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This time of year,
office flu is going around. If you’ve ever suffered this malady, you
know how the disease progresses: You clock in, get some coffee, scan your
e-mail, maybe return a phone call or two. Then you notice sunshine winking
through your window. You see foliage swaying slightly, indicating a breeze.
You check the weather forecast and discover that three of four
meteorologists agree that the rest of the day will be 78 and sunny. By this
point, not even antibiotics can save you — you’ve caught the
bug. You’ve got to play hooky. Those who lack imagination treat this virus with
golf. Those who lack country-club memberships may want to try a different
cure — a daylong road trip to Grafton. Head south out of town on I-55. Once you’ve had
70 miles of boring interstate, hop off at exit 30 (Illinois Highway 140)
and head west. This road has the size and symmetry of a stalk of cooked
spaghetti, but that’s OK, because the first 10 miles or so qualify as
“the scenic route.” You can even stop and take souvenir photos
at the big homemade sign announcing your proximity to Greenwich, England.
It’s just across the road from where the buffalo roam (with any luck,
you’ll see what I mean). The trip through Bethalto isn’t quite so
delightful, so you might need to drive a few miles with your eyes closed.
You’ll want to open them again when you arrive in Alton, which has
preserved its historic charm. Your road will undergo a few name changes as you
travel past Alton’s historic waterfront, through a grain elevator,
and past the garishly glittering Argosy Casino. When you pass the stone
quarry, with its painted depiction of the Piasa bird, you’ll know
that you’re on the Great River Road (Highway 143). From here on
you’ll see limestone bluffs on your right, the mighty Mississippi on
your left. About a dozen enchanted miles down the road, you’re in
Grafton.
A minute later, you’ve driven through the
entire town. You have to stop, turn around, and choose a parking spot. From
here on, your mission is to mosey. For a town with a population of less than 1,000,
Grafton has more than its fair share of tempting restaurants, most situated
right along Main Street. At O-Jan’s Fish Stand, 101 W. Main St., you
can get catfish for two for about 10 bucks and dine outdoors on the
upstairs deck overlooking the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois
rivers. At the other end of the street is Beyond the Bubble, a new
coffeehouse that could have been transplanted to Grafton from Soho, with
vegetarian lunch specials, bubble tea, a juice bar, free wi-fi, and a large
selection of fantastic Miam.Miam coffee mugs, ergonomically designed to fit
your hand and your lips. In between are saloons, wineries, restaurants,
boutiques, B&Bs, an ice-cream stand, and a plethora of artful junque
emporiums. Not every place will be open, and several businesses have signs
that announce their hours as “Maybe,” “Possibly,”
and “We’ll see.”
In Grafton, see, they understand hooky. You’ll
feel right at home.
Contact Dusty Rhodes at drhodes@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in May 24-30, 2007.
