Spring Summer 2022 Go Guide

goguide SPRING/SUMMER 2022

GREAT RIVERS & ROUTES OF SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS

12 SPOTS LOCALS LOVE

TOP DINING DESTINATIONS

FAMILY FUN ESCAPES

LET’S CONNECT

Follow #RiversandRoutes for more inspiration on your trip. facebook.com/RiversandRoutes @RiversandRoutes

PHOTO CREDITS: Cover By: Scott Evers; Inside photos: Scott Evers, Marty McKay, @travellinggiraffsen; Connie Davis; Carmen Troesser; Megan Fairless; Mark Ahlvers; Mike Cruz; Aerie’s Resort; Midwest Nomad Family; Gene Kunz, George Clarke

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30M • 4/21

Alton Little Theater is BIG on LIVE THEATER Plays, Musicals, Concerts, Youth Programs and MORE EVERY MONTH at the ALT Showplace!

We are a resource for costume and furniture rentals for schools and other small theaters.

WE ARE HERE TO STAY

Your Community Theater!

2450 N. Henry Street | Alton, Illinois 62002 618-462-3205 Box Office and Executive Director http://www.altonlittletheater.org (for season tickets and individual shows)

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS INSIDE THE MIDWEST

PACK YOUR BAGS AND GAS UP THE CAR. IT’S TIME FOR A ROAD TRIP TO A PLACE WHERE OUTDOOR RECREATION AND NATURAL WONDERS AWAIT. JOURNEY TO THE ONLY PLACE IN AMERICA WHERE THE NATION’S THREE GREAT RIVERS – THE ILLINOIS, THE MISSOURI AND THE MISSISSIPPI – MERGE INTO ONE MIGHTY WATERWAY. WHERE SCENIC VIEWS AND NATURE BLEND INTO A PANORAMA OF BREATHTAKING BEAUTY.

If you listen closely, you can hear it. It’s in the murmur of the wind; the songs of the birds. It’s the sound of the Great Outdoors inside the Midwest calling to you.

And it’s telling you it’s time for adventure. It’s time to discover the Great Rivers & Routes region of southwest Illinois.

STATE PARKS Explore Pere Marquette State Park, the largest state park in Illinois with more than 8,000 acres of natural wonders hugging the banks of the Illinois River. For rock climbers, the park offers highly featured limestone formations suitable for sport and traditional climbers. Both Beaver Dam State Park near Carlinville and Horseshoe Lake State Park in Collinsville have scenic hiking trails and fishing opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.

HIKING & BIKING Walk or ride along the Mississippi River banks on the Sam Vadalabene Trail which stretches from Alton to Pere Marquette State Park.

More than 10 signature hiking and biking trails meander throughout Madison County

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GREAT RIVERS & ROUTES Spring/Summer

and are part of the nationally recognized MCT Trail System.

The trails wind through the prairies, woodlands, rivers and famed American Bottoms and include bridges, tunnels and a few at-grade crossings.

The Nature Institute in Godfrey, high on the Mississippi River bluffs, has pristine natural areas suitable for hikers of all skill levels.

Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville is home to 40 acres of prairie, forest, and wetland habitats. Take a nature walk on the paved walking trails and raised marsh walk.

RIVER FUN Dip a paddle in the waters of the Mississippi River on a kayak adventure. Bring your own vessel and launch in the inlets at the Audubon Center at Riverlands in West Alton, MO.

Hop on board the 49-passenger Hakuna Matata excursion boat, docked at Grafton Harbor.

Enjoy sight-seeing cruises, themed dinner cruises and sunset cruises.

LAKE LOU YAEGER If your road trip takes you along the famed Mother Road of Route 66, be sure to stop off at Litchfield’s Lake Lou Yaeger.

The 1,357 acre lake is known for its boating and fishing but also is surrounded by hiking, biking and equestrian trails. Relax at Milnot Beach, ideal for picnics or camping. The nearby Shoal Creek Conservation Area has two hiking trails that roam through native prairielands, shoreline woods and offer incredible views of Lake Lou Yaeger.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES For adrenaline pumping fun, zip through the treetops high above the Mississippi River with Grafton Zipline Adventures.

