Up the Mississippi River to a bounty of colors and spectacular Illinois River views was what was in store for us going to Pere Marquette State Park.
Donut Break
Before checking out the park, we stop at the last Mister Donut in the US. It had one time been a chain found throughout the US, although the chain has survived in Asia and El Salvador.
These donuts are always worth stopping for and are probably some of the freshest ones I’ve tasted in the area. It is a happy experience for all and Andrew loves them.
A Day at Pere Marquette State Park
After the donut stop, we head straight to Pere Marquette State Park through the back way. This time of year the park can become heavily trafficked as people head up into the wooded hills for those amazing fall color views across the Illinois River valley and nearby woods.
The state park began in 1932 and Civilian Conservation Corps created the lodge, campsites, and roads. The park is made up of 8,000 acres and includes trails, horseback riding, campgrounds, cabins, lodges, a visitor’s center, and a restaurant.
We stopped at a few lookouts then at the Flagpole one we took a short hike into the forest. It was a warm fall day so we could really get out and wander along the trails without a thick jacket.
David added a game on our hike in the state park which made it that much more fun for him.
“Andrew find the trail markings so we know where we’re going,” he said.
So he was preoccupied with searching for them as we went. These were red and white stripe markings on trees along the trail.
I would add, “I think I see one to the right up ahead.”
He would run up and find it then around the bend we would be on the search for the next one.
After coming to a point where two trails met, we decided we should head on back to the main park area where the lodge is located with Andrew finding the markings all the way back.
The disappointing thing about Sundays is that the visitor center is closed but opened Monday through Saturday. I am not sure why they didn’t have it closed one day during the week when obviously there are not as many people.
The visitor center is worth checking out when it is open with a three-dimensional map of the park and history of the famous explorers Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet. It also has exhibits wildlife habitat and area geology.
If you want to spend more time here the lodge, cabins, and campgrounds are worth staying the night at with plenty of hiking trails.
A long bike trail can be found along the river that connects to the park and is 22- miles long. You can ride it all the way to Alton, Il, which has more attractions and a casino.
The park also has horseback riding available if you want to explore the park by horse.
Grafton Stop
After the park, we took the short drive to Grafton, Ill. Here we’ve stopped before. The Grafton Loading Dock restaurant is a bar and grill with a deck that looks out over the river to enjoy beautiful sunsets or a local band. During the summer they have a large flea market and in winter they have indoor ice skating.
Aerie’s Resort has also put in a gondola and we still have to do this in the near future since Andrew loves gondolas, which we did a lot of in seeing the Alps in Europe last spring.
We couldn’t stay too long but had an ice cream cone from one of the shops along Main Street.
The town has numerous restaurants, wineries, shops and a visitor’s center for more information. We didn’t have time to stay around today.
Usually, we stop and explore the historic town of Elsah, which feels like it fits more of a small New England village then along the Mississippi, on the way between Alton and Grafton.
The drive along the river with the bluffs above you and the wide expanse of Mississippi River right next makes you fill like your driving along a bay. This probably one of the most scenic drives in the Midwest.
Piasa Bird
For friends not from the area we will stop along this highway at the Piasa Bird Park. In 1678 Jacques Marquette reported that he and fellow French explorer Louis Joliet discovered a painting of what was probably two “Water Monsters” on the bluffs of the Mississippi River near present-day Alton.
By 1700 those photographic creatures were no longer visible. In 1836 the novelist John Russell described an image cut into the bluff of a legendary dragon-like creature with wings. According to Russell, the creature called Piasa, “The bird that devours men.” That version of the pictograph as well as myths about the Piasa has become prominent in Folklore.
After passing by the Piasa pictograph, we headed through Alton back home. Time to plan another road trip!
