Some locals may marvel that tourists visit here.

Yet, some tourists find the area a little bit of a marvel.

Among those seemingly pleased with what they found were a group of five German journalists who were guests of the state.

They were brought over for a look at Northern Illinois with the hope they after they returned home they would have favorable things to tell their readers.

Their itinerary was simply. After landing in Chicago they were taken by van to Galena. Then, on the way back to Chicago, they stayed overnight at Starved Rock Lodge.

Their short visit included a cruise on the Illinois River aboard the Belle of the Rock paddleboat, a hike to French Canyon in Starved Rock State Park and a get-acquainted tour of the local wine industry.

At the August Hill Winery tasting room in Utica, as samples were shared, owner and winemaker Mark Wenzel explained about local growing conditions for grapes and how his business operated.

This region's product is unique, Martin Both, editor-in-chief of the wine magazine "Vinum" told The Times.

"What I'm surprised to find is the amount of sweet wines they make here."

It is precisely local attractions such as local wineries that foreign visitors find appealing.

"International travelers are looking for experiences and the authentic sites and attractions that make a trip special – the friendly shop owner, a quirky festival, local wine and foods," said Jan Kostner, deputy director of the Illinois Bureau of Tourism.

"But in this economic environment, it"s also important to demonstrate good value and value-added incentives, so visitors feel Illinois is a destination that is experientially rich and sensible."

"They're looking for products and services that have a story," said Kathy Casstevens, the marketing director of Starved Rock Lodge and chair of the La Salle County Tourism Coalition who was a guide for the Germans.

"They'd rather drink Illinois wine that's made right here in the Illinois River Valley and speak to the people who have made it than come here and drink California wine. They want to experience the local culture and hear the local stories."

Picking the Germans to host was no toss of the coin.

Germans, followed by residents of the United Kingdom, are the top visitors to Illinois.

Reinholde Christiansen, travel editor for Schleswig-Holstein am Sonntag, said Germans typically would rather take vacations outside of their country than within, and that everyday life in other countries is a keen interest.

Language is not a concern, she said, since German travelers typically speak English. In school she took classes in English, French and Spanish, she noted.

Christiansen said New York City is a popular destination since it is only six hours away by air.

Illinois travel experts have developed a profile of the typical German tourist who comes to Illinois, and it's not backpackers on a strict budget.

"Typically we see an older crowd than that, it's like 35 to 60," said Kara Cook, an account supervisor at the Chicago office of Edelman, a global public relations firm that works with the Illinois Bureau of Tourism and helped with the German journalists' visit.

"We're definitely mindful of the younger audience, and that is growing. But traditionally we do see older couples, empty nesters or those without kids."

Typically, they also are second or third time visitors to the U.S., having already been to New York and Orlando, Fla., she said.

"People who come here are more experience-driven. They want to feel like they've had a taste of the culture and maybe highlighted what makes us different and unique."

Most tourists, she said, are looking for culinary, shopping, architecutral, entertainment and music experieces.

Historical sites typically have limited appeal to European visitors.

"Sometimes what's historical here just doesn't resonate with the European audience because they have such a long and rich history that we can't compare to because our country, by comparison, is so young."

Yet, specific nationality also helps define expectations, she said.

"We see the German visitors in particular are much more likely to go outside the cities. They like road trips, to hop in a car and go out and explore. People from the U.K. are more inclined to stay in the cities."

But not all. On the Belle of the Rock cruise, and afterward at the Starved Rock Lodge restaurant, were Alan and Pam Malpass of Sussex, England.

They had been to visit their son, who lives in East Moline. They had read about Starved Rock in a magazine and thought it would sounded worth a visit.

So far so good, they told The Times as they waited for their meal to be served.

There's also some speculative forward thinking in developing the international tourist market in Illinois, said Casstevens.

"if Chicago wins its bid for the (2016) Olympics, we anticipate the number of foreign visitors will grow. That announcement will come on Oct. 2."

For Martina Emmerich, a freelance writer for the Offenbach-Post daily newspaper, the whirlwind visit to Illinois had been intriguing.

"I think I would come back to get to know the place and people a little more."