Zip from bluff to bluff traveling at a max 35 mph and enjoy river views, woodlands and more.

For more sedate fun, enjoy a trail ride through Pere Marquette State Park with Pere Marquette Riding Stables.

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CONFLUENCE TOWER

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SO FARM, SO GOOD

CHAIN OF ROCKS BRIDGE

Head to the farm in Godfrey – Theodora Farm that is. This 10-acre organic farm grows and sells its homegrown veggies, herbs, flowers and annual fruits every Spring, Summer and Fall.

LOCAL LEGEND

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One of the best dive bars in the Midwest is found in Alton. Don’t miss Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire for a one-of-a-kind experience.

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RIPE FOR THE PICKING

Head to Eckert’s Grafton Farm with the family for a day in the great outdoors.

12 SPOTS LOCALS LOVE

ECKERT’S FARM

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GREAT RIVERS & ROUTES Spring/Summer

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Start your journey of exploration at the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site in Hartford.

Be sure to stop at the nearby Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower and enjoy views from 50, 100 and 150-feet high on the viewing platforms.

Get spooked at Alton’s McPike Mansion, one of the most haunted mansions in the U.S.

THE BEST PART OF TRAVELING IS DISCOVERING NEW PLACES. AND THERE’S NO BETTER PLACE TO UNCOVER SPARKLING EXPERIENCES AND ONE-OF-A-KIND TRAVEL GEMS THAN THE GREAT RIVERS & ROUTES REGION OF SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS.

RIVER VIEW Sip a drink, enjoy a game of bags or simply watch the Mississippi River roll by at The Loading Dock – a riverside dining experience.

CHILD’S PLAY

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ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

FOR MORE SPOTS LOCALS LOVE

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EXPLORE HISTORY

GHOSTLY EXPERIENCE

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Explore the Edwardsville Children’s Museum, a charming kid-centric center where children (and adults) can let their imaginations run wild.

Scan Me

THE LOADING DOCK

Discover a sanctuary for wounded and orphaned wildlife at TreeHouse Wildlife Center in rural Dow. The educational center is open daily and self-guided tours of the outdoor enclosures are available.

MCPIKE MANSION

BRIDGE THE GAP

NATIVE LORE

A gigantic man-eating bird was once rumored to live along the Mississippi River bluffs. The Piasa Bird was reportedly vanquished by a native tribe in the area hundreds of years ago. See a painted replica of the mythic bird on the face of limestone bluffs just west of Alton along the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway.

LUNCH BREAK

Have lunch or dinner at Flock Food Truck Park in Alton.

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Once upon a time, the Mother Road of Route 66 crossed from Illinois into Missouri on the two-lane Chain of Rocks Bridge which featured an odd 30 degree kink in the middle.

Although the Chain of Rocks Bridge in Mitchell is now closed to vehicular traffic, the mile-long bridge is a great walking path or bicycling link between the two states.

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TALL ORDER

Standing tall – and we mean very, very tall – is the life-sized statue of Robert Wadlow, the tallest man in the world. Visit his statue to see how you measure up to his 8-feet 11.4 inches!

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“It feels like we’re miles from everything, yet we’re 40 minutes from downtown St. Louis,”

mike pitchford M AYO R

picture

perfect

By Danette Watt

For people who need a break from the digital life, time spent walking Elsah’s streets and connecting with storeowners and residents can be a refreshing respite.

What’s particularly charming about visiting Elsah is the opportunity to get to know the people who live there. Residents take pride in the village and love to talk about its history.

Mike Pitchford, 75, is Elsah’s mayor. He first saw the village when he and a friend were 10. They rode down to Elsah on their bicycles to visit his friend’s aunt.

“We came down into the valley, and I immediately fell in love with Elsah,” Pitchford remembers. “I knew I wanted to live here someday.”

When he was around 25, he left the military and bought his first home in the village.

He’s still there.

“Most, if not all, people, put their heart and soul into making this the best place to live.

“It might be boring to some people, but I consider myself very lucky,” he notes.

