Normal Travel Guide

  abandon all hope ye who enter here
by yooperprof
 
  • abandon all hope ye who enter here
      abandon all hope ye who enter here
    by yooperprof
  • Ring my bell
      Ring my bell
    by yooperprof
  • mandarin palace
      mandarin palace
    by yooperprof
  • All the world's a stage?
      All the world's a stage?
    by yooperprof
  • Normal Trees
      Normal Trees
    by Elena_007
 

Pro

Elena_007 profile photo

  Normal can be interesting ... 


Con

yooperprof profile photo

  Is this as good as it gets? 


In a nutshell

dfu profile photo

  You can do two things here, drink at frat houses or sit on your computer at home. 

 

Explore Normal

Things to Do  

Normal Trees Are Changing

Normal Trees Are Changing, Normal

 Elena_007 Says:  I, normally am fond of trees. They just seem to symbolize the changes in life to me. A time for renewal ~ SpringA time for growth ~ SummerA time for change ~ AutumnA time for reflection ~ WinterMy favorite (favourite) time of year is Autumn. Normal trees are changing, as you... 

Historic Route 66

Historic Route 66, Normal

 Elena_007 Says:  Normal is on the map of Historic Route 66!Route 66 IllinoisWOW! Normal is special, and being anywhere near Normal is apparently known all over the world! This world famous route will take you from Los Angeles California to Chicago, Illinois, traveling across eight states in... 

Happiness or Maybe Smileytown, USA

Happiness or Maybe Smileytown, USA, Normal

 Elena_007 Says:  Somewhere near Normal is what looks like it could be Happiness, judging from their smiley town water tower. I really have no idea what the actual name of this town is, as I only came close to Normal, and couldn't identify with the Normal crowd. Still, we exchanged smiles,... 

Town of Normal, A Normal Town

Town of Normal, A Normal Town, Normal

 Elena_007 Says:  Situated on the way from Memphis to Chicago, where I was traveling to visit my sister who lives in a tiny town near Chicago, is Normal, Illinois. I almost cried, laughing so hard, when I noticed this water tower as we were driving on Highway 51. A Normal American town full... 

An Extraordinarily Spectacular Normal Sunset

An Extraordinarily Spectacular Normal Sunset, Normal

 Elena_007 Says:  Normally, a Normal sunset ends a normal day in Normal, Illinois. Normally, sunset photographs are not taken from a moving vehicle traveling at 70 MPH. Considering all things Normal, I believe this is the most extraordinarily spectacular Normal sunset that Normal has ever... 

ISU's Academic Mall -- the Jeffersonian Dream

ISU's Academic Mall -- the Jeffersonian Dream, Normal

 yooperprof Says:  The first American "Quad" was at Thomas Jefferson's University of Virginia, and ever since then it has been traditional for many institutions of higher learning to emulate Jefferson's example. Jefferson's typically American schizophrenia is reflected in his attempt to marry... 

The Education Building

The Education Building, Normal

 yooperprof Says:  This fortress structure houses the HQ of the Department of Education, the core constituent of "normal" schools, the heart of the university. Alas, this building is an effective representation of what public education has come to represent: cold, heartless bureaucracy, the... 

Theatre Building

Theatre Building, Normal

 yooperprof Says:  I guess you could call this "nouveau functionalist" architecture. Isn't it interesting that from the exterior, you might think this could just as easily be a sewage facility as a theatre? At least it has a place on the university quad. 

Drive past corporate State...

Drive past corporate State..., Normal

 Libs Says:  Drive past corporate State Farm...Bloomington-Normal's third claim to fame...It is the birth place of State Farm Insurance and it's corporate headquarters. You can't actually visit here without a reason or permission (their security is tight, too, trust me...) but it might... 

The David Davis Mansion

The David Davis Mansion, Normal

 Libs Says:  This is an old historical house belonging to some manner of politician. Which manner, I'm not exactly sure. It has been completely restored and is historically acurate. And you have to put those little booties on to walk around in it. 

