Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

Illinois' only United Nations World Heritage Site. This 2,200-acre site preserves the central section of the largest prehistoric Indian city north of Mexico. An Interpretive Center presents a coherent account of this sophisticated prehistoric culture. Climb Monk's Mound, see the film and life-size village. Don't miss annual events that focus on Native American culture.

CITY: Collinsville

World's Largest Catsup Bottle

This 170-foot-tall bottle that resembles a Brook's Catsup Bottle served as a water tower for the catsup manufacturer after being constructed in 1949. A popular roadside attraction, it makes for a great photo op.

CITY: Collinsville

Laser Force Lazer Tag Zone

A 5,000 sq. ft. laser tag arena and a 2,500 sq. ft. game arcade is conveniently located by hotels and restaurants off I-64.

CITY: Caseyville

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows

The Shrine has 200 beautifully landscaped acres of gardens and devotional areas, including the Outdoor Amphitheatre, Shrine Church, Lourdes Grotto, Stations of the Cross, Millennium Spire, the Visitors Center with a restaurant and gift shop, and the Shrine Hotel.

CITY: Belleville

Gateway Fun Park

Gateway features mini-golf, go-karts, an arcade, bumper boats, a kiddie track and Rudy's Restaurant.

CITY: Collinsville

Splash City Family Waterpark

Surfing in Illinois? Yes! The FlowRider creates a perfect wave for surfing and body boarding. Water slides, a lap pool, the lazy river, a sandy play area and "Monsoon Mountain" make for a family adventure.

CITY: Collinsville

Illinois Caverns

There are formations of stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, and more. An underground stream flows through the cave bed, and the temperature is a relatively constant 58 degrees.

CITY: Waterloo

Belle-Clair Fairgrounds & Exposition Center

Home to the annual St. Clair County Fair, several craft shows and monthly flea markets, the complex also includes the Belle-Clair Speedway, with stock car races and demolition derbies.

CITY: Belleville

The Edge

The largest laser tag arena in the region also includes mini-golf, a big video arcade with the coolest games on the market, and food at D.S.Vespers Sports Pub and Eatery.

CITY: Belleville

Pleasant Ridge Park

Tucked back away from the street, a relaxing place to get away from it all is Pleasant Ridge Park. The centerpiece is the Kensella Log Home.

CITY: Fairview Heights

Fairmount Park Racetrack

Fairmount Park is home to live thoroughbred horse racing action. From March through September, the horses run on the one-mile oval dirt track Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

CITY: Collinsville

Casino Queen

The bright lights of Vegas have nothing on the Casino Queen, home of the loosest slots! The Queen has had the loosest slots in the entire country for six years running, plus the hottest table games in town. Hungry? The Queen has you covered from fine dining to casual. The best view in town is from the Casino Queen Hotel.

CITY: East St. Louis

J-H Bison Ranch

Tours of this family-run bison ranch include baby bison feeding, herd tours, and photos with baby bison, llamas and horses.

CITY: Trenton

Prairie State Games

This multi-sport, Olympic-style festival showcases the finest amateur athletic talent in Illinois each year on the last weekend in June.

CITY: Fairview Heights

Wilson Park

Wilson Park offers baseball fields, walking trails, picnic shelters, and much more. Each year the 74-acre park is replanted with seasonal flowers and plants.

CITY: Granite City

Gateway Geyser Fountain

As the world's tallest fountain, the Gateway Geyser Fountain reaches 627 feet in height, and is centered in a pond that holds five million gallons of water.

CITY: East St. Louis

Schneidewind Barn Museum

Hundreds of interesting items amassed over a lifetime are housed in this unique gallery that was formally a working farm barn.

CITY: Marissa

Centerfield Park

Spend the day tackling go-karts, miniature golf, batting cages, bumper boats and a video arcade.

CITY: O'Fallon

Main Street Jazz & Blues

Join the group at this small intimate club featuring performers from St. Louis and the local area.

CITY: Belleville

Marissa Academy Museum and Coal Miners Monument

Memorabilia celebrating the city's growth from a coal mining town to the present makes this an interesting stop.

CITY: Marissa

Melvin Price Memorial Park

The 24-acre park has a pavilion, walking trails, and many other amenities. It is also the site of the Veterans of All Wars Memorial and the September 11 Memorial.

CITY: Swansea

Scheve Park

This expansive park features picnic areas, baseball and softball fields, playgrounds, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, and sand volleyball courts. The centerpiece of the park is an old train depot, a full-size caboose, and a train car that can be reserved for groups.

CITY: Mascoutah

Family Fun Tyme

Located in Maryville, this facility has an indoor arcade, batting cages and lots more fun for kids. Alfonzo's Restaurant is right next door for pizza lovers.

