Bluff City Outdoors is a family-owned bait and tackle shop where owners Mark and Felicia McMurry have built a go-to spot for fishermen and water enthusiasts alike.

The Sauce Shop in Bethalto offers a wide range of homemade BBQ sauces and rubs, perfect for any occasion.

Bin 51 Wine and Spirits in Edwardsville is the place for a delicious glass of wine or cocktail, and their shop in the back is packed with bottles to take home, featuring some of the best wines and spirits around.

The Black Coffee Cart in East St. Louis is a traveling coffee truck bringing delicious craft coffee straight to the community. Owner Brandon Ric, a software developer with a passion for coffee, saw a need in his neighborhood and decided to act by bringing the coffee to the people.

Billie’s Pastries, also in East St. Louis, is a Black woman–owned business making mornings worth waking up for. From incredible breakfast sandwiches and coffee to irresistible homemade pastries, every bite is made with love.

You can find Mo’z Sweet Treats popping up all over the region at local events and festivals. Keep an eye out for Mo on her signature red tricycle and be sure to get in line for creative treats like ice cream donuts and refreshing fresh-fruit lemonades.

Big Meechie’s has been building a loyal following in Granite City for years with his food truck and recently celebrated the opening of their first brick-and-mortar location.

From wings and burgers to desserts, every dish hits the spot every time. BBQ in this region is simply a must, and JJ’s BBQ in Granite City delivers mouthwatering, fall-off-the-bone flavor that will have you counting down the days until your next visit.

Gumbo 2 Geaux in Alton brings bold Cajun and Creole flavors to the region, making every guest feel a little Cajun from the first bite to the last.

Neighbors on State Street in Alton, Tab’s Café and Beyond Taste are serving up comfort food in the heart of downtown. Both offer comforting classics and elevated favorites.

Stepping out of Alton, visit Obar Café in Edwardsville. Obar Café is known for its exotic way of eating eggs.

If you’re searching for soul food in Alton, Lovett’s Soul Food is the place to be. This mother and son owned spot works side by side to deliver perfectly seasoned recipes that truly hit the spot.

An Alton staple, My Just Desserts encourages guests to order dessert first and worry about lunch later. Once owned by the beloved Yvonne Campbell and now operated by Markus Boyd, this Black-owned business continues to play a special role in making the Alton community one of a kind.

Driving down Broadway you may pass a scene that is monumental for the town of Alton and the United States. It is the place of the Lincoln-Douglas Debate that took place in October 1858, the seventh debate between the two men for a U.S. Senate seat. This debate brought in much attraction from the whole country as the two disputed slavery and other problem topics present at the time. You can learn more about this and the civil war on the Lincoln and Civil War Legacy Trail. Start here at this monument and make your way through history.

In the early 1800s, the Rocky Fork community in Godfrey became a welcoming African American settlement and a vital stop on the National Underground Railroad Network. Led by Priscilla Baltimore known as the “Moses of the West” the community helped guide countless freedom seekers toward safety.

Founded in 1835, Hamilton Primary School in Otterville inside Jersey County, was one of the first free, integrated schools in the United States. This school symbolizes friendship, freedom, and the life changing power of education.
Elijah P. Lovejoy, an abolitionist editor in Alton, stood firmly for freedom of the press and the end of slavery. He was killed in 1837 defending his printing press, and his monument remains a powerful reminder of moral courage.

While crossing the Clark Bridge into Alton from Missouri, you may notice a monument that stands tall above the tress. The Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument and celebrates the life of a man who stood for freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and freedom from slavery. He was born in Maine in 1802 and later in life came to Saint Louis, MO. to be a teacher. During this journey he started to write for the press and speak out against slavery and lynchings. Many did not approve of these actions and forced him to move elsewhere, so he came to Alton, IL. were he continued his practices. He established an abolitionist newspaper called The Observer which gained mixed reviews. After opening an office in a riverfront warehouse, it was burned down by a mob of anti-abolitionists. In an effort to try and save his warehouse, Lovejoy was shot and killed on Nov. 7, 1837. His monument stands as tall as he did against slavery.

The region is home to jazz legend Miles Davis, born in Alton and raised in East St. Louis. A downtown statue honors the musician whose creativity reshaped jazz and inspired generations around the world.