Is This Illinois's Best-Kept Secret?
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- Опубліковано 7 лис 2021
- This week, Tarah and I decided to get away from it all and head to Starved Rock State Park, the perfect venue for practicing our love of nature, hiking, and autumnal Instagram clichés.
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A lot of those waterfalls are probably more impressive in the spring with the spring thaw all that water runoff.
Actually they are most impressive mid winter. Maybe mid January if it's cold enough. The trickle of water freezes and builds up to create a massive looking ice waterfall. It's really cool.
Even in Hawaii, time of year mattered for many water falls.
Summer most of all.
Very true. Here in California Yosemite Falls often runs dry by mid summer. People come from all over to see the waterfalls in Yosemite, and then end up disappointed when they’re dry. But if you want to see the falls you better be here no later than June. July often is iffy already. Check the snow cover in the High Sierras. It’ll give you an idea what to expect.
I've been to Starved Rock many times, spring is definitely the time to go. Winter is just too cold!
During the depression years, there were many government projects. One of the projects was the Conservation Corps. My father belonged to it in his late teen years. His group built the trails at Starved Rock! I remember going to the Park as a child, on family trips. Thank you for featuring this ‘hidden gem’.
There are many such "hidden gems" in plain sight throughout Illinois. So many people think that Illinois is only Chicago or a bunch of corn/soybean fields. I haven't been to Starved Rock in years. Check out the Mississippi Palisades or head south to Giant City or Garden of the Gods and Shawnee National Forest.
Or the Eternal Indian Statue (PC AF, right), or the Cahokia Mounds to the south.
You beat me to it - these were the exact same places I was going to mention.
Try Galena or Apple River Canyon or Indiana Dunes or Cahokia Mounds or Shawnee National Forest. Indiana Dunes is really cool no matter what time of year with Dunes that are 250 feet high.
Once I moved out of Indiana to Michigan (North of Detroit) people thought our cities were surrounded by corn fields. Smaller than Indy had no idea they existed. Lived in Chicagoland for a bit in the mid 70's. Everyone knew how Indiana was laid out. Like all the corn states. Southern Michigan North of Indiana is Michigan's bread basket. Sometimes I wonder about this state. Been here since '76 Michigan very insecure state.
Dixon Springs, Ferne Clyffe, Jackson Falls, Bell Smith, Burden Falls, and Cave-in-rock are a few of my favorites
A true hidden gem in Illinois that even alot of my fellow Illinoisans don't know about is Matthiessen State Park. This park is extremely beautiful, however since it is located literally next to Starved Rock. It is overlooked by many travelers going to the more famous park.
It's not overlooked anymore. Since Starved Rock often fills to capacity, thus forcing the closure of the park, the crowds then gravitate to Matthessen, and that park usually closes within an hour or two of sr
@@jimgoebel5348 Perhaps since the pandemic, this is true. I have been to Matthiessen several times previously, and it was almost deserted. However, my visits were only in the spring or fall, and never during the peak summer months. Regardless, since being introduced to Matthiessen, I find it a much more pleasurable and natural experience than Starved Rock, where Chicagoland congregates and overruns. Although they are much farther away, my favorite state and national parks in Illinois are in far Southern Illinois...it's like an entirely different world from the northern portion of the state.
I love the giants bathtub in Matthiessan. I go every year at least once. Just to listen to the water fall on the rocks. Its 1.5 hours round trip but so worth it to reconnect to nature once and a while.
@@jolietpinball7439 This has actually been Tru for at least 10 years.
As far as downstate goes.. There's so much natural beauty and hiking that it can seriously become confusing as to what to do next. This last August, my son and I discovered Bell Smith Springs. That place is amazing. There's an iron rung ladder ascending the rock face on one of the trails there. It looks sketchy as hell!
Check out the Hiking with Shawn channel here on Y T. The Shawnees are his specialty.
I only hike Matthiessen , I don’t bother with stared rock anymore!!
