David Vernon « Enjoy Illinois – The Official Blog of the Illinois Office of Tourism

Starved Rock Starved

October 9, 2009

As a Central Illinois photographer, I’m always making the trek to two of my favorite state parks: Starved Rock and Matthiessen – just outside of (count ‘em): Oglesby, Utica, LaSalle and Peru. And while the two parks sit just a mile apart near the intersections of Routes 71 and 178, they are very different in several ways. Starved Rock’s water flows in to the Illinois River while Matthiessen’s flows into the Vermillion River (okay I know – which flows into the Illinois). Starved Rock is big – stretching to a few miles in length with seventeen or so canyons to explore – while Matthiessen is more intimate. At Matthiessen you can practically walk the whole park in just a morning. But most visitors remember their similarities – lots of soft sandstone and lots of water.

Well except for the water part.

There are days you can explore the park in spring or after a big rainfall and it’s a miracle you can get back to some of the waterfalls because the water is so… aggressive. And then there are lazier days – often at the peak of summer where the park is… starved – for water. Like the image above, shot in Wildcat Canyon mid-park this summer. The images are no less beautiful. It’s green, peaceful, and quiet. It’s contemplative. It feels more like you might be the only one there. And the waterfalls that gush in spring trickle gently on summer days. You can walk right up to them – and that is pretty cool.

Rest assured you’ll be hearing more about these two parks – and many others. The State Park system here in Illinois is a good one – and there’s always lots to see and do.

- David Vernon

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Leave a Comment » | Adventure/Outdoor Illinois, Central Illinois, David Vernon, Illinois Photos | Tagged: Enjoy Illinois, hiking, IL Travel, Illinois, Matthiessen State Park, Nature, Starved Rock State Park, waterfalls | Permalink
Posted by David Vernon

Exploring the Riverfont – Peoria Style

September 11, 2009

401 water at sunset by eScapes Photo

The Illinois River runs about 273 miles from stem to stern and each city along the path of the river, I think, likes to claim it as their own. We’re no different here in Peoria – the river is synonymous with the city and the city with the river. We even go so far as to call ourselves the “River City”. It’s not very unique, but it suits us.

The Illinois River attracts a lot of folks to Peoria. Hundreds of boats cruise up and down the water on sunny weekend days. Peoria baseball fans head to watch the Peoria Chiefs at the ballpark just above the river near the Bob Michel Bridge. Residents and visitors alike stroll the nearly four miles of riverfront trail that stretches from the Michel Bridge all the way to Detweiller Marina.

Every Saturday morning from June through September, folks head down to the Peoria Riverfront Market to buy their veggies, fruit, arts, and crafts, and to meet friends for a little breakfast and nosh. And there’s nothing like standing in the park on the East Peoria side of the river watching the sun slip behind Peoria’s West Bluff.

If you find yourself on the River – and you’re passing through the River City – stop on by. We’d love to see you. And before you come, check out the Peoria Riverfront Web site.

- David Vernon

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3 Comments | Arts & Culture, Central Illinois, David Vernon, Illinois Photos, Seasonal Fun - Summer | Tagged: Illinois, Illinois River, Peoria, Peoria Riverfront, Peoria Riverfront Market | Permalink
Posted by David Vernon

The Dusters

August 28, 2009

The Dusters

Summer down here in Central Illinois has many unique qualities. Want to take a few guesses at what those might be?

No – heat and humidity are not unique. Good try though.

What about corn? Think that’s unique? No?!

Well look at it this way – for a few weeks every summer and into the early fall, I can find one unique thing about corn: it makes the world disappear.

Vistas across the flatlands of the prairie that were here just a few weeks ago have evaporated in the summer heat. It was like one day you woke up and you were living in a tunnel. Corn that was put in the ground back in May and spouted like tiny green soldiers on parade is now what – seven, eight, twenty-two(!) feet tall? Suddenly those drives on the back roads in search of a good sunset to photograph are gone – replaced by tall walls of green with little golden caps. As a photographer, I have been known to drive around down here with an eight-foot ladder in the back of my pickup truck. People have seen me standing on the top of my ladder – which is poised oh-so safely in the bed of my truck – just to get a shot over the sea of corn.

And then there are these guys – the Dusters. If the corn stands 22′ tall (it doesn’t), then they’re taking their little planes and flying 23′ off the ground – at what seems to be a zillion miles per hour. I can only shake my head in amazement at their gutsiness. Wires, trees, crazy winds, it’s not a job for the faint of heart but it is necessary since Illinois corn is everywhere nowadays. My hat’s off to these guys (from the top of my ladder no less).

On a personal note – it’s a joy and a privilege to be a contributing photographer here on the Enjoy Illinois blog. My own personal Web site uses the phrase “finding beauty in unexpected places.” That to me is Illinois. There’s a lot of beauty here. I look forward to checking in with you all a few times a month. Thanks for stopping by.

- David Vernon

To learn more about Dave, check out his bio.