Magnolia Manor is a postbellum manor located in the historic district of Cairo. The mansion is a 14-room red brick Italianate architecture structure Inside the home are many original, 19th century furnishings. Magnolia Manor typifies a fine Southern Illinois home of the period and is open daily except for certain holidays.

Horseshoe Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area is a 10,200 acre area that includes a 2,400 acre shallow oxbow lake located seven miles north of Cairo. Visitors may be reminded of the Deep South with the abundance of bald cypress, tupelo gum, swamp cottonwood trees, and wild lotus. The site offers picnic, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, and hunting opportunities.

Fort Defiance is a former military fortification located at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers south of Cairo. Fort Defiance Park, formerly a State Park, is owned and maintained by the city of Cairo. The site offers an old observation tower which visitors can use to see the confluence, some picnic facilities, and informational signage.

The Cairo Custom House Museum has been used by the U.S. Post Office, the Weather Bureau, the Federal Court system, and the Cairo Police Department. Restoration on the first floor and has been transformed it into a museum that is open to the public. Many interesting displays are shown in the museum including Civil War memorabilia and an exhibit on the 1937 flood in Cairo.

The Union County State Fish & Wildlife Area was acquired by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in the late 1940s and developed a wintering goose population in excess of 50,000 birds by 1964. The area encompasses 6,202 acres in the Lower Mississippi River bottomlands division of Illinois. Public use in the refuge is limited. Sightseeing and wildlife photography are permitted

Trail of Tears State Forest is one of five Illinois' state forests in a system that was established to set aside lands for the growing of timber needed in production of forest products, for watershed protection and to provide outdoor recreation. The Forest lies within the southern section of the Illinois’ Ozark Hills region, one of the most rugged landscapes in Illinois.

Lincoln Memorial Park in Jonesboro was the site of the third of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Steven A. Douglas for the 1858 Illinois U.S. Senate seat. There are two historical markers dedicated to the event. An older plaque of stone now sits between two life-sized statues of Lincoln and Douglas.

As with many places in the Shawnee National Forest, the beauty we see today is rooted in its geologic history. At LaRue-Pine there are 150-foot limestone bluffs that rise out of the Mississippi floodplain and the area features two hiking trails.

The Bald Knob Cross of Peace was conceived in 1937 by Southern Illinois natives who wanted to create a place where people of various faiths could come together for worship. Bald Knob Mountain is the highest point in Southern Illinois and offers wonderful views, particularly in the fall.

This fascinating stone arch, often referred to as a natural bridge, was formed by the forces of erosion over millions of years and has been a popular tourist spot since the late 1800s. The area features a easy to moderate 1/3-mile short loop trail that leads through a mature oak-hickory and beech forest. The trailhead signs explain the geology of the area.

Oakwood Bottoms Greentree Reservoir is part of Shawnee National Forest. A greentree reservoir is a forested area that is flooded during the dormant winter months and drained in the spring for the growing season. The site features 2 nature trails, one of which loops around a small pond on a mowed grass path and features rest benches and a fishing pier.

The Mississippi River has influenced events in the community of Grand Tower since pirates escaping the colonial Spaniards were among the area's first European residents. In 2006 former towboat captain Captain Jack Knupp opened this modest museum in to try to preserve the history and culture of life on the water.

The Little Grand Canyon National Natural Landmark is an impressive box canyon, more than 200 feet deep that is part of the Shawnee National Forest. The area features a loop Trail that is a challenging 3.6-mile hike offers scenic views, chances to see wildlife, and interesting geological features. The site offers picnic facilities, restrooms, and interpretive signage.

Beautiful rolling hills and woods surround star-shaped Lake Murphysboro and provide a wonderful backdrop for boating, fishing, picnicking, camping and hiking.

Lake Kinkaid is a 2,750 acres body of water located in the Shawnee Hills region of southwestern Illinois. The lake attracts anglers because of its abundance of game fish and over 90 miles of shoreline and water depths to 75 feet. There are three recreation areas along the lake and the area offers picnicking, hiking, wildlife viewing, swimming, horseback riding, and camping opportunities.

Johnson Creek Recreation Area is one of three recreational areas on beautiful Kinkaid Lake. Located on a northwest finger of the lake, Johnson Creek Recreation Area offers a variety of outdoor activities. Here you will find something for everyone in the family, from picnicking, camping and swimming to hiking along the lake, biking the scenic roads, and horseback riding.

Giant City State Park get its name from unique Makanda sandstone features that have been cut by water for centuries to create narrow “streets” between stone “buildings” giving rise to the sense that the area is a city populated by giants. Other features at the park include hiking, picnicking, hunting and fishing, rock climbing and rappelling, horseback riding, camping, and lodging and dining.

There are many statues of Civil War hero and politician General John A. Logan around the country reflecting the regard America held of him. The statue in Murphysboro also honors his wife Mary S.C. Logan and may be the only statue of a Civil War general to also honor his spouse.

General John A. Logan (1826 - 1886) played an important role in the history of the United States as a politician, military leader, and champion of veteran affairs. The General John A. Logan Museum exhibits tell the story of General Logan through the use of photographs, portraits, maps, political memorabilia, Logan family antiques, and Civil War weapons.

Devil's Backbone is an unusual limestone ridge that runs for about one-half mile along the eastern shore of the Mississippi River at Grand Tower. Devil's Backbone Park is located at the northern edge of the community of Grand Tower. It offers RV camping, playgrounds, picnic facilities, and a shower house. The Park offers an excellent view of Tower Rock.