Illinois Travel Guide 2008 - (Page 28) Riding through an old train tunnel is a highlight of the 45-mile-long Tunnel Hill State Trail, which follows a former railroad route. Hit the Tunnel Hill State Trail, which runs along a converted rail bed and offers riders 45 miles of spectacular views as it traverses the Shawnee National Forest in Johnson County (known as the Bicycling Capital of Illinois), with railroad trestles and an old train tunnel as unique markers along the way. Be sure to turn onto Tunnel Hill’s 2.5mile spur that leads through the Cache I ON ER River State Natural Area in Belknap, Illinois’ ES MIK own bayou country that’s home to an ancient cypress-tupelo swamp and a variety of wildlife. Rent a bicycle or take a guided canoe tour of the Cache River with Peddles & Paddles, Inc. in Vienna City Park. Learn the ropes of rock climbing at the Vertical Heartland Rock Climbing School in Buncombe. Sign up for a full- or half-day session on the school’s private cliff in Johnson County. Instructors will help you master a 20-foot beginner’s climb before you tackle the 120-foot Draper’s Bluff. Classes are offered year-round. Take a scuba dive to see sunken treasures that include an 18-wheel rig, a concrete “petting zoo” and the Boeing 727 airplane used in the movie U.S. Marshals at Mermet Springs, a spring-fed stone quarry that reaches depths of 120 feet. Snorkeling and kayaking are also allowed. Experienced instructors are on hand and equipment rentals are available. COURTESY OF GREEN CITY MARKET GREEN CITY Get tips from cooking pros, and pick up farm-fresh goodies to take home, at Chicago’s Green City Market, held in Lincoln Park from mid-May to the end of October. By connecting area farmers with city folks, the sustainable market supports small family farms and encourages eating healthy, locally grown foods. Choose from a bounty of goods that include artisan cheeses, bakery treats, free-range meats, fresh flowers and organic produce. Don’t miss the amazing cooking demos. In the past, guest celebrity chefs have included Mexican food guru Rick Bayless, pastry goddess Gale Gand and Art Smith, Oprah’s personal chef. Phone 847 /424-2486 or visit www.chicagogreencitymarket.org for more information. Garfield and Lincoln Park Conservatories Two prominent, historic glass houses in Chicago offer visitors a chance to escape to the wild world of plants with hundreds of variety of species on display from around the world. Visit the Lincoln Park and Garfield Park Conservatories year round, and step into a world unlike any other; a world composed of lush, green life that blossoms at every turn. Garfield Park Conservatory 300 N. Central Park Ave. Chicago, IL 60624 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, Thurs. until 8 p.m. 312.746.5100 www.garfieldconservatory.org Lincoln Park Conservatory 2391 N. Stockton Dr. Chicago, IL 60614 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily 312.742.7736 www.lincolnparkconservancy.org 28 ILLINOIS. MILE AFTER MAGNIFICENT MILE. enjoyillinois.com http://www.chicagogreencitymarket.org http://www.ohwow.org http://www.lincolnparkconservancy.org http://enjoyillinois.com
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