A centaur in the middle of the woods can be found at Allerton Park sculpture garden in Central Illinois and was one of the many treasures we found there. This park has amazing sculptures like this everywhere and it was our destination today. How the Park Began Robert Allerton created this park. He inherited a banking and railroad fortune provided by his father Samuel Allerton….
Hughes Mountain Natural Area is made up of rock columns and is a unique geological feature found only in a few places in the world, such as Giant’s Causeway in Ireland. History of Hughes Mountain Natural Area The igneous knob is named for John Hughes, the first European settler in the area, who arrived in 1810. The land stayed in the Hughes family until purchased…
Hiking through a forest to lookouts of the St. Francois Mountains and stops along the rocky Big River were the highlights of the trail at Bootleg Access. Starting the Trail at Bootleg Access The trail is a loop starting at the farthest parking area. Here I headed to the left to head up the hillside first. I would recommend doing it this way otherwise you’re…
Box canyons, dripping waterfalls, and fern-filled cliffs are the sights and sounds and Hickory Canyons Natural Area.
See a wide variety of birds as you walk along trails in Mississippi River bottomland at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary. The day we went we spotted a large group of pelicans, blue herons, gulls, white egrets, wood ducks, Canadian geese, and other birds. Overview of Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary Riverlands has over 8.5 miles of trails that include viewing platforms and bird blinds. Trails go…
A bright red mill next to a stone and rock dam on the clear waters of the Huzzah Creek is the setting for Dillard Mill State Historic Site. History of Dillard Mill Francis Wisdom built a water-powered gristmill in the 1850s with a dam. Joseph Dillard Cottrell purchased the mill in 1881. The village of Dillard developed around the mill. In 1895, the mill burned….
As a presidential election is at hand, near St. Louis you can visit the Liberty Bell of the West, which is older than the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, in Kaskaskia, the oldest town in Illinois. Kaskaskia had been the center of French colonial administration for the Middle Mississippi River Valley during the 18th Century and has much history to explore. Now, about that bell… Creating…
Hiking at Old Greenville Recreation Area includes a ghost town, retracing the steps of the Trail of Tears, and seeing a memorial to an unknown Civil War soldier nearby. Old Greenville Recreation Area At Old Greenville Recreation Area you can walk around the remains of a 1940s era ghost town. Greenville had to be relocated to higher ground following the construction of the dam in…
Graham Cave State Park is right off Interstate 70 and is a hike into ancient history. Hiking through the park you walk in the footsteps of hunters-gathers thousands of years ago who found shelter in Graham Cave. This state park also has waterfalls when it rains and babbling brooks along with a river nearby. Luckily the day we went as a family the waterfalls were…
Jayke Brown is an author of the children’s book Imagine That on an important life lesson amongst friends and adventures that you could have in your dreams.