Hiking poles, while looking and sounding lame, are surprisingly helpful
No way! I went to starved rock all the time as a kid! It's usually always busy so maybe not the best kept secret around but it's fairly unknown outside the state. Recently I visited Natural Bridge state park in Kentucky and that was also a very unique experience. I wouldn't mind watching more of these nature walk videos where you visit regional parks like Natural Bridge and the Indiana Dunes
You’re so right about state parks being hidden gems. And the tree colors were beautiful
The waterfalls are much more impressive in the spring when the snow has melted and the rains start. It can also be trickier to hike since the mud is actually quite easy to slide on. But as someone else said they are very impressive in the winter when they freeze. You can look up pictures of them.
Also in the winter, you can see the Bald Eagles. Starved Rock has a large population of Bald Eagles during the winter and they set up yours to make it easier to see them.
This video is beautifully done, with the nice smack of your humor, music and adventure. Thank you!
This is my favorite kind of scenery. The huge, dry west is impressive. But put me in a deciduous forest with fall leaves, furry critters, and shale cliffs for that true out-of-doors feeling.
As a bonified tree hugging dirt worshiping introvert, I fully understand your appreciation to be around few people. The credits at the end were impressive!!
Thank you so much for putting this out there. I loved the music! I haven't been to Starved Rock in decades. My late husband & I had been frequent visitors. I really need to get back there! The whole Illinois River area is fantastic. There's the Illinois & Michigan Canal that runs along the DesPlaines River & then, follows the Illinois River after the confluence of the DesPlaines & the Kankakee Rivers, which forms the Illinois. That's a fun "in your backyard" adventure as well.
Glad you made it to Starved Rock!
So many people think that Illinois and the rest of the Midwest is just flat, ugly, and boring.
I have lived in Minnesota, Montana, and Illinois in the last decade, and spent many thousands of hours and miles traveling in those and neighboring states - and I think Illinois is not only no less beautiful than anywhere else, but also has a lot of beauty that can't be found anywhere else. Every place has its things. I think that there is nothing more beautiful than the sunset over a field of corn during harvest on a day with calm winds, with the bean dust in the air enhancing the sunset.
I firmly believe that no matter where you go, you will find some beauty there, it may be hidden, but just keep looking! Even though I’m in close proximity to many state and National parks here in California, it’s a nice change to visit lesser known places, like a wildlife refuge. Often times smaller parks are not as busy, and it can be quite nice to be all alone out there!
I grew up in Central Illinois and there was so much wooded areas to explore as a kid. Also as a family we would go out mushroom hunting, picking wild grapes and berries to make preserves. Also I temember we would go out wild asparagus hunting.
@@sheilaharrison8547 Yeah . . . I remember good ol' Euell Gibbons! I think he died chocking on a pine cone?! (JK!!) Growing up, I enjoyed his back-to-natural food ideas. Growing up on the family farm in west-central Illinois, I'd hunt for arrow heads, axes, scrapers, and celt stones, as well as the foods: mushrooms, jewel weed, poke salads, stinging nettle, sassafras tea in the spring, etc. Lots of memories! Another virtually unknown place is Beaver Dam State Park, south of Carlinville, IL.
Mmmm, I'm thinking of the mulberries I used to pick and eat off the trees.
Here in Southern Illinois (the "we shop for groceries in Kentucky" and "nobody locks their doors" Southern Illinois) these type of sites are the rule and not the exception. The drawback is little industry & economic growth but hey, it could be worse.
BTW, big fan of the channel. Thanks for all your hard work
My grandmother grew up in Johnson County, IL in a tiny town called Ozark. It's been years since I've been back, Garden of the Gods was a cool spot if I remember correctly.
@@benjamindouglas862 I live a couple miles from Ozark. My grandpa had an excavating company and built the road into Garden of the Gods. Small world.
@@TylerBunchanumbers what's even crazier is that my great uncles, the Treat boys, we're all operators. I think they worked for the state though. Our family almost assuredly know each other.
