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Visit to Casey, Illinois-The Little Town of Big Things
At first glance the tiny town of Casey appears just like any other location in small town America. Like many small towns, this spot just off I-70 in eastern Illinois has seen a loss in population and manufacturing as people and jobs moved on to bigger cities. However, the town of Casey has reinvented itself in a big way. It all started when one of the residents decided to try and fight the decline by attracting more attention and business…
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Favorite Family Hikes near St. Louis – Part 1, the Illinois side
One of the questions I get asked the most is which hikes do I recommend in the St. Louis area, especially which hikes are good for kids. We are blessed with so many amazing hikes in the area, but I’m going to try and narrow it down to the ones I think give the best bang for your buck. I’m going to start with the Illinois side of the river as there are so many Missouri area hikes that it’s…
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Climb to Great Views at Salt Lick Point Trail in Illinois
Salt Lick Point Land and Water Preserve is one of favorite hikes on the Illinois side of the metro area. This hike is located on a former quarry site in Valmeyer, Illinois. The site was developed to protect the glades, prairies, forest, and wildlife. The preserve also contains the highest point in Monroe County, Salt Lick Point. There are three different trails here of different difficulties. Whether you prefer a more gentle hike through the trees or a rugged climb…
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Hike to Scenic Jackson Falls in Southern Illinois
Shawnee National Forest, Illinois We’ve done a lot of hiking and exploring over the years and one of our favorite spots to spend a day is in the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. While we have visited many scenic spots including Bell Smith Springs, Garden of the Gods, and Ferne Clyffe, we somehow had never made it over to Jackson Falls. I can’t believe we had missed this awesome trail for so long! The trail starts at a parking…
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Boo Castle Park
Anytime we hike at nearby Giant City State Park, we make a stop at Boo Memorial Castle Park near Carbondale. The park was created in memory of a boy who loved Dungeons & Dragons. This privately owned park is free and open to the public to visit. Donations are encouraged to help maintain the park. The park features beautiful gardens, statues, and a huge castle playground. We are always completely blown away at how nicely maintained and well made this…
