Fall Outings in Southern Illinois
Fall is the perfect time of year to visit Southern Illinois. Whether you want to take a leisurely scenic drive through Shawnee National Forest to see the beautiful fall foliage, a boat trip on the Ohio River to explore the shadowy history of Cave-In-Rock, or get a glimpse of the famous white squirrels of Olney, Southern Illinois has plenty to do for the entire family!
The White Squirrels of Olney
The southeastern Illinois town of Olney has garnered national attention for being the home to a large population of rare white squirrels. The fall is a perfect time to visit Olney and check out these wonderful creatures.
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Garden of the Gods: Shawnee National Forest
After you’ve had your fill of white squirrels, head south from Olney and check out the wonderful fall foliage of the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. This huge National Forest is nestled between the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and features rolling hills, forests, open lands, lakes, creeks and rugged bluffs.
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The River Pirates of Cave-In-Rock
Explore Illinois’ Pirate Past! Pirates? In Illinois?! That’s right! In the late 1700s and early 1800s the Mason Gang used Cave-In-Rock, a large cave at water level on the Ohio River, as a place to lure unsuspecting river travelers so that they could rob and kill them.
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Fort Massac and the Superhero of Metropolis
You have to travel to the very southern portion of Illinois to discover one of its hidden treasures, the stalwart Fort Massac, near Metropolis, Illinois. Overlooking the Ohio River, this replica of the original 1802 American fort is Illinois’ first state park, dedicated in 1908.
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