Garden of the Gods is one of the most photographed locations in the midwest, featuring magnificent rock formations overlooking hills and valleys in the Garden of the Gods Wilderness area. It is located in the eastern portion of the Shawnee National Forest, a 277,000 acre treasure owned by the U.S. Government.

In contrast to the gently rolling farm lands to the north, the more than 280,000 acres of the Shawnee National Forest lie in the rough, unglaciated areas of Southern Illinois known as the Ozark and Shawnee Hills. This area between the Mississippi and Ohio River boasts an unusual combination of five natural ecological divisions. Seldom anywhere else will you find such diverse combination of vegetation, wildlife, and recreation opportunities.

Located on the south edge of Harrisburg, you will find an entire pioneer village. It represents a village depicting the era of 1800 - 1840. Within the settlement is a blockhouse, a Quaker church, a post office, a saddlebag cabin and a very unique barn with a threshing floor, a school and a jail.

Tunnel Hill State Trail is a gem of a route, with 23 trestle bridges (including one that is 450 feet long), several ghost towns, a beautiful park, a comfortable trailhead in Vienna Station and, of course, its namesake tunnel—an impressive corridor that once measured 800-feet-long until a collapse in 1929 shortened it by some 300 feet.

Located in the Saline County State Fish & Wildlife Area, five miles southeast of Equality in Southeastern Illinois. This beautiful 105 acre lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and a shoreline of 2.7 miles. Facilities include picnicking with tables, play area for children, drinking water and fireplaces scattered around the lake.