mleekamp wrote:
Firefly Grill in Effingham. $$ A bit expensive, but the chef there has a good menu with farm fresh and unique items. Stop at Boos outlet just down the street -- Boos makes butcher blocks, cutting blocks, tables, etc all right there in Effingham IL off 45. Boos are featured in most all the cooking shows.
Moonshine IL just SE of Casey IL -- population 2. Featured on CBS Sunday Morning show. The general store (only building in "town") is run by a lovely old couple who cook mean burgers. Get 'em early...they close when out of meat. Will be tons of bikers...but no worry...everyone is there for the burgers!
Lincoln Log Cabin state historic site -- 9 miles south of Charleston IL on the Lincoln Highway. This is the home bought by Abe Lincon's father -- yes, the actual cabin (NOT the one lincoln was born in or grew up in) -- bought after Abe became a lawyer. Just down the street is the Moore home, with more ties to the Lincoln and Hanks family. I have been there, its nice. The cabin is a 1930 Civilian Conservation Corp re-creation of the original (using detailed documentation and photos of the original), which was disassembled and transported to the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair, only to have its display blocked by Todd Lincoln, and was allowed to rot to nothing as a pile of logs and timbers.
Arcola / Tuscola IL area -- Rockhome Gardens, a unique and fun stop near Arcola created by and run by the Amish. Homes, rocks, blacksmith, more -- foods, canned goods, more. A little weird but worth a couple of hours of your time
Garden of the Gods park in Southern IL -- WOW
Always more to see and do -- but this should get you started!!!!!
I have criss crossed the state a number of ways going to Clinton Iowa over the years (annual Cessna 150-152 national fly-in) and have found much of southern Illinois is very scenic. State 3 from Prairie Du Rocher south, is a very enjoyable ride just below the bluffs that form the valley. Between Carbondale and Marion is Crab Orchard Lake Nat Wildlife Refuge campground, right off of State 13. Very nice right on the lake.
Southbound I usually am making my way over to I-24 to Paducah. If going that way, be sure and stop in Metropolis and see Superman (yes, very large statue in front of the court house and stuff all around town like phone booths with Clark Kent in them, etc, Oldest state park in Illinois is Ft Massac State Park adjacent to the town of Metropolis. Nice museum and info center (very large) and other buildings, and nice campground also).
Charles
