini golfing in the afternoon! I'm pretty sure there is more stuff to do by the train than in the actual city center...oh well. I think I'll be glad to leave you, Peoria.

On another note, this is one of my favorite commericals ever. I'm not sure why but I find it incredibly funny: