Planning a road trip? These destinations in and around Marion are worth the drive!

As a small town located in southern Illinois, Marion is the perfect starting point for several nearby destinations. If you’re in the mood for hiking, checking out some wildlife, exploring a local winery, or visiting the largest museum dedicated to Superman, you’re in luck! All these (and more) are within easy driving distance from Marion. Gas up your vehicle and hit the road to check out these local must-see spots.

Blue Sky Vineyard

The Blue Sky Vineyard is located in Makanda, about 30 minutes southwest of Marion. Jim Ewers envisioned opening a winery in the late 1990s, and he was able to see his vision come to fruition when he opened this winery on July 4, 2005. There are roughly 13 acres of grapes, and many of the grapevines consist of hybrid vines, which means that at least two varieties of grapes were cross-bred to form an entirely different grape variety.

The winery is nestled along the eastern end of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail and offers award-winning Illinois wines, so you can enjoy your wine with your significant other while taking in breathtaking views of the Shawnee National Forest. Try one of the winery’s dry white, dry red, semi-dry, semi-sweet, sweet, or port/dessert wines. They also offer a sangria that infuses its award-winning wines with sweet citrus juices.

After a busy day of touring the winery and sampling their delicious wines, consider spending the night at the winery’s bed and breakfast, which is situated above the tasting room. Choose between two luxurious suites, each of which has a private bath. You can enjoy stunning views of the vineyard from your private balcony or a patio that overlooks a waterfall.

Cave-in-Rock State Park

“20030726 Cave in Rock State Park” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by davidwilson1949

Located in Cave-in-Rock about an hour southeast of Marion, this state park is named for a historic 55-foot-wide cave carved out of the limestone bluffs of the Ohio River thousands of years ago by wind and water erosion. A fun fact is that the Walt Disney Production used these caves in the 1956 film, “Davey Crockett and the River Pirates.”

In addition to the cave, there are two established hiking trails and several unmarked trails to explore. If you’re traveling with children, let them burn off some energy at one of the three developed playground areas, and you can enjoy lunch at one of the shaded picnic areas that include tables and grills. Larger groups can gather together at one of the four large picnic shelters.

The park’s proximity to the Ohio River makes it a perfect spot for fishing, and you can directly access the river via two boat ramps, but be sure to check with the site superintendent and park rangers to determine whether you’ll need to purchase a fishing license. Located at the front of the park is the Cave-in-Rock Ferry, and you can take the ferry free of charge to visit Amish Country and Marion, Kentucky, which is known for its antique shops.

After a busy day of exploring, you can set up your tent or park your vehicle on the north side of the park and spend the night. If you’re not into camping outdoors, there’s also the Cave-in-Rock Restaurant and Lodge, which serves Southern-style cooking and includes four duplex guest houses with a total of eight suites. All rooms have stunning views of the Ohio River.

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

Located in Marion, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is ideal if you want to observe wildlife living in their natural habitat. More than 1 million people visit this refuge each year, where the main goal is wildlife restoration, and the focus is on protecting and enhancing all natural resources.

The refuge spans more than 43,000 acres and is centered around Crab Orchard Lake. Oak and hickory forests cover more than half of the area, and 20% of the refuge is open water. Approximately 10% of the refuge is comprised of cropland, and there are cooperative farming agreements in place with several local farmers.

The refuge provides significant resting areas for migratory birds that follow the Mississippi Flyway. The number of wintering Canada geese can reach upwards of 200,000 birds, so be sure to bring your binoculars so you can observe various wildlife. You might just spot a few bobcats, bald eagles, and wild turkeys. Walk along the 12 miles of hiking trails or take the 14-mile auto tour to get an up-close look at these creatures.

Super Museum

When traveling to Metropolis, Illinois, which is an hour’s drive south of Marion, you’ll come across a billboard that depicts Superman pointing the way to downtown Metropolis. This town officially became the adopted hometown of Superman about 45 years ago, and it boasts a 15-foot-tall Superman statue — the largest Superman statue in the world — and an equally large effigy of Lois Lane. Both of these were created by the same company that built the Emmy statue that stands outside the Academy of Television Arts in Hollywood, California.

When you’re there, be sure to stop in at the Super Museum, a family-owned and -operated museum dedicated to the Man of Steel. Founded in 1993 by Jim Hambrick, the museum houses more than 70,000 Superman-related artifacts and collectibles. Many of these were originally part of Hambrick’s personal collection, which was one of the largest personal collections in the world. Memorabilia are organized around specific eras and portrayals of Superman, and items are frequently changed out to encourage repeat visits. The museum is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and admission is $8.

No matter where you plan to go around Marion, you’ll want a vehicle that will get you there safely. Stop in at VW of Marion and browse our huge inventory of used vehicles for sale. Whether you’re in the market for a brand-new Volkswagen or you want a pre-owned certified model, we have the perfect vehicle for your needs and your budget. Contact us, and we’ll schedule a test drive on your dream vehicle so you can start planning your next road trip today.