Peoria's reputation as the ultimate test of Middle American tastes — "Will it play in Peoria?" — has long overshadowed what is actually a reasonably interesting city. The riverfront has been substantially revitalized, the downtown historic district has some good 19th and early 20th century buildings, and the city has a surprising number of quirky attractions sitting alongside the serious cultural institutions.
Caterpillar, the heavy equipment giant, has its global headquarters here, and the Visitors Center is a genuine draw for anyone who has ever wanted to sit in the cab of an enormous excavator. Beyond the Cat connection, Grandview Drive along the bluffs is genuinely beautiful, and the Wildlife Prairie Park west of town offers an unexpectedly good native fauna experience.