It's a very pretty spillway. I stopped by in February and the area isn't very scenic in the winter…read more I'd say worth a stop if you are in the area but I wouldn't go out of my way to see it.

This is definitely one of those little gems!…read more My sister took me here when I came to visit her at SIU. She had always heard of it, but had never been. It was beautiful! HELPFUL HINT: Just wade across the water to get to the other side! We didn't on the way there and decided to walk down and then jump when the river became a creek. What a horrible idea! We got hot, sticky, sweaty, and eaten up by mosquitoes! Awful! Then, when we jumped, we got muddy and I managed to jump onto a stick and cut the very bottom of my foot. Did I mention that the stick that cut me also gave me a huge splinter? So overall, just a bad idea. We climbed all the way to the top and what a gorgeous view! The water was pretty high and the current was really strong, so we didn't climb throughout the spillway. We decided instead to stay on the side, which was fairly dry in some parts, and definitely less slippery overall. I am sure when the water level goes down, it would be a great place to lounge and get some sun! Just watch out! It is SLIPPERY!

Think Vintage is a excellent collection of hand-picked individual different kind of items that you…read moremight want to appoint your shelves. The price points are excellent. If you're into any kind of fairy collecting items or unusual pictures, this is the place. I've never been in a store like it. It's one of a kind.

First let me say, the owner, Laura(?) is sweet as apple pie! I was walking into all the little…read moreshops in town and this one really caught my curiosity. A little vintage..a little nostalgia, a bunch of miniatures, and some great unique items. The place is clean and inviting. Like 8 said, the owner is super sweet. Prices are extremely reasonable. Go support local small business.

Yes, it's super weird. And it completely captures the zeitgeist of 21st century 'merica. (So maybe…read morenot that weird?) First and foremost, it's a conflagration of all the state's major political players, who either have to show up to run the gauntlet or they can risk avoiding the event and likely be excoriated by the opposition for their absence. What makes it fairly unique as political theater is that most everyone present is forced to deliver to an audience that is a combustible stew of highly charged partisans from both sides, only a thin buffer of a giddy media in the middle. All the big incumbents are pilloried by disapproving and chanting opposition. And everyone panders to God, country, flag, and tradition. As a nonreligious resident who had the audacity to lack Kentucky roots and even be educated at a reviled school (for sports reasons -- the most important reasons) in North Carolina, I personally enjoyed resounding disapproval from all camps. Nothing of real substance is shared. Nobody's mind is changed. Hopefully the peace is kept. And the locals quietly play bingo a few yards away while all the political junkies fry their vocal folds. The backdrop couldn't be more perfect. The politicians get to glorify the yeoman myth of the rural entrepreneur in the shadow of a small town church steeple, surrounded by smoking meat, bingo games, church raffles, and automobiles parked on every free square inch. There's an extra star up there for the mutton sandwich. Someone out here knows a thing or two about smoking meats. The pork BBQ is excellent too, but go with the mutton for the novelty of it. The biggest surprise for me may have been the fact that it's not very commercialized, perhaps a consequence of this event being so far from any population center. Sodas and ice cream can be purchased for $1 for cryin' out loud. Ultimately, the event is a mix of fascinating and soul-crushing. Any solution to what ails American democracy won't be provided here. In light of that, I have a couple of very modest suggestions to the organizers: - For the love of God, invite an actual comedian here. Kentucky politicians are not themselves good at roasting each other and they can't afford good speechwriters. Comedy is hard, and most of the speeches given are hard evidence of that fact. - Offer a veggie, please! Even if it's swimming in bacon, it would be nice to have something alongside that mutton sandwich. The only veggie option I saw here today was Lay's potato chips (regular or bbq), despite the fact that this event is held in the dead of summer, when local produce should be at its peak. If you all love your farmers as much as the rhetoric suggests, you'd acknowledge them by bolstering someone other than the pig and sheep farmer. It's good for you and it tastes better than socialized medicine.

Full disclosure, I work in politics. My family has deep roots in it. I am really into state and…read morenational politics all around. Going to Fancy Farm is going to make me giddy like a little kid. It is like Graceland for Kentucky political nerds. Everything I heard about it was true. There was booing and howling. People got into it with each other. Jabs and jokes at every politician running was brought up. Reporters were everywhere. People that loved their candidates were not shy about voicing their opinions. It was not uncommon to see groups get into it with each other. Entertaining to say the least, not to mention some good people watching. The food was not bad either. It was very fairly priced (bottle water was a 1$, two scopes of ice cream on a cone was 2$). Obviously, I tried the BBQ. I had mutton to be exact. It was not bad, but I will always prefer pork. There were several booths, Time Warner handed out free water which was a great gift during the heat. You could play tabs or 5 card showdown poker. There was even a photo booth. I would not mind traveling to Fancy Farm. Something to see and I marked it off my bucket list.

