Quincy, IL Road Trips

Quincy has four major historical districts. The Quincy Historic Business District displays a wide variety of architectural styles and shows the wealth of the years 1850-1930 when Quincy was the most important river town in Illinois. Quincy’s East End Historic District contains every formal style of architecture found in the Midwest from 1830-1930. This East End area has a collection of Italianate, Greek Revival, Romanesque, Queen Anne and Prairie designs. Quincy’s South End Historic District was the home of Quincy’s German population. The sturdy homes, some ornate and others very simple, stand as reminders of Quincy’s German heritage. The fourth major historical area is Quincy’s North End, containing a collection of Italianate, Queen Anne and Renaissance Revival designs found in the Midwest from 1858-1930. 1 Governor John Wood Mansion, 425 S. 12th St, ☏ +1 217-222-1835. M-F, 10AM-2PM. A Greek Revival mansion built in 1835. Villa Kathrine, 532 Gardner Expressway, ☏ +1 217-666-0802. M-F, 8:30AM-4:30PM. A Moorish-style castle on the bluffs of the Mississippi. Granite Bank Gallery, 428 Maine, ☏ +1 217-228-2354. One of Quincy's architectural gems, this spot is definitely worth a stop. The bank interiors have been preserved, right down to the massive safes. A coffee shop (Washington Perk) offers beverages, pastries, and sandwiches, and is a great place to hang out and relax (free Wifi, too). The gift shops offer mostly overpriced knick-knacks. Fun to browse, but keep your wallet closed. Dr. Richard Eells House, 415 Jersey, ☏ +1 217 223-1800.

1 Woodland Cemetery, 1020 South Fifth St, ☏ +1 217 222-2412. Created in 1857, Woodland Cemetery boasts magnificent views of the Mississippi River, mature trees and landscaping, and ornate grave markers and mausoleums. The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and contains the graves of many early Quincy and Illinois civic and business leaders. Free.

Downtown Quincy is where many locally-owned restaurants are. Most of the restaurant chains have a location on Broadway Street, the main drag that cuts straight through the middle of the city. Gem City Pizzeria & Mexican, 1801 State Street, ☏ +1 217-228-0550. 4PM - Midnight. A Quincy institution that has been around for decades, Gem City Pizzeria is a favorite of the locals. In addition to pizza and other Italian dishes, the menu also offers Mexican specialties. If you go on the weekend, be prepared to wait for a table. Carry-out and delivery are also offered, however. Maid-Rite, 507 North 12th Street, ☏ +1 217-222-7527. Come to this local landmark to taste one of their unique loose meat ground beef sandwiches, a.k.a. Maid-Rites. This is the very first Maid-Rite in the franchise, and it is a great place for a cheap meal. $2-$9. Tiramisu´, 137 North Third Street, ☏ +1 217-222-9560. M-F 11AM-2PM, M-Sa 4:30PM-close. A great place to get authentic Italian cuisine at reasonable prices. $7-$17 (The most reasonable prices are during lunch hours). Best Buffet, 5325 Oak St, ☏ +1 217-228-8883. M-Sa 11AM-3:30PM, M-Th 3:30PM-9:30PM, F-Sa 3:30PM-10:30PM, All day Su. The best Chinese buffet in town. For those who want (or have) to make their own food, Quincy has plenty of grocery stores to choose from.

As with restaurants, the Broadway area is also a great place to find a hotel. Stoney Creek Inn, 3809 Broadway St, ☏ +1 217-223-2255. Nice indoor/outdoor swimming pool. Wilderness themed suites. 72 rooms. Holiday Inn, 4821 Oak St. Newly constructed hotel on the eastern side of Quincy. There is not much to walk to in this part of town, unless you like car dealers or Walmart. The Holiday Inn is probably Quincy's best. On site dining is available in Tony Too restaurant, which is OK, but not great. $90.

Quincy is served by Amtrak which comes into the Quincy Amtrak Station (QCY) at North 30th Street and Wisman Lane. Amtrak has two trains daily, originating in Chicago and terminating in Quincy. As of 12/2011, the trains depart Chicago at 7:35AM and 5:55PM and take approximately 4.5 hours. 1 Quincy railway station, Wismann Ln. (updated Aug 2019) Quincy is served by Quincy Regional Airport-Baldwin Field, to the east of the city. It is easily accessible from the city center by going east on Illinois Route 104 (Broadway St.). If coming from St. Louis, you can take I-70 west towards Kansas City. At exit 210B, take the ramp right for US-61 North towards Hannibal. Stay on US-61, and in Hannibal, take the ramp right for I-72 East / Mark Twain Avenue East towards Springfield IL. / Downtown Hannibal. At exit 4B, take ramp left for I-172 North towards Quincy. Get off at exit 14, Broadway St., to get to the center of town. This trip takes roughly two and a half hours with traffic. If arriving from Chicago, take I-55 / Stevenson Expressway towards St. Louis. At Springfield, keep right and stay on I-72 West. Keep straight onto I-172 North. This trip takes about four and a half hours with traffic.

Quincy is best explored by car or on foot. There are many sidewalks in some of the historic districts, but parts of Broadway are not so pedestrian-friendly.