CARVED IN TO THE LIMESTONE BLUFFS THAT HUG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER SITS THE PICTURE-PERFECT STONE VILLAGE OF ELSAH. It’s easy to miss the little community nestled just off the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. But anyone who makes the turn on to the narrow village streets is rewarded with an immediate sense of serenity and local scenes that belong on a long ago painter’s canvas.

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GREAT RIVERS & ROUTES Spring/Summer

Although the village is historic, it isn’t stuck in the past. With two churches in town, Principia College, an organic community farm nearby, and Farley’s Music Hall where events and performances are held, Elsah has a vibrant, contemporary feel.

TAKE A WALK To get the best sense of Elsah’s history, you need to walk around the village. Its Historic Loop – Mill Street to Alma Street to LaSalle Street – is a good place to start. Here, you’ll find some of the village’s shops, galleries, lodging, and public and cultural centers. The purpose of the buildings and their owners have changed many times over the years, but all the buildings are original. In 1973, Elsah was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Elsah was founded in 1852 and started life as a riverboat stop. James Semple bought a tract of land, platted the village and developed it. Located four miles from the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers and protected by soaring bluffs, it had rich farmland and easy access to the rivers.

At the time, Semple, 53, had just left public life. An entrepreneur and savvy businessman, some of his endeavors included land development, farming and freight transfer.

Through a unique arrangement of land transfer, he offered a lot to build on, if stone was bought from his quarry.

LaSalle Street is above the floodplain, so that’s where “the saloons, bakery, pharmacy and boarding house” were located, according to local historian Jeff DePew. DePew is the Elsah Museum attendant during its open hours and has researched much of the village’s history. A photographer, he owns Life in the Postcard Gallery, 20 LaSalle St., with his partner, artist Linda Drysdale.

Two doors away, Elsah’s General Store sells locally sourced items as well as unique, iconic brands that fit its vibe. The store began life as a saloon in 1877. In the 1890s, the Kellers turned it into a store that remained open until 1971. Over the years, it transformed into a three-bedroom home.

Blair and Dory Smith bought the building in 2003 and opened the Elsah General Store.

WALK THROUGH HISTORY

By Danette Watt There’s no doubt about it – the Great Rivers & Routes region oozes history.

From Abraham Lincoln to the American Civil War, be sure to plan time to explore the riverfront community of Alton and discover a past rich in personalities and compelling stories.

RAFTING THE MISSISSIPPI WITH LINCOLN Could Abraham Lincoln have been in Alton decades before he arrived as a lawyer and senatorial candidate?

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division, Lincoln twice ferried produce, pork and other wares down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans.

It’s conceivable that Lincoln might have stopped for the night in one of the local boarding houses or had dinner in a tavern.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN – LAWYER, DUELIST, CANDIDATE As a circuit lawyer, Lincoln met clients in Alton and argued cases at the courthouse, now the Ryder Building and the site of My Just Desserts.

In 1842, Illinois Auditor James Shields challenged Lincoln, a member of the state legislature, to a duel. Fortunately, the duel didn’t go through, but there is a marker on the Alton riverfront memorializing the story.

The Lincoln-Douglas Square in downtown Alton marks the start of the Lincoln & Civil War Legacy Trail. There, visitors can see lifesized bronze figures of senate candidates Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD Alton’s proximity to St. Louis made it a logical place for enslaved people to flee to freedom. Traces of the effort to guide slaves to safety remain in Alton, Godfrey and Jerseyville.

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BROWN BAG BISTRO

WHO DATS

Runge. “We have an established local clientele. They feel very at home here. Chef Ryan (Gentelin) stands at the bar and makes sure everyone feels welcome.”

MAKE DINING A

DESTINATION

By Carmen Troesser

Just as mighty rivers tie these communities together, the area’s food scene is a strongly knit fabric of traditions, cultural diversity and immense pride. Long-time establishments and a new influx of talented food-makers are elevating the culinary landscape, and not only keeping locals eating locally, but drawing in crowds of bon vivant from elsewhere. In these spaces, memories are sewn into larger and more vibrant textiles with each visit.

