A New Year, A New Park

I&M Canal Nat'l Heritage Corridor / Utica, Illinois / JAN 14 2012

Welcome to 2012. In 2010 Emily and I decided we would become National Park Passport Stamp collectors. We got ?? stamps.

In 2011 we earned the "Special Award" from the National Park Travelers Club (www.parkstamps.org). We visited 19 parks, collected 47 stamps, and visited 4 of the 9 regions of the US.

In 2012 we are trying to earn the "Bronze Award" which will require 25 parks (just 6 more than last year), 50 stamps (just 3 more than last year), in 4 Regions (same as last year!). Easily an achievable goal if we plan a vacation or two around stamping. Emily has already set limits on my new hobby in hopes that I don't go crazy, but she knows how I am.

Today was a cold, snow covered day that we had wide open. Early this morning I suggested to Emily that we head over to LaSalle/Peru so we could go to Kohl's and use our 30% off coupon and to sweeten the pot, she could go to the Limited and spend her $15 gift card. For those of you that don't know, The Limited is Emily's favorite clothing store. If given the option, she would spend hours and thousands of dollars on their clothing. I also asked if we could go to Starved Rock to pick up the stamp that was there, she agreed and off we went.

Our first stop was to the lodge, to look for a geocache, with no luck (too much snow on the ground? too cold?) so we quickly headed for the visitors center. Emily commented on how she had never seen the parking lot not covered by 2-3 feet of water. It seems in the past 3 years the Illinois river has flooded countless times.

Heading inside, we went to check out the small exhibit on the Native Americans and early settlers to the area. Emily traded some beaver pelts to a trader, then to a store manager, then to the European backer of the fort. All was done virtually on a touch screen that taught about trading of furs in Illinois. After looking at the mini model of the fort on top of the rock, we moved on to the information desk.

Two men were standing, waiting to help us and other visitors brave enough to face the cold (about 20 degrees at this time). We asked for the stamp as it was not setting out and they produced a plastic bag, orange in color, with two stamps and an ink pad (one the standard stamp and the other an eagle). After unwrapping the prize, checking the date, and inking, I was given the stamp to add to my collection.

After the stamping, we checked out the small gift shop, the scale model of the river, and then headed out the door. We did not do any hiking today as we have hiked here many times in the past and we will surly be back out her more this spring to enjoy the trails.

My rating of this park is as follows. It's a small visitors center, that provides a little info about the area. The main attraction is the hiking and the water (bald eagles show up in the winter). The lodge/hotel makes the area seem a bit commercial but it is ALWAYS busy here. If you plan to come on a warm day in the spring or fall, plan to come early to get a parking spot. I often see foreign exchange students, presumably from Chicago schools, down here hiking so you are likely to bump into some very interesting and well traveled people who would have many stories to tell you if you have the time.

Make sure you go see the canyons!