Largest Superman Statue in the world at 13 foot tall and 6000 pounds in bronze.. Can't help but…read morehum the music from the original Superman film of 1978, as we drove up to the statue. I even did the Superman pose, with clenched fists at the hips and knuckles facing forwards (it's kinda of an uncomfortable pose in actuality). It was a fun stop, and wasn't too busy when we parked nearby, so was able to take quite a few pictures. Definitely need someone else to take the photos (selfies won't work), with a small raised platform area in front for the photographer so the picture could include the entire statue without the railings being in the way. As far as I could tell, there is no restrictions on what you can touch and the paint job on the statue was still vibrant, indicating it is still being well maintained. I really liked the face of Superman, not resembling any of the many actors who have played him on TV/movies, but more of an idealized, composite rendition of the classic comic book Man of Steel. There are other nearby photo opportunities (including a photo stand-in where you can put your head on top of a Superman costume), and a retail shop/museum nearby selling superhero themed souvenirs. -- Metropolis, IL was established in 1839, with it becoming a city in 1859. -- In 1972, Illinois named Metropolis as the hometown of Superman -- In 1986, a 7-foot tall fiberglass superman was erected at cost of $1,000, but was unpopular with the locals and got damaged by vandalism and weather -- money was raised from locals to replace it with the current model, at a cost of $120,000. Donor names are on bricks at the base of the statuue. -- Unveiled on June 5, 1993. -- It was repainted every few years for maintenance -- It underwent a complete repaint job in 2020, being sandblasted to the bare bronze and repainted using modern durable paint that will supposedly last 20 years.

If you don't stop here while in Metropolis, what are you even doing in this town??…read more It's right next to the Superman Museum and there are also some thematic murals on an adjacent wall. We were here in late November and Supes was dressed up for Christmas with a Santa hat on. Definitely a fun roadside attraction in Southern Illinois.

Great Place to Live and Raise Kidsread more

I have been coming to the lake since I could walk. The area is so pretty and there are tons of…read moretrails to explore all over!

Our favorite place. Wonderful marinas, respectful boaters. Love going whenever we canread more

If you haven't been to Ste. Gen, you should go!! It is a beautiful, historic little town with lots…read moreof cool museums, some nice restaurants, wineries and shops. We love wandering around town. Very relaxing. One caveat.... this past trip we noticed that there is SO much loud muffler noise in this town. Seems like every other person has a giant pick up in serious need of muffler work. And apparently the aldermen just passed a rule that allows for ATVs to drive up and down the streets. They are super noisy. For example, we were at a tour at one of the historic places (standing outside) and the guide had to stop multiple times due to the a LOUD truck or ATV coming down the road. So stupid. Honestly, I don't even understand why some people feel they have to make so much noise, but that's a whole other topic, lol. Anyway, I hope that people who make the regulations in Ste Gen get smart and realize that allowing loud ATVs (and trucks for that matter) to cruise through the quaint streets is going to be turn off to visitors. On a sidenote, if you are an entrepreneur who does muffler work, you could make a killing down there since apparently they do not have a good muffler shop in town. lol

Interesting transport or a need of a quick trip across the river makes this a good destination…read more I have only rode without a vehicle for $2, but the experience is so different that my mind enjoys the trip. (As does the kid inside my companions) Standing on the dock waiting for the ferry takes patients, but kids find rocks to throw in the river during the "I am bored moments". (I would set a visible boundary for how close they can get to the river) Watching the tug boat pitch the ferry sideways as it maneuvers from the side is intriguing. The ferry does not take long to unload and be loaded so be ready. The trip is surprisingly quick and breezy then the Mark Twain memory (plus pics) is all that is left. http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/Exhibits/MTP/mississippi.html While they have a $4 rate for the horse & rider, the new adventurers must be motorcycles because for $5 they seem to be really willing to pay the ferry man. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don't_Pay_the_Ferryman

Taking up 24 panels of the downtown floodwall, the Mississippi River Tales Mural tells the story of…read morethe area's history going as far back as the Native Americans who were here first as early as 900 AD and then continuing through the Louisiana Purchase from France, Missouri gaining statehood, the Lewis and Clark expedition and through Harry S. Truman to current times. It's interesting and informative and well worth time if you are in downtown Cape Girardeau. There is street parking along Water Street. And while you're here, step through one of the floodwalls and check out the massive Mighty Mississippi River. If you're lucky, a barge might be passing! [Review 1250 of 2024 - 352 in Missouri - 22273 overall]

Located on the lawn of the National Quilt Museum, this sculpture features five bronze figures:…read moreMeriwether Lewis, William Clark, a generic Indian man and girl, and Clark's big explorer dog Seaman. There are some interesting anachronisms going on including noting Paducah on the map and 21st century earrings, considering that the expedition took place between 1803 and 1806. There is a plaque at their feet. "As Meriwether Lewis and William Clark wound their way westward, they encountered many indigenous people. The Native Americans portrayed here represent those who helped Lewis and Clark during their travels to the Pacific Ocean. The flag that the child is holding and the Thomas Jefferson medal were givens given to those original people of America. Taking artistic license, George Lundeen added Sacagawea coins to the ears of the Native American and Paducah to the map held by William Clark. It is interesting to note that in 1803, Meriwether Lewis paid $20.00 for his Newfoundland dog, Seaman, but in 1827, William Clark paid only a $5.00 transfer fee for the land wehere Paducah and McCracken County now stand." There is some great detail in the faces of the explorers as they seek out the west. [Review 16316 overall - 130 in Kentucky - 1823 of 2021.]