2013 Travel Guide
Enjoy Illinois App
Regions & Cities
Trails to
Adventure
Adventure
The scenery in this southernmost region of Illinois is perhaps the best in the state. And you’ll see plenty of it as you hike,
golf and sip wine along winding roads and trails here that connect clusters of quaint towns, state parks and wineries. The more
you see, the more you’ll realize that Trails to Adventure only tells part of the story.
Harrisburg
Carbondale
Makanda
Pomona / Alto Pass / Cobden
Great Rivers
Country
Country
Great Rivers
Country
Take in the sweeping vistas of western Illinois dotted with quaint towns, historic sites and scenic vineyards.
Chicago
& Beyond
& Beyond
Chicago
& Beyond
Explore world-class attractions and nearby state parks, theme parks and quaint downtowns.
Land of Lincoln
Land of Lincoln
Experience the living history of Abe Lincoln and Route 66 in this central region of Illinois.
Trails to Adventure
Carbondale
A lively campus feeds an eclectic downtown.
Home to Southern Illinois University, Carbondale bustles with a busy historic district lined with shops
and restaurants. A vibrant theater community makes its home at Shyrock Auditorium. While nearby parks,
year-round golf and the popular Shawnee Hills Wine Trail tempt visitors with even more ways to spend a getaway here.
Local Highlights
Makanda
A mini artist colony next door to Giant City State Park.
Shops and local works of art fill the town’s one-block boardwalk. For a day of hiking, head to the trails of
Giant City State Park, capped off by a night at an impressive lodge that serves world-famous fried chicken.
Next door to the park, rolling hills and bluffs challenge golfers with a scenic course that skirts the Shawnee National Forest.
Harrisburg
Gateway to Garden of the Gods and other outdoor adventures.
Every adventure needs a home base. And for outdoor enthusiasts, that home base is Harrisburg, where overnight
accommodations include everything from a cabin to a tree house. By day, lace up your boots and head to nearby
Garden of the Gods, explore the popular River to River Trail, or hike deep into the Shawnee National Forest.
Pomona/Alto Pass/Cobden
Postcard-perfect stops along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail.
A winery known for its fruit vintages nestles into the woods and greets explorers with wine tastings after hiking the nearby
Little Grand Canyon. If you want to skip the hike, head for a 90-foot natural bridge hidden along a trail. And if you’re
looking for more tastings? Follow the wine trail to nearby Alto Pass and Cobden.
More Cities
Explore More
See all the attractions in Trails to Adventure.
Find more travel ideas near the trails of this region—including a few for you off-the-beaten-path types.
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