Location: Nashville
Top Things to do in Nashville
What to do and see in Nashville, United States: The Best Places and Tips
Nashville is a city in Washington County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,258. It is the county seat of Washington County.
Restaurants in Nashville
1. Eversgerd’s Civil War Fort
Overall Ratings
5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By Taylor B - Chicago, Illinois
Until I heard about Bob Eversgerd's Civil War fort, the only thing I knew about Germantown, Illinois, was it is the birthplace of St. Louis Cardinal Hall of Fame baseball player/manager Red Schoendienst. But Eversgerd's fort is something else. Truthfully, it is a misnomer. There were no forts of this kind in the Civil War. And, of course, the Civil War wasn't fought in Illinois. But Bob's fort is a one-of-a-kind attraction that has to be seen to be believed. Beginning in 1984, Eversgerd began collecting discarded foundation stones and hauling dirt in a wheel barrow. Over the last 32 years, he has turned a swamp into the largest masonry project in the United States by a single human being. It is Eversgerd's lifework, his passion, his vocation. It is a stone fortress that stands 338 feet from north to south and 275 feet from east to west. At the top of the main entrance, which is 22 feet tall, Eversgerd placed an exact replica of a Civil War cannon that he shaped using scrap metal. The walls are made from hand-laid limestone. In fact, Eversgerd still is working on the fourth wall and wants to complete the fort by his 83rd birthday. The impressive structure resembles an 18th century French fortress. Inside, you'll find log cabins with beds that have straw-stuffed mattresses and wash tubs for laundry. There is a livery stable, a jail and a stagecoach. Eversgerd also has a accumulated a huge collection of arrowheads and axe heads and other historical Native American artifacts. Bob's fort is located at 6251 Shoal Creek Road outside of Germantown. But it isn't easy to find. From Germantown, proceed southeast on Illinois Route 161 for one mile. Turn south on Shoal Creek Road and proceed for 1/3 mile. Turn right and proceed west on Pioneer Road for 1/6 mile. Turn left and proceed south on Shoal Creek Road for 1 1/4 mile. The fort is on your right. Be alert. There are no signs directing you to the site. Call in advance (618-523-4749) and arrange for a tour. It's worth your time and a donation. Bob will be most appreciative.
2. Illinois Rural Heritage Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By Taylor B - Chicago, Illinois
Pinckneyville is a basketball town with its tradition dating to the 1940s and 1950s. That's why I first visited the southern Illinois community several years ago. But southern Illinois is all about farming and the Illinois Rural Heritage Museum at 187 Fairground Road in Pinckeyville provides an opportunity for non-agricultural raised individuals, city folks like my wife and me, to experience the changing rural lifestyle from 1850 forward. For rural folks, it brings back memories of challenging times when manual labor and exposure to weather extremes were required to earn a living, like your father or grandfather's exposure to the heat and dust on a vintage tractor or combine. The museum also features many interactive exhibits, displays and videos that provide an important teaching venue for children, young adults and city folks who never sat on a tractor. It explains the ever-changing story of rural life from different perspectives--agriculture, business, conservation, education, medicine, natural resources, technology and transportation. A critical element of the museum's mission is to preserve and restore important items that would otherwise be lost with the passage of time. When I was a student at the University of Illinois, several of my fraternity brothers were products of farm families and lived within 50 to 100 miles of the Champaign-Urbana campus. As a native of Chicago, I had little knowledge of farming. They gave me a good education. While visiting the museum and observing the exhibits, I recalled many of their stories. Among the museum's three warehouses of interesting exhibits are the red barn, a 1900s dentist office, a general store, a doctor's office, a collection of vintage ice cream freezers, a collection of baby buggys and bicycles and carriages, lots of farm machinery and equipment dating to the early 1900s and other artifacts from country and farming life in southern Illinois. You can even learn how to make apple butter. It's a wonder they had time to play basketball.
