Just outside of Starved Rock State Park is the small town of Utica. It’s a charming town filled with shops, bars, and great places to grab a bite to eat! I would even suggest checking out Airbnb to spend the day hiking around Starved Rock, and the evening shopping and wine tasting around Utica so you don’t have far to go when you’re ready to relax for the night.
I have a few favorite spots in Utica that I’m going to share with you, but there is so much more to see! There really is something for everyone here.
If you’re coming from Starved Rock, the first thing you’ll see is the long strip mall on the left. You can get some delicious cupcakes at Two Girls and a Cupcake. They’ve got over 150 different flavors of gourmet cupcakes including salted caramel and s’mores. The banana pudding cupcake is a favorite of many that stop in!
Next we’ve got Roxie’s Sweet Confections where you’ll find a huge assortment of sweets and ice cream. If you’re looking for a trip down memory lane they also have a selection of old school candy that is much harder to find these days. You can even try some chocolate covered bacon! The bright colorful storefront draws your attention and makes you feel excited to see what kind of treats you’ll find inside!
You’ll also find a beef jerky shop, a gourmet soda pop shop, popcorn, and a fun little gift shop called Funky Vibez along this street!
As you go a little further into town you’ll see that this town is very popular with motorcyclists. Starved Rock is beautiful any time of year and is so much fun to drive through on a motorcycle. So when you get into Utica you’ll find Stonehead on your left which is full of gear for those who enjoy riding a motorcycle and even t-shirts, hoodies and more for those who prefer to be on 4 wheels! On your right just down the way you’ll see another place that typically has lots of motorcycles parked out front called Jamie’s Outpost. This is a popular restaurant and shop filled with many unique items and souvenirs. Be sure to stick around and see some live music!
As you move farther into town you’ll see a bakery & cafe, a rock shop, museums and more! Once you get to downtown you’ll find plenty of parking for you to do some more exploring. You can rent a bicycle or just take a walk near the restaurants and bars, antiques, boutiques, and stop at a winery to do some wine tasting.
My group of girlfriends rent an airbnb every spring about 20 minutes from Utica and we make sure to spend at least one whole day in town exploring and shopping!
Written By Jodi Miller
Jodi is a stylist and content creator who believes in living life to the fullest and always doing what makes you happy.
Social Media: @AnotherAdventureGirls
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