Illinois Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 35) Hop on your bike and hit the Tunnel Hill State Trail, which runs along a converted railroad bed and offers riders 45 miles of spectacular scenery as it traverses the Shawnee National Forest between Harrisburg and Karnak. A highlight of the trail is the ride through a dark 540-foot-long train tunnel. Explore a 55-foot-wide limestone cave that once harbored river pirates at Cave-in-Rock State Park. For a view of the cave from the water, cruise the Ohio River aboard the Shawnee Queen River Taxi, which makes stops in the tiny towns of Cavein-Rock, Elizabethtown, Rosiclare and Golconda. The Shawnee Queen’s crew points out interesting sights and wildlife along the way. Snap a picture with the 15-foot-tall Superman Statue in downtown Metropolis, the official adopted “Home of Superman.” Across the street is the Super Museum, showcasing rare Superman memorabilia, including movie and TV show props. The Superman Celebration, held every June, features look-alike contests, celebrity appearances and a car show. ROBERT GARCIA SCOTT BELL Top to Bottom: Superman is the star at the Super Museum in Metropolis, learn about an ancient Indian city that mysteriously disappeared at Cahokia Mounds, follow along on a history-making journey at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center MAKE a SPLASH No matter what the weather outside, these five indoor water parks offer wet and wild fun all year round KeyLime Cove Water Resort, Gurnee Located near Six Flags Great America and Gurnee Mills, this tropical paradise with a Florida Keys vibe features a wave pool, body and tube slides, a lazy river, waterfalls and whirlpools. CoCo Key Water Resort, Arlington Heights Found in the Sheraton Chicago Northwest, this indoor water park boasts four raft and body slides, an indoor/outdoor whirlpool spa and a shallow dip-in theater, where the little ones can watch cartoons from the comfort of their own water tubes. Mayan Adventure Indoor Waterpark, Elmhurst Located at the Holiday Inn Chicago–Elmhurst, the Mayan-themed attractions here include exciting body and tube slides, a twisting lazy river, the Parrot Island water play station and the Mayan Mania Arcade, complete with a ticket redemption center. Grizzly Jack’s Grand Bear Resort, Utica Situated near Starved Rock State Park, Grizzly Jack’s Grand Bear Falls indoor water park features a wave pool, a thrilling sound-and-motion water slide, a lazy river and an island with a dumping bucket that sends water cascading from 28 feet in the air. CoCo Key Water Resort, Rockford This tropical-themed indoor water park at the Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center offers body and raft slides, a dip-in theater where tots can float in a shallow pool while watching movies, an adventure river and an interactive play island. SOUTHWEST At 8,000 acres, Grafton’s picturesque Pere Marquette State Park is the largest state park in Illinois. Pere Marquette offers seemingly endless outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, fishing, boating, horseback riding and winter baldeagle watching. The rustic Pere Marquette Lodge makes a great base for exploring the area and is known for its family-style catfish and fried chicken dinners. Dive into Raging Rivers WaterPark, right across the road from the scenic Mississippi River in Grafton. Splash around in a giant wave pool, whoosh down the body flumes, let the kids loose on the pint-sized water slides and splash pools or go with the flow of the endless lazy river. At the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Hartford, learn about the famed duo’s history-making voyage, which started here in Illinois. See a fullscale model of the explorers’ keelboat and check out a replica of Camp River Dubois, where the Corps of Discovery prepared for its historic trip. Experience life on the Mighty Mississippi at the National Great Rivers Museum in Alton, where fun exhibits include a virtual barge that the kids can steer. Get a bird’s-eye view of the Mississippi River from eight stories up atop the adjacent Melvin Price Locks & Dam as real barges chug through below (and bald eagles fly by in the winter). In Collinsville, discover the mystical remains of an ancient Native American city at Cahokia Mounds. Sixty-eight of the original 120 earthen mounds have been preserved, including the 100foot-tall Monks Mound. Play with the hands-on exhibits at the Interpretive Center and learn about the theories behind the city’s mysterious demise. COURTESY OF LEWIS & CLARK INTERPRETIVE CENTER/JACK HIGH Grizzly Jack’s Grand Bear Resort 800/2CONNECT ILLINOIS. MILE AFTER MAGNIFICENT MILE. 35
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