Unearthing the underrated:
A townie's guide to some of the more overlooked Charleston destinations
David Thill/Columnist
Issue date: 9/4/09 Section: The Verge
So, here you are at Eastern Illinois University. You've made the decision to pursue your higher academia in our humble little slice of heaven known as Charleston. And now, my young, presumably-freshmen friends, you may find yourself a tad bored.
That is all right. It happens. You now find yourself in a very rural, fairly small area that may not boast as many obvious forms of recreation you might be used to.
But fear not! For, I am here to take you by the hand and impart on you all the knowledge that six years at Eastern and 24 years as a Charleston townie has given me.
Now, I'm aware that part and parcel of college life is the immediate and inherent desire to go out and get drunk.
If you are 21 years old or older, then by all means go ahead so long as you are responsible and safe. But that's the boring stuff.
If that's your only desire of college life, then by all means turn the best four-to-seven years of your life into one big blur.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to sound like a hypocrite, a few blurs here and there are okay and fun, even in a good-natured-Las Vegas manner.
However, as someone who has grown up in this crazy little town, I can honestly say there are some really exciting and fun things to do that many students are totally unaware of.
That being said, sit back, buckle your belts and let's go for a trip around Charleston.
Art and Entertainment
Just take a short stroll down 7th Street and you will eventually come to Charleston's historic downtown square. This area of town was the original epicenter of activity, from Abraham Lincoln frequenting the courthouse as a young lawyer to the Charleston Riot of 1864 between Confederate sympathizers and Union soldiers.
The square now offers all kinds of recreational opportunities. Some of the aforementioned bars are located there, along with restaurants and eateries.
But for our purposes on this tour, our first stop is just east of the intersection of Jackson Avenue and 7th Street.
Here you will find Jackson Avenue Coffee. It's a delightful little joint where one and all can come and enjoy some good old-fashioned java as well as a quiet place to meet, read or just generally unwind. Jackson Avenue Coffee also boasts frequent acoustic music performances, many performed by your fellow students. It's a great spot to relax.
Just one block north, off the intersection of Monroe Avenue and 7th Avenue, you will find yourself at Will Rogers Theater.
What's that, you say? You do, indeed, enjoy a good film but you don't have the money or transportation for Showplace 10? Then Will Rogers is perfect for you.
It offers ticket prices much less expensive than Showplace and that delightful, old-style movie-going experience.
Next, we find ourselves circling around the square and making our way back down 6th Street toward campus. But not before making a stop at 1148 6th Street and popping in to The Paper Cafe.
This awesome little hole-in-the-wall offers great local art with a comfortable atmosphere. The building is filled with soft music, refreshments and some of the coolest modern art anywhere in the state, let alone in town. If you like art or just a relaxing, enlightening experience, make sure to stop in.
Recreation
If you would like to step up the excitement factor, then I also have some places for you.
First, we will take a jaunt down Lincoln Avenue until we get to E. Street where you head north past County Market and you will quickly find yourself at Charleston Lanes.
Some nay-sayers may point out that we have our own bowling alley, but sometimes you may just want to stretch your wings and get off campus from time to time and that's where Charleston Lanes comes in handy. It's larger than the university lanes and offers $1 bowling night on Tuesday, as well as cosmic bowling on the weekends.
For the next leg of our tour we will be heading out of town.
Head east down Lincoln Avenue, all the way past Wal-Mart and six miles past town limits and you will eventually find Lincoln Springs Resort.
One of the most visible indicators of the resort is the Abraham Lincoln statue that looms 65 feet over on-lookers. In fact, it is the tallest statue of our 16th president in existence.
Lincoln Springs boasts the Stovepipe Restaurant and Smokehouse, which is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. The resort recently added a lounge that is open Wednesday to Saturday, from 4 p.m. to Midnight.
The resort also features a 18-hole miniature golf course. Thirteen of the holes feature water, which adds to the difficulty and fun.
The resort also has a game nexus in which gamers of all skill levels and ages can come to enjoy. Choose from online gaming to simply playing with a friend right next to you, the resort contains multiple consoles including a Xbox 360, a Playstation 3 and a Wii.
