SOUTHWEST TOP SPOTS
Follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, meditate at the largest outdoor shrine in the country and give the kids a reason to eat their spinach!
Click on any of the highlighted destinations to find the Top Spots in Southwest Illinois.
LEWIS AND CLARK INTERPRETIVE CENTER
 Walk in the footsteps of famed explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark along the east bank of the Mississippi River in Hartford, where the Corps of Discovery launched its legendary expedition. The Interpretive Center tells the story of Camp River DuBois, the original encampment and training grounds of Lewis and Clark, and includes a full-scale replica of the team's keel boat.
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NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS
 The nation's largest outdoor shrine is a peaceful spiritual retreat set on 200 beautifully landscaped acres. Twelve devotional areas offer places to pray, reflect or simply meditate. One of the most popular is the Lourdes Grotto, a replica of the famed shrine in France. Visitors are welcome to walk or drive the grounds. A free guided trolley tour is also available. Stay for dinner and spend the night at the on-site Shrine Hotel.
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CAHOKIA MOUNDS
 This U.N. World Heritage Site shelters the remains of an ancient city where a Mississippian Indian culture once flourished from 700 to 1400 A.D. before mysteriously disappearing. Sixty-eight of the original 120 earthen mounds have been preserved on the 4,000-acre site. Stop at the interpretive center before tackling the 100-foot-tall Monks Mound, which is the largest pre-historic earthen mound in the New World.
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GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
 More than 140,000 international fans pack the stands at the Gateway International Raceway in Madison to watch the world's leading racecar drivers compete in the NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Truck Series, as well as the NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals. The Gateway complex includes a lighted, 1.25-mile oval and a championship drag racing facility.
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FORT DE CHARTRES
 See the oldest building in Illinois, a massive stone fort called Fort de Chartres, which was built by French colonists in 1753. The fort served as the seat of government during the French rule. After viewing Fort de Chartres, tour the nearby well-preserved sites that were established from Chester to Cahokia by Illinois' earliest European settlers.
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PERE MARQUETTE STATE PARK
 Here in Grafton, Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet explored what is now known as Pere Marquette State Park, the largest state park in Illinois. At a sprawling 8,000 acres, the park is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, spectacular views of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, and the stone-and-timber Pere Marquette Lodge and Conference Center, built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Lodge features a huge 50-foot-tall stone fireplace and a life-size chess board that kids just love to play on. Browse through the Visitor Center before setting off for a day of hiking, horseback riding, fishing or boating.
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EAGLE WATCHING IN ALTON
 With more than 40 miles of pristine shoreline, the Middle Mississippi River Valley is a picturesque spot in which to view bald eagles. Beginning in December, more than 2,000 eagles migrate to the region, returning to their winter home along the bluffs of the Great River Road. Good places to view the proud birds include the Melvin Price Locks and Dam, the Alton Lake section of the Mississippi River and Pere Marquette State Park. Several towns and state parks host special eagle observation programs and exhibits throughout the prime winter viewing season.
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POPEYE STATUE
 Make sure to eat all of your spinach before making a trek to view the six-foot-tall bronze Popeye statue located in Segar Memorial Park, near the Chester Bridge. The creator of Popeye, Elzie C. Segar, was born in Chester, and many of the Popeye cartoon characters were modeled after real local residents. Each year the city of Chester organizes the Popeye Picnic to celebrate its one-of-a-kind hero with a penchant for the green stuff.
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WINE TRAILS
 There are several wineries located in Southwest Illinois, making a day trip tasting your way through the scenic countryside a must. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or simply a celebratory sipper, you'll find that Southwest Illinois' wineries are ripe for exploration.
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JARROT MANSION
 The Jarrot Mansion is the former home of Nicholas Jarrot, a French-born entrepreneur who was a wealthy landowner and slave owner. One of his slaves sued for his freedom and won the mansion, plus $5 in back pay. This case was instrumental in the final abolition of slavery in Illinois. Built in the early 1800s, the Jarrot Mansion is one of the earliest surviving brick buildings in Illinois.
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