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GREAT RIVERS & ROUTES Spring/Summer

Upriver in Grafton, Ray Buchholz of Godfrey stands over the fish counter at Beasley Fish, the same as he has every week for 13 years. “They get the catfish right out of the river here,” he says. His catfish fritters are handed to him by Tara Hanlon, who started working at the fish stand at age 14 and has been there for 24 years. “I love it. I love the people. I’m never leaving,” she says as she watches Buchholz drive away.

“He comes back, every week.”

Just downriver is O Jan’s Fish Stand. Joann Jennings of Grafton recalls her early days visiting the bright red barn on the river, where the ’93 floodwater level is still painted on the street side. “As kids, we’d always stop at O Jan’s and beg to sit up on the patio and see the river while we ate,” she recalls. “My mom loved fish so we’d always go there. It connects me to her.”

OAXACA

The Grafton Pub is another local favorite, where dogs are welcome on the patio and locals return weekly for Taco Tuesdays, live music in the summer and expansive river views. JD Lorton of nearby Aerie’s Winery lunches with a full table of co-workers. “The whole thing about Grafton is that people come, we give them a great experience and they come back.”

A short drive to Alton provides an array of experiences from fine dining to take-out and ethnic eats. Connie Davis, owner of the Green Tree Inn in Elsah says they refer a lot of their guests to Gentelin’s on Broadway. “They are hands down the best place for a special dinner to celebrate a birthday or anniversary.”

Gentelin’s also has a very loyal local following. “I can tell you everyone’s name at the bar,” says long-time server Beth

For a delightful coffee shop atmosphere and pastries being made in full view on site, it’s LuciAnnas. Lifetime Alton residents Steve Sands and Joan Albers occupy a window table in the historic space on Broadway.

“You’ll never see another place like this anywhere else,” says Sands. Albers finishes her last sip of coffee, “Every morsel is delicious. And we can just roll down the hill and we’re here.”

Another favorite on Broadway is Brown Bag Bistro, where there is a window open to the street for take-out and a dining room as well. The standout on the menu is the towering Wadlow sandwich. With way too many components to mention and no instructions on how to eat something so tall, it’s a historical nod to one of Alton’s most famous residents, Robert Wadlow, who is listed in Guinness World Records as the tallest man to ever live at 8 feet 11 inches.

Down the river in Collinsville, Main Street is the place to go for great local cuisine. Spiritos is a quick and favorite lunch and deli option, with $7 subs and Italian specialties in the grocery section.

Further down Main Street, Who Dat’s serves up cajun specialties like po’boys, beignets, and biscuits and gravy. The restaurant’s story, “New Orleans Boy meets Local Girl,” is told on the walls with pictures and memorabilia.

Here, the seasons are defined by seafood boils, tacos are for Thursdays, and it’s Mardi Gras all year long.

in operation as a bustling breakfast and lunch spot. “We wanted a place for every age, gender and race. Edwardsville delivers a wonderful platform for that,” Becky says. A nonnative to the area, she adds, “I wanted a place to raise my kids where people re-invest in their community. People want to support each other here, and it builds upon itself.”

A bit north in Litchfield, you’ll find the Ariston Café, the oldest continually- operational restaurant along Route 66.

Established in 1924, the menu includes American, Greek, Italian, Mexican and Southern specialties. Twenty-year veteran server Tina Marburger hoists huge eye-popping trays of house-made desserts over the table and distributes them with home-spun local tales.

Down the street, Alejandra Perez adds a splash color to the fabric of Edwardsville with the newly-opened Margarita Bar and Mexican Restaurant, Oaxaca. “We’re close to the university and we wanted to make a fun place for students and family and kids. A colorful place.” With 20 signature margaritas on the menu and grasshoppers for bar snacks, it’s a good bet diners will be making memories here.

Just to the southwest, the Village Drive-In in Bunker Hill will take you back to the days before chain restaurants commandeered burgers and shakes. Affectionately called the VDI by locals, it’s become known for its Strawberry Mountain Dew, which can be sipped alongside burgers and onion rings on hot summer nights.

Back in Edwardsville, Teaspoons Cafe owners Becky and Shane Nettleton are celebrating ten years

At Cleveland Heath on Main Street, locals Evan and Gina Buchholz are carrying on the work started by the restaurant’s founders in 2011. This includes using local farmers as much as possible. “It’s so fun for us to make people we know smile everyday. That’s the whole reason we’re in this industry,” Gina says. “We’re so excited to be part of this community. This feels right. We’re home and we’re very grateful.”