3. Excel Bottling Company
Overall Ratings
5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By Nancy H - Belleville, Illinois, United States
I have been getting soda from Excel Bottling Co, for years Soda made with real cane sugar , with lots of great flavors Sold in glass bottles like they did years ago.They sell their soda in some stores but going to get it at the bottling plant is fun. You bring back your case and get one filled with as many flavors as you want. They aslo bottle Ski a B Breeze favorite. Try them I am sure you'll like it.
4. 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.
5. Hidden Lake Winery
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By bayernbabe - Glendale, California
We were here for my cousin's wedding, and it was a beautiful experience. We had the two story home as the reception area it was a large space to accommodate everyone perfectly.
If I were to make any changes on the property it would be for changing the roads along the farms across from the winery. It had rained for just a little bit, but delayed the wedding because the roads were flooded any many guests could not get around this.
The staff at the winery were very accommodating to this issue and tried making everything perfect.
Although I love wine, I would not call myself a wine connoisseur. Being a winery, I expected more in the taste of the wine selection. The wine was sub-par in my opinion. Luckily the bartender at the reception was amazing! She had a long line throughout the night!
6. Carlyle Sailing association
Overall Ratings
4 based on 78 reviews
Reviewed By Bookhoarder73 - Wood River, Illinois
Dam west: nice campground with clean flush toilet bathrooms. There are many full hook up sites that are spacious. The main beach is right next to the camp ground as well as a restaurant. Right outside the campground is a McDonald's and Walmart.
Coles creek: nice flat camp with many full hookup sites. However, the sites by the water do not have shade. The shower house is small, 3 shower stalls for women and 3 for men. This is difficult when this is for the whole camp. The shower house by the beach has 3 showers but are small with curtains. Also messy due to people from the beach.
Bring OFF! The horse flies and mosquitos are crazy!
The lotus group there is nice and clean but vault toilets only. The dining hall was great for our group dinners and playing board games afters. There is a sink, lots of counter tops, and 4 big picnic tables . The rv sites have no shade due to trees are still newly planted but the cabin area has plenty of shade. This is by no means walking distance to the flush toilet, beach, nor shower house. Unless you don't mind walking a mile to the beach. 1/2 mile to the first flush toilet.
There is a small camp store with ice, soda, water, and ice cream but is only open Friday and Saturday. The drive back to town is about 15 minutes to IGA, Dairy Queen, gas, and Walmart - it is not close.
Overall this is a nice family campground with playgrounds too. Great place for bikes - no hills.
7. World Shooting & Recreational Complex
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By TrapShooterswife - New Hope, Pennsylvania
Sparta, Il. has a gorgeous facility. Never ending traps, well kept equipment. Illinois needs to market this facility. It has full RV hook-ups, tent camping, fishing. We truly couldn't wait to get on the road for The Grand. My husband will shoot every event from 1 to 24. We are seniors and love to travel. Sparta is a great place to visit, let's keep it that way.
8. Cedarhurst Center for the Arts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 70 reviews
Cedarhurst celebrates the arts year-round with exciting visual/performing arts, galleries, outdoor sculptures, classes, Music, & Art & Craft Fair.
Reviewed By Slp2g0 - Mt. Vernon, IL
Cedarhurst Cener for the Arts has excellent traveling exhibits plus a fantastic permanent collection, children's area, and sculpture park. Walk the grounds and trails for a nature break.(always free) Admission is free to the museum on Thursdays, and summer brings music and food vendors for Thursday Night Live. In addition, chamber music concerts are held during the fall-spring season and art classses are held for children and adults all year long.
9. Millside Inn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By ruzz2112 - Springfield, Illinois
Built in the 1830s, this historic bar & grill is not the fanciest place you'll ever visit. Rustic and beyond quaint with a lot of vintage borderline junk decorations. Big beer garden with bar, fire pits, bean bags and a stage for occasional bands. The drinks and food were quite affordable, all bar type menu, but surprisingly unique choices along with the usual favorites. Kitchen open late, a great pit stop for that road trip. Stop in, you won't forget this place.
10. 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.
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