Outside of the Ordinary

Experience Several Unique Outdoor Attractions!

As you’ve learned by this point in the publication, there are A TON of outdoor activities in ILLINOISouth. The great thing is, we haven’t even reached the tip of the iceberg yet. Aside from hiking, agritourism, and other outdoor based topics – we also have several attractions that are based outdoors. Some of them are good to visit for a quick stop over, while others require a little more time. Here are 12 of those attractions that you’ll definitely want to put on your summer travel bucket list!

Western Region

1. Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park in St. Clair County is a great spot for a picnic at noon sharp. Why noon you ask? Every day in the summer at twelve in the afternoon, the Gateway Geyser erupts for ten minutes straight, drawing crowds of amazed visitors. It is the largest water fountain in the United States, shooting water straight up to 630 feet – the same height as the Gateway Arch right across the river. Speaking of the Arch, when you’re finished with lunch – head to the multi-tiered observation deck for amazing views of the landmark across the way.

2. If you have a need for speed – head to World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison. WWT Raceway plays host to several amazing events like the NHRA, INDYCAR, and the NASCAR Truck Series. If you’d rather do some driving yourself, the Gateway Kartplex is right there on-site. Prepare yourself for speeds of 55 miles per hour and a challenging but fun track that will certainly cure your need for speed!

3. Baseball fans can head to GCS Ballpark in Sauget to catch a Gateway Grizzlies game! The Grizzlies have a full 96-game schedule planned for 2021. Tickets range anywhere from $7 a person to $18 a fan on Super Show nights – which usually feature fireworks and guest appearances!

4. Belleville is home to The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, which provides a great opportunity to walk the grounds and experience several sacred spaces. Lourdes Grotto, Shrine Circle, and the Millennium Spire are a few of the unique, eye-catching attractions that draw folks from all across the country!

5. For those interested in shooting, the World Shooting & Recreational Complex in Sparta is right up your alley. WSRC is open for public use year-round and welcomes everything from skeet shooting to sporting clays and trapshooting. Speaking of trapshooting, this 1,600 acre venue has the longest trap line in the world – with 120 trap fields equipped with a voice activated release system. On top of that, WSRC plays host to the Grand American World Trapshooting Championships each August.

Gateway Geyser at Malcolm Martin Park in St. Clair County

Central Region

6. A true hidden gem lies outside of Germantown in Clinton County, known to locals as Eversgerd’s Civil War Fort. Bob Eversgerd built this Civil War era fort with his bare hands starting in 1984. The fort is outfitted with cabins and anything else you’d expect to find during the days of the Civil War – including 10-foot limestone walls and a hand-made cannon! You won’t want to miss seeing this!

7. Another must-stop for history nuts is the Kinmundy Log Cabin Village in Marion County. The mission of this Village is to preserve pioneer-era log structures and artifacts to constantly educate the public on the lifestyles of the 19 th century pioneers. Over a dozen different cabins call this Village home!

8. Another Marion County attraction is one of the musical variety – the Centralia Carillon. There are 180 of these bell towers in the United States, but the one in Centralia is the sixth largest in the entire country. There are 65 bells weighing in at nearly 62 thousand pounds! The Centralia Carillon performs hour long concerts on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday – as well as a summer concert series.

9. One of the coolest outdoor attractions can be found in Vandalia – and is known as the Kaskaskia Dragon. This dragon breathes fire (each time you put a token in the box near the dragon), and makes for one of the best photo ops in ILLINOISouth. Not far from the dragon lies Lincoln Park, where you’ll find a life-size statue of Abraham Lincoln sitting on a bench reading a book. You’ll definitely want to take a seat next to our 16 th President and snap a picture!

Kaskaskia Dragon in Vandalia

Instagram: braincontour

Eastern Region

10. Train enthusiasts will definitely want to take a trip to Flora to ride the Little Toot Railroad. Located within Charley Brown Park, Little Toot is perfect for a family with small children. Generations of folks keep coming back for rides around the park in the quarter scale train!

11. Early August is usually the best time to visit our next outdoor attraction. Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area is well-known for fields and fields of sunflowers, which are VERY popular on Instagram. Don’t be surprised to see folks taking family pictures or frolicking around in the fields while these beautiful flowers are in bloom.

12. Covered bridges are another very popular place to snap photos these days – and you can find one just outside of Greenup in Cumberland County! There is a spot near the bridge with information about the structure, so it’s easy to pull off and learn more while you take some pictures.

13. The most popular of any outdoor attraction in our Eastern Region can be found in Casey. Also known as ‘Big Things in a Small Town’ – Casey is home to ELEVEN of the World’s Largest items, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Spend some time checking out the World’s Largest Truck Key and Rocking Chair, as well as over two dozen other big things that are scattered throughout town. It’s easy to spend a few hours here walking among giants!

World's Largest Rocking Chair in Casey, IL