CITY: Maryville

The Mermaid House

The beautiful house is an example of an 1830s hotel. Charles Dickens once visited there in 1842 while researching a book he wrote on prairies in America.

CITY: Lebanon

Tri City Port District

This site is on the Granite City Canal, near the Lock and Dam on the Mississippi River. Tri City Port is a duty-free foreign port, as well as a loading facility for farm and other products being barged on the river.

CITY: Granite City

Thomas Kinkade Gallery

The Thomas Kinkade Gallery of Belleville is full of beautiful works by Thomas Kinkade.

CITY: Belleville

Woodland Park

50-acre wooded city park located in the heart of Collinsville. Amenities consist of picnic shelters, playgrounds, fishing lake, and softball diamond.

CITY: Collinsville

Rex's Museum

A Lionel train set shares space with a Li'l Abner Dogpatch Band windup toy and British toy soldiers. Antique collectibles, clothing, glassware, a mule deer antler chandelier, and many more unusual items fill the 2,000 sq. ft. "extra room" added onto the house.

CITY: Waterloo

Ratz Memorial Park and Lincoln Park

Located in Red Bud, these parks feature picnic shelters, and plenty of playground equipment. Both are great places to take the kids.

CITY: Red Bud

Broadway Center of Arts

Groups regularly perform at the "Black Box" Main Stage theatre.

CITY: Belleville

Arts & More Gallery

Arts & More Gallery offers custom framing, in-home consultations, art classes, hundreds of mats and frames, and thousands of prints. Also, original art by local, national, and international artists.

CITY: Red Bud

Green Mount Crossing

Green Mount Crossing is lodging, restaurants, Target Store, Dierbergs, World Market, Chocolate Company, Beauty Brands & Spa, and Michael's.

CITY: Shiloh

Schnucks Park

One of the newest parks with over 9 acres of natural habitat. Sporting a new playground, small fishing pond and a wooden gazebo on its shore.

CITY: Collinsville

Fults Hill Prairie/Kidd Lake Marsh State Natural Area

This natural area comprimises 532 acres of forest, prairie and flowering trees, with a trail and pond.

CITY: East St. Louis

National Lampoon's Vacation - Poplar Street Bridge

In this wacky comedy a Chicago family takes a hysterical road trip across country to reach a theme park on the West Coast. Illinois scenes include Buckingham Fountain in downtown Chicago's Grant Park (seen spouting its famous cascades of water in the background as the family leaves Chicago) and the Poplar Street Bridge that spans the Mississippi River in East St. Louis (where the family gets lost).

CITY: East St. Louis

Marketplace Shopping Center

Marketplace Shopping Center is K-Mart, Bed, Bath, & Beyond, Borders Books & Music, Men's Warehouse, FedEx, Kinko's, and Bombay Company.

CITY: Fairview Heights

St. Louis Street Shopping

St. Louis Street in Lebanon is paved with brick and lined with many unique antique boutiques and specialty shops. Several of the stores specialize in Victorian and country collectibles, distinctive gifts, music, foods, fine glassware, and books. Shoppers can find a little bit of everything here.

CITY: Lebanon

Braeutigam's Orchards

Blackberries, peaches, apples, pumpkins, tomatoes, and eggplant are the specialties at this orchard.

CITY: Belleville

Old Fire Engine Museum

Learn how firemen fought fires throughout history. See all of the antique firefighting memorabilia.

CITY: Granite City

Calico Moon

Calico Moon features primitives, dry goods, rug hooking, primitive stitch, supplies, and classes.

CITY: Lebanon

Indian Mound Golf Course

Indian Mound offers an 18-hole golf course.

CITY: Fairmont City

Fairview Heights Plaza

Fairview Heights Plaza is Circuit City, Sports Authority, Gordman's, and a number of other shops.

CITY: Fairview Heights

Belle Clair Speedway

Stock car races, drag races and demolition derbies are regular events at this speedway.

CITY: Belleville

Collinsville Historical Society Museum

Local and world histories are combined in these exhibits.

CITY: Collinsville

Winchester Plaza

Winchester Plaza is specialty shops and local restaurants like Laredo's Mexican Restaurant and Bandana's Barbeque.

CITY: Fairview Heights

Crossroads Center

Crossroads Center is T.J. Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Deals, and several specialty shops.

CITY: Fairview Heights

Eckert's Country Store & Farms - Belleville

This Eckert's location has a greenhouse, restaurant, Country Store, and fruits and vegetables to pick in season.

CITY: Belleville

Lincoln Place

Lincoln Place is Kohl's, Lowe's, Old Navy, Ultimate Electronics, Office Depot, St. Louis Bread Company, Linens & Things, Pier One, Marshall's and more.

