Visiting Southern Illinois

Carbondale in far Southern Illinois is home to Southern Illinois University and Saluki Athletics. Saluki basketball fills the bleachers at SIUs newly removed Arena for the 2011 – 2012 season. Saluki track and field athletes look forward to spring 2012 when the new tack and field complex showcases their talents. SIU Carbondale School of Music, now at home in the campus Altgeld Building, is a hub of culture for Southern Illinois. Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Music presents over 125 concerts and performances throughout the year. Check the calendar when you visit for events at Shryock Auditorium at SIUC.

Carbondale, called the capital of Southern Illinois, is centrally located for visitors to the Shawnee National Forest and Giant City State Park. With mild winter weather, the Ozark and Shawnee Hills area of Southern Illinois are ideal for winter trail hikes – just remember the weather can change quickly. Shawnee National Forest’s Burden Falls rewards winter hikers with the sight of spectacular ice formations amidst the falls.

Also near Carbondale, Crab Orchard Lake and Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge are less than 10-miles from downtown Carbondale. In winter, Crab Orchard can see over 200,000 Canadian geese wintering in the refuge. Popular with birding enthusiasts, Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge and the surrounding area is on the Mississippi flyway with 245 species of birds documented.

Two hours southeast of Springfield, the Illinois state capital, is the town of Effingham. South and east of the intersection of Interstate 70 and Interstate 57, travelers entering Effingham from the west are greeted by the sight of the Cross at the Crossroads. Effingham’s iconic cross is 198-feet tall with the arms spanning 113 feet. Make a rest stop in downtown Effingham and stretch your legs as you stroll the Sculptures on the Avenues, featuring more than 20 sculptures permanently displayed throughout downtown Effingham.

The Effingham Performance Center provides cultural arts and entertainment for residents and visitors to Central and Southern Illinois. After a festive holiday season of performances, ECP kicks off 2012 with the thrilling Golden Dragon Acrobats. An ideal family event to include children 6 and older, this Chinese Circus amazes everyone with their acrobatics and spectacular stunts. February brings Seussical to Effingham’s Performance Center, another wonderful family event featuring TheatreworksUSA's adaptation of the Broadway musical.

The town of Robinson Illinois is an hour east of Effingham. Hometown of author James Jones, Robinson is also home to Lincoln Trail College, a campus of Eastern Illinois Community College. Robinson is the county seat of Crawford County, home of Palestine, the oldest Illinois community remaining in its original location. Enjoy the history, charm and great outdoors of Southern Illinois.

Southern Illinois Hotel Map