How to Spend a Weekend in Southern Illinois

If you haven’t explored Southern Illinois yet, you’re missing out! The city of Marion, in Williamson County, is only 45 minutes from Paducah, two hours from St. Louis, and five hours from Chicago, making it an ideal home base for exploring the region. I spent a weekend there on a six-week road trip and had such a good time.

I had breakfast in a log cabin, hiked past sandstone bluffs, spotted murals all over downtown, sipped wine in a Gothic-style tasting room, and so much more. Here’s the itinerary I followed, which you can use as a jumping-off point for your own trip.

I partnered with VisitSI to arrange my solo road trip, and the experiences I had are entirely my own.

Breakfast at Turner’s Table

I started the morning at Turner’s Table, a log cabin spot with rustic charm. They serve breakfast all day, which is always a win in my book.

The server made a strong case for the French Toast (file that under things I’ll regret not trying), but I usually lean savory, so I ordered a half order of biscuits and gravy.

The biscuit came split and smothered in a creamy sausage gravy. On the side, I had my pick of hash browns or potatoes (hash browns for me) and bacon or sausage (bacon, obviously). The hash browns were crisp, not soggy—a happy surprise! I loved my biscuits and gravy breakfast, but I’ll need a return trip to try that French Toast.

Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, covers 44,000 acres of lakes, bluffs, and forest. Entry is $2 per vehicle, payable at the Visitor Center or by QR code online. I started at the Visitor Center for maps, info, and a quick look around before heading into the park.

From there, I drove the Wildlife Loop, hoping to spot anything, and totally lucked out. I saw lots of egrets, some deer, wild turkeys, and got surprisingly close to a great blue heron before it took to the sky. Next, I headed to the 2.2-mile Rocky Bluff Trail for a scenic hike in the forest and along sandstone cliffs. It was gorgeous, and would be even more so in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom and the waterfalls are at their peak flow.

Read my full write-up with more photos and details: Visiting Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

Lunch at Louie’s P&R

Louie’s P&R is a cornerstone of Herrin, Illinois’ Italian heritage. The name has changed hands a few times—D&R Market, then P&R Market, and now Louie’s P&R—but the sausage recipes haven’t changed in more than 125 years.

On Saturdays, locals line up for the hot salami like it’s a town tradition (because it basically is). The rest of the week, there’s a steady stream of regulars in for lunch and shopping. Beyond the meat counter and deli, there’s a grocery section full of Italian essentials, like pasta, sauces, olive oil, and cheese.

I ordered an Italian beef sandwich at the deli counter in the back and sat at a table by the window. The sandwich was loaded with juicy, tender beef, and after dripping on myself multiple times, I gave up holding it and used a fork and knife. Absolutely delicious!

Dessert and Downtown Herrin

Keeping with the Italian theme, it only felt right to follow an Italian sandwich with gelato, so I walked over to Bonali’s Gelato for dessert. While I was debating flavors, another customer casually mentioned he comes in every day, so I figured I was in the right place.

I went with a scoop of salted caramel and one of cheesecake. Both were excellent, and now I probably need to come back to keep “researching” the rest of the flavors.

On my way back to the car, I stopped for a selfie at the Happy Place Mural (105 North 13th Street) and even made an Instagram reel. (Posing naturally is not my superpower, apparently.)

After my stop at the Happy Place Mural, I kept walking and came across two sculptures. One was the Coal Miner’s Memorial, honoring the generations who worked in the mines when coal was central to Herrin’s history. The other was a sweet little statue of two kids reading together. Nothing like a little surprise art walk to round things out.

Explore Antique Shops in Marion

On my way to check in to my hotel in Marion, I stopped to do a little antique shopping. There are lots of antique shops in the county, and although I couldn’t stop at them all, I did check out two near Town Square Plaza in Marion. Each had a different vibe, so I’m glad I visited both.

Loyd’s Antiques & Treasures is a packed-to-the-rafters kind of place, where you have to peek into every corner for hidden treasures. Although I didn’t buy anything here, I sure had fun looking!

Next, I went to the Warehouse Antique Mall. It’s been voted the #1 antique store in Southern Illinois for five years running. It was more organized with booth-style setups full of vintage finds and a few new items. I bought a couple things, but my favorite score was a retro Nirvana t-shirt in excellent condition.

Dinner at Seasoning Bistro (on the Square)

Seasoning Bistro is situated in a renovated historic building on Tower Square, and the exposed brick and soft lighting create a warm, modern ambiance. It’s one of Marion’s newer restaurants, but it’s already a local favorite.

The menu features classics such as burgers, steaks, seafood, and pizza, but with a creative twist using fresh, local ingredients.

Ever since visiting Wisconsin, I’ve been a little obsessed with cheese curds, so I couldn’t resist trying Seasoning’s version. Rather than the traditional blob shape, they were chunky squares, fried to a deep golden brown and perfectly crisp on the outside. They came with Parmesan cheese-dusted marinara sauce for dunking and were unreal! So, so good.

I could have ended my meal right there and been perfectly happy, but I moved on to the bacon jam and Gouda burger. Savory, a little sweet, and piled high, it was deeeee-lectable!

Live Music on the Square

After dinner, I wasn’t quite ready to call it a night, so I wandered into Little Nashville. I was a bit early for the live music, but the vibe pulled me in anyway. I nursed an excellent old-fashioned, chatted with the bartender for a bit, and soaked in the cozy atmosphere. The musician walked in just as I was heading out, and for a second, I considered staying, but after a full day, sleep won.

