Location: Centralia
Top Things to do in Centralia
5 Things to Do in Centralia That You Shouldn't Miss
Centralia is a city in Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 13,032 as of the 2010 census, down from 14,136 in 2000. The current mayor is Tom Ashby.
Restaurants in Centralia
1. Roundhouse Wine Company
Overall Ratings
5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By SalemTravelBureau - Centralia, Illinois
This small wine producing winery is located on Raccoon Lake in Centralia, Illinois. The owners Sheila and Jerry Kapes have built a brick tasting room with Tuscan decor and a long concrete bar. Stop in for a glass or bottle of a one of their wines or others from the region. The tasting room frequently has local musicians and an excellent variety of entertainers.
Lakeside just down the hill is a large elegant white tent for special events. We have hosted a special event in the tent and it was perfect! I've seen photos of some very elaborate weddings and then there's the casual bride who is attracted to the winery for the beauty of the setting.
Light lunches are served but we usually opt for the cheese, fruit and crackers with a bottle of Little Caboose and sit by the lake until the bottle is empty.
I can recommend the Roundhouse for an event or just a little getaway. This is absolutely one of Centralia's most unique gems.
2. Centralia Carillon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By Taylor B - Chicago, Illinois
Driving north on I-57 on a leisurely summer vacation makes you realize there is more to southern Illinois than high school basketball. Centralia once was the mecca of high school basketball in Illinois. Arthur Trout and Dike Eddleman were legendary figures in the 1940s. Trout Gymnasium was the Madison Square Garden of high school gyms for decades. Post-game parties at the Green Mill were the city's signature social events. Those days are gone. But the Centralia Carillon remains. In 1982-83, the Centralia Carillon and tower park were created as a realization of a life-long dream of William Joy. There are approximately 150 carillons in the United States and the Centralia carillon is one of the largest and considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It stands 160 feet tall and has 65 bells, which you can see through the clear glass window panes that enclose the belfry. Nearly all of the bells are inscribed on their outer surface to identify its donor. The smallest weighs 20 pounds and has a diameter of 8 inches. The largest weighs 5 1/2 tons and measures nearly 80 inches in diameter. The total bell weight is 30 1/2 tons. The bells are played by a local carillonneur who climbs 173 steps to reach the 7 1/2 foot, 5 1/2 octave keyboard. Tunes range from classical to pop. There also is a small museum in the base of the tower, which is surrounded by a small park and fountain. In the summer, locals make an occasion of spreading a blanket on the lawn and partaking in a picnic while listening to a concert, a la Ravinia Park in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park.
3. Greenview Golf Club
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Greenview Golf Club is a beautiful 18 hole golf course located in Centralia Illinois. Greenview boasts a challenging course but playable by all skill levels. In 2015, Greenview's clubhouse had a million dollar renovation. The clubhouse features a new indoor golf simulator and the new Fairways Restaurant and Sports Bar. Fairways is open 7 days a week serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Reviewed By Michael P - Woodlawn, Illinois
In early spring, course had not yet started to blossom out, but was still a fun round. Still a lot of small limbs and leaves. Would definitely play again.
4. Makraft Brewing Co.
Overall Ratings
4 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By gemini8200 - Carbondale, Illinois
My friends and I are always excited to try a new brewery. Unfortunately, we were disappointed with Makraft. We felt the beers all tasted watered-down and were just slight variations of a basic beer kit recipe. Beer brewing is a science that takes years to perfect, so we'd like to give them another shot at some point. Some local folks seemed to love the beer, but we weren't sure they were typical craft beer drinkers. Staff was nice and there service was good, but unfortunately, Makraft falls short.
5. Crooked Creek Winery
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By MJC36467 - O'Fallon, Illinois
We stopped by about 10am on a Sunday morning. We were in the area and I want to find the winery before it opened at noon. Shannon waved us down and surprisingly opened up her shop early so we could taste her wines. Afterwards, we visited their horses and had a glass of wine overlooking their pond. An enjoyable experience. I will come back someday soon.
