Champaign, Illinois-D&W Lake Camping and RV Park

We decided to stay a few days at this campground in Champaign, Illinois. It was such a nice place! We aren't big fans of private campgrounds since much of the time they are treeless and everyone is stacked in, but I would definitely come back to this one if ever in the area again.

Here is a picture of the lake area:

It was very close to grocery stores and shopping but felt far away. Originally, it was a privately owned fishing pond and after someone asked to pay to stay the night, the owner began adding campsites, 3 at a time. It is now run by the original owners grandson and appears to be thriving. I was visiting with the owner when he had to turn someone away because they were full on a weekday evening!

Not too far from there was the Museum of the Grand Prairie located in Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve in Mahomet. Although there was a direct entrance to the museum, we took the route through the main park. It was a beautiful park. On our journey through, we saw a few deer and drove through a covered bridge.

The kids loved this museum (and it was FREE)! It was not huge but had enough to entertain my kids for hours.

They planted a vegetable garden,

did some sewing,

sent a few telegraph messages,

built a log cabin,

prepared dinner and

carried in the water.

While they played, I visited with another mother who shared her farm life experiences with me as they have begun to raise some of their own meat, fruits and vegetables over the past year. Very interesting!

Then before we left, we checked out their “Discovery Garden”.

On another day, we visited the Orpheum Children's Science Museum (also FREE with our museum pass). This was a small museum that has opened inside the old Orpheum theater that was built 100 years ago. It is a one-third scale model of the opera house at Versailles.

The exhibits seemed a little random and old (like they just bought different things from other museums) but again, the kids enjoyed the hours we spent there.

Jacob had a good time playing boat captain,

and they had a really cool vet clinic with cages, exam sheets to document and xrays. The “animals” had something embedded that when held near the x-ray machine, the x-ray would change to show that animals condition.

They also had a water table and these magna tiles, both of which my kids love to play with.

Our time in Champaign was short, but we really enjoyed it. We are now heading to Turkey Run, Indiana!

Oglesby, IL (State #13)-Starved Rock State Park

Starved Rock State Park is the most visited park in Illinois and it really was very nice. It was divided into several sections and there was so much to see.

The campground was completely separate from the main park and it too was very nice. It had plenty of trees and space. We had a spot right next to the small playground and the showers were close enough.

BUT I cannot move on without complaining about the showers. Believe it or not, these showers were too HOT! They were burning hot, which is saying something because I really like hot showers. Many of the showers that we have used in the north do not have temperature adjustments and are on a timer so, you push the button, the shower comes on for a set time, then shuts off. Well this one came on for literally 3 SECONDS! Seriously what can you do with that? Move your hand away and ....Oh it is time to push the button again! Fortunately, you could hold the button in to keep the water on but have you ever tried to rinse your hair with one hand glued to the wall BEHIND you?? Oh and I must mention that the shower room itself was quite cold. (Yes, I admit that I have serious shower issues)

So now on to the nice parts of the park.... 

We went hiking nearly every evening after Greg was off from work. There were many beautiful trails and the leaves were beginning to change with gorgeous reds, oranges, and yellows. (We are getting so excited about our upcoming stay in Indiana to see the fall colors).

The trails followed streams and went through many canyons.

We took A LOT of pictures here, but I was able to narrow it down to a few gorgeous ones (Click here)

The kids found this tree that had arched over and each took turns shimmying across it.

I found these yummy looking mushrooms... Don't they look like toasted marshmallows?!   

And one of the trailheads had this old fort the kids got to play in a little (you can kind of see them in the windows).

We also visited the I&M (Illinois and Missouri) Lock Visitor's Center. It was a fairly small place but we learned a little more about the locks and the kids enjoyed playing inside the real pilot house they had on display. There were a lot of buttons to push and levers to maneuver so they really liked it.  Interestingly, the pilot house could raise and lower to go under the bridges along the river.

And we got to watch the lock in action when a private boat went through. 

Here is one more pic of the dam and lock from across the river.  

Next, we are headed to Champaign, Illinois.

Charles City, IA (State #12)-R Campground

We had such a wonderful time in Charles City, Iowa! Visiting Charles City was important to us for two reasons:

The first is that Greg's grandfather and the kids' great grandfather helped to build the Charles City post office. It was one of the big projects he worked on when he lived nearby in Ruthven, Iowa.

The second (and bigger reason) is that Charles City is the home of Tracy, my best friend from junior high and high school! It was so good to see her again.

And her children, Connor and Brooke, were awesome.  They were so kind and Jacob and Jordan LOVED being with them.

We spent all but one evening with Tracy and her family. On that evening, we drove to Ruthven to see the family home and the area where Greg and his family would visit during the summers.

And the rest of the time, Tracy spoiled my kids like crazy! They got to eat powdered donuts and brownies, ride a horse, play with moon sand, jump on a trampoline, take bubble baths (which is a HUGE thing after 9 months of only showers) and they had a sleepover at her house not once, but TWICE!

AND their most favorite thing was to feed all of her farm animals. In fact, a couple of weeks later, they are still talking about it and planning DAILY (on paper) what they will have on their farm when they grow up.

Tracy was also our tour guide for the bike path along the Cedar River. The weather was great and the scenery beautiful.

This was a pretty bridge. The original swinging bridge was washed away in a 2008 flood.

We also spent a few hours at Rustic Corner, a cute craft store, where we painted pottery and made our first mosaic pieces.

And Jacob was able to spend some time doing what he loves...FISHING.  And since Connor enjoys fishing too, the boys had a good time together.

We stayed at R Campground located just on the edge of town.  It was a great campground with a pond and the river running through.  You didn't feel like you were right in town.

On the weekend, we all headed to Osage for the fall festivities.

Afterwards, we checked out nearby Spring Creek

and then headed back to the campground for our last night together.  We were enjoying some time around the campfire when the rain began.  So we all piled into the RV and got a little closer! Ha Ha

It was a wonderfully fun week and we can't wait to see these guys again!

Next stop:  Champaign, Illinois

Dodgeville, Wisconsin-Governor Dodge State Park

We stayed at Governor Dodge State Park for one week. It was a nice shaded campground and like most campgrounds this time of year, there weren't many people except on the weekend. My biggest complaint was the cold showers!! But apparently it was just my bad luck because the men's showers were warm!

Most of the week was rainy and cold. We played at the playground a few times and went outside when we could. Greg and Jacob were able to do a little fishing at the lake.

We checked out one of the trails and Stephens Falls.  A few of the trails were closed due to tornado damage.

The kids earned their Wisconsin Explorers patch.

For our last outing, we went to the House on the Rock. I am not quite sure how to describe this place. It was interesting in a weird sort of way. If in the area, you should definitely see it but it is bizarre. 

The, House on the Rock, itself is pretty cool. It was built, as its' name implies, around a rock. It was pretty dark inside so pictures were pretty impossible to take. I don't think the owner ever lived there and it was mainly used to entertain with its many wonderfully designed rooms with ample seating areas.

He also built the Infinity Room onto the house which extends 218 ft out unsupported, 156 feet above the valley floor. That was fun feature but, like the kids, I think it would be so much more awesome if you could see through the floor.

The last part was room after room of his many, unusual collections and creations from dollhouses and dolls to guns, boats and circus figurines.  But the number of pieces in each collection was just massive, so massive that that is what made it bizzare.

He also constructed the WORLD'S LARGEST CAROUSEL (not the best picture, but it was moving).

And there were many instrument sections designed to play by themselves including this mannequin orchestra.

It was really a fun place and took a couple of hours to go through but also definitely kind of odd.

Next stop is Charles City, Iowa