Cody’s Road Trips is my personal website devoted to the many regional road trips that I like to take away from my hometown of Sterling, Illinois. I like sharing my journeys with you. Perhaps there is something that you haven’t heard of that becomes of interest with you, or someone you know. My typical travel area is 3-5 hours from home, which includes most of Illinois, eastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin and a little of northwest Indiana.
New content will be posted on an intermittent basis, as time allows due to my primary work schedule as a journalist for Shaw Media. The best way to get new updates is by SUBSCRIBING! Learn more about this website by clicking HERE. Thank you for visiting!
View my newest road trips! I use the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to post live updates on my most recent trips – and then I write about them for features on this website later. X users can go to #CodysRoadTrips to check it all out!
↓↓↓↓RECENT ROAD TRIPS↓↓↓↓
Still keeping broadcast memories alive in Chicago – I got to learn more about Johnny Carson, Bozo The Clown, late night talk television, WLUP 97.9 “The Loop,” I Dream of Jeannie and more on my visit to the temporary pop-up site of the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago. Trip taken on March 27, 2026. _
Getting to Chicago different ways – If all you do is take the interstate to the Chicago area, you’re missing out. Have time on your hands, find a road that parallels the interstate, carve a path through the suburbs and discover some neat places. I reveal my path from Dixon. Trip taken on March 27, 2026. _
Streator – a history lesson: During my years as a high school sports reporter, I would cover games in towns without really investing too much into the towns themselves. I had a chance to explore one of these towns, Streator, recently, and came away with a deeper understanding of preserving local history. Trip taken on Feb. 26, 2026 _
Argyle’s abundant agriculture:The Paulsen Agricultural Museum of Argyle in Boone County, Illinois is the latest installment of Cody’s Road Trips’ Magazine Article series. Check out large collections of machines, tools, tractor seats, farm toys, and many other pieces of general local history. Trip taken on Oct. 10, 2023 _
Mattoon’s Burger King unlike the others: Mattoon, IL has a Burger King. Okay. But it’s not the Burger King most people are familiar with. This one has an interesting naming rights story, and you can learn about it while eating a Hooter. Trip taken on Oct. 22, 2025 _
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Cody’s Road Trips 