Um, I live in Saline county right by Shawnee National forest and most of us are smart enough to lock our doors. 🤣🤣
@@benjamindouglas862 I grew up in New Burnside, so I know a bunch of Treats. Crazy how small the world really is!
Thank you for the beautiful video! As I'm disabled, I would never get to see it in person, so I do so appreciate you two (Hi Tara!) sharing your visit there.....
Some parks have trails for people with disabilities. You have to call the park to find out what facilities and trails they have for the disabled.
There is beautiful preserved land in all fifty states!!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA ❤️
I live just outside Chicago. Starved Rock is on of our favorite hiking spots. Be sure to check out Matthiessen State Park just down the road. If you want to see the waterfalls at their best you need to come in the Spring just after the snow melts or a good rain.
Yes, if you’re hiking, I’d almost say go there, way less people.
And go check out Buffalo rock as well
Another cool location is in Oregon, IL. I remember canoeing down the Rock River past the Eternal Indian Statue back in the day.
Me too!😉
There is a beautiful state park nearby also, White Pines State Park. I've camped there many times with my dad as a teenager and later with my son. On these boy scout outings, my dad used to stay in the park lodge, saying he had enough of sleeping in tents during WWII :-).
After years of being under wraps, the Eternal Indian has been repaired and is on display again. It's a 60ft. statue overlooking the Rock River.
@@williamking8951 White Pines is a beautiful state park too, great for hiking. And you can drive through the water in the creek. Just down the road is Lowell Park. Reagan lifeguarded there. Reagan’s home is in Dixon, IL.
In watching your videos, I’m always struck by how much I learn about my own country from you. Your love for history shows in each & every video. And inspires me to learn more about my world!
There was a road in the driftless area of Illinois where my father took me to find Ordovician fossils. We literally pulled off on the shoulder/verge and dug around in the culvert. It probably was of dubious legality. But, I found trilobites. :)
No problems with legality if it's known for having those types of fossils.
There's a great place to find shark teeth between my Texas town and our nearest neighbor. You can stop at one of the hills the road snakes around and poke around in the exposed layers of sediment. Local school science classes often take field trips there.
The legality issues arise if you set up for a serious excavation.
Fossils are so common here in Southwest Ohio, every creek is full of them. My son has a drawer full of fossils.
It would be illegal to remove fossils or anything else from a state park in Illinois, but from your description you weren't in Starved Rock. Mazon Creek, up towards Morris, is the place for fossils, including the 'Tully Monster', Illinois' state fossil, which is found nowhere else.
If you want to see even less people, check out Matthensen State Park just down the road from Starved Rock. My husband and I took our dog in September to the Vermilion River Area and we did not see another soul the whole time.
I have lived within 20 miles of Starved Rock for most of my life. It is a treasure. But it is far from being Illinois’ best kept secret. If anything it is being loved to death. State funded support is severely lacking. And on certain weekends of the year, it might be considered down right dangerous to be there.
But, it is glorious on an early mid-week morning. Please visit again.
Why is it dangerous on certain weekends?
This run along the river is insanely beautiful
Thanks for taking us with you.
Check out Garden of the Gods in southern Illinois. Just watch out for the snakes. In fact, check out Snake Road if you want to see something really different.
You’re starting to sound like a native, you’ve dropped the s off of Illinois. 😂
When I was in the service back in the 60's, a person in our outfit was from the southern part of Illinois and did not drop the s. This surprised me. I am a Minnesotan and we always drop the s when saying Illinois. I am curious if the citizens of southern Illinois retain the s or it was just a quirk of that person in my outfit?
One of the best places in the world. Standing atop the camels head is a special feeling.
@@DM-dn7rf I’m originally from Southern Illinois, Gallatin county, and we dropped the s.
Not only Garden of the Gods, but Fern Cliffe, Bald Knob Cross, the Devil's Backbone, Cave In Rock...