CITY: Fairview Heights

Old Six Mile Museum in the Emmert-Zippel House

This 158-year-old home has displays of historic items including Civil War artifacts, a Native American collection, and 1830s furnishings.

CITY: Granite City

St. Clair Antique Mall

200 dealers, 17,000 square feet all on one level.

CITY: Fairview Heights

Ben's Antique Mall

For over 17 years, Ben's Antique Mall has offered furniture, antiques, and Belleville items.

CITY: Belleville

Coal Museum

A quilt from the Civil War, coal mining memorabilia, and more are located in the Marissa Academy Building, formerly a two-year prep school built in 1867.

CITY: Collinsville

Corner George Inn

The Corner George Inn is a landmark in the 150-year-old Maeystown German settlement, which is listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. Also visit the town's 1867 church, one-lane stone arched bridge, general store, sweet shoppe, museum and visitor's center.

CITY: Maeystown

Villa Marie Winery

Villa Marie is set in the rolling countryside on the eastern edge of Maryville. The vineyard grows Corot Noir, Noiret, Vignoles, Norton and Traminette wine grapes.

CITY: Maryville

Patchwork Corner Crafts

Patchwork Corner Crafts has a wide variety of quilting and craft supplies.

CITY: Mascoutah

Horseshoe Lake State Park

28 sites, lake fishing, boating, tent camping

CITY: Granite City

The Legacy Golf Course

This 18-hole golf course opened in 1990.

CITY: Granite City

Tri-City Speedway

Regular racing events, including UMP Late Models, UMP Modifies, Sportsman, Street Stocks and Factory Stocks, are held on the 1/4-mile oval. Special events like the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars are raced on the 1/2-mile track.

CITY: Pontoon Beach

Jarrot Mansion

The subject of intensive historical interest, the Mansion is probably the oldest brick house in the state of Illinois. It was built in 1810 by Nicholas Jarrot, who was a native Frenchman and landowner in Cahokia.

CITY: Cahokia

Drury Inn

As home to the world’s largest catsup bottle, Collinsville is not to be missed! Located just across the mighty Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis. The Drury Inn is also not to be missed, with all of our FREE extras! Hotel Services • Free Hot QUIKSTART® Breakfast • Free 5:30 Kickback® - Hot Food & Cold Beverages • Free Wireless Internet • Free 60 Minutes of Long Distance • Free Soda/Popcorn in Lobby (daily 3-10 pm) • Free Local Phone Calls • • HBO, Our Exclusive Premium Movie Channel • CNN, ESPN, Weather Channel & More • Free Parking • Free In-room Coffee Service • 24 Hour Business Center • Exercise Room • Fax Services • Guest Laundry • Guest Voice Mail • Hair Dryers in All Rooms • Indoor Pool • Iron & Ironing Board in All Rooms • Meeting Rooms • Microwaves & Refrigerators in All Rooms • Two-line Phones & Data Ports

CITY: Collinsville

Scrapbook Factory

The Scrapbook Factory offers all the supplies you need to create the scrapbook of your dreams.

CITY: O'Fallon

Three Sisters Crafts & Gifts

Three Sisters Crafts & Gifts offers handmade crafts, beads, jewelry-making supplies, home decor, scrapbook and quilting supplies, and much more.

CITY: O'Fallon

Limelight Players

This talented troupe can be found at a variety of venues from dinner theater at Fischer's Restaurant to stage shows at Southwestern Illinois College.

CITY: Belleville

Club Escapade

In business since 1998, this Belleville gay bar features karaoke on Wednesdays, and dancing to live DJs on select Saturday nights.

CITY: Belleville

Collinsville Crossing Mall

Collinsville Crossing is a 460,000 square foot retail development located on 52 acres, and is home to Wal-Mart, The Home Depot and many restaurants and shops.

CITY: Collinsville

Safari RV Park

Open year round with 33 camp sites

CITY: Fairmont City

Julius J. Knobeloch State Nature Preserve

Beautiful. untouched nature preserve which way originally purchased by the Knobeloch family in 1874. After a family disagreement, the land was auctioned off to the nature conservancy and then sold to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

CITY: Freeburg

American Legion Post 58 Freedom Farm

40 sites, recreation building, lake swimming and fishing, boating, tent camping, handicap access.

CITY: Freeburg

Emma Kunz House

Visitors are invited to walk through this home, considered to be the oldest Greek Revival-style home in Illinois.

CITY: Belleville

Yanda Log Cabin

An authentic log cabin located in the heart of Glen Carbon, it has the original ceiling rafters and attic floor. The sidewalks are made from a 1912 school building. The Cabin is used for group activities and community events. Tours by appointment.

