Rock Island State Trail, Illinois

Head over to Rock Island for some sweet solitude with good ol' Mother Nature. Here, you’ll find rest and reprieve in a canopy of trees and wild prairie beauty that spans across 26 miles. The tall grasses and wildflowers sigh in the wind; a trestle ridge leads travelers across the rushing waters of Spoon River. Go deeper and you can find architectural remnants of the railroad age that once boomed across this area.

Just north of Princeville a nature preserve can be found that is a habitat for native grasses and flowering perennials. Kickapoo Creek Recreation Area now boasts 14 acres of restored prairie for exploring, with hardwood trees and blooming flowers found along the streams and river that cross through the park. With all that natural beauty, you're bound to find an adventure on foot, bike, or skis, all the choices hip.