50 things to do near Southern Illinois: Spring Break Edition

50 Things to do if staying close to Southern Illinois for spring break

Staying around home for spring break but still want to do some activities! Here are 50 things to do if you live near Southern Illinois for spring break! Centrally located in the Midwest it is super easy to make day trips out of so many other locations! Read below for my top 50 activities to do around Southern Illinois! I always suggest if hiking to follow all the rules and check alltrails.com prior to setting out on your adventure! What are your favorite things to do?!

1. Hike Giant City State Park

2. Hike cove hollow trail

3. Day trip to St. Louis Zoo

4. Hike Trillium Trail

5. Kayak local lakes

6. Science Center in Carbondale (check local hours)

7. Science center St. Louis

8. Garden of the gods—Herod, IL about 2.5 hrs from St. Louis

9. Bike or Hike Tunnel Hill

10. Take the kids to Bald Knob Cross

11. Cedarhurst Art Museum (kids room)

12. Ultimate gymnastics free play (Friday)

13. Trampoline park Paducah

14. Cannon Park-Carterville, IL

15. Evergreen Park-Carbondale, IL

16. Turley Park-Carbondale, IL

17. Picnic in giant city state park

18. Walk campus lake

19. Makanda Boardwalk & Hike Giant City Nature Trail

20. Pizza and ice cream (pag’s and the big chill)

21. St. Louis aquarium and soda fountain (Union Station, St. Louis)

22. St. Louis Train Museum

23. STL city game

24. Riverside park in Murphysboro, IL

25. Thrillhouse (now open) Marion, IL

26. Fly to Chicago for the day

27. Hike Pomona bridge

28. Ride bikes

29. Hike Little Grand Canyon

30. The hub indoor water park

31. Downtown Dip (Marion or Carterville, IL)

32. Day trip to Nashville Zoo

33. Missouri Botanical Gardens

34. City Museum St. Louis

35. Tower Rock Missouri -snag lunch at St Nick landmark

36. Castle Park-Carbondale, IL

37. Ray Fosse Park-Marion, IL

38. Ferne Clyffe State Park—Goreville, IL

39. McDonald’s play place

40. Aspire kids yoga (Saturday morning)

41. Hike Panthers Den

42. Giant City Lodge for lunch and climb the water tower plus hiking

43. Jackson county historical markers tour (check out this blog post for more info)

44. Volunteer at the animal rescue shelters

45. Golf at a Local Course

46. Top golf in St. Louis

47. Lafayette Square Park + lunch at Mcgurks— St. Louis, MO

48. Edison’s Edwardsville, IL

49. Elephant State Park in Missouri

50. Cave in Rock State Park