The crisp cool air and open waters of the Mississippi Flyway are a refuge for eagles, trumpeter swans and visitors alike in Alton, Illinois. Just 25 miles north of St. Louis on the Mississippi River, the Great Rivers & Routes region has become a winter home to the eagles. Before dawn breaks on the…
The holiday spirit is alive and well at the annual Bethalto Christmas Village. This year, due to COVID, the annual holiday event will be a strictly walk through light display but will continue to feature its signature Christmas-themed glass cottages. The city's Arboretum will be decorated with…
Have a tricky person to buy for on your holiday gift list? Think outside the box this year and give the gift of travel. Be creative with gift certificates and create an escape to southwest Illinois that includes dining experiences and a packaged overnight stay. The Great Rivers & Routes region, just…
Celebrate the spirit of the holidays throughout the year with the gift of Great Rivers & Routes experiences. From water parks to opera, baseball to trampoline parks, live theater to live music -- there are plenty of outside the box gift experiences available for that hard-to-buy-for person on your…
Hear the sleigh bells jingle and see 4 million lights twinkle against the beautiful backdrop at Rock Spring Park's Christmas Wonderland. Back for another year to warm the hearts and holiday spirits of families and friends, the park will be lighting the way to another illuminating holiday season…
Once upon a time ... .... (really about 3 years ago), a woman named Mary and her friend Dan were looking at Grafton’s beautiful Lighthouse Park and said “We need more things for kids to do in this park! And, it has to be something that won’t float away during a flood.” Mary thought and thought, and…
Oh the fun you can have and the places you will go -- when you explore the Great Rivers & Routes region in southwest Illinois! Looking for fun? Adventure? Relaxation? The Great Rivers & Routes region (which includes six counties just outside St. Louis) has you covered. And just to make it a bit…
Great. Lodging. Here. (Tara Point Inn & Cottages, Grafton, IL) A trip to the Great Rivers & Routes region is filled with great things to do, whether visiting quirky and charming Route 66 sites or drinking in the breathtaking beauty along the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. After…
Pull up a lawn chair, bring a cooler of beverages and celebrate the long, hot days of summer at the annual Grafton Music in the Park concert series. The Grove Memorial Park becomes a local outdoor music venue every Thursday from June through August as some of the best local musicians take the stage…
Cool off in the sparkling waters of Raging Rivers Water Park this summer and enjoy fun in the sun, and outdoor time with the kids and family. And raising the level of enjoyment, are new safety and health conscious measures designed to create a safe environment for all. Due to the COVID-19 crisis…