My Von Jokob Getaway
A great retreat just 2 hours from St. Louis in Alto Pass. Wonderful wine, down home food with plenty of flavor, and a great view make this a no brainer. No cell signal, no internet and no TV makes sure to keep you on vacation! With an orchard and vineyard just out the door, peaceful strolls and great photos are ripe for the picking.
For $100 per night you get a bottle of wine (your choice) along with a few pieces of fruit and cheese curds, a stay for 2 and breakfast for 2. The kitchens and dinning rooms are shared, but the suites are separate and lockable. Each suite has a private entrance and outdoor sitting area. A little mini fridge in each room keeps the wine and anything you bring chilled bedside. A full kitchen with icemaker, blender, cork screws, microwave, coffee maker, pots and a full array of dishware will feel like home for most anyone. The beds are very comfortable and the sheets soft but crips and clean. I had the best night's sleep in years!
Just down the road you can visit the farmer's market and in nearby Makanda you can hit the Boardwalk for an adventure! There are many little shops and local artist in the area, but the Boardwalk is hold to a few of the cutest little shops, including Visions Art Gallery (must see glass jewelry), the trading post (ice cream please) & the Rain Maker Studio (it's a small crowded space). The owner (the coppersmith) has great tales and do yourself a favor - ask to see the Garden.
Von Jokob is part of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. I highly suggest a trip to the Pomona Winery with your stay. They don't serve food or have guest rooms, but they do have non-grape wines that will please everyone in your group! If you like the Missouri wines, I'm sure you'll fine a few wines you'll love and if you hate the oaky taste of most critter labels, you'll love the variety Southern Illinois has to offer. No it's not Napa, and no these wineries don't sell their goods in most stores-but they are very fun and a great treat!
The oldest winery in the area, Alto Pass Winery, is also just down the road from the guest house. The old town also has a number of small shops. I will warn you they keep odd hours. But you can find some interesting and good food in the town. If shopping at little shops isn't your thing, there are also a number of great outdoor activities in the area. From trails for hiking to some of the best shorter rock climbing in the United States, the Shawnee area will surprise you. Don't forget your camera.
As check in for the room is before close at 5, you may want to head in early, get settled and head out for dinner. The college town of Carbondale is a short drive up 127. You will find many restaurants and bars-but if you're looking for pizza please visit Quatro's. I don't have to tell you what a night out in a college town is like, but remember you getaway is just down the road!
Though these images are of my stay in the Cab Sav Suite, I have stayed in 2 other rooms also. After staying at a number of facilities in this Southern Illinois area, this is my top pick. If you are looking for a low cost stay with a larger group a place like Broken Wheel Ranch might fit your needs. If you want a family friendly stay and a few more creature comforts, the lodge at Giant City State Park is a great choice. If you're looking to camp, Ferne Clyffe State Park has a number of great options.
My favorite part, you can book your stay with their online calendar. OK, yeah I'm a geek, it's OK. But they also have a per case discount too! So if you're looking for a good place to stay when you visit SoIL or if you are just burnt out and need to get away from it all, take a few days and head to the Alto Pass Wine Trail and stay at Von Jokob.
Driftless Area | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Driftless Area
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
The Driftless Area is a region in Minnesota, Wisconsin, northwestern Illinois, and northeastern Iowa of the American Midwest that was never glaciated. Colloquially, the term is expanded to include the broader incised Paleozoic Plateau, which contains deeply-carved river valleys and extends into southeastern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa. The region includes elevations ranging from 603 to 1,719 feet (184 to 524 m) at Blue Mound State Park and covers an area of 24,000 square miles (62,200 km2). The rugged terrain is due both to the lack of glacial deposits, or drift, and to the incision of the upper Mississippi River and its tributaries into bedrock.
Driftless Area | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Driftless Area
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
The Driftless Area is a region in Minnesota, Wisconsin, northwestern Illinois, and northeastern Iowa of the American Midwest that was never glaciated. Colloquially, the term is expanded to include the broader incised Paleozoic Plateau, which contains deeply-carved river valleys and extends into southeastern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa. The region includes elevations ranging from 603 to 1,719 feet (184 to 524 m) at Blue Mound State Park and covers an area of 24,000 square miles (62,200 km2). The rugged terrain is due both to the lack of glacial deposits, or drift, and to the incision of the upper Mississippi River and its tributaries into bedrock.