Peterstown House - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Illinois Caverns, is one of the few caves in the state. It offers a unique opportunity to explore a subterranean world like no other in the Midwest. The caverns are around 525-million and 800-million years old with rooms as large as 30 feet wide and 20 feet high that have never been fully explored! Featuring spectacular formations such as stalagmites, straws, and popcorn - as well as fossils dating back 140 million years - Illinois Caverns is an educational and immersive experience.

Bee Tree County Park is a 1,793-acre recreational area situated in a beautiful and tranquil setting, surrounded by forests, hills, and valleys. Visitors to the park can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, picnicking, fishing, and camping.The park offers over six miles of natural trails and paved paths, meandering through its diverse habitats. The trails cater to hikers and bikers of all levels, with varying lengths and degrees of difficulty.

Cliff Cave County Park is an ideal spot for nature lovers. This beautiful location's main attraction is its eponymous cliff, which was created by an ancient river and provides amazing views of the valley below. The park also boasts several other amenities such as nearby walking trails, a picnic area complete with charcoal grills and picnic tables, a playground and a lagoon stocked with various types of fish. Plus, visitors have access to kayaking and canoeing on the lagoon.

This quaint town is bursting with history, charm, and some of the best darn baked goods you'll find in the Midwest. You can stroll through the streets and admire the well-preserved 19th-century architecture or pop into one of the many boutique shops that line the sidewalks. Take a step back in time and visit the Anheuser-Busch family home, which has been turned into a museum. And don't even get me started on the annual Apple Butter Festival.

The Jefferson Barracks Bridge, is a two-lane steel truss bridge that spans the Mississippi River. Construction began on the bridge in 1932 and it was opened to traffic in 1934. It’s a beautiful sight to see that has since become part of the cultural heritage of Monroe County with its graceful arches stretching across the river. Today, the bridge continues to be an important transportation link for banking, commercial and recreational activities between Missouri and Illinois.

This unique park is home to the Kimmswick Bone Bed, which holds the remains of prehistoric creatures who roamed the earth over 10,000 years ago. But don't worry, Mastodon State Historic Site is not just for science geeks. With picnic areas, hiking trails, and even a campground, the park is the perfect place for a family outing. Plus, who doesn't love saying they've walked where mastodons once did?