@@DM-dn7rf I drop the S. Most southern Illinois people do.
You ought to try Pere Marquette SP on the Illinois River in Jersey County. They have a beautiful lodge there and many riding trails. It is near the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.
A good walking stick has many uses.
1. To help you balance.
2. Defense
3. Check for snakes.
4. Check for soft ground or thin ice.
5. Check water depth.
6. Move things.
7. They look cool.
Laurence, another artful enterprise. Lovely, informative and personal takes on your journeys through America.
Me: A desert dweller…areas like 5:22 can’t truly exist. Landscapes that beautiful…I’ve only seen in my dreams. I think I gotta get out more. ♥️
Laurence, your videography and photography works are stunning. Job well done, sir!
Get on a plane next spring/summer, get to New Hampshire and drive the Kancamagus Highway.
What a great video! That park is gorgeous and the way you filmed and edited it is beautiful! Is that called videography? Cinematography? Whatever it’s called you’re brilliant at it! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
It’s the only Illinois State Park that turns a profit. Their Easter Brunch is delicious. We make reservations for it in January.
Giant City State Park down here in the Southern part of the state does as well. They have pretty good food everyday, but the holidays are the best it seems.
The state parks aren't for profit, even though your statement is false. They are free to enter unlike surrounding states like indiana and sconsin Rock Cut, Panther Creek, Shabonna, Eldon Hazlet, Kickapoo, Morrison Rockwell and Fox Ridge state park campgrounds all do very well in summer.
The Lodge turns a profit, but it's privately owned. The Park itself has no admission charge and parking is free, so everyone can enjoy it.
The park is free. However, it’s the only state park in Illinois that brings the state more money then the state pays for the park in maintenance, up keep, and other expenditures. Hence, it turns a profit. Also, while the lodge is privately run it is not privately owned. The lodge is leased, which is one of the reasons Starved Rock is profitable for the state.
One of the few things that I miss about living in Illinois. Growing up there, I didn't really appreciate it when I was a kid. Now I realize how awesome it is.
I wouldn't call it "Illinois's Best-Kept Secret," but it is quite a gem. ...And it gets bonus points for its close proximity to Chicago.
It's a secret shared by 3 million people a year. Come on a weekday when the kids are in school. Summer weekends are a nightmare.
Glad to see you found such beauty locally. There are many State parks to explore in every state. I recommend everyone do a little research and check them out.
I used to live in Oak Park and me and my friends went hiking and sort of camping there every year for about 5 years . One of my favorite places to be. Especially the last two when we deliberately sought out trails that had become unused/forgotten .
we live in Ottawa and read the local paper, if you leave the marked trail you are in mortal peril. several people a year die like that.
@@rainyweigt6077 Guess we were lucky young fools
So, because you're so close to Wisconsin, consider Devil's Lake State Park (by Baraboo, summer home of the Ringling Bros Circus) and Peninsula State Park (up in the "thumb"). Would love to see a video of you and your wife riding a tandem bike at Peninsula. Also, many state parks were built/maintained by the CCC during the Great Depression.
Door County is one of my favorite places
High cliff is also a goid place with its view of lake winnebago and the mounds
I was going to suggest coming a bit further north to Wisconsin! So many different and beautiful places here, as well!
Holy Hill Basilica (National Shrine, St. Mary's Help of Christians Catholic church)is a must see if you love fall foliage! Highest spot in SE Wisconsin, it's in the town of Erin(Hubertus) in Washington County. Easily accessible from Hwy I-41 north of Milwaukee from I-94.
I love Devil’s Lake but it gets sooooo crowded.
The US really love our parks.....not only National Parks and State Parks, but County Parks and City Parks! Where I am we have the 3rd largest City Park in the USA. The beauty we have at our doorstep is amazing, not to mention the County Parks in the mountains not 3 miles from our home in the valley floor of CA. There really are some beautiful spots here in America that are so obscure to even the rest of our vast nation. No wonder most Americans have never traveled outside the US, there is just so much to see right here at home. Love your videos Laurence.
