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

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

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.]

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]

Kind of amazing from a botanical point of view. This is apparently the farthest north that you can…read moresee a cypress swamp, and in some ways it's more Louisiana than it is Illinois. If you trudge down the Heron Pond trail for a while you'll eventually get to a surreal boardwalk into the trees which is just a magical little spot. Unfortunately, the walk to that spot is kind of blah, especially by the otherwise high standards of hikes in this area. Stars? I'd call it a five star boardwalk at the end of a two star hike, which computes to 3.5, rounded up to 4.

My daughter went on a canoe trip down cache river for her ecology class and had a blast. She said…read moreit was fun and enjoyable and would do it again. Everyone was nice and accommodating and very friendly and knowledgeable about everything about the cache.

Intense yet many memorable, great learning, & life experiences in Fort Campbell. You create your…read moreown destiny in life and the same goes with life in Fort Campbell. Many people come here and end up loving, staying, & creating a future and home here in the Fort Campbell area. I was not one of those people yet I value the wonderful experiences here - the good & the bad - and what I learned in Ft. Campbell. They offer a wealth of information and services to military and their families. The best learning experiences I had there were critical thinking and problem solving especially when dealing with uncomfortable & difficult moments. Yet they were obstacles I overcame and benefitted greatly from with optimism. Living on base ranges from bad to good when it comes to housing accommodations and neighbors/ social environment. The base is well maintained and have so many places to go for fun, the outdoors, fitness, and to get basic necessities. The PX and commissary area are large and provided all my necessities. Many fast food places, gasoline & convenience stores, and Starbucks coffee places on base too. The hospital there is huge and can be problematic in getting records transferred or dealing with some staff - from my personal experience. The museums and outdoor areas on base are fascinating and places I would frequently go to enjoy the outdoors and explore . I loved the outdoor walking trails and scenic areas on base. There are many miles of walking & bicycling trails through beautiful forest areas to experience there. The social events held at Ft. Campbell are worth checking out as well. Base access is great. There are many gates open around the base to get access to drive into the base from Tennessee or Kentucky. They are very strict at the gates - allowing access into the base. Your car may be randomly stopped for a search when going through the gates despite having military ID and no reason to search the car. It can be annoying especially when it happens a lot. Driving through the base can be confusing - through some of the one way streets. Strongly recommend staying within the speed limit at all times- most of all in the residential areas where children are playing at and being on the alert while driving on base. I have seen too many car accidents on base. It tends to happen by the busy intersection areas. .........

Spent time on base to visit my family. It's enormous and beautiful…read more Word if caution...make sure you gave a cell phone in case you get separated here. I almost got lost because all of the streets pretty much look the same. 1 wrong turn and I was 8 minutes away from my family member while on base!

This is the friendliest distillery I've ever been to. Eddie was awesome. And they accommodate…read morehandicaps with wheelchairs, even the bathrooms. The whiskeys are as fine as they are in Ireland. Put this on your places to visit. Don't miss out!

The Mb Roland distillery was excellent. The service was great too. Casual and fun ambiance. The…read moretour starts on the front porch and then into the distillery where they show you the process of making Kentucky bourbon the corn rye and wheat products to make the finest bourbon and whiskey the barrels that they store the product in the stills quite the operation in the process of making bourbon. Then they give you simples of bourbon whisky and moonshine.