Giant City State Park, Illinois - Trails and Tour - Park Travel Review
Giant City State Park in Southern Illinois is a very popular State Park. It is popular for the giant bluffs of Makanda Sandstone that form the main features of this park. In this park travel review, we hike 4 trails in the park and show you the lodge which was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. We also start out day two in the Giant City State Park Campground.
On Happy Trails Hiking, you will find content focused on Park Travel Reviews as well as living a Healthy Lifestyle.
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Rep. Bryant with a look at Giant City Lodge in Southern Illinois
Giant City Lodge is part of a wooded, 4,052-acre Giant City State Park located in the Shawnee National Forest. At the Lodge you’ll discover a magnificent atmosphere found nowhere else in Southern Illinois where you can relax and enjoy Southern Illinois’ hospitality at its best.
The historic Lodge was named for the unusual rock formations that resemble towering buildings and winding streets of a mythical giant's town. It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corp using sandstone and white oak timber construction, and sits on a hill, the highest point in the park.
The Lodge features 34 cabins with heat and air conditioning, full baths, TVs, telephones and forest views. The Bald Knob dining room with its rough-hewn ceiling and brass chandeliers is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is known for its all you can eat family-styled fried chicken. The Great room with its massive stone fireplace and much of the original oak furnishings still in use is a great place to unwind after a day of hiking or to play a board game with the family. Other amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, children's pool, gift shop and a meeting room capable of accommodating from 60 to 150 people.
(source: IDNR,
Red Cedar Hiking Trail - Creeks & Bluffs - Giant City State Park - Episode #4
Episode #4 of overnight backpacking along the Red Cedar Hiking Trail in Giant City State Park. Plenty of cool rock formations, bluffs, creeks and wilderness aspects in this video!
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Giant City State Park: Trillium Trail
The Trillium Trail within Giant City State Park in southern Illinois is a great example of conservation side-by-side with recreation. For more information about the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and its programs, visit: dnr.illinois.gov.
ILLINOIS GETAWAY GUIDE
Emmy-award winning travel special to far Southern Illinois. Produced for CBS2 Chicago in 2006 by HARVEY MOSHMAN, Hosted by VINCE GERASOLE, Shot & edited by MIKE KLINGELE.
Highlights include:
Garden of the Gods
Shawnee Hills Wine Trail
Murphysboro 17th Street Bar & Grill BBQ
Benton - Franklin County Jail, Franklin County Garage vintage cars, Beatles B&B,
Cave In Rock
Elizabethtown Rose Hotel
Vienna - Tunnel Hill Bike Trail, Lower Cache River (swamp) Canoe Trail,
Metropolis - Superman Museum, Americana Hollywood Museum
Mermet Springs quarry diving
Makanda - Broke Strang Band, Giant City State Park and Lodge
Cairo - Customs House, Magnolia Manor, confluence on Ohio & Mississippi rivers
How to Say or Pronounce USA Cities — Makanda, Illinois
This video shows you how to say or pronounce Makanda, Illinois.
A computer said Makanda, Illinois. How would you say Makanda, Illinois?
SIU-Makanda-SIU
This is just a dash cam video of a trip to the small town of Makanda Illinois. I also drive through Giant City State Park. Hope y'all enjoy
Visiting Castle Park - Discovering Illinois
We are wandering around the state of Illinois and seeing different sites while we are visiting family as well! I thought this neat little park deserved its own video and I would love to visit it again when it isn't so HOT outside! (It was in the upper 90 degrees this day with heat index in the 100s.)
We call it Castle Park, but it's proper name is Dungeons and Dragons Park - the Boo Rochman Memorial Park, near Giant City, Illinois.
Check out more information here:
There is a castle play structure, and many stand alone play & art features. It was a neat stop on our way to have lunch at Giant City Lodge!
** This is not a sponsored video. All opinions are my own.
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Top 10 best very small towns in America. My favorite is #2
Top 10 best very small towns in America. My favorite is #2
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Thanks for stopping by my channel. I post at least once a week. I like to get 2 a week sometimes that doesn't happen. I do lists about locations. I do both pro and con versions of each location. Enjoy
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Shawnee National Forest Little Grand Canyon Hiking Adventure
Who needs the Grand Canyon when you have your own Little Grand Canyon right outside your back door? Minutes from historical Pomona, Illinois and along the Shawnee Wine Trail is a 3-mile loop of pure awesomeness for any hiker and backpacker in the area. See a system of waterfalls, amazing bluffs, rock-bed creeks and so much more. Little Grand Canyon, located in the Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District of the Shawn National Forest is awaiting for you to explore. Check out this great footage detailing my hike on a wet day at the Little Grand Canyon trail!
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Illinois Adventure #1808 Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour
Illinois’ first entirely tree-based, eco-friendly zip line canopy tour, located on 83 wooded acres surrounded by the Shawnee National Forest. Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour consists of eight zip lines, the longest stretching more than 1,100 feet, which will zig-zag across the property’s bluffs and through the valley. The tour also includes 11 platforms high in the trees, three aerial suspension bridges, the longest stretching 180 feet, and two short ground hikes.A canopy tour is an exciting way to experience the flora, fauna, geology and history of the outdoors by safely traversing an established route of ziplines and aerial bridges between platforms built in the trees, and they are just plain FUN!
