Fun in the Sun of Southern Illinois -

That to do around the Carbondale and Marion, Illinois area?  Try the Farmers Market on the west side of Carbondale.  Lots of great produce.  We picked up some local jalapeno jack cheese that was tasty.  Oh yea, did we mention – great music too.

After visiting the Farmers Market, we had lunch at the nearby Pita Alley.   Loved the falafel, gyros, and rice recipe. 

Almost forgot to mention that there is a nice fruit market on the west side too.  The southern Illinois peaches are indeed good.

No trip to southern Illinois would not be complete with a stop in Metropolis to visit the Superman Museum.  We hit the town on the way to Paducah, Kentucky.

The downtown area of Paducah is next to the Ohio River and has many old buildings with junk shops and places to eat.  Take a handsome cab ride around town.  We had supper at a seafood that has apparently since closed down.  Very good nonetheless. 

Du Quoin is just north of Carbondale and home of the DuQuoin State Fair.  Well worth the stop.  Check out the photographs from the Fair.

Also once a year, the town of Creal Springs just east of Marion hosts a large flea market.  Another worthy stop.  Check out the photographs from the flea market.  Picked up some nice items for decorations and rusty yard art.  The local well or groundwater seeps of Creal Springs produce waters that are high in salts that claims to help cure many things.  

Happy Trails from Southern Illinois...