Giant City Lodge

So, after riving around Southern Illinois a bit and shopping in Makanda, we got hungry and made the quick drive back to Giant City State Park to eat at the Lodge. I have to say, thought Makanda is small and has only a few shops, you can literally spend all afternoon in them. Do. Talk to the locals and shop till your starving, then head the 5 minutes back uphill to the lodge and have a chicken dinner.

The food at the Lodge is not necessarily the best Ive had, but it is very good, and you get alot. It is a beautiful place, and people came in fresh from hiking, out of town, and dressed up on dates, all intermingled with one another (which no one seemed to mind, we were all too interested in that chicken!)

The lodge's season is the first Friday in February through mid-December, starting at 8:00 am and running through 8:30 pm. They ask that parties over nine set reservations on weekends.
So back to the chicken. haha. That is what they are famous for. I actually didn't get it, but my husband and father did, and between them had 3 servings. My husband doesn't really like fired chicken, so that must mean it is a s good as they say it is. You also get mashed potatoes and gravy, scratch dumplin's, green beans, corn, coleslaw, and biscuits. the table was full, I'm not kidding. They have a full menu and a large selection of local wines.

Outside the lodge was also a few things I recommend doing. They have a gyroscope right behind the dining room, its ring always holds the North Star, and at the beginning of each season, directly at Noon, the sun shines through the ring onto a brass plaque on the ground announcing the beginning of the season. It a really neat statue and then my son found one of the hundreds of little lizards running about, so that was neat, too.
They also have a climbable water tower, and from the top you can see forever. I don't like hights, but it is a mild climb and an easy one. The view is definitely worth it.

As a photographer, there is an immense wealth of trails and locations in the area that are just ripe for shooting.  I've taken pictures both in the lodge and in surrounding area.  No matter what time of year you go the views and wood look great, and unless your from the Makanda area, no one else is going to have senior portraits at the top of that tower.  It's a fantastic shooting experience and you can easily make a family day of it as well.

For more information about the lodge and surrounding park, view their webpage at
http://giantcitylodge.com/

Giant City Lodge — 460 Giant City Lodge Road — Makanda, Illinois 62958
1-618-457-4921.

From Route 13: Travel on Route 13 until Giant City Road intersection (on east side of Carbondale). Turn south on Giant City Road approximately 12 miles into the park.
From Route 51: Travel on Route 51 south of Carbondale to the Makanda exit. Travel approximately 3 miles to Makanda and proceed to the main entrance of the park.

Harmony Trail, Crab Orchard

After a trip to the Visitor's Center to get our day pass, we drove around the entrance to crab orchard right across from the center. There we found a rest area and a short trail. Harmony Trail is a one mile loop taking you through various habitats. You start out in wooded areas but you also come across a small wetland with a viewing area they flood in the fall and you can see geese there. There are several small ponds you walk near, and also a few clearings. We saw many different bugs and fungi, and one place we walked through a small wetland and there were hundreds of frogs darting to get out of our way. It was a very easy walk, and really pretty. The trail is clearly marked and being a big loop there really is no way to get lost or turned around. It took us about 45 minutes at a leisurely pace. Also, at the beginning/end there is an area with benches the park gives lectures in which is perfect for a quick lunch. There is also a bathroom there with a flushable toilet where the kids can clean up. This trail is perfect for smaller kids who can't walk the longer trails. It's also shaded throughout so even in the heat of afternoon you can keep at it without getting uncomfortable. As with any trail, put bug spray on before, there are bugs and ticks in the area.

Phone: 618-997-3344
8588 Route 148
Marion, IL 62959

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center

On a sunny Monday morning we ventured into the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center. We were able to get a day pass for the park for $2.00, and the center also had a few displays. This wasn't much to look at as an adult, but my 4 year old son loved it, and the center put on many exhibits for children throughout the year. We had just missed a butterfly exhibit  and they still had some caterpillars in a bug box my son could look at.

There is a large display featuring animals located in the refuge and around Southern Illinois, and several interactive displays, where kids can feel animal pelts, and guess whats in hollowed out logs, and they have lots of fun books and souvenirs.

You have to come to the center if you are wanting to enter the park. You can get a day pass for $2.00, a five day pass for $5.00, or a year pass for $15.00.
It is located right outside or Marion at:

8588 Route 148
Marion, IL 62959
618-997-3344