Tag: IL

  • Another World’s Largest!! – Square Knot

    Comlara Park is home to Lake Evergreen and the World’s Largest Square Knot. I find it interesting that the Knot is a world’s largest, but I am unable to find the knot in the Guinness website. The best part of this find was that we are staying at Comlara Park and didn’t know at the…

  • Promachus Rufides Anyone?

    It sounds like it should be a cocktail, but it is a red-footed cannibalfly. They are also called bee panthers because they hunt bees. They are part of the robber fly, or assassin fly, family. The name reflects that they prey on other insects, including other robber flies, and ambush them in flight. Ambushing a…

  • Danville, Looking for Lincoln and Vermillion County Museum IL

    Danville, Illinois Danville Illinois started out as a hub for 3 Native American Tribes – Kickapoo, Miami, and Potawatomi. In 1827, 80 acres of land was donated and lots sold which started Danville. In 1838, the Potawatomi Trail of Death camped and passed through Danville. Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer with the 8th Judicial Court.…

  • Pontiac, Pontiac, or Obwaandi’eyaag?

    We went to Pontiac, Illinois to get Kate’s National Park Passport Book stamped, but we parked in the wrong place about two blocks away. Instead of the museum complex, we parked near the Pontiac-Oakland Auto Museum that had a bunch of Pontiac cars. Ironically, Pontiac, Illinois is not named for the Pontiac car, and no…

  • A Limit of One Cat Per Hand…

    When Kate and I talked about cats, I always told her that she could only have one cat per hand because you can not pet more than two cats at once. If you have more than two cats, the cats will feel neglected. She would also be in danger of being a crazy cat lady.…

  • Once in a Blue Supermoon

    There were three days of blue supermoons in the middle of August 2024. Blue supermoons usually happen about once every ten years, but oddly, August 2023 had a blue supermoon too. A blue moon can be several things. A monthly blue moon is two full moons in a single month. A seasonal blue moon is…

  • Kennekuk County Park with 1000 gallon tank!

    Vermillion County Illinois used to be known for coal mines and manufacturing. When the coal mining ended and manufacturing decreased, parks were created. Kennekuk Park boasted a 1000-gallon aquarium. This sounds huge but turns out to not be as big as you think. Can you find the fish? The park also boasts Lake Mingo, multiple…

  • Kickapoo State Park IL to Comlara Park IL — Driving Directions

    Comlara is a McLean County park that is on Evergreen Lake. The park includes multiple fishing docks, boat rentals (including pontoons), monthly boat dock rentals, swimming area (currently closed due to microbe counts), campground, visitor center and many pavilions. The Campground sites are either non-electric, 30 amp or 50 amp. Water is hookups are available…

  • Heron County Park with tower, boardwalk, etc. But where’s the Herons?

    Heron County Park is in Vermillion County and started opened 2004. The park came about when Aqua Illinois, Inc. donated the land to the county. In 1992, the water was increased by 4 1/2 feet and a 950 foot boardwalk was built at a cost of $145,000. After that a 30+ foot observation tower was…

  • Kickapoo State Park Illinois Site 85