O JAN’S FISH STAND

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Get Crafty

the town’s core. Large picture windows in the old 1880’s opera house building offer views up and down historic Main Street. In warmer seasons they open up to fresh air lounges, where customers sip their signature brew: a coffee blonde ale named the Copper Rabbit. An impressive whiskey collection with over 400 bottles towers over leather sofas and exposed brick in a cozy lounge near the bar. Old friends and new duck in early and often in for a quick brew and chat with Anthony behind the bar. Jennifer watches from the lounge with a Belgian beer glass in hand, “People who don’t live here anymore come back and say they’re so happy we’re here.”

By Carmen Troesser

As warmer temperatures call us outdoors, we long for patios where we gather with good friends and family to imbibe in cocktails, craft brews and spirits. Breweries and wineries have long been a sources of community pride, shapers of towns’ identities, and even kickstarters for local economies.

The Great Rivers and Routes Region is a sweet spot in the swing towards craft libations, luring locals and visitors alike into relevant spaces where ingenuity and conversation flows.

OLD BAKERY BEER

If sweeping river views are calling, a visit to Grafton Winery is what the oenophile ordered.

BELLA VISTA WINERY

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GREAT RIVERS & ROUTES Spring/Summer

One of the freshest spaces on the scene is Bella Vista Winery in Maryville, where a winding road welcomes visitors with twists around sparkling lakes and towards Steve and Angela Gorazd’s newly-realized vision: A chateau with indoor and outdoor event spaces and sweeping water and vineyard views. Their son, Matt, affectionately known as the “grape cowboy,” is in the

process of revamping the vineyard, working most days with his two dogs tagging closely behind. In the kitchen, Chef Thomas Casey turns out an impressive menu that includes brick oven pizzas made with dough from Bakers Dozen in New Baden.

Angela’s favorite events are their 10-course wine pairing dinners. “We keep them small and it’s very personal for our guests,” she says.

Situated on a hillside on Grafton’s Main Street, patios bustle in the warmer months and sun-drenched dining rooms offer a peaceful respite in winter. A full-service menu pairs nicely with craft beer now brewed where the wine was made before their expansion.

A second facility adjacent to Eckert’s Farm has increased wine production, with 2021 seeing 37,000 gallons.

Four acres of vineyards surround the new space, which has become a popular wedding and event venue. “We had no idea it would grow like this,” says owner Mike Nikonovich.

“Our relationship with Eckert’s is a great fit. We private label wines for them. We’ll be starting food up there in the spring and acoustic music Sundays.”

“We want people to understand that we’re a restaurant too, and we’re open all year long.”

Up north in Hillsboro, Anthony and Jennifer Marcolini have returned home after careers in St. Louis to open Opera House Brewing. Six years of home-brewing adventures and love for the their home town led to the venture, which has rejuvenated

OLD HERALD BREWERY & DISTILLERY

Alton’s riverfront is home to the region’s first craft beer brewer – Old Bakery Beer Company. Founded by Master Brewer James Rogalsky and his wife Lauren Pattan, the two have developed a certified organic brewery that’s high on natural brews. Old Bakery also has a full-service restaurant that focuses on seasonal menus and vegan entrees.

Edwardsville’s Main Street has a brewery of its own, where a cozy fireplace helps to bring in foot-traffic during the colder temps and a patio beckons when temperatures rise.

Recess Brewing gets a lot of locals from the closer neighborhoods, many who take

advantage of the dogfriendly atmosphere.

“When we started, we had a lot of people ask us to keep it on Main Street,” says co-owner Cody Savoie. “The support for this has been overwhelming.”

Down the road, pizza lovers can get a local brew with their pie.

Peel Pizza brews its own beers to complement the signature pizzas including Blood Orange Wheat and Double Take Blonde. Keep your eyes open for their special releases.

Old Herald Brewery and Distillery in Collinsville is nestled quite nicely into the old Collinsville Herald space.