You: "mercifully adequate signage"
Me: Best new phrase ever! 😁 OK to steal?😋🤞
Welcome to my neighborhood Lawence! Wish I knew you were in town, I could have shown you other other spectacular places here!!!!!!
If you're still in Southern Illinois, Shawnee and Crab Orchard are minutes from me, you'd love it!
Lawrence,
The House on the Rock in southwest Wisconsin is an amazing place you really should visit.
It's a must see! It's both awesome and deeply strange.
And it's not that far away from you.
I camped out there in mid Feb when the high of the day was a single digit. The waterfall were still flowing and creating pillars of ice. Which was amazing. It may have been the coldest camping I have ever done but it worth it.
OMG! I screamed when I saw those beautiful red/pink trees!! Wow🐝🤗❤️
I spent a wonderful day at Starved Rock with my husband and several of our friends but we totally missed this waterfall. We did climb the rock and took some awesome pictures from up there--anyone who thinks Illinois is ugly has never been there. The north and south of the state compare with just about any scenic places in the country and in the fall the colours are incredible.
(of course I'm predjudiced having spent the first forty-five years of my life there. Another beautiful state park is White Pines just south of Rockford , the greenest, cleanest, neatest town in Illinois,)
I left Illinois decades ago, but I remember the public schooling I got in the 70s. Before the white man came, the only open sky found was over rivers and lakes, otherwise, it was one giant forest. The same rich soil that the trees thrive on makes nice soybeans and corn now. But where the land is left untilled, the forest comes back.
The Illinois State Park of my childhood was White Pines. Otherwise, we had the various local parks and forest reserves around Rockford.
Overnight field trip to Atwood was so memorable.
Thanks for show casing some of the mid west's beauty! I'm in Ohio and love our various State parks and Metro parks---not as dramatic as other parts of the country, no...but lovely all the same.
Another hidden gem of Illinois is Route 2 between Rockford and Dixon. It follows the Rock river and passes 1 private park (Stronghold Castle) and 2 state parks. Great to see in the fall. If you go the first weekend in October you need to stop at Stronghold they have a Renaissance fair every year with tours of the castle.
Many happy days spent there when our kids were young, for the 20 years we lived in Lake in the Hills, IL. The cabins there are quite comfy.
Aw, brings back happy memories of hiking there with my mom and my dog ages ago.
Suggestion - go back over to the Missippi to see the Native American effigy mounds, and visit Dubuque - especially Eagle's Point.
Pikes Peak State Park at McGregor is a great place in that area...
It's nice that the state of Illinois preserved the palisades before some aggregate corporation got their hands on the land and turned it into another giant quarry like the numerous others in the region.
I love Starved Rock. So much beauty in the park. I’ve been wanting to stay at their inn.
Enjoyed the video. Nature is always so good. It's as if you know when you're there that you belong there, that the beauty of it was waiting for you to come and enjoy it. I'm always thankful to God for preparing it for us as He knew our need for it. I hope you get to experience many more state parks and let us enjoy the serenity of them.
State and National Parks are my go to places to recharge my batteries and heal my wounded soul when it needs mending! The never fail to cheer me up!
“The ambulance fees may not be worth it”
Please don’t fall in a cavern, I’m a paramedic in the area, and I’d hate to come have to pick you up
Yeah, it would probably cost $10,000.
One time when I was there a bunch of rescue people were doing a practice rescue. I don't know if they are hired by the park or what.
I grew up about 2.5 hours west of Chicago and Starved Rock was a field trip location. When you posted that pic of you in the park, I immediately wondered what you thought of the stairs lol
The photography, music, and editing is masterful.
Laurence's performance is eloquent and passionate without being forced.
What would once take a sizeable budget and crew, this modest UA-cam channel pulled off brilliantly.