If you’ve got the energy, though, Marion’s got the music. Between the Little Nashville Cafe and John Brown’s on the Square, there’s usually a band to catch.

Mandala Gardens

I stopped at Mandala Gardens on my way to breakfast and it felt like I’d stumbled into a secret hideaway. There are lots of benches to relax and enjoy the serenity. With seven acres of gardens, sculptures, ponds, murals, and even a stone labyrinth, it’s the kind of place where you can’t help but pull out your camera every few steps. Ask me how I know.

Entry’s just $2 (they take cards and all the usual payment apps), and it’s open daily from dawn to dusk. (Leashed pets are welcome too.)

The thunder tried to scare me off, but I’m glad I squeezed in a wander before the rain showed up. It’s a genuinely special place.

Breakfast at the Vault Cafe

After leaving the gardens, I headed to breakfast at The Vault Café On The Square. It’s open for breakfast and lunch until 2 p.m. and sits inside the five-story Citadel Building, a 1914 landmark that once held a bank downstairs and a hotel upstairs.

My server recommended their popular Hawaiian Bread French Toast. It’s stuffed with homemade strawberry cream cheese and topped with strawberries, glaze, and powdered sugar, and omg, it was incredible. I usually go for savory breakfasts, but this was worth every calorie.

Mural Hunting

After breakfast, I decided to wander around the square to explore the mural district, which features over two dozen murals concentrated within a few blocks of each other. I was in heaven despite the rain!

Here are some of my favorites:

Williamson County Historical Museum

The Williamson County Historical Society Museum wasn’t on my original list of things to do in Marion, but while I was out mural-hunting around the square, I spotted it, and it happened to be open (never a guarantee these days). So I went inside, and I’m so glad I did. It was super interesting!

You can wander through the museum on your own, but the guided tours are where you get the best stories. Be sure to ask about the shady sheriff, notorious criminals, and jail breaks.

The jail was built in 1913 and served as both the sheriff’s home and the county lockup. It could house up 95 prisoners, four to a cell. As I walked through the cell block, I learned about some. The cell block, with its clanging doors and cramped bunks, makes it pretty easy to imagine what doing time here might have felt like.

There are 17 rooms to explore, so I found plenty to see beyond the cell blocks. Walking through felt a bit like time-travel roulette, Williamson County edition. One minute I was in a Victorian parlor, the next in a one-room schoolhouse, and then I was looking over Native American artifacts or peeking into an old optometrist’s office. Other rooms showcased coal mining history, farm tools, and vintage household gadgets that were both fascinating and head-scratching.

Shopping on the Square

The shops around the square were dangerously tempting. Perfectly Posh Boutique lured me in with clothes I didn’t know I needed, Lavish Bath Box smelled like I should probably upgrade my entire self-care game, and Little Egypt Art Association had both beautiful pieces for sale and classes I wanted to crash (there was a copper foil workshop happening while I was there). And Downtown Dip wasn’t open yet, but it looked so cute from the outside that I was half tempted to knock anyway.

Lunch at The Turn

The Turn is located at Kokopelli Golf Course in Marion, with both indoor seating and a patio overlooking the greens. It’s a small, cozy place with just enough polish to feel like a treat. You don’t need to be a golfer to enjoy it either. I’ve never played a single round of traditional golf (but I can hold my own at putt-putt).

I ordered the Strawberry Pecan Salad, loaded with fresh strawberries, red onions, candied pecans, and mozzarella. The fresh mozzarella balls were an unexpected upgrade from the usual shredded cheese. A few more of those little gems would’ve made it perfect, but it was still a really good salad, especially with that generous sprinkle of candied pecans.

Walker’s Bluff Winery

After lunch, I drove out to Walker’s Bluff Winery in Carterville. The road winds past vineyards and a picturesque lake before arriving at the tasting room, which features a Gothic-inspired design with stone, dark wood, and heavy furniture. I ordered a wine flight and a blackberry whiskey lemonade, and since it was such a beautiful day, I took them out to the patio and slowly sipped away my afternoon. (They do have charcuterie, pizza, and small bites, if you’re hungry.)

The cocktail is a house favorite made with Maker’s Mark, Walker’s Bluff Blackberry Wine, blackberry liqueur, citrus, and a little sweet-and-sour. Bright, berry-forward, and patio-friendly, basically everything you want in a summer drink.

Before heading back toward Marion, I swung into Ally’s Bake Shop at the General Store for a slice of Italian cream cake to go. The perfect sweet finish.

Dinner at Thai D

Dinner at Thai-D came with an unexpected dose of Hollywood. Owner Thanet Natisri played a key role in the 2018 Thai cave rescue, using his groundwater expertise to help divert about a million pounds of water from the monsoon-flooded cave where a boys’ soccer team was trapped. His story made it to the big screen in Thirteen Lives, directed by Ron Howard.

He also worked on the National Geographic documentary The Rescue, which earned two Emmy Awards, both of which you can actually see in a glass case inside the restaurant, right next to the movie posters.

I ordered the vegetable fried rice, which came with an egg roll and a bowl of veggie soup. The portion could’ve fed two, but I nearly cleaned the plate anyway. A pretty great way to wrap up the weekend.

Final Thoughts

By the time I headed home, I’d eaten in a log cabin, hiked past bluffs, wandered through old jail cells, and found murals around nearly every corner. Southern Illinois has a way of mixing small-town charm with a hint of the wonderfully offbeat, and I’m absolutely here for it.

If you’re planning your own trip, use this itinerary as a jumping-off point and add your own discoveries.

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