Champaign-Urbana

Champaign-Urbana or Urbana-Champaign? Locals just call it Chambana. Whatever you call it, east-central Illinois's "Twin Cities" is a quintessential Big 10 town.

The University of Illinois is the area's cultural center, and at the heart of the campus are the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, the Krannert Art Museum, and Assembly Hall. From Broadway touring shows, to rock concerts, to Chinese acrobats, you can find the quality -- if not the quantity -- of entertainment you'd expect in larger metropolitan areas. The local music scene is also acclaimed, where national stars such as Alison Krauss and REO Speedwagon got their start.

And don't forget the Fighting Illini football, basketball, baseball and other teams.

Throughout the year numerous festivals, from Taste of Champaign to the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival, bring in entertainment, artists, and food vendors for the city-wide celebrations. One of the highlights is Ebertfest -- film critic Roger Ebert's own annual film festival -- which brings Hollywood directors and actors to town.

Food and drink are plentiful in this college home of some 40,000 students. Escobar's, Ko-Fusion, and Bacaro are the best bets for formal dining in Champaign, while Urbana claims Silver Creek and the new Black Dog Smoke and Ale House for outstanding BBQ. Korean (B-Won), Thai (Nitaya Thai) and Indian (Bombay Grill) and more are also excellent choices. The Blind Pig and Blind Pig Brewpub are two of the best places in the state to grab a cold beer, and a literally dizzying array of gourmet martinis can be found at Boltini Lounge.

For golfers, bargain-priced yet quality golf courses abound. The University of Illinois Orange and Blue courses are home of the perennial Big 10 powerhouse men's team. Stone Creek G.C. in Urbana is the most expensive in the area, but also the best groomed. Area courses include tracks in Rantoul (Brookhill, Willow Pond), Mahomet (Lake of the Woods), Gibson City (RailSide), and Tuscola (Ironhorse).

The golf season in "C-U" can run from early April into early December – some locals talk of occasional New Year's Day rounds. The area is generally flat, and the wind usually blows, so knowing how to play the wind is crucial.