Warmest regards and gratitude to you and Tarah!
Depending where you are, "Garden of the gods" and "Rim Rock" are both spectacular parks!
Thank you for this lovely little travelogue. I grew up in Illinois and remember visiting starved rock as a kid. Can I suggest some other magical Illinois state parks. Travel to Southern Illinois to the Shawnee National Forest south and east of Carbondale. Hwy 13 going east to west is as far south as the Glaciers got during the Ice Age. The Illinois terrain suddenly turns from flat and pastoral to very hilly and jagged. There are many lakes, bluffs, and waterfalls. Two state parks to visit are named Giant City State Park and the Garden of the Gods. Another place you might like to visit is called Fountain Bluff near Gorham, IL. It offers great cliffs, Indian petroglyphs and a spectacular vista overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River. Keep up the good work. This video was very nice. ua-cam.com/video/RFkpa0YxXd4/v-deo.html
You should come down to the Southern part of the state! Down here we are on the edge of the Shawnee National Forest and have some amazing views and hikes.
My family came from Illinois. They moved to California in the 1950s. Before I was hatched. I went back to Illinois in 1980 and could not understand why my Mom and Pop chose to go to California. The town that they came from was Sterling/Rock Falls. Absolutely stunning. I loved it there. They should have stayed.
If you think Sterling is cool, head upstream a ways.
I grew up going to Starved Rock! I love it so much, it's so gorgeous. The waterfalls are best viewed in late spring, after the snow's melted!
It's a decent park. If you take North Avenue west until you hit the Rock River and the Rock River Hill Country that survived the last ice age mostly intact, then you'll be within about 10 minutes of three State Parks and a couple State Forests/Preserves/Prairies. Lowden SP has a famous 50+ foot tall poured concrete sculpture standing atop a 150-foot bluff overlooking the river. That stairway is daunting. Depending on the time of year, you may find lots of four-leaf clovers there... but pay no mind to the nuclear plant 2 miles away. Slightly north of there on the other side of the river is a "castle" called Stronghold. Castle Rock SP has a large outcrop overlooking the river and lots of trails and small canyons. You can also see one of the few major fault lines in Illinois at the surface near there. You can find rocks, flowers, and trees that survived the last ice age there. White Pines SP had a stream you can ford by foot or by car in its canyon. You can camp there by tent.
If you continue west on North Avenue (Hwy 64), you'll eventually hit Savanna, where you can find the Mississippi Palisades SP. It's hilly. Go northwest along the Miss and you'll run into Galena as you get into the Driftless Zone, which survived the last few ice ages completely intact and see what Illinois looked like hundreds of thousands of years ago.
I love Starved Rock! In one of the canyons (I think it's Tonti Canyon) there's a little place in the side of it where if you run fast enough, you can get to a small ledge to sit for a while. Lover's Leep is also a must see. You also have great views of the Illinois river and the lock and dam.
Alas, Tonti Canyon has been closed to public access for a few years now. The bridge was damaged in the Great Flood of 2013 and erosion has made the trail unsafe. Until the state provides funds to restore it (or we start charging admission) it's likely to stay closed.
Starved Rock is the gem of all HellAnnoy parks! Also on the Rock River, you can see the BlackHawk statue near Oregon, IL.
You're right... Illinois has some wonderful state parks. Many of the states have wonderful parks. Minnesota has some wonderful state parks: Itasca, Maplewood, Gooseberry, and Split Rock are just of the few of the gems in Minnesota.
I live in Southern Indiana, and am always amazed at the people thinking that Indiana and Illinois are just flatland. We have a number of beautiful parks here as well, and there are also the Hoosier National and Martin State Forests. Come see us!
Also Turkey run and Shades state parks. A lot of great trails.
Central New York has a number of excellent state parks. Letchworth SP is sometimes referred to as the grand canyon of the east, Taughannock Falls SP has a waterfall higher than Niagara, Buttermilk Falls and Watkins Glenn SPs both have long canyons stuffed full of waterfalls. Even better, they are all located within a few hour's drive of one another.