The main dining room, where the expansive pub menu is served,

has views of shiny fermentation tanks.

Downstairs Derik Reiser works his magic. He tweaks and perfects his Ardent Spirits, using vapor infusions to create subtle and sophisticated flavor profiles. “I want to take spirits where craft brewing’s been for the last 20 years,” he says. His rum and agave spirits have been awarded bronze and silver medals at the San Francisco World Spirits competition. His personal favorite is The Confluence, a bourbon and rum blend aged in a tequila cask. “You get elements of what I consider the world’s best spirits. It represents this region where we have three great rivers coming together.”

IN AN AREA RIPE WITH INNOVATION AND PRIDE, THESE MAKERS ARE GENERATING MEMORIES UNDER THE STARS, IN THE GLOW OF FIRE PITS AND OVER SWEEPING RIVERSCAPES. HERE, THE WORDS OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ARE SOLIDLY EMBRACED,

GRAFTON WINERY THE VINEYARDS

“There cannot be good living where there is no good drinking.”

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VIRDEN GIRARD

ROUTE 66: LIFE IS A HIGHWAY

CARLINVILLE

LITCHFIELD GILLESPIE LIVINGSTON STAUNTON

HAMEL

MISSOURI

By Melissa Crockett Meske

EDWARDSVILLE GLEN CARBON

GRANITE CITY COLLINSVILLE

IT’S CALLED THE MOTHER ROAD FOR A REASON. Historic Route 66 has been a symbol of hope to generations– from the Great Depression to the ‘60s Hippie Era and, yes, even today.

It represents freedom and inspiration, an unwavering desire to live out your dreams.

Created in 1926, Route 66 became the preferred road for traveling westward. The full route stretched from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA. In the beginning, it was just a long dirt road distinguished only from its surrounding landscape by the ruts travelers carved with their Model T’s narrow wheels. It later became the first paved highway in the U.S. Jack Kerouac and John Steinbeck wrote about it. Nat King Cole and John Cochrane sang about it. Will Rogers and Woody Guthrie not only sang about it but traveled it often. Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper brought the feel of it to life on the big screen with Easy Rider. Disney Pixar later rebirthed this same nostalgic notoriety for new generations with its 2006 movie Cars Consider your first pit stop at Girard.

Reopening in April, Doc’s Just Off 66 first made itself a legendary part of the Route’s history as the former Doc’s Soda Fountain and Soda Lounge, after originally debuting as Deck’s Drug Store in the 1800’s. New owners have preserved its history, with an array of old-fashioned soda fountain options and unique displays of pharmaceutical memorabilia, while also serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

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GREAT RIVERS & ROUTES Spring/Summer

Drive to Carlinville and be sure to visit the historic Carlinville Square where you can shop ‘til you drop and enjoy local pubs and taverns. Don’t miss a tour of the famous Million Dollar Courthouse. The structure was supposed to cost $50,000 to build but ended up coming in at $1.3 million in 1870. Drive a little further and you’ll come into Litchfield. This is where you’ll find the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center. Guided tours, local artifacts, and nostalgia from all along The Mother Road are featured along this stroll down memory lane.

EAST ST. LOUIS

ILLINOIS

latest box office hits make their way across the screen as do many classics.

Roads Come Together,” you’ll find it nestled in the downtown shopping district.

Back out on the highway, you’ll want to be sure to make a stop in Livingston to check out the Pink Elephant Antique Mall.

There’s ample opportunity for one-of-akind photos on the grounds of this former high school, with its namesake towering pink elephant or alongside its abandoned spaceship. Step inside and you can browse its endless display of antiques and décor, and take in all the homemade candy, fudge, and any other thing your heart desires.

Another popular Route 66 stop while in Staunton is Henry’s Rabbit Ranch & Route 66 Emporium. Featuring rabbits of the natural kind (live) along with those of the driving kind (Volkswagens), there’s also an extensive collection of vintage neon signage and even more from the highway’s heyday.