"It's a relaxed, fun atmosphere," said David Kirsch, chief officer of operations for Lincoln Springs. "If you just want to come out and sit and look at our statues and scenery, from education to recreation, it's all there. The resort will soon be expanding and adding new attractions to make it more of a resort," Kirsch said.
Educational and Fun
Now perhaps some of these aren't quite your flavor of pie, and that's okay, because we've got two great options outside the southern border of Charleston.
Just head down Fourth Street, all the way past town and about eight miles down on what turns into the Lincoln Highway Road and you will find one of Charleston's most historic claims to fame: the Lincoln Log Cabin Historic Site.
This slice of Americana tucked away in the woods is the former home of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln, Abraham Lincolns father and stepmother. Originally established in 1837, six years after Charleston was founded, it provides a truly interesting glimpse into the past of our town.
The site features a reconstructed two-room cabin erected in 1931 that replicates the personal home of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln.
The grounds also offer four sheltered picnic areas.
Lincoln Log Cabin is open seven days a week until Labor Day and then it will be open Wednesday to Sunday until winter. The visitor's center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The grounds are open until sunset.
The site also offers several special events throughout the season, a schedule of which can be found at lincolnlogcabin.org.
"We are looking forward to a good number of special events and we always welcome students to come out and be with us," a spokesman for the historic site said. "It is a great place to picnic with an incredible gift shop with reasonable prices that features a lot of items that pertain to Lincoln's legend."
I have been visiting the site off and on my whole life, and it really is a great place to catch a glimpse of our county and the town's past.
If we go back to Charleston and turn south on E Street, 11 miles down the road brings us to Fox Ridge State Park.
Fox Ridge is a gorgeous park that offers a chance to do almost anything and everything one could wish for outdoors.
From hiking on one of the ten connected trails, picnicking, fishing or hunting, Fox Ridge is an absolutely great place to clear one's head, kick back and take in some the best scenery that central Illinois can possibly offer.
I know, I know. I've hit you with a lot in a small amount of time. But, believe it or not, we have not even touched on a whole handful of other things to do in Charleston. I can only hope you will make the most of this town, it's beautiful surroundings and historic quality it has to offer.
The point is you should not be afraid to wander north of Lincoln Avenue or south of campus. You are going to be here for quite a while and there are many, many ways to pass the time when not studying or pulling all-nighters.
So, sit back, breathe deep and handle your business so you can enjoy your weekend!
That is all right. It happens. You now find yourself in a very rural, fairly small area that may not boast as many obvious forms of recreation you might be used to.
But fear not! For, I am here to take you by the hand and impart on you all the knowledge that six years at Eastern and 24 years as a Charleston townie has given me.
Now, I'm aware that part and parcel of college life is the immediate and inherent desire to go out and get drunk.
If you are 21 years old or older, then by all means go ahead so long as you are responsible and safe. But that's the boring stuff.
If that's your only desire of college life, then by all means turn the best four-to-seven years of your life into one big blur.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to sound like a hypocrite, a few blurs here and there are okay and fun, even in a good-natured-Las Vegas manner.
However, as someone who has grown up in this crazy little town, I can honestly say there are some really exciting and fun things to do that many students are totally unaware of.
That being said, sit back, buckle your belts and let's go for a trip around Charleston.
Art and Entertainment
Just take a short stroll down 7th Street and you will eventually come to Charleston's historic downtown square. This area of town was the original epicenter of activity, from Abraham Lincoln frequenting the courthouse as a young lawyer to the Charleston Riot of 1864 between Confederate sympathizers and Union soldiers.
The square now offers all kinds of recreational opportunities. Some of the aforementioned bars are located there, along with restaurants and eateries.
But for our purposes on this tour, our first stop is just east of the intersection of Jackson Avenue and 7th Street.
Here you will find Jackson Avenue Coffee. It's a delightful little joint where one and all can come and enjoy some good old-fashioned java as well as a quiet place to meet, read or just generally unwind. Jackson Avenue Coffee also boasts frequent acoustic music performances, many performed by your fellow students. It's a great spot to relax.
Just one block north, off the intersection of Monroe Avenue and 7th Avenue, you will find yourself at Will Rogers Theater.
What's that, you say? You do, indeed, enjoy a good film but you don't have the money or transportation for Showplace 10? Then Will Rogers is perfect for you.