I appreciate a voice coming from the heartland of America.
Wow, what a beautiful place. The music only made it better.
Remember fondly going there with the Boy Scouts as a youth.
I grew up in the Chicago area, thank you for reminding me of Starved Rock. It is one of my favorite places back when I lived in Illinois.
I was in Starved Rock state park about 6-7 years ago. We went on Easter weekend and it was actually unseasonably warm. The waterfalls tend to be seasonal, so the spring after the snow melts is the best time. We lucked out having such warm weather that time. We had some time constraints so we only hiked the LaSalle canyon and saw its waterfall. We got to actually stand BEHIND the falls. It was raining lightly at the time so we actually took cover under the cliffs behind the falls. Fantastic memmories with my kiddoes.
There are some nice places in Northern Illinois. They are just all by the rivers: Illinois, Rock, Fox and Mississippi in particular.
Excellent video. I do not live far away from Starved Rock. Another park you NEED to VISIT is White Pines State Park in Ogle County, Illinois. This is ALSO a great park to visit.and stay. Log Cabins are wonderful.
We used to go to Starved Rock for field trips in school! Back in those days (70s), there were some pretty questionable trails for the brave and nimble. It must’ve been nerve-wracking for our teachers and chaperones, but they took us every year. We always went in late Spring/early Summer, and yes, the false were glorious.
Thank you for the stroll (and clamber) down memory lane.
Thank you for expaining America to the rest of the world! It must be hard to be so far from family and old friends. Thank you for choosing us! We are blessed to have you.
Lawrence, Hi! I subscribed to this channel about a year ago and truly enjoy all your travels and stories! As I watched this particular video, I was reminded deeply of my childhood in and around Cleveland, OH. Much of the trails you filmed were quit reminiscent of the parks around and near Cleveland, which as you know, is on the shore of Lake Erie! Keep up the wonderful work!!
Oh my, Rosemary, I’m a Herrick from nearby Kent OH! Burt (Burdette) was my great Grandpa. Are we related?
@@2011Ecstatic Michael, I don't know your grandpa's name yet we might! I have found different distant cousins from Maine, Tennesee, California and Illinois. My paternal grandfather was Earl Norton Herrick in Cleveland
That’s a very beautiful State Park! I love the way you filmed it and put the music to it, too. And with so many helpful comments from Illinois natives… I now want to go for a visit!
When I visit other states I enjoy visiting their State Parks. Most are very nice and offer many different features. BTW… wearing hiking boots in any hiking area is a good idea, so you did that right. The hiking pole helps you balance when walking up and down hill, poke a creek to see how deep it is, and I’ve seen one used to fling a rattle snake Into the bushes. Don’t try that, it’ll piss off the snake, and that’s the last thing you need! I’d love to see you two explore more areas this way! Very well done!
When were you there? I went there November 6th early morning. Another time to visit is right after it snows. Beautiful place in snow
Native of Washington, IL, and I always loved going up to Starved Rock before I worked on the river, sailing down from Lemont/Chicago area past Starved Rock all the time. Glad you got to experience the wonderful fall colors and weather in one of the best state parks around.
The walking stick can be very useful on a mountain hike to help keep your balance if you have a big/heavy backpack on your back. One in each hand even more so. Great video. Reminded me of the autumn of New England I used to enjoy
I think all 50 states have some hidden gems spread throughout. Here in Southern California...Arcadia to be precise...is the Arboretum...a beautiful area to just think.
Go there in the winter when the waterfalls are ice falls. Very impressive.
If you are looking for another fairly close, but lovely day trip, try going out to Oregon, IL in Ogle County. Its a cute little town with a lot of beautiful walking trails. And a statue of Chief Blackhawk next to the river.
Starved Rock was a favorite camping site for my family when I was a child. It’s a beautiful place to visit.
