Follow a paved path that winds through 150 different types of trees and plants at the Bethalto Arboretum in Illinois. The arboretum is next to Central Park, where parking is available and the path begins. This peaceful area was once a railroad route near downtown Bethalto, but now it’s a welcoming green space. The walk through Central Park and Bethalto Arboretum is 1.3 miles round-trip on a…

Walk a paved path around a five-acre lake that winds through old-growth trees at Horner Recreational Park in Lebanon, Illinois. This one-mile walk has some small hills and an elevation gain of 44 feet. The route goes along the side of a lightly used park road, which is two-way, until near Horner Park Hall, where it becomes one-way. I came here with my son who enjoyed the playground. Entering…

Take a walk to see sculptures and along lake waters at Bellevue Park in Belleville, Il. This one-mile paved trail wraps around the park and up and down hills and along the lake’s shoreline. Located at the 27-acre Bellevue Park in Belleville, Ill. Turtles sunning themselves on a fallen tree in the lake. Starting the Walk We parked in a small gravel lot at the back end of the park near a bike…

Belleville: Bicentennial Park Walk

Take a walk around ponds in the woods and let your kids explore nature-themed playgrounds at Bicentennial Park in Belleville, Ill. This hike is .8 miles long with 56 feet of elevation gain. The 43-acre park is not far from the Belleville Crossing Shopping Center and Illinois Highway 15. BICENTENNIAL WALK At the Trailhead My son joined me on the walk and we started it from the parking lot off…

See Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland of Lights

Whimsical Christmas lights reflecting off a lake are found at Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland drive-thru light display at Horner Park. Thousands of lights can be seen here with many scenes of the holiday season. We entered through a maze of lights of different colors. Gingerbread village Then came across a hand-carved gingerbread village with gingerbread frolicking all around. Christmas…

Looking for a great non-denominational church in Collinsville, IL? Join us this Sunday morning, 10AM at 2002 Mall Street, Collinsville, IL. The Crossings Church Collinsville is a young, diverse, contemporary church that was planted in 2017 in Collinsville. The Crossings Church Collinsville is committed to helping people to become who God always meant for them to be. Learn to live your best life with a group of positive people who love you and love God. 

This is a great church for families, college students, SIUe students, teens, kids, men, women - ministries and activities are available to all in an easy-to-plug-in-to community where it’s easy to meet new people and make new friends.

Watching Wildlife at Treehouse Wildlife Center

Bobcats, eagles, and foxes are just some of the wildlife you can see at Treehouse Wildlife Center. It is located about halfway between Grafton and Alton in the country. We took the kid who ran back and forth between birds and the other wildlife and not in order. Luckily there was plenty of animals to check out and kept his interest the whole time we were there. Birds First My son first checked…