Next stop: Staunton. This community plays a distinct role in the history of Illinois Route 66. It is the home to the convergence of Illinois Route 4 with pre-1930 Route 66 lines and its post-1930 realignment. One of seemingly endless selfie stops along your legendary journey is here, at Staunton’s Route 66 Mural. Titled “Where the Three

Just a hop over toward the edge of town is Country Classic Cars. With over 600 vintage cars and trucks on display from all eras, Country Classic Cars also features a gift shop full of reproduction collectibles and Route 66 memorabilia.

Continuing down The Mother Road, you’ll arrive at Hamel, home of two legendary roadside features. Route 66 Creamery features classic American favorites including chili, cheese dogs, steak burgers and fries, and of course, old-fashioned ice cream. Also serving up unforgettable concretes, cones, malts, shakes, and floats, the Creamery hosts another perfect selfie stop with its uniquely nostalgic Route 66 mural. Dog friendly!

Right across The Mother Road is Weezy’s Route 66 Bar & Grill. Once described by historian and author John Weiss as “a nice original Roadhouse,” you’ll enjoy perusing the vintage signs that decorate its walls while savoring a juicy burger and fries before cruising on down the strip.

Local eateries are part of Litchfield’s historic role in the Illinois Route 66 story as well, including Ariston Café. Nearby is Jubelt’s Bakery & Restaurant, a multigenerational family business celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022.

That’s not all there is to see, of course. Be sure to stop in Mitchell at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and take a leisurely walk across the Mighty Mississippi. Then journey on down the road to Collinsville and Instagram your stop at the World’s Tallest Catsup Bottle Water Tower.

Particularly popular for the warmer months each year is Litchfield’s Sky View Drive-In. It premiered on the Mother Road in Spring 1951 and is the last original drive-in theater still operating on Route 66 in Illinois. The

SKYVIEW DRIVE-IN

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SUMMER FUN NASCAR CUP RACE. THE CELEBRATION OF A PUNGENT ROOT. CHAMPIONSHIP BARBEQUE COOK OFFS. BICYCLE STREET RACING. There’s plenty of fun and excitement in southwest Illinois every spring and summer from street festivals, iconic flea markets and outdoor pickers markets to sparkling fireworks, Prospect League baseball games and car shows. Take your pick of fun times from events featured on RiversandRoutes.com and those highlighted here.

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FOR MORE EVENTS

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MUSIC, SPORTS, GAMING. IT’S ALL ON TAP THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS IN THE GREAT RIVERS & ROUTES REGION.

Enjoy baseball up close and personal when the Alton River Dragons take the field in their Prospect League games at Lloyd Hopkins Field at Gordon Moore Park. This is the second year for the collegiate summer baseball league which includes college players from throughout the country. Batter up!

Thoroughbred horse racing has a home in Collinsville as the FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing season gets under way Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays starting April 19 and running throughout the summer.

Riverfront casinos are a great place to enjoy the beauty of the rivers while taking part in gaming adventures. Alton Argosy Casino in downtown Alton and DraftKings at Casino Queen in East St. Louis offer both.

Head to the Wildey Theatre in downtown Edwardsville for first-class live music concerts. The Wildey, a historic theatre which sits along Route 66, has been home to vaudeville performers, silent films and nationally renowned cover bands.

For community theater at its best, Alton Little Theater offers rip-roaring comedies, sensitive, heart-filled dramas and musicals throughout the year. Alton Little Theater is the longest running community theater in Illinois and is celebrating its 89th season this year. Don’t miss live theater productions at Alfresco Theater in Granite City.

APRIL Celebrate Earth Day at Old Bakery Beer Company in downtown Alton during the annual Riverbend Earth Day event April 20.

Make a toast to Spring during the Spring Beer Fest at Edwardsville’s City Park Saturday, April 23. The City Park event is hosted by Global Brew Tap House.

festival held the second Sunday of every month from May through October.

Get your kicks on Route 66 during the Edwardsville Route 66 Festival, June 11 at City Park.

Head to the riverfront community of Grafton for Music in the Park May 26 – Aug. 11.

Free outdoor concerts are held every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. in The Grove Memorial Park.

JULY

JUNE

The only Mississippi River front flea market returns for the season! The Grafton Riverside Flea Market is held the fourth weekend of the month from April through October at The Loading Dock in Grafton.

