For program information - http://www.alplm.org/home.html

Everything else about Springfield - http://www.visit-springfieldillinois.com/

Well the museum is fabulous but if you give yourself time you can see everything in it. Just give yourself lots of time. It is definitely worth it. Then spend another day hitting the home, law office, old capitol, tomb, etc. Also hit the current state capital. It is gorgeous on the inside. The Dana Thomas house is great if you like Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. Even if you don't you get a good historical glimpse of Springfield in the past. There is a good park out by the lake but the name escapes me now. I think its Memorial Gardens or something. Probably be good for birding. Also get a horseshoe while you are in town. I recommend getting one at D'arcys.

Tim's thinking of Lincoln Memorial Garden on the east side of the lake. Driving, go south on 5th to Stevenson, east on Stevenson, which becomes East Lake Drive, and you'll eventually see the parking on the right. Nice trails, nature center, and benches where you can just chill and look out at the lake.

Wild life refuges in the area....depends on how close. There's a pretty good one about an hour northwest, but certainly not "in the area."

Special programs: When will you be here in mid-September? If it's really late September, the Route 66 Mother Road Festival is downdown 9/28-30.

The ALPLM museum is just phenomenal!! Allow plenty of time.

Also allow plenty of time at D'Arcy's Pint. Wait time is normally about 45 minutes to an hour, no matter when you're there. That speaks to the popularity of the joint. You can wait in the bar or there are cocktail tables in an adjacent dining area. If you'll be there on a Saturday, send me a PM. We should be there, and might be able to meet for a handshake and a hoist of a glass. We're there most Saturday evenings for dinner.

Pricing: 4 beers, 2 Pony-shoe dinners, $24.00 plus tip.

Directions to D'Arcy's: from downtown, south on 5th to Stanford, west over the overpass and watch for it on the right. Look for a pretty full parking lot.

I live in Springfield and have been to the museum about 4 times since it opened a couple of years ago. It is absolutely wonderful, please don't try to rush thru it. I have spent about 4 - 5 hours there every time I visited. Every time I have been there it has been very crowded, but that has always been on a Saturday. If you can go during the week, it might not be so bad. I think that the museum closes at 5 p.m., so be sure to get there in plenty of time to see everything. There is a cafeteria at the museum, but if you leave and walk down to the square (a block south of the museum), you will find several nice restaurants. I would imagine that the museum has some type of hand-stamp policy for readmittance, but can't say for sure. There is also a nice gift shop. Don't miss the Ghosts of the Library presentation and also Mr. Lincoln's Eyes..both in 'theatres' with seating and both wonderful.

jlr51's advice is good. Allow at least six hours for the museum if you're going to be there on a weekend. If you're going to be there on a weekday, plan on about four hours. You can see everything there in that amount of time, unless you linger over the political cartoons exhibit (add on another hour if you want to read every last one of them).

You're going to be SOL on "birding." The nearest wildlife refuge is over an hour away. The Lincoln Memorial Gardens are just a step above a municipal park.

The best place to eat in Springfield is D'Arcy's Pint. Don't miss it! Get the tenderloin horseshoe.

For lunch downtown, walk about a block south of the museum to the Old State Capitol Plaza. There are several good lunch spots there that are popular with us locals. Augie's Front Burner, Robbie's, and the Feed Store are good bets.