On a relaxed Saturday afternoon, Emily and I decided to travel to LaSalle/Peru, IL again to make a few purchases at some of our favorite stores and stop at the Lock 16 visitors center for a stamp.
I read that they provide breakfast and lunch at this place and there is a little cafe and gift shop. Turns out, the visitors center is just a cafe and gift shop.
Upon entering the building we were greeted by a nice woman who asked us if we were here for lunch. We told her we were looking for the stamp and spotted it sitting out, chained to a barrel. There was also an ink pad and some 25th anniversary passport books for sale. There was no test paper so I had to make sure the date was correct, which doesn't seem too tough, accept the date is all backwards on the stamp.
I managed to get a good stamp, right next to the other I & M National Heritage Canal stamp from Starved Rock. We then sat down and enjoyed a nice lunch.
I recommend leaving a little time for food at this stop and if it is summer, take the boat ride (about 1 hour). In the winter, however, there is not much to do accept get your stamp, eat some food, and move on your way. They do provide programs about history on Thursday evenings it looks like (about 1-2 times per month)
My rating for this park: Great food, but I would have liked to have seen more info on the history of the canal. The building was very nice and well kept. I will have to go back in the spring/summer and see the boat ride part of the park.
