Spouse & Family Activities
Southern Illinois has a lot to offer for non-gaming spouses and childern. Much of the region is in the Shawnee National Forest, and some of the best State Parks are a short drive from Marion, Illinois. There is also a well-traveled Wine Trail, and a private Dungeons and Dragons themed children’s park.
The "Boo" Rochman Memorial Park is a one of a kind place!
Dungeons and Dragons Themed Park
The “Boo” Rochman Memorial Park is a private, wonderful park provided to the public by a local family in memory of their teenage son “Boo” who was killed near the site in an auto accident. “Boo” was a big fan of Dungeons and Dragons, so his parents thought the best way to honor him was to create an amazing park in his memory. The park is almost too good to be true, and adults will have to try very hard not to go running through the castle — or crawling down a secret passage (yes, there are a few!). The park will be open on Saturday, April 4th from noon until 5:00pm, and admission is free. You can see photos of the park at the link below.
Map to “Boo” Rochman Memorial Park from hotels in Marion, Illinois (17 miles)
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Natural Attractions
Southern Illinois is known for its natural beauty and its diverse eco-systems. In the same day you can canoe through a swamp, climb a rock bluff, hike through a forest, and stroll through a meadow. The area is known as “Little Egypt” (no one knows why - for sure), and it offers a lot of outdoor fun for the family.
A good website to start exploring can be found be CLICKING HERE.
Some of our favorite locations are below.
Giant City State Park <TOP PICK>
An outdoor lover’s paradise, visitors enjoy the wilderness trails
and incredible landscape. The forest boasts more than 75 varieties of
trees that tower over visitors and offer a beautiful, serene environment
for relaxation. The Giant City Lodge,( http://www.giantcitylodge.com/ )
built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, offers all-you-can-eat
fried chicken! Minutes South of Carbondale on Giant City Road.
235 Giant City Road, Makanda
Park Office: 618-457-4836 Lodge: 618-457-4921
http://dnr.state.il.us/
Garden of the Gods <TOP PICK>
http://www.backpackcamp.com/GardenOfTheGods.html
Fun Idea!
For an afternoon of fun, we recommend visiting the Boo Rochman Memorial Park and then visiting Giant City State Park — just down the road. It would be about a 45 miles round trip, but you would visit an one-of-a-kind Children’s Park and Illinois most beautiful State Park complete with awesome trails.
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Cool rock formations on every trail!
A new Visitor's Center has lots of cool stuff
Wineries
Blue Sky Vineyard is a great place to sample some local wines.
Check on the map below to see all the nice wineries we have in southern Illinois. This is a great group spouse activity!
CLICK HERE for the official website of the wine trail!