Great Views to Outdoor Sports The Illinois River has it all!

Not Too Far From Home!

We all get caught up thinking fun and excitement is somewhere far from home, it is only after we spend hours driving and get to our destination we realize it does not meet our expectations. Our busy lifestyles and careers leave most of our energy regularly low, that's when we start looking for an escape. We need a vacation or a break from work to recharge and re energize, so we think going to Florida, California, or Colorado will help us unwind. Don't get me wrong I love a good vacation now and again, but I find vacation every week in the Illinois River.

From just taking ten minutes of my day to bask in the sunrise over the great river we live by is as good as stepping on to a beach in Florida for me. The river is close by, and one can manage to disappear in it's glory for hours if needed. For most of us living in central Illinois, there are beautiful places along the Illinois River that are a 10 minute drive or less. There are plenty of parks, wildlife areas, and boat ramps along this great river. So if you are feeling stressed or need a break, make the time to take a short drive to the river and enjoy the views, listen to the waves, and break free from the grind.

I loved the river so much I finally bought a home right on it's river banks. From watching sunrises, kayaking, fishing, bow fishing, to swimming and boating this is my year round vacation. The waves sound like they do in Florida and I didn't have to drive 24 hours to get there after a 70 hour work week. You might think , well that's easy to say you live on the river. Even before I lived on the River I would drive down to Mill point Campground, Woodford County Conservation Area, Marshall County Fish and Wildlife Areas, and many other spots along this river to fish, hunt, swim, and relax. All less than 20 minutes from the town of Metamora.

Since living on the river I have had the opportunity to catch every species of game fish besides muskellunge between Lacon and Peoria. Had the opportunity to lay out on some of the great sand bars, swim in some beautiful places, and enjoy the great sunrises and sunsets the scenery provides. The best part about all of the river has to offer is the short distance I have to travel to do all of these things, which means I can enjoy it with my family throughout the week without travelling far from home after a long stressful week at work. There is nothing worse than working 70 hours, driving 24 hours, just to arrive and spend the first 3 days recouping from travel and work. To wake up and enjoy 2 days, then pack to drive another 24 hours back home.

I am not trying to boast or brag about my life, I just want more people to take short breaks and enjoy what we have right in our backyard. If we grow the appreciation of this great river that has sustained this area for 1,000's of years we may find ourselves becoming better stewards of not only our natural spaces, but our neighborhoods, and our minds. There are countless places to go and enjoy the river and I will be highlighting them in future blog posts. As far as activities are concerned there are opportunities for boating, kayaking, swimming, fishing, relaxation, watersports, and anything you can imagine along these river banks. So take more mini vacations to our local gem and enjoy every minute of it!

Sign up and follow us on our journey to bring our outdoor adventures to everyone! We hope to see and meet you out on the water. We have big plans this year and hope to share it all with you in the upcoming months. Lees river adventures will be showcasing jet ski adventures camping, fishing, swimming, and a whole lot of Illinois River views this year. So stay tuned and have a great week!