Sasha’s Guide to Southern Illinois
Food scene
This place is loved by the community! And they have exception coffee, good service, and a very chill atmosphere.
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Crown Brew Coffee Co.
107 E Union StThis place is loved by the community! And they have exception coffee, good service, and a very chill atmosphere.
Best diner-style breakfast in town. They also have some great sandwiches for lunch. I recommend the “Good as Gold” for breakfast and the Reuben for lunch.
Also this building used to be a bank and you can actually sit at a table inside the old vault. Very fun!
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The Vault Cafe on the Square
504 Tower Square PlazaBest diner-style breakfast in town. They also have some great sandwiches for lunch. I recommend the “Good as Gold” for breakfast and the Reuben for lunch.
Also this building used to be a bank and you can actually sit at a table inside the old vault. Very fun!
Authentic Mexican food. Wonderful atmosphere. Great desserts.
We recommend the margaritas, the poblano soup, and anything from the creamery.
La Galeria Mexican Cuisine and Creamery
2406 Williamson County ParkwayAuthentic Mexican food. Wonderful atmosphere. Great desserts.
We recommend the margaritas, the poblano soup, and anything from the creamery.
Good food. Good prices. Good service. Good drink specials. This is our go-to Mexican restaurant. Haven’t had a bad thing off the menu, and my husband loves the Mucho Margarita, especially when it’s on special. I particularly recommend the La Fiesta Tacos al pastor.
La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant
1402 W Main StGood food. Good prices. Good service. Good drink specials. This is our go-to Mexican restaurant. Haven’t had a bad thing off the menu, and my husband loves the Mucho Margarita, especially when it’s on special. I particularly recommend the La Fiesta Tacos al pastor.
Our favorite Asian food in the area. Great prices. We love the Dragon and Phoenix meal as well as their sushi selection.
Asian Star
1000 North Carbon StreetOur favorite Asian food in the area. Great prices. We love the Dragon and Phoenix meal as well as their sushi selection.
Very good Thai food. Lots of options. Fun atmosphere.
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Thai D Classic Thai Cuisine
2801 Civic Circle BoulevardVery good Thai food. Lots of options. Fun atmosphere.
They have a great selection of craft beers — lots of locally brewed choices most of the time. And the food is good. They also have a very cool outdoor fire which you can sit around on their patio.
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618 Tap House
2703 17th StThey have a great selection of craft beers — lots of locally brewed choices most of the time. And the food is good. They also have a very cool outdoor fire which you can sit around on their patio.
Really great Mexican food. My husband loved the tongue tacos.
They also have a Mexican grocery next door to the restaurant. Lots of great stuff there as well!
El Paisano
1925 W Main StReally great Mexican food. My husband loved the tongue tacos.
They also have a Mexican grocery next door to the restaurant. Lots of great stuff there as well!
Fun place to visit for down home atmosphere and pretty good BBQ and other local fare. Definitely worth the drive through the countryside.
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Midland Inn
7570 Old Hwy 13Fun place to visit for down home atmosphere and pretty good BBQ and other local fare. Definitely worth the drive through the countryside.
Shopping
Great place for a lot of locally and regionally made products for hair and skin care and general pampering. Lots of great options if you are shopping for a gift.
Lavish Bath Box - Artisan Bath & Body
605 Tower Square PlazaGreat place for a lot of locally and regionally made products for hair and skin care and general pampering. Lots of great options if you are shopping for a gift.
Perfectly Posh Boutique
305 W Main StLocal clothing and gift boutique.
Very cute shop showcasing local art and handmade goods. They also have great ice cream!
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Southern Illinois Mercantile Company
112 E Main StVery cute shop showcasing local art and handmade goods. They also have great ice cream!
Locally Grown
Lots of local farmers and other local artisans. Great place to buy local meat and produce on Saturday and Wednesday mornings from mid-spring until Thanksgiving.
Marion Farmers’ Market
507 W Main StLots of local farmers and other local artisans. Great place to buy local meat and produce on Saturday and Wednesday mornings from mid-spring until Thanksgiving.
Flamm Orchards
8760 Old Hwy 51 NGreat peaches!
They have excellent strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries.
You can choose to pick your own so it’s a fun activity for couples, families, and groups. But they do sell pre-picked berries and other fresh produce if you just want to swing by on your way to some other destination.
Hallsberry Farms
20 United Missionary LnThey have excellent strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries.
You can choose to pick your own so it’s a fun activity for couples, families, and groups. But they do sell pre-picked berries and other fresh produce if you just want to swing by on your way to some other destination.
Great place to buy locally grown apples, but they also have lovely gardens and activities for families throughout the summer and fall. Definitely visit the farm market if you are here during apple season. The apple slushes and apple cider donuts are tasty.
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Rendleman Orchards
9680 IL-127Great place to buy locally grown apples, but they also have lovely gardens and activities for families throughout the summer and fall. Definitely visit the farm market if you are here during apple season. The apple slushes and apple cider donuts are tasty.
Great fun to pick your own lavender! They also have lots of lovely lavender soaps and teas and other products in their farm shop. A must visit if you are here during lavender season.
Shawnee Hills Lavender
480 Brown Section RdGreat fun to pick your own lavender! They also have lots of lovely lavender soaps and teas and other products in their farm shop. A must visit if you are here during lavender season.
Sightseeing
There are many beautiful hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty. The most accessible is Big Rocky Hollow Trail, which is wide, level, well maintained, and less than a mile long. It leads to an intermittent waterfall nestled among large rock formations in a forested area.
This park is a lovely place to spend the afternoon or camp for the weekend.
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Parco Statale di Ferne Clyffe
90 Goreville RdThere are many beautiful hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty. The most accessible is Big Rocky Hollow Trail, which is wide, level, well maintained, and less than a mile long. It leads to an intermittent waterfall nestled among large rock formations in a forested area.
This park is a lovely place to spend the afternoon or camp for the weekend.
Parco del Castello
101 Homewood DrFun place for families!
Wine Trail Favorites
Truly delicious fruit wines and the winery is beautiful.
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Pomona Winery
2865 Hickory Ridge RdTruly delicious fruit wines and the winery is beautiful.
This is one of the most popular local wineries. They have lots of good wines to try and their facility is very lovely.
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Alto Vineyards
8515 IL-127This is one of the most popular local wineries. They have lots of good wines to try and their facility is very lovely.
This place is perfect for folks looking for a party. They have a very large bar area and often have live music on their outdoor stage area during the weekends.
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Vigneto Blue Sky
3150 S Rocky Comfort RdThis place is perfect for folks looking for a party. They have a very large bar area and often have live music on their outdoor stage area during the weekends.
They often have yummy wine slushes in the summer. And I really enjoy some of their wines.
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Vigneti StarView
5100 Wing Hill RdThey often have yummy wine slushes in the summer. And I really enjoy some of their wines.
They have some yummy wines. The food is really good. And they often have live entertainment and other events on the weekends. This is a great place for groups.
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Von Jakob Winery & Brewery
230 IL-127They have some yummy wines. The food is really good. And they often have live entertainment and other events on the weekends. This is a great place for groups.
Consigli per viaggiatori
Muoversi in zona
Limited Public Transportation
Visitors to Southern Illinois should expect to travel mostly by car. Our many smaller towns don’t boast much in the way of public transportation. However, if needed Rides Mass Transit operates an on-demand bus system and Red Top Cabs are available during the day in Marion and the surrounding area.