Tourism & Hospitality
Creative promotional campaigns and strong marketing investments by the State of Illinois Tourism Office have translated to an increasingly robust Tourism and Hospitality market throughout the Land of Lincoln. Here in Kankakee County, the retail and hospitality market serving our corporate and recreational visitors has seen steady growth, largely due to the presence and efforts of a dedicated Kankakee County Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Bureau works strategically to market the area to a broad spectrum of travel and meeting markets, boosting overnight stays, hospitality industry jobs, and local retail and recreation receipts.
For more information, visit the Kankakee County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Kankakee River
The Kankakee River runs through the heart of Kankakee County and is a tributary of the Illinois River, running approximately 133 miles long through Indiana and Illinois. The Kankakee River State Park encompasses both sides of the Kankakee River for 11 miles and consists of approximately 4,000 acres. Since 2016, the entire length of this beautiful river has been designated as a National Water Trail. Anglers, canoeists, hunters, campers, hikers, bicyclers and other outdoor enthusiasts find the park’s recreational opportunities unsurpassed.
The Kankakee River Watershed Conference in March, 2023 discussed how local communities and statewide efforts are working to ensure the area’s greatest asset is protected. Key topics including water quantity and quality, biodiversity, nutrients and agriculture, river recreation, watershed initiatives, and sand and sediment were discussed.
View the Watershed Conference here: