Elsah

A longtime favorite "Sunday" drive takes us from Springfield down to Kampsville then on to Elsah. A nice little drive that has just about everything, picturesque farms, some with historic old barns, quaint little towns that are a trip back into the past, and then the hills and valleys as you approach the river. Cross the ferry at Kampsville, and head south along the river, after a stop at the Kampsville Inn for lunch, the drive continues south to Hardin. On this part of the drive, it is difficult to believe that you are still in Illinois, and this is what you get all the way down to Alton. Of course, there are places to stop along the way. Our favorite stop is Elsah, about half way between Grafton and Alton. To stop here is truly a step back in time. To walk the quiet streets, gaze at the old houses, the single street downtown that is home to a small museum, a resteraunt and a shop or two. If you have a mind to, there are a couple of bed and breakfast inns in town, we have stayed at the Maple Leaf Inn several times, always a pieceful stay, with a breakfast each morning that is fit for a king.

While you are cruising up and down the River Road, keep your eye open for bald eagles. More common during the winter months, I beleive that there are nesting pairs in the area.

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