Midwest Getaways
Zion
Illinois Beach State Park
and
Illinois Beach Resort
 |
The beach at Illinois Beach State Park, near Zion's nuclear plant |
Hiking the Dead River Trail |
Joe Pye-weed |
 |
 |
 |
Flowering Spurge |
Donna takes a closer look |
|
Donna Keaton and I decided to spend the weekend at the Illinois Beach Resort at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion. The resort is deluxe, with a pool, jacuzzi, large rooms with balconies, a good restaurant with an al fresco deck overlooking the lake. Besides that we had access to all the nature trails along the river, through the dunes, and to birdwatching at the ponds and wildflower-gazing in the prairies. |
 |
 |
Along the Dead River |
Button Blazing Star |
Prairie swell and swale |
 |
 |
 |
The Dead River is a cloud and sky-mirror |
A perfect afternoon at the beach for sunbathing (or perhaps kayaking) |
|
 |
After hiking the
Dead River Trail, we turned our attention to the beach.
|
 |
The beach was nearly empty--the day was perfectly marvelous, in the 70's |
We looked for birds at the north beach area |
We saw wood-duck, teal, red knot, mallards, kingfisher |
 |
 |
 |
The deck where we ate and painted |
The View from the deck |
Donna painted the view |
 |
 |
 |
My favorite place at the park--the river |
Another nice spot |
The pool was perfect for exercising |
 |
 |
 |
Flowers on the outside of the resort and |
flowers on the inside. |
I used to visit Illinois Beach State Park in my camper-- I still can camp--at the Resort. |
 |
 |
 |
The
new Milwaukee Art Museum
which
we visited to see the Leonardo and the Spirit
of Poland
as guest of my St. Mary's classmate, Betty McGlynn
Normally the museum's wings are down. |
With Betty McGlynn |
At noon (or on sunny days) they spread open |
 |
 |
 |
Clouds move in; down they come. |
A Dale Chihuly |
A painting from the show |
 |
 |
 |
The gift shop was designed by the same architect as the museum. |
Inside is like the belly of the white whale |
Betty enlightened Gerda Schild and Jane Pugh are enlightened on the museum's history. |
 |
 |
 |
Home Genealogy Spirit Paintings Hyde Park China India Mexico Nature Ceramics Rome Assissi Tuscany Russia Venice Travels |
||