Start your engines and head to World Wide Technology Raceway June 3 – 5 for NASCAR racing at its best with the region’s first-ever NASCAR Cup Race – the Enjoy Illinois 300.

MAY

Are you a fan of horseradish?

All things root-related are celebrated at the International Horseradish Festival held on the streets of Uptown Collinsville June 3 & 4.

Departure Celebration at Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, May 7 & 8. Hear stories of the expedition, learn about long ago crafts and meet re-enactors.

Let the fun begin at the monthly Litchfield Picker’s Market. Find your must-have pre 1980s treasure during this

GREAT RIVERS & ROUTES Spring/Summer

Classic or vintage. Hot rod or street racer. Browse through the great cars featured at the annual All-Wheels Car Show Sunday, June 12 in Alton.

Enjoy annual Independence Day celebrations on the riverfront in Grafton Saturday, July 2. Alton’s Fireworks Spectacular blasts off on Sunday, July 3. Fireworks are also on tap in Edwardsville on Monday, July 4 and Litchfield, Monday, July 4. For more information about area fireworks, visit: RiversandRoutes.com.

If sampling great barbeque is high on your list of fun, head to the streets of Uptown Collinsville for the annual Smokin’ on Main Festival July 30-31.

AUGUST It’s part street fair and part high speed bicycle racing adventure. The Edwardsville Rotary Criterium Festival returns to the streets of downtown Edwardsville, Saturday, Aug. 20.

G R E AT PL AC ES TO D I N E • S TAY • PL AY SIP SAMPLE STROLL May 21 Enjoy food, music and shopping in downtown Grafton. Tickets required.

MUSIC IN THE PARK May 26 – Aug. 11 Free weekly concerts on Thursdays. 7 pm - 9 pm.

Grove Memorial Park.

MISSISSIPPI MASTERS GOLF TOURNAMENT Oct. 7 SANTA’S CHOCOLATE EXPRESS Dec. 3 SANTA CON Dec. 10

REMEMBERING GRAFTON’S HISTORY: THE DINKY June 4 Grafton Visitor’s Center

2ND ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE Dec. 17

FIREWORKS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER July 2 & Dec. 31 Celebrate Independence Day and New Year’s Eve in Grafton

RIDE THE GRAFTON FERRY! (April - November)

www.GraftonChamber.com • www.EnjoyGrafton.com RiversandRoutes.com

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so many ways to play

By Melissa Crockett Meske

For a birds-eye view of the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, the gondolas of Grafton SkyTour is just the ticket.

Or strap in for a one-of-a-kind journey through the riverfront bluff treetops in Grafton with Aerie’s Zipline.

WATER PARKS AND ZIPS

LIFE ON THE FARM

INDOOR FUN

Cool off with the family at Grafton’s Raging Rivers Water Park. Enjoy dual 500-foot body flumes, a kid-friendly Itty Bitty Surf City and Tree House Harbor and its newest attraction, the Mississippi Monster Slide with three hidden chambers and lots of splashing and spraying.

Near Worden, Boonies Farm offers wide open spaces for friends and families who want to spread out and enjoy quality time together. Visit with farm animals, enjoy U-pick flower fields, a corn maze, bounce pillow, and hill slide.

If the family wants some indoor fun, look no further than Edison’s Entertainment Complex in Edwardsville. Enjoy 12 lanes of boutique bowling, a 4,000-square-foot laser tag arena and state-of-the-art arcade.

The Collinsville Aqua Park offers plenty of water fun for the family as well. Also open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, it is home to seven slides, Monsoon Mountain, Lazy River, and the Aqua Climb Wall.

Hop on board the Hakuna Matata, a 49-passenger excursion boat sailing the rivers in Grafton.

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GREAT RIVERS & ROUTES Spring/Summer

Collinsville’s Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve is a public facility sitting in the heart of the city. Farm animals, a 1940’s farm house, barn and more make up this salute to life on the farm decades ago.

Glen Carbon’s Altitude Trampoline Park offers high-energy entertainment with its 20,000-square-feet of interconnected wall-to-wall trampoline attractions.

Don’t miss the National Great Rivers Museum at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam #26 in Alton.