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Whether you prefer the
softly rippling waters of the lake on a summer’s evening or the
pink-tinted sky above the lakeshore in the morning, it’s obvious why
Rend Lake was recently named an Illinois wonder — and it boasts
activities for everyone.
Rend Lake — located in southern Illinois, close
to the junction of Interstates 57 and 64 — is the second-largest
manmade lake in Illinois. Its 19,000 acres and surrounding 162 miles of
shoreline offer camping, boating, swimming, picnicking, golf, horseback
riding, and many other activities. Twenty-seven boat launches, plus a full-service
marina where boats may be rented, provide access to the water. Visit the
3,300-acre Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park, maintained by the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources, to walk the peaceful nature trails or to
camp or picnic at scenic spots. The Rend Lake Resort and Conference Center
offers lodging in the main resort and in cabins and dining at Windows
Restaurant, where you can enjoy your dinner on a deck overlooking the lake.
A nine-mile horseback riding trail provides a perfect
way to enjoy the wildlife. Fishermen will want to try their luck at
catching crappie (for which the lake is renowned), largemouth bass,
bluegill, and catfish. Build a sand castle at one of the many beaches or
take a refreshing swim. More than 1,600 artisans from around Illinois display
and sell their work at the Southern Illinois Art & Artisans Center, an
Illinois State Museum site. The juried fine art makes this a must-see stop.
The center hosts art shows and classes throughout the summer, as well as
special events such as the Art and Wine Festival (Sept. 29 and 30). Golfers will want to hit the 27-hole Rend Lake Golf
Course. Dining and lodging are available at the Season Lodge and
Restaurant, which offers a pool and spa, plus golf packages. Suites with
Jacuzzis and full kitchens make for a restful getaway. The Rend Lake Shooting Complex has 10 pits with
automated pat traps and a 38-station sporting-clay range. The Rend Lake
Hunting Preserve and the 1,000-acre Macedonia Game Preserve are open for
hunting September-April.
Ringing the lake are towns that are home to a variety
of historic sites, antique shops, and good restaurants. On the western edge
of the lake, in Sesser, visit the 1914 Opera House. Travel east of the lake
to Whittington and the Pheasant Hollow Winery, where you can sip wines on
the porch of the rustic shop. South, near Benton, are the Antique Auto
Museum and the Historic Jail Museum, and a few miles farther south are the
Franklin County Historical Society Museum, the Ken Gray Presidential Hall
of Fame, and a Factory Stores of America outlet mall. There’s a lot to do, but real peace, beauty,
and relaxation are to be found along the lake, with its picturesque views
and sounds of nature. It’s no wonder Illinois residents voted Rend
Lake one of the Seven Wonders of Illinois.
Cinda Klickna is the secretary-treasurer of the
Illinois Education Association and a regular contributor to Illinois
Times.
This article appears in May 24-30, 2007.
