White Pines Forest State Park... back again!

Tuesday was travel day from North Manchester, back to the north-west corner of Illinois, in the heart of the Rock River Valley, and Black Hawk Indian territory, where White Pines State Park is located. This park, 385-acres, in Ogle County, is the perfect place if you're looking for a respite in a tranquil setting. The smell of pine welcomed us back to the woods. We listened to coyotes yipping, and heard the turkey gobble as we sat around a campfire cooking a hotdog, and watching the fireflys do their thing in the evening dusk last night. This place is the perfect recipe for family getaways. You can hike, fish, camp (103 sites,) and picnic. There are 7 marked trails, moss covered cliffs and 2 creeks, stocked with fish for the visitors to enjoy. Log and stone buildings built in the '30s by the CCC, have historic ambiance that houses the main lodge with restaurant, dinner theatre, and a gift shop, and rustic cabins, with modern facilities are nestled in the pines. It's not uncommon to see 3 or 4 deer drinking from the creek, or near the roads, through the trees. Squirrels, raccoons, owls, and birdlife are all here. 4 shelters with water, fireplaces, tables, and nearby playgrounds are popular on weekends for reunions and gatherings. The most unique feature of this park are the fords that span the creeks, and which allows the visitor to drive through the flowing streams. To get a better idea, and visuals about the park, visit the website.http://www.whitepinesinn.com/content/view/56/26/