CITY: Glen Carbon

Berger-Kiel Log House

The log house gives a glimpse into local life in the 1800s. While at the park, visit the refurbished caboose and passenger train.

CITY: Mascoutah

Rivers Edge Golf Course

This nine-hole golf course has two on-site restaurants.

CITY: Granite City

The Hett Theater

Distinguished speakers, concerts, and drama are all part of the playbill at The Hett, McKendree College's showcase Center for the Arts.

CITY: Lebanon

Bellefontaine House

Meriwether Lewis is reported to have stayed here. It is home to some of the earliest settlers in Illinois (1782) and was named by the French for a spring located on the beautiful site.

CITY: Waterloo

Kaskaskia River State Fish and Widlife Area

One of the largest state-owned and managed sites in Illinois, located 35 miles southeast of St. Louis. The land and water area total more than 20,000 acres of river and bottomland. It contains 36 miles of river.

CITY: Baldwin

Labor & Industry Museum

The Labor & Industry Museum is the only public institution devoted to the history of the labor and industry of Belleville and southwestern Illinois. The centerpiece is Jumbo, a 19th-century steam engine along with coal mining, carpentry, and stove-making exhibits.

CITY: Belleville

St. Clair County Historical Society Museum

This Victorian adaptation of a Greek Revival home was built in the early 1800s. In addition to period furniture and vintage clothing, artifacts, and quilts, the museum contains an extensive research library and gift shop.

CITY: Belleville

Gateway Classic Cars & Museum

Car enthusiasts are tempted by every make from Model T's to muscle cars. Shop the Antique Mall for Collectibles or attend their monthly sales and auctions.

CITY: Fairmont City

Aunt Bea's Attic Antiques

Unique antiques and collectibles from all over the world.

CITY: Lebanon

Rock Mill and Museum

The entire village of Maeystown is on the historic register with much of the history preserved in the museum.

CITY: Maeystown

Tamarack Country Club

This 18-hole golf course was designed by Pete Dye.

CITY: Shiloh

Schorr Lake Vineyards

This secluded winery focuses on environmentally-friendly wine making methods. Relax on the deck overlooking the vineyards and enjoy these estate-grown and produced table and fruit wines.

CITY: Waterloo

Whitey Herzog Field

Citizens Park's 45 acres are home to some of the area's best ball diamonds. Whitey Herzog Field features a lighted baseball complex with batting cages, concessions, and grandstand seating for 300.

CITY: Belleville

Grand Marais Golf Course

Grand Marais includes an on-site restaurant and pro shop.

CITY: Centreville

Looking Glass Playhouse

The Looking Glass Playhouse was started in 1972 by a small group of volunteers to raise money for McKendree College by directing and producing a musical play. The play was a success and they have been putting on performances ever since. Drama, musicals, and comedy performances are on the bill.

CITY: Lebanon

Mascoutah Heritage Museum

The museum focuses on the businesses that helped the city grow, particularly milling.

CITY: Mascoutah

Rieso Farm Museum & Antiques

There is a large collection of machinery and primitives dating back to the 1800s.

CITY: New Athens

Acorns Golf Links

Acorns Golf Links is located in Waterloo, Illinois featuring 6,701 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72 . The course rating is 72.3 and it has a slope rating of 125. You will not find subdivision golf at Acorns; just nature, beautiful scenery, challenging design, and you. Making Acorns the premier public course to test your game, have fun with good friends, or to get away from your daily hussle and bussle. Acorns features zoysia fairways, five tee boxes; matching every level of golf and large bent grass greens. Designed by William Ebeler, the Acorns golf course opened in 1997.

CITY: Waterloo

KOA Granite City

77 sites, electricity, water, sewer, showers, reservations.

CITY: Granite City

The History Museum of Monroe County

Anchored by items gifted by Col. Edd & Violet Kueker, this collection represents the settlement of the West, numerous U.S. wars and early transportation. There is even a display of items from the Stone Age retrieved during a local archaeological dig. Changing displays and Special Exhibits from the Museum collection and "on loan" items provide awesome journeys through the pages of history.

CITY: Waterloo

Katherine Dunham Museum

Katherine Dunham is probably best known as a legendary dancer who propelled the awareness of the cultures of the African Diaspora via her choreography. Her famous dance technique reflects a fusion of many cultures. Miss Dunham was a true renaissance woman. She was an artist, anthropologist, author, activist, manager, movie star, producer, educator, wife, mother, and so much more. The world needs to know about her wonderful life story and there's no better learning environment than the Museum and Centers for Arts and Humanities she created. The museum houses Miss Dunham's outstanding collection of symbolic and functional art, including more than 250 African and Caribbean art objects from more than 50 countries.

CITY: East St. Louis