90-Minute Stop

Start your trip with a visit to the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, #1 Trail Marker on the national Lewis & Clark Trail. This museum showcases the beginning of the epic Lewis & Clark adventure to map the western U.S. in 1804. A replica keel boat is a key exhibit and a replica settlers cabin brings the past to life.

45-Minute Stop

Just a mile from the state historic site, a 180-foot tower rises above the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The tower has viewing platforms at 50, 100 and 150 feet – the perfect place to get a 360-degree view of the rivers and American Bottoms. Guided tours of the platforms are available.

1.5 Hours

Bluff City Grill in downtown Alton serves up hearty, homecooked food. Famous for their Guac Bites and Chicken Stingers, the diverse menu is sure to please every palate. Eat indoors or enjoy the outdoor patio.

2 Hours

Get a birds-eye view of the Mighty Mississippi River at this interactive museum dedicated to the impact of this historic river on the nation’s ecology, economy and environment. Drive a mock tow boat down the river – it’s harder than you’d think – and then take a tour of the adjacent Melvin Price Locks & Dam.

30 Minutes

Meet the World’s Tallest Man – Robert Wadlow. A life-sized bronze statue stands tall in North Alton, honoring the legacy of Robert Wadlow who grew to 8 feet 11.1 inches tall and was still growing when he died at age 22. See how you measure up!

For more than 75 years, Castelli’s at 255 in Alton has been serving up arguably the best fried chicken in southwest Illinois. The recipe is a closely-held family secret but the results are world-famous. For starters enjoy a salad topped with homemade salad dressing and then dig into a plate of juicy fried chicken.

It’s a dive bar delight when you step into Fast Eddie’s Bon Air. Alton’s premier nightlife spot is home to cold drinks, cheap food and live music. Put on your dancing shoes!

30-Minute Stop

Was it real or simply a local legend? This part bird, part dragon creature reportedly was first reported by French explorers Marquette and Joliet in 1673 as part of Native American lore. Visit the Piasa Bird painting on the limestone bluff alongside the Mississippi River and decide for yourself the Piasa was legend or not.

1.5 Hours

Stroll through the timeless and historic Village of Elsah nestled in the limestone bluffs lining the Mississippi River. Known locally as the Village Where Time Stands Still – the entire community is on the National Register of Historic Places. Stop by the Elsah Museum, Farley Music Hall and the old schoolhouse for a look back in time.

2 Hours

Perched on the limestone bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, Principia College has magnificent views of the Great River Road, the River and on clear days downtown St. Louis. Drive through this historic Christian Science college designed by architect Bernard Maybeck. Travel Tip: Be sure to meet Benny the Mastodon and depending on the time of year, sample student made maple syrup.

1 Hour

Meet David Stine, a nationally recognized craftsman and Illinois Maker who creates solid wood furniture from his home in Dow. Using hard woods from the family farm, David creates one-of-a-kind designs. Appointments are required for tours.

Enjoy a deliciously prepared lunch at the Grafton Winery & Brewhaus. Choose from shareables, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads or nosh on a charcuterie board. Pair your meal with a glass of locally crafted and produced wine.

90 Minutes

Illinois is making a name for itself in the wine industry and the wines from Grafton Winery are one reason why. Tour the Grafton Winery The Vineyards production facility set in the sprawling farmland of southwest Illinois. This 11,000-square-foot facility is home to the production side of the business and is a great place to sample locally produced vino.

3 Hours

Rise to new heights along the Mississippi River with a ride on the Grafton SkyTour – an open air chair or gondola ride that takes visitors to Aerie’s Resort which sits on top of magnificent limestone bluffs along the river. Once at the resort, fly down the bluffs on the Aerie’s Alpine Coaster, a gravity fed ride, that twists, turns and showcases the local flora and fauna on the bluffs.

Relax at the end of the day with dinner at Gentelin’s on Broadway in downtown Alton. Famous for its three-course menu which features pasta, steak, and seafood, don’t pass up the delectable desserts.

90 Minutes

Cruise the Mississippi River in style on the Hakuna Matata, a 49-passenger excursion boat harbored in Grafton. The boat features an open air upper deck and an enclosed and climate controlled lower deck with a bar.

90 Minutes

Take the Brussels Ferry to Calhoun County and the Two Rivers National Wildlife Center. This center is smack dab in the middle of the Mississippi Flyway, the famous bird migration highway, and seasonal birds include Trumpeter Swans, American Bald Eagles and American White Pelicans.

Enjoy lunch in the historic and famously delicious Pere Marquette Lodge restaurant. Built in the 1930’s by the CCC during the Great Depression, the restaurant retains the limestone and timber ambiance and serves up three hearty meals daily. Don’t miss the family-style fried chicken entrée.

90 Minutes

Meet the animals at TreeHouse Wildlife Center who are have found a temporary or permanent home. The rehabilitation enter has been open since 1981 as a hospital/rehabilitation center for local wildlife. Visit with American Bald Eagles, red foxes, a bobcat and more.

90 Minutes

Get a birds-eye view of the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary at the Audubon Center which features 3,700 acres of prime prairie, wetland and lowland forest habitats on the banks of the Mississippi River. Hike the Trails or view birds indoors with spotting scopes.