Nothing like getting lost in the Shawnee National Forest, So many great and beautiful places…simply breathtaking.
Of course I look forward to my yearly venture to the Both of our State Fairs…Nothing like watching a bunch of sweaty politicians break there own arms patting themselves on the back..
The Budwiser tent is always a welcome way to end each day
Spent several days at “Big-River” state park; I will be spending some more time there before the end of summer. Have to catch that big-Cat! I will probably be deploying to Iraq in the upcoming year, so I am going to enjoy our great outdoors, all I can, while I can.
Took my daughter to Garden of the Gods and camping in the Shawnee NF. We got rained on, saw a gigantic spider and ate way too many marshmallows and DQ cones. Absolutely heavenly. Wish I was there now.
Fox Lake… I love that bar they have on the island. The only way to get there is by boat. Man, that is a party. People like to fish there too… but fishing for me is a peaceful thing, so the fishing wasn’t fun with all the drunken partiers around…. But the bar was fun….
A week at EAA Airventure, camping under the wing of your plane.
A friend goes geotrekking a lot. It combines geocaching with scenic hiking. One person takes a picture of a really pretty view from a certain spot, leaves a souvenir in a cache there, and you are trying to get to the same place by following GPS clues and maps, tracing his same path.
I have pretty much moved into the local water park. I take VanillaToddler and the boys I mentor there once a week. There is nothing more ridiculously fun than tearing down a water chute into a large toilet bowl where you spin around like a turd until you drop into a cold pool of 8′ deep water. Then you eat bad pizza, I check for sunburn, (how I envy those guys!), and dare one another to go face first down another chute. I have come to the conclusion that you cannot age if you are too busy laughing, trying to keep your trunks up, and willing to keep up with four 10 year old boys at a water park. It is the fountain of youth.
This spring my father-in-law and I went on a trip with the St. Louis Zoo to the Cache river basin. I never realized we had a beautiful cypress swamp in Illinois. And IDNR has done a great job constructing floating docks and boardwalks well into the swamp so you can become immersed in the habitat. Truly breathtaking! I can’t wait to go back and try a canoe trip through the backwaters.
We spent a few days at Pere Marquette State Park early this summer. The Lodge is great, just like Starved Rock full of massive wood beams and huge flagstones. The area is beautiful, with great hiking trails and that nice paved bike trail too. We saw eagles everywhere, kayaked in the Illinois River and brought back a case of Piasa white wine from Grafton.
Galena … one of the most beautiful parts of the state. Who says Illinois is flat? The downtown is a great place for a family to eat, shop and hang out. In the water, there are ski resorts…in the summer, there are golf resorts…
I’ve spent the last few weeks between Chicago & Springfield defending the ridiculous objections filed against the Green party slate petitions! It’s been wild! This signature by signature examination is proving to be baseless as over 200 objections to blank lines have been discovered & voting registrars objected to (speaking to careless preparations, done in bad faith etc…) It is bringing MANY lifelong democrats to the Green party, even their own workers at the signature examinations!
Oh, yeah, vacation… between Chicago & Springfield - the whole state looks GREEN
GO GREENS GO!!
Going to be in Chicago for a week and spend a little time sightseeing. After that, maybe take the kid to Gurnee to Six Flags to the water park, and I plan to make my own trek to either Starved Rock or up by Galena. But then again, it could be a trip to Savannah for a new tat at Poopie’s.
- Speedy - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 6:49 am:
No. Vacation was cancelled this year due to high gas costs, higher fees, higher taxes, etc. Everyone wants more.
Wanted to drive around the Great Lakes
- WWDMD - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 7:36 am:
Utica! At the Waterpark for a few days with the kids. Simple but nice.
- prairiestatedem - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 7:57 am:
Nothing like getting lost in the Shawnee National Forest, So many great and beautiful places…simply breathtaking.
Of course I look forward to my yearly venture to the Both of our State Fairs…Nothing like watching a bunch of sweaty politicians break there own arms patting themselves on the back..
The Budwiser tent is always a welcome way to end each day
- SilverBackDemocrat - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 7:59 am:
Spent several days at “Big-River” state park; I will be spending some more time there before the end of summer. Have to catch that big-Cat! I will probably be deploying to Iraq in the upcoming year, so I am going to enjoy our great outdoors, all I can, while I can.
- anon - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 8:16 am:
Just hung out in Romeoville a bit. Not an exciting destination location, but some interesting little places there all the same.
- SouthernILRepub - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 8:32 am:
Nothing but soaking up the rays amongst the corn and soybeans.
- Craig - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 8:37 am:
Wasn’t this question do last year?
