This charming town is “a one-stoplight town,” with a single cobblestone business district along a single street. Here, you’ll find an array of unique antique shops and several wineries, and there isn’t a single chain store in the entire town.
Built on hills rather than a traditional grid layout, downtown Mount Carroll features interesting curves and angles, making it one of the few towns in Illinois where sidewalks slope like streets in a mining village.
Visit Mount Carroll this winter
The town’s population has remained steady at around 1,500 for decades, with very little commercial development encroaching from outside. The handcrafted, ornate brick buildings from the 1800s have frozen the town in time, and when you walk through downtown, you’ll find secondhand bookstores, art studios, and small offices.
In town, the Raven’s Grin Inn offers guided tours of a four-story house transformed into an art installation by a single artist. The installation features scrap metal, puppets, mirrors, and hand-dug tunnels.
A must-visit restaurant is either Molly’s Kitchen & Bar or Molly’s Street Pizza, both located in a former carriage house near the courthouse square.
If you’re seeking a winter activity, consider taking a bird walk through the Mississippi wetlands. January and February are the best months for spotting eagles along the river.