Hotels  

Hampton Inn & Suites

 56 Opinions

Restaurants  

Delgado's Mexican Food & Drink: Best Mexican in Town

Delgado's Mexican Food & Drink: Best Mexican in Town, Normal

 bskrobot Says:  Very mexican decorations...white, orange, and green. Tablecloth-covered tables, soft lighting, and stuccoed walls look very authentic. Arched open doorways lead to the kitchen, and dark-stained hardwood all over.Wrought iron gates frame the bar.The waitresses are all... 

Watterson Food Court: It was good the first few times...

Watterson Food Court: It was good the first few times..., Normal

 dfu Says:  There actually is a variety of food at the food court. Elenor's Kitchen has decent Chinese food. The General's Chicken seems to be a favorite with many students, I however, don't enjoy the breaded chicken all that well. I do recommend the black pepper chicken or the pinapple... 

Nightlife  

bench sitting in down town...

bench sitting in down town..., Normal

 Libs Says:  bench sitting in down town normalbench sitting is by far the best fun around on a week end evening when school is in session. just get a couple of good observant conversationalist together and sit and watch. the bench outside of subway is by far the best. the fun is... 

The Blue Moon Coffee House: The Blue Moon Coffee House

The Blue Moon Coffee House: The Blue Moon Coffee House, Normal

 Libs Says:  Overing the grooviest (and frequently the only) live acoustic must in B-N. clothes that scream 'look at me and how damn alternative i am!' 

Dennys on North Main: Dennys on North Main

Dennys on North Main: Dennys on North Main, Normal

 Libs Says:  If you are a high school or college aged non-conformist, general member of the alternative crowd, theatre enthusiast, or acquaintance of any of the above, this is, of course, the only place to be seen. whatever 

Transportation  

we have an airport and an...

we have an airport and an..., Normal

 Libs Says:  we have an airport and an amtrak station. we're big time now...it's a small town...walk! the bus system is poor, but if you just wanna go to the mall, it works. 

Local Customs  

people in normal are slow,...

people in normal are slow,..., Normal

 Libs Says:  people in normal are slow, calm, straightforward, normal people. deal with it. 

Warnings Or Dangers  

when driving, watch for...

when driving, watch for..., Normal

 Libs Says:  when driving, watch for moronic ISU students crossing the road at random place on the street at random times without looking just to make you angry 

Tourist Traps  

i've thought for a long time...

i've thought for a long time..., Normal

 Libs Says:  i've thought for a long time and can't think of what in normal would be considered a tourist trap. i don't think tourism exists in normal. i can't imagine someone asking themself 'where should i go on vacation/my long weekend/to die' and deciding on Normal. 

Off The Beaten Path  

It's true that Normal is the...

It's true that Normal is the..., Normal

 Libs Says:  It's true that Normal is the Normalest place on Earth, but if you really want to be as normal as it possibly comes, you've got to visit Normal Avenue, the normalest place in Normal. It's a good place for a stroll, anyway. 

The Place

Plan a Normal vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Normal locals

Experience Normal
  •   25 Tips and Reviews
  •  13 Photos
  Share your Travels  
Map of Normal
 

The People

17 Members Live Here
 
Advice from the Locals
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 The Normalest Place On Earth - Yes that's right, Normal is the Normalest place on earth. It's those people in Bloomington that are weird-o's :). I have lived here for thirteen years now, and I definitely know more about it then I... 

17 members live in Normal

 

Question about Normal?

Our members can help!

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Top 4 Normal Writers

1

Normal?!

Elena_007 profile photo

 Warning: You are now approaching Normal. It won't be long until you realize what Normal is like. Relax, Normal is NOT that bad. ;-) 

2

Y B Norm L?

yooperprof profile photo

 This is one of the famed skyscraper dorms at Illinois State University. I'm sure that in its own way, this building is as notable as any ivy-covered hall at Oxford or Yale. Sometimes it seems that... 

3

The Normalest Place On Earth

Libs profile photo

 Yes that's right, Normal is the Normalest place on earth. It's those people in Bloomington that are weird-o's :). I have lived here for thirteen years now, and I definitely know more about it then I... 

4

Normal, IL

dfu profile photo

 Here I'm sitting in the infamous Watterson Towers. I lived there from Spring 2003 - Spring 2004. I am glad to say I'm finally out of that horrid place. 

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