Known for its many lakes and of course the confluence of the Mississippi, Illinois, and Missouri Rivers, southwest Illinois is a great destination for fisherman and boating enthusiasts- cast your reel or take a cruise with dad at Lake Lou Yaeger in Litchfield, off the banks of the Illinois River at Pere Marquette State Park, at Hurricane Diamond Island near Hardin, or Beaver Dam State Park for a chance at catching giant blue catfish, large mouth bass, or white crappie.

Want more fishing options? Read about more places to toss a line in southwest Illinois here.

June brings warm weather and sports to the region. That means there are plenty of options to celebrate Dad! Take Dad to an Alton River Dragons baseball game on free tee shirt night, or go to the Edwardsville YMCA and catch a GSAC Hockey game with the whole family! Go hiking or kayaking at Pere Marquette State Park or Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, to the Fitness Expo in Edwardsville, or ride bikes on the extensive MCT Trails this Father’s Day weekend!

For the picker dad or granddad in your life, market days in southwest Illinois can’t be beat! Find Route 66 memorabilia, tools, art, antiques, and fresh produce at one of the region’s weekend markets like the Hillsboro Farmer’s Market, the Litchfield Pickers Market, the East Alton Farmer’s Market, The Land of Goshen Market, or the one-of-a-kind Alton Night Market.

Want to take dad out to eat or for drinks this Father’s Day?

Catch a Father’s Day Beer Garden at Pere Marquette Lodge, or have a drink at the Grafton Winery & Brewhaus, Old Bakery Beer, or Old Herald Brewery and Distillery.

To treat dad to a fantastic sit-down meal, try Tony’s of Alton for steaks and cocktails, Castelli’s Moonlight for hand-tossed fried chicken, Bakers and Hale for creative comfort food, 1818 Offshore for seafood, or Bella Milano for classic Italian.

Is dad interested in even more BBQ? Check out these great southwest Illinois BBQ restaurants!

Why settle for something expected when you can raise the bar?

Take dad on an adventure brunch or pleasure cruise down the Mississippi on the Hakuna Matata! Does your dad like the spooky or the historic? Bring him on a Haunted History Walking Tour or go on a guided tour of the Mineral Springs Mall. Watch the Summer Solstice Sunrise at Cahokia Mounds at the largest native settlement in North America, take a ride up the Confluence Tower and see the Lewis and Clark Historic Site, or take the free Alton Historic Driving Tour to see some amazing old American architecture.

Bring the family to Glen Carbon Homecoming for carnival rides and entertainment, bring dad to see an old-school movie under the stars at the Litchfield Skyview Drive-In Theatre, or take a drive up historic Route 66 on a self-guided tour of America’s Highway!

There’s always something great to do in southwest Illinois – check out the Rivers and Routes Events Page for more!