Enjoy A Picture-Perfect Weekend In Southern Illinois When You Visit Shawnee National Forest
By Linze Rice|Published December 19, 2023
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Linze Rice
Author
Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
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Shawnee National Forest is one of the highlights of nature in Illinois. It offers some of the very best in Prarie State landscapes, and the small towns that surround it are brimming with rich histories, fascinating cultures, local traditions, and some of the best shopping, dining, and overall hospitality around. I remember the first time I drove through the region — seeing the hills and trees, so different than the flatlands and cornfields I’m used to, was remarkable. For those visiting the area, the best cabin rental near Shawnee National Forest acts as a secluded but modern home base for all your adventures.