Kenzie – In The (Peoria) Heights

03/09/2020 1:03 AM

Happy new year y’all! I’m sure most of you are back in school by now, but one of the perks of college is getting over a month off for winter break. While it’s great to head home and see my family and friends in Ohio, I typically come back to campus early for work. Getting a few more hours in at my on-campus job is certainly a perk, but so is being in Peoria without having school to focus on. While I get to explore East and West Peoria a bit while I’m in class, I always find myself spending a lot more time in Peoria Heights in between semesters. 

The Heights, above all else, has some of my favorite places to eat. My go-to would have to be Cayenne, which is by far my favorite Mexican restaurant. Their decorations are themed to Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which includes some stunning sugar skulls and murals done by a local artist. Every time I visit I always get the Mac Daddy, which is fried mac and cheese, pico de gallo, and avocado ranch (seriously recommend, it’s so good). They also have great vegetarian options!

Another great option in the Heights is my go-to stop for the best sweets, Trefzger’s Bakery. Peoria locals will tell you that their thumbprints are an absolute must. My crazy sweet tooth has had me going on the weekends to stock up on different cookies, cupcakes, and breads to pack with me throughout my work week. It’s also a great place to sit with a friend or bring a book to just enjoy the open warehouse space the bakery is housed in.

To top it all off, the Heights has an awesome coffee shop called Leaves ‘n Beans. I’m super into coffee and I’m grateful that places like Thirty-Thirty and Zion are close to campus. However, when I have the time to drive the 10 minutes it typically takes for me to get there, I’ll always make the trip to Leaves ‘n Beans. LnB has my all-time favorite drink: the Mayan Mocha, which is a super-rich chocolate flavor with ghost pepper syrup. It might not sound like the most appealing combination, but I swear by this one. They also offer a lot of seasonal drinks and specials, so I try to venture out of my comfort zone when I can and ask the baristas what they recommend when I go in! 

If you have any questions about other places to visit in Peoria Heights (I didn’t even mention the boutiques and bookstores), feel free to let me know!