Joliet sits southwest of Chicago, where old canal history, Route 66 road culture, and modern suburbia rub against each other. It is not a classic pretty small town, but it has enough odd, specific sights to make a good spare-day stop if you are already in the Chicago area or following the old highway.
The headline is Joliet Prison, the limestone former state penitentiary made famous by film and television. Downtown has a very different kind of landmark in the Rialto Square Theatre, a lavish 1920s movie palace with tours and performances. Between them, Joliet has a stronger sense of place than many outer Chicago towns.
South of town, Chicagoland Speedway gives Joliet its racing identity. The city also sits near canal trails and the Des Plaines River, so it works best for travellers who like industrial history, old-road Americana, or a slightly rougher edge to their day trips.