- Craig - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 8:37 am:
oops - *done
- Mariner - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 9:03 am:
Way to stay on topic Craig…good grief.
A week in Seattle, great city, great food, can’t be beat!
- UrbanaGOP - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 9:51 am:
A long weekend in the Golconda/Eddyville area - absolutely beautiful. Did it before too many snakes & insects were out.
Also took a weekend at the Golf Course & Resort at Rend Lake - great time.
- Pat Hickey - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 10:52 am:
Four Flavor popsicles from Fat Tommie’s in Kennedy Park is vacation aplenty.
- zatoichi - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 10:57 am:
Backyard. Doing nothing but some home remodel, cutting grass, garden, and sweating like crazy.
- Gov. Blahblagojevich - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 11:37 am:
I went to Springfield and saw the Governor’s Mansion, it was really cool!
- Left Leaner - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 12:04 pm:
Chicago, the beach, and all of its festivals make for a great summer.
- Naturegirl - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 12:21 pm:
Took my daughter to Garden of the Gods and camping in the Shawnee NF. We got rained on, saw a gigantic spider and ate way too many marshmallows and DQ cones. Absolutely heavenly. Wish I was there now.
- Lovie's Leather - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 12:27 pm:
Fox Lake… I love that bar they have on the island. The only way to get there is by boat. Man, that is a party. People like to fish there too… but fishing for me is a peaceful thing, so the fishing wasn’t fun with all the drunken partiers around…. But the bar was fun….
- Gregor - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 1:57 pm:
Elsah, Illinois, off the river.
Canoeing on the old Illinois canals.
White Pines state park.
A week at EAA Airventure, camping under the wing of your plane.
A friend goes geotrekking a lot. It combines geocaching with scenic hiking. One person takes a picture of a really pretty view from a certain spot, leaves a souvenir in a cache there, and you are trying to get to the same place by following GPS clues and maps, tracing his same path.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 2:18 pm:
I have pretty much moved into the local water park. I take VanillaToddler and the boys I mentor there once a week. There is nothing more ridiculously fun than tearing down a water chute into a large toilet bowl where you spin around like a turd until you drop into a cold pool of 8′ deep water. Then you eat bad pizza, I check for sunburn, (how I envy those guys!), and dare one another to go face first down another chute. I have come to the conclusion that you cannot age if you are too busy laughing, trying to keep your trunks up, and willing to keep up with four 10 year old boys at a water park. It is the fountain of youth.
- John Herath - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 2:58 pm:
This spring my father-in-law and I went on a trip with the St. Louis Zoo to the Cache river basin. I never realized we had a beautiful cypress swamp in Illinois. And IDNR has done a great job constructing floating docks and boardwalks well into the swamp so you can become immersed in the habitat. Truly breathtaking! I can’t wait to go back and try a canoe trip through the backwaters.
- Y A J - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 3:46 pm:
We spent a few days at Pere Marquette State Park early this summer. The Lodge is great, just like Starved Rock full of massive wood beams and huge flagstones. The area is beautiful, with great hiking trails and that nice paved bike trail too. We saw eagles everywhere, kayaked in the Illinois River and brought back a case of Piasa white wine from Grafton.
- Governor Blagojevich - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 5:08 pm:
I’m fond of the Marion area. Particularly, the federal prison.
- todd - Friday, Jul 28, 06 @ 9:01 pm:
Frankfort
- Curt Mercadante - Saturday, Jul 29, 06 @ 9:38 am:
Galena … one of the most beautiful parts of the state. Who says Illinois is flat? The downtown is a great place for a family to eat, shop and hang out. In the water, there are ski resorts…in the summer, there are golf resorts…
Something for everyone.
- Centralia Green - Saturday, Jul 29, 06 @ 2:06 pm:
I’ve spent the last few weeks between Chicago & Springfield defending the ridiculous objections filed against the Green party slate petitions! It’s been wild! This signature by signature examination is proving to be baseless as over 200 objections to blank lines have been discovered & voting registrars objected to (speaking to careless preparations, done in bad faith etc…) It is bringing MANY lifelong democrats to the Green party, even their own workers at the signature examinations!
Oh, yeah, vacation… between Chicago & Springfield - the whole state looks GREEN
GO GREENS GO!!
- Centralia Green - Saturday, Jul 29, 06 @ 2:07 pm:
obviously I meant defending OUR signatures against THEIR onjections, opps…
- Tessa - Saturday, Jul 29, 06 @ 9:13 pm:
Going to be in Chicago for a week and spend a little time sightseeing. After that, maybe take the kid to Gurnee to Six Flags to the water park, and I plan to make my own trek to either Starved Rock or up by Galena. But then again, it could be a trip to Savannah for a new tat at Poopie’s.