If you find photo ops everywhere you look, you are not alone. Garden of the Gods is the most instagramed spot in the Shawnee National Forest. Nestled in the forest, about 30 minutes north is where you’ll find Boars’ Nest … Continue reading
The story of how the prairie was tamed is closely connected to the equipment used to tame it. From lawn and garden tractors to massive steam engines, machinery was a backbone of development. This is the story that’s told at … Continue reading
Barns are one of farmlands most endearing sights and the subject of many a photograph. And once a year, they’re the stars of the De Kalb County Barn Tour. The 2018 event will be held on Saturday, August 11, 2018. … Continue reading
No team had quite the impact on our country that Lewis & Clark did. To gain a better understanding of what the duo and their exploration meant to the development of the west, pay a visit to the Lewis & … Continue reading
Any drive along the Mississippi River in Illinois should definitely include Quincy, a scenic town that is steeped in history. If you stay in Nebo at Harpole’s Heartland Lodge, you can enjoy a leisurely, scenic drive along the Great River … Continue reading
The history of charming Waterloo, Illinois, dates back to the 1780’s, when settlers dubbed the area Bellfontaine. As the settlement grew, so did rivalries among families and the town was divided into two parts—Peterstown to the north of the creek … Continue reading
Abraham Lincoln, Illinois’ most famous resident, left his mark in locations throughout the state. Today, thanks to the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area (ALNHA) and its Looking for Lincoln Trail, you can retrace his steps and visit many of the … Continue reading
Blink and you may think you’ve driven into a quaint river town in Bavaria. Such is the charm of Maeystown, a picturesque little village in Monroe County in Southwestern Illinois. Book a room at the Corner George Inn (once a … Continue reading
Scary, but true, Alton, Illinois has the honor of being America’s most haunted town, which makes it just about the perfect place to head this fall. (And the fact that it’s a picturesque town on the Mississippi is a bonus!) … Continue reading
The Illinois River has always been central to Peoria’s history. Native Americans made their home by it for more than 12,000 years. When fur trader Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette plied its waters in the late 1600’s, they discovered … Continue reading