When I see videos like this of yours, Laurence, I can almost picture you doing a feature length or series style documentary with David Attenborough where you take turns narrating different environmental attributes or stories. You have the whole "camera moving through a scene like a ghost" thing down to a T.
Garden of the Gods is really the only place I found worth visiting in Illinois... But then I've lived here my whole life so I probably take everywhere else for granted. If you get the chance to visit in the fall you won't regret it
Glad you had a great time! There are many great state parks around. This reminds me a bit of Hocking Hills in SE Ohio. Absokutely beautiful. They're building a new lodge & visitor's center too, IIRC.
Of all the parks, Hocking will probably always remain my favorite. Not a single park, exactly, but if you have a few days to see it all, you would not be disappointed.
Come to Shawnee National forest down south. Really south. We have Garden of the Gods that tons of people visit every year. Spring/early Summer is better for waterfalls because of snow melt and rainfall.
You're in my neck of the woods, Lawrence! ❤ Starved Rock is gorgeous and has a fascinating history. Just be careful because it has dangerous areas . You can spot bald eagles there, too.
Hi. I'm not too far away either. Haven't been there in years. Didn't someone get murdered at Starved Rock? Seems like I remember being told that.🤔🙏
@@laurametheny1008 Yes, three women. It's a controversial case, because the man they convicted claimed he was innocent and was finally released after decades in prison. One theory is that the womens' husbands hired a hit man
@@jenlovesjesus OML. Yes! I just checked out a vid. It happened the year I was born. How awful. What if kids had come by? Geez. Thank you🙏💔
my family went to Starved Rock many times back in 1960s, when we lived in Chicago. we have home movies of us enjoying the park, along the water front.
I'm originally from Illinois and the parks are about the only places you can go that actually has any type of elevation. And they do have some glorious parks. I grew up in the Vermillion County area and we'd go to Kickapoo & Kennekuk parks. And would also drive to Forest Glen & Turkey Run parks. Forest Glen had an extremely high fire watch tower you could go up and the views were spectacular! Not sure if it still exists. It's been over 20 years since the last time I've been there and went up the stairs. Quite the workout.
I think that the Maggie Valley area of Tennessee has the best areas for "leaf peeping". But also enjoyed going through a couple of really extensive cave systems in Tennessee as well. I moved far South East 20+ years ago and Tennessee is the halfway point between where I moved to and Illinois. So enjoyed stopping in Tennessee and spending time.
The best time to go to Starved Rock to see the waterfalls, go in the spring or after a rainy period. The waterfalls are beautiful in the winter when frozen too. In autumn, go to Starved Rock for the foliage.
You're lucky, the last time I was there it was so crowded that the parking lots were full, and we could barely find a place to park. We got there right before a thunderstorm, and we went to one of those waterfalls (I think the first one you showed, that had no water), and there was barely a trickle before the storm, but after the deluge, it was gushing.
If you are looking for more interesting things to do in Illinois, and you like trains, check out the Illinois Railway Museum in Union.
Laurence Brown is Illinois’s best kept secret…
Super jealous! Haven't been to Starved Rock in ages. We used to go all the time when I was a kid. And every year we always say we'll go but never do. One day I'll get back there.
A gorgeous walk, a spectacular picture of the red trees at 7.02. Thank you, I enjoyed your journey thru Starved Rock State Park.
I grew up in Ottawa and tromped all around Starved Rock in my youth. Glad you got to experience it without a stifling crowd.
1 second in just looking at the muddy wooden bordered step I knew where you were! Definitely not a secret if you go on a summer's weekend!
Thank you so much for adding the history! I thought you might find that interesting - being in the same place where native Americans roamed. As an Illinoisan I love just driving around the neighborhood (within 25 miles) because it's all farmland; acres and acres of corn and soybean fields. The beginning of the country centuries later.
Starved Rock is not a secret thank goodness but a wonderful treasure.
Also, check out the other two state parks right by it