A canopy tour’s purposeful utilization of the natural terrain coupled with an intentional low environmental impact delivers an adrenaline-filled adventure and educational experience!
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The Best Tiny Towns in Every State
Mooresville is a tiny town packed with history—in fact the entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors are transported to a 19th century village as they tour the historic landmarks, like the Brick Church, and Stagecoach Inn and Tavern, which all 59 of the residents work to preserve.
Talkeetna, Alaska is a tiny town with exceptional views, thanks to its location at the base of Mt. McKinley (Denali), the tallest mountain on North America.
Located in the Mule Mountains of Arizona, Bisbee began in the late 1800s as a mining community whose members’ livelihoods centered around the area’s copper and precious metals. Visitors today can relive the town’srich historythrough its world-famous Queen Mine Tour which takes participants underground in hard hats, headlamps, yellow slickers.
Whether you’re biking across the country or eager to escape in mountainous terrain, Eureka Springs is asmall-town destination deserving of your attention. Settled between lush forests in the Ozark mountains, this town—once the fourth largest in Arkansas and now recognized on the National Register of Historic Places—combines natural beauty with awe-inspiring Victorian architecture and the creative works of more than 400 neighborhood artists.
Perched on a bluff overlooking white-sand beaches, Carmel-by-the-Sea stands out not only for its stunning coastal beauty, but also for its laid-back, luxurious downtown, distinguished by old-fashioned alleyways and architectural flourishes straight out of a children's fairytale. Given that we're talking about California, it's perhaps no surprise that several notable celebrities rank among the town's residents.
Out in the San Juan Mountains stands Silverton, the last mining camp in the country. Established in 1874 on land once populated by the Southern Ute tribe, this small town was settled after the Civil War by numerous miners digging up deposits of gold and silver from along the Animas river as well as workers of the steam railroads.
Plenty of places in Connecticut offerglimpses of early America. But Mystic stands out as the only town in the state where, against a background of small-town New England charm, you can exhaust yourself exploring the rich maritime history of the Long Island Sound.
For as long as America has been a country, Lewes has been sitting beside the Delaware Bay, right at the point where the bay joins the Atlantic. That means The First Town in The First State” appeals as much to beachgoers as it does to history buffs.
Before the highways and high-rise beach hotels, countless small coastal communities dotted the coast of The Panhandle. However, today, Apalachicola endures as one the precious few places where you can still get a taste of Old Florida—“taste” being the operative word.
The year was 1969, and Helen, Georgia, once a thriving lumber town, had fallen into decline. Jobs were scarce and the desolated main street did little to attract the attention of new investors and residents.
Out on the third largest island in Hawaii, Oahu, the small town of Haleiwawelcomes visitors and locals alike to find respitein its sandy pristine beaches and its laid-back vibes. The North Shore’s wide range of waves—from small and gentle in the summer to big and glassy in the winter—makes it an especially attractive spot to surf year-round.
As happens with many small towns, Ketchum’s population has ebbed and flowed with its changing identity. Though first established within a booming mining district in 1880, the mountain town’s inhabitants switched from miners to shepherds—and it became the largest sheep shipping station in the country—some 30 years after the price of silver declined.
Sitting at the foot of Giant City State Park and surrounded by the Shawnee Hills in Southern Illinois, scenic Makanda is apopular destinationfor artists and nature lovers. The old railroad town was originally a hub for shipping produce to Chicago, but many citizens moved away when advancements in transportation limited job prospects.
New Harmony is the result of not just one, but two attempts at creating a utopian society. Established by Johann Georg Rapp, the leader of separatists from the German Lutheran Church called the Harmonie Society, the town was originally called Harmony.
In southeastern Iowa, a little city called Fairfield is growing in size and stature. The town of less than 10,000 has long been perhaps the largest hub for transcendental meditation practitioners and many of the local buildings are constructed in accordance with the principles of Maharishi Vedic architecture.
In the heart of Kansas, Lindsborg stands as a reminder of the surge of Swedish immigrants who arrived in the state in the mid-1800s. Also called Little Sweden, this tiny city is home to Bethany College, a small Lutheran liberal arts college, as well as an art museum,quaint inns and bed-and-breakfasts, and several gift shops where dala horses of all sizes are on offer.
Identified as one of the top eleven
Problem with August 21, 2017 solar eclipse and the globe research Flat Earth ✅
It will be tough eclipsing this eclipse.
The sun, moon and Earth will line up perfectly in the cosmos on Aug. 21, turning day into night for a few wondrous minutes, its path crossing the U.S. from sea to shining sea for the first time in nearly a century.
Never will a total solar eclipse be so heavily viewed and studied - or celebrated.
We're going to be looking at this event with unprecedented eyes, promises Alex Young, a solar physicist who is coordinating NASA's education and public outreach.
And the party planning is at full tilt from Oregon to South Carolina.
