(CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS) — For the second year in a row, my wife Rachel and I made a mid-October trip down to Southern Illinois for a kids-free getaway.
We’re very blessed and grateful to be able to spend quality time like this together, especially on our anniversary (October 16), but additionally thankful for the support the grandparents give for watching our children.
In 2024, I showed you a number of places you can stay, eat and play while in Southern Illinois. Specifically, southeastern Illinois. We’re back this year with seven more options, with our “HQ” being in Carbondale.
Where to stay:
Premier Cabin by Southern Illinois Vacation Rentals | Carbondale
This Carbondale cabin makes you feel like you’re in Colorado. With three bedrooms (plus additional sleeping space) and two bathrooms, Premier Cabin can sleep up to 8 people. It’s a scenic, secluded cabin perfect for family reunions or a friends getaway. Highlights include a wraparound porch, outdoor fire pit with seating, and of course… the indoor hot tub! Vaulted ceilings and a beautiful fireplace hold the cabin together, while the upstairs loft brings me back to my childhood, when my family and I visited Yellowstone. It’s a very spacious cabin, with wonderful amenities.
Where to eat
17th Street Barbecue | Murphysboro
Welcome to the BBQ Capital of Illinois! 17th Street Barbecue has historic roots in Murphysboro, being nationally recognized with awards and TV appearances across countless shows. Calvin, our server, was fantastic in taking care of us that night. I ordered the 17St Wings as an appetizer, covered in the Lil Kick sauce. Hands down some of the best chicken wings I’ve ever had. Smoky, juicy, tender and the Lil Kick sauce was the perfect choice. I then got the Rib & Pork sampler, but upgraded the pork to brisket! For the sides I got green beans and mac n cheese. A very solid meal, and the Magic Dust seasoning that is on every table was a great addition. Rachel ordered the Signature 17St Potato, which she also enjoyed. We also loved ordering dessert (who doesn’t?), which was banana pudding. It comes in a mason jar, which I think makes it taste that much better.
#3: Underground Public House | Carbondale
One of the hardest things for a restaurant to do is find its identity. There’s almost a story to tell when someone steps foot in your establishment. Who runs this place? Why do they make the food they make? Why am I here? Well, I can confidently say Underground Public House knows its identity, and its high-quality food, drinks and service proved that to me. Heath was our server, an absolute gem of a human. He made us laugh, stayed attentive to whatever we needed, and gave fantastic insights into every dish and drink item. Come to find out, I’m a huge Scotch eggs fan! It came with Oktoberfest sausage, smoked Gouda and more – all wrapped in Oktoberfest pretzel crust. Absolutely fantastic. My THEE P.B.R. (Pork Belly Reuben) was amazing as well. That meat was some of the most high-quality meat around. Perfectly cooked, the texture was just right, a nice amount of smokiness, and tender as can be. Rachel really enjoyed the filet mignon, and I ordered both a Black + Blue Daily cocktail and a Nerdy Dancing, which is a green beer that tastes like Nerds! Yes, the restaurant really is underground! The vibes here are 10/10, and the food matches that.
Wazo’s Big Chill | Carbondale
Another historic staple of Carbondale, Wazo’s Big Chill might be remembered by some as a long-standing Dairy Queen. The owner Mark has owned the store for many years, bringing it back to life as Big Chill a few years back after DQ pulled its franchise. The neon sign was reimagined, and there it shines to this day. Awesome ice cream!
Kite Hill Vineyards | Carbondale
Situated on a beautiful lake, Kite Hill is a great option for people exploring the Shawnee Hills wine trail. The White Kite was my favorite, with some amazing notes of Niagara. Rachel loved the wine slushie, with berry & pomegranate. Everything was great, and Scott was an awesome host. There’s a relaxing deck right outside the taproom and additional seating down below to just look out on the lake and enjoy your loved one’s company. We appreciate Scott giving us a behind-the-scenes tour of the winemaking process, and showing us some of the wines that are currently in production! It was really cool to hear about the different collaborations going on between local wineries in the area. Supporting each other’s businesses will help everyone grow and succeed!
Where to hike:
Pomona Natural Bridge Trail | Pomona
Southern Illinois isn’t just known for its wine. It’s also known for its scenic hikes and breathtaking views. I wouldn’t say the Pomona Natural Bridge Trail has any “breathtaking” views, but the easy quarter-mile hike is an enjoyable one. The Natural Bridge is just that! A rocky bridge you can walk over in between two sets of bluffs in the middle of the woods. We had a beautiful day for our hike. Not a cloud to be seen and bright, radiant blue skies. The leaves were just starting to fall, too.
Where to get coffee:
Royal Blend Coffee House | Murphysboro
Driving out of town to head back to St. Louis, it was about mid-morning and we really hadn’t had any breakfast that morning. We just decided to drive home to see our kiddos and if something spoke to us, we’d stop. Well, we found that something in the way of Royal Blend Coffee House. A trendy looking coffee shop sitting right off IL-127, we decided to pull in and get some morning caffeine… which was desperately needed! Rachel got a delicious frappuccino and I went with an iced mocha latte with homemade salted brown sugar cold foam (WHICH WAS AMAZING). Super glad we stopped by.
Overall, we had another fantastic trip to Southern Illinois. There are so many wonderful places to stay, eat, drink, hike – really anything you can imagine. And the fall is a great time to do it!
Let me know in my email or comment below which places we should check out the next time. And what cities/towns are we missing? Let me know where we should go in future trips!
Matt Sheehan Official 