Starting out as a private venture, the Wildlife Prarie Park west of Peoria is now a state park. Wildlife originally native to Illinois are in natural settings and available for people to see following trails through the woods and along the open fields where Bison, Deer and Elk roam. Really a neat place. Just a very few miles from there is Jubilee State Park which features the first college in Central Illinois. Another nice place to look at.

LOL ... I like your idea of two dates. Could be fun!