It offers ticket prices much less expensive than Showplace and that delightful, old-style movie-going experience.
Next, we find ourselves circling around the square and making our way back down 6th Street toward campus. But not before making a stop at 1148 6th Street and popping in to The Paper Cafe.
This awesome little hole-in-the-wall offers great local art with a comfortable atmosphere. The building is filled with soft music, refreshments and some of the coolest modern art anywhere in the state, let alone in town. If you like art or just a relaxing, enlightening experience, make sure to stop in.
Recreation
If you would like to step up the excitement factor, then I also have some places for you.
First, we will take a jaunt down Lincoln Avenue until we get to E. Street where you head north past County Market and you will quickly find yourself at Charleston Lanes.
Some nay-sayers may point out that we have our own bowling alley, but sometimes you may just want to stretch your wings and get off campus from time to time and that's where Charleston Lanes comes in handy. It's larger than the university lanes and offers $1 bowling night on Tuesday, as well as cosmic bowling on the weekends.
For the next leg of our tour we will be heading out of town.
Head east down Lincoln Avenue, all the way past Wal-Mart and six miles past town limits and you will eventually find Lincoln Springs Resort.
One of the most visible indicators of the resort is the Abraham Lincoln statue that looms 65 feet over on-lookers. In fact, it is the tallest statue of our 16th president in existence.
Lincoln Springs boasts the Stovepipe Restaurant and Smokehouse, which is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. The resort recently added a lounge that is open Wednesday to Saturday, from 4 p.m. to Midnight.
The resort also features a 18-hole miniature golf course. Thirteen of the holes feature water, which adds to the difficulty and fun.
The resort also has a game nexus in which gamers of all skill levels and ages can come to enjoy. Choose from online gaming to simply playing with a friend right next to you, the resort contains multiple consoles including a Xbox 360, a Playstation 3 and a Wii.
"It's a relaxed, fun atmosphere," said David Kirsch, chief officer of operations for Lincoln Springs. "If you just want to come out and sit and look at our statues and scenery, from education to recreation, it's all there. The resort will soon be expanding and adding new attractions to make it more of a resort," Kirsch said.
Educational and Fun
Now perhaps some of these aren't quite your flavor of pie, and that's okay, because we've got two great options outside the southern border of Charleston.
Just head down Fourth Street, all the way past town and about eight miles down on what turns into the Lincoln Highway Road and you will find one of Charleston's most historic claims to fame: the Lincoln Log Cabin Historic Site.
This slice of Americana tucked away in the woods is the former home of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln, Abraham Lincolns father and stepmother. Originally established in 1837, six years after Charleston was founded, it provides a truly interesting glimpse into the past of our town.
The site features a reconstructed two-room cabin erected in 1931 that replicates the personal home of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln.
The grounds also offer four sheltered picnic areas.
Lincoln Log Cabin is open seven days a week until Labor Day and then it will be open Wednesday to Sunday until winter. The visitor's center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The grounds are open until sunset.
The site also offers several special events throughout the season, a schedule of which can be found at lincolnlogcabin.org.
"We are looking forward to a good number of special events and we always welcome students to come out and be with us," a spokesman for the historic site said. "It is a great place to picnic with an incredible gift shop with reasonable prices that features a lot of items that pertain to Lincoln's legend."
I have been visiting the site off and on my whole life, and it really is a great place to catch a glimpse of our county and the town's past.
If we go back to Charleston and turn south on E Street, 11 miles down the road brings us to Fox Ridge State Park.
Fox Ridge is a gorgeous park that offers a chance to do almost anything and everything one could wish for outdoors.
From hiking on one of the ten connected trails, picnicking, fishing or hunting, Fox Ridge is an absolutely great place to clear one's head, kick back and take in some the best scenery that central Illinois can possibly offer.
I know, I know. I've hit you with a lot in a small amount of time. But, believe it or not, we have not even touched on a whole handful of other things to do in Charleston. I can only hope you will make the most of this town, it's beautiful surroundings and historic quality it has to offer.
The point is you should not be afraid to wander north of Lincoln Avenue or south of campus. You are going to be here for quite a while and there are many, many ways to pass the time when not studying or pulling all-nighters.
So, sit back, breathe deep and handle your business so you can enjoy your weekend!
The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.
Be the first to comment on this story