UK families who are looking to get more out of their annual holiday, and experience some real American culture, should look no further than Springfield, Illinois. This charming city, just 3 hours outside of Chicago, offers a fantastic array of attractions that will appeal to all ages.

Visitors to Springfield can learn all about Abraham Lincoln - the city's most famous resident; and discover its Route 66 heritage. Springfield is the first stop off point on America's Mother Road and home to two world-famous Route 66 landmarks - Shea's Gas Station Museum and traditional Route 66 diner, the Cozy Dog Drive-In.

The Life & Legacy of Abraham Lincoln
Kids will love the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, opening in Spring 2005, which will be packed interactive exhibits created by BRC Imagination of California, whose designs include the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. Museum show pieces include "Through Lincoln's Eyes", a portrayal of the turbulent times and events of the mid-1800s as Lincoln might have experienced them; and "Ghosts of the Library", a lively and educational programme featuring a live actor interacting with holographic 3D images to bring together the past and the present.

The Museum's "Journey One" tour includes scale models of various phases of Lincoln's life before he assumed the Presidency, including sites and scents from his boyhood cabin in Indiana and the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices in Springfield. "Journey Two" covers Lincoln's life as President, allowing visitors to take a walk through the façade of the 1860's White House and view fashions of the period.

Mrs. Lincoln's Attic, a special area containing reproduction toys, clothes and activities from the 1800s, will enable children to let their imaginations take flight and journey back in time to the mid-1850s.

Boasting a whole host of national historic Lincoln sites, including his family home, tomb, the Old State Capitol and the Lincoln-Herndon Law Office, a visit to Springfield will uncover why the city's most legendary citizen captured the world's respect and imagination.

America's Main Street - Route 66
Celebrate the thrill of the U.S. open road - from the shiny red petrol pumps of Bill Shea's Gas Station Museum to the nostalgic diners and drive-ins featuring 'comfort food' for hungry adventurers, Springfield is the incarnation of our dreams and fantasies about road trip America.

The ultimate time to visit is during the |International Route 66 Mother Road Festival|, 24-26 September 2004, which features three days of cool cars, hot music and free entertainment in the heart of Springfield.

The festival will see hundreds of Route 66 classic vehicles roll into town for its Friday and Saturday night cruises through the city. Last year, more than 45,000 festival goers and more than 700 fabulous cars - from a 1923 Ford T-Bucket to a 2003 50th Anniversary Corvette - joined in the celebrations. Following the parade on Friday, visitors can dance the night away with free live music on two outdoor stages in Springfield's historic downtown area. There is even a special kids area with games, carnival rides, comedy acts and more.

More Family Fun…
For those who are looking for something more, try the:

• Henson Robinson Zoo - home to more than 300 animals and over 90 species of native and exotic animals
• Knight's Action Park and Caribbean Water Adventure, which include go-karts, a ferris wheel, miniature golf courses, wave pool, waterslides and action river ride
• Drive-In Theatre - outdoor movie theatre featuring family-oriented classics. A true American experience!