Eclipse Fests, StarFests, SolarFests, SolFests, Darkening of the SunFests, MoonshadowFests, EclipseCons, Eclipse Encounters and Star Parties are planned along the long but narrow path of totality, where the moon completely blots out the sun.
Vineyards, breweries, museums, parks, universities, stadiums - just about everybody is getting into the act.
The Astronomical League for amateur astronomers is holing up at Casper, Wyoming. Minor league baseball teams will halt play for eclipse delays in Salem, Oregon, and elsewhere. By a cosmic quirk of the calendar, the Little Green Men Days Festival will be in full swing in Kelly, Kentucky, as will the American Atheists' annual convention in North Charleston, South Carolina.
And where better to fill up on eclipse T-shirts and safety glasses - and eclipse burgers - than the Eclipse Kitchen in Makanda, Illinois.
Scientists are also going gaga.
This is a really amazing chance to just open the public's eyes to wonder, says Montana State University's Angela Des Jardins, a physicist in charge of a NASA eclipse ballooning project . The student-launched, high-altitude balloons will beam back live video of the eclipse along the route.
Satellites and ground telescopes will also aim at the sun and at the moon's shadow cutting a swath some 60 to 70 miles wide (97 to 113 kilometers) across the land. Astronauts will do the same with cameras aboard the International Space Station. Ships and planes will also catch the action.
It's going to be hard to beat, frankly, says Thomas Zurbuchen, head of NASA's science mission office.
At the same time, researchers and the just plain curious will watch how animals and plants react as darkness falls. It will resemble twilight and the temperature will drop 10 to 15 degrees.
Expect four hours of pageantry, from the time the sun begins to be eclipsed by the moon near Lincoln City, Oregon, until the time the moon's shadow vanishes near Charleston, South Carolina. NASA will emcee the whole show, via TV and internet from that coastal city.
The total eclipse will last just 1 1/2 hours as the lunar shadow sweeps coast to coast at more than 1,500 mph (2,400 kph) beginning about 1:15 p.m. EDT and ending at 2:49 p.m. EDT. The sun's crown - the normally invisible outer atmosphere known as the corona - will shine forth like a halo.
Sure, full solar eclipses happen every one, two or three years, when the moon positions itself smack dab between the sun and Earth. But these take-your-breath-away eclipses usually occur in the middle of the ocean somewhere, though, or near the sparsely populated top or bottom of the world. In two years, Chile, Argentina and the empty South Pacific will share top billing.
The United States is in the bull's-eye this time.
Eclipse 2017
18 August 2017, Makanda, IL
Eclipse crossing town.
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.
Exploring Panther Den Wilderness - Shawnee National Forest - Episode #1
The United States Congress designated Panther Den as a wilderness area in 1990. It now has a total of 1195 acres, 1081 acres is National Forest System and other portion is the Crab Orchard Wilderness. The primary trail system is the River to River Trail. This trail is well marked and has several loops are in the system. Several other trails branch off the River to River Trail and support the main trail system.
Directions: From Carbondale 3 miles east to Spillway Rd. turn south go 11 miles to Wolf Creek Rd. turn south and go 7 miles to Mt Hebron Rd. turn west and go 2 miles to Wayside Lane turn north 2miles into the wilderness area.
Please like and share this video and feel free to comment. If you are not a subscriber to this channel, please subscribe today! Invite your friends to subscribe as well!
To discuss southern Illinois hiking with other locals and travelers, please visit and join sihike.com for free. It is the best Southern Illinois Hiking Forum on the web!
Follow my channel on the web today!
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Send me fan mail anytime!
Shawn J. Gossman
P.O. Box 368
Hurst, IL 62949
All photos and video footage are copyright by Shawn J. Gossman.
Carbondale Eclipse Weekend Business Disaster Reactions
I video'd the thread on WSIL News 3's facebook page because they will probably nuke the comments.
This weekend was a disaster for the Southern Illinois economy.
The News, The cities, IDOT, and the ISP all wayyyy over-hyped this event with comically overblown unrealistic estimates on influx of visitors. They have even lied to us about hotels being sold out. I called on Saturday to the nicest hotel in Carbondale, rooms were still available at $229 a night.
This was also move-in weekend for students to SIU and John A. Logan, This weekend is Black Friday for all retail in Carbondale,
What resulted from this scarring away of people by Media and Carbondale was the slowest retail weekend in Carbondale all year, after a pretty slow summer.
Economic Disaster spurred on by media.
SOLAR eclipse of AUGUST 21, 2017 - Documentary
A total solar eclipse will take place on Monday, August 21, 2017. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness. Totality occurs in a narrow path across Earth's surface, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a surrounding region thousands of kilometers wide. This eclipse is the 22nd of the 77 members of Saros series 145, the one that also produced the solar eclipse of August 11, 1999. Members of this series are increasing in duration. The longest eclipse in this series will occur on June 25, 2522 and last for 7 minutes and 12 seconds....
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Shortcuts to chapters:
00:01:20: Visibility
00:02:18: Related eclipses over the United States
00:05:14: Impact
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