While camping at Fort Massac, we took a trip to Cairo, IL, and discovered the quickest route was through Kentucky. On the way back, we decided to stop and visit Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site, in Wickliffe, Kentucky. We’ve been to several Native American mound sites before, but I don’t…
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A City at a Confluence: Visiting Cairo, Illinois
People warned us not to go to Cairo. But we did anyways. And yes, we found destruction and decay. But we also found hope. Hope from the people desperately trying to preserve their town and its history. This post has taken a while to write, because we haven’t been able…
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Meeting the Man of Steel in Metropolis, Illinois
We visited Metropolis, Illinois- the official hometown of Superman. The town of Metropolis was founded in 1839 and was home to a 1700s fort before that. But it wasn’t until many years later that residents noticed that the town happened to share the name with Superman’s hometown. In 1972, the…
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Visiting the Bucky Dome Home Museum: A Geodesic Wonder
We took a tour of the Bucky Dome Home in Carbdonale. This is the only dome home that Buckminster Fuller and his wife ever lived in. The couple lived here in the 1960s when Fuller was a professor at SIU. Today, the dome home is owned by the RBF Dome…
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Popeye’s Playground: The Best Things to Do in Chester, Illinois
Welcome to Chester, Illinois- home of Popeye the Sailor. Join us as explore this historic town nestled along the Mississippi River. Our guide to Things to Do in Chester, Illinois will give you a blueprint for your journey. You’ll encounter not only iconic Popeye sights, but also the history and…
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The Complete World Shooting and Recreational Complex Camping Guide
We camped at one lesser known Illinois DNR campgrounds- the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, IL. Although it’s well-known in the shooting sports world, we’ve found that most people don’t know that it has a huge campground open to the public. There are over 1,000 campsites at the…
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Immerse Yourself in French Colonial Life at Fort de Chartres
Let’s step back in time and explore Fort de Chartres, a French colonial fort in southern Illinois. This massive stone fort is now managed by the Illinois DNR as a state park. Featuring the oldest building in Illinois, the fort is an important part of the history of the French…
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Small Town, Big History: Exploring Route 66, Atlanta, IL
Our first drive as full-timer RVers would have been at least 6 ½ hours (probably more with towing) so we decided to split the drive into two days. We found a Harvest Hosts spot at almost the exact halfway point in Atlanta, Illinois on historic Rte. 66. (Read more about…
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Argyle Lake State Park: An Under the Radar Nature Retreat
Argyle Lake State Park, near Macomb, is a hidden gem of the Illinois State Park System. We took a long weekend trip in 2022 full of hiking, paddling, and visiting some cool nearby places. Our trip recap will give you all you need to know about the park and ideas…
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The Best 15 Things to Do in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
Nestled in Central Illinois, the towns of Bloomington and Normal are full of hidden gems. Blo-No is 2 hours from Chicago, and accessible by Amtrak, making it the perfect day trip destination. They are most well-known for being the home of Illinois State University, but there is so much more…