The Quaker Church. Growing up, I always wondered why the Saline Creek Pioneer Village and Museum in Southern Illinois wasn't more popular. I thought, "This is a legitimate pioneer village from the olden days - why wouldn't more people want to see it?!” As an adult, I learned that while the buildings on the grounds …
Continue reading The 1800’s Pioneer Village of Southern Illinois.
🚨As of September 2023, “The replica 1802 fort at Fort Massac State Park remains closed pending structural rehabilitation.”, per the Illinois Government website. Best to check the Illinois.gov website for updates before visiting.🚨 Located right next to the mighty Ohio River, in Metropolis, Illinois, sits historic Fort Massac. One of eleven forts located within the …
Deep within the Shawnee National Forest, approximately 30 minutes outside the small town of Harrisburg, Illinois in Saline County, sits a pretty cool-looking rock formation that resembles the face of an old woman (or man). Part of the Stoneface Research Natural Area of the Shawnee National Forest, it’s in a lesser known area home to …
Located in Southern Illinois, right on the mighty Ohio River, and just outside the tiny village of the same name, lives Cave-in-Rock State Park. It's a free state park, open daily from 8am to 9pm. In fact, ✨it's Illinois' first state park✨. Officially established in 1929, it's been recognized as a Southern Illinoisan tourist landmark …
While the better-known Garden of the Gods is located in Colorado, this one is Southern Illinois' main claim to fame. By far the most popular hiking spot in the area, I firmly believe that the Illinois Garden of the Gods is worthy of its name. Beautiful and unique, it's a favorite go-to spot of out-of-towners …
I lived in Illinois for 13 years and only visited Chicago... once. 😅 I lived near the bottom of Illinois, about 50 minutes from the Kentucky border, making Chicago an approximately 6-hour drive north. It sits at the top-east of the state, right on the great Lake Michigan, and is known for being the residence …
Garden of the Gods; views for miles. When people envision Illinois, they often picture Chicago or vast stretches of flat, rural farmland. While these perceptions hold true, there exists a distinct region within Illinois: Southern Illinois. Unlike its northern and central counterparts dominated by suburban sprawl and agricultural landscapes, southern Illinois stands apart. This is …