Never been fishing? Lake Murphysboro is calling

Lindsay + Tim Stockhecke www.deliciouslyordinary.com There are fishing families, those who learned to bait a hook before they could ride a bike, and then there are the rest of us. Fishing for those not raised within a fishing family can feel daunting, as any new venture with children can be. It has variables built in […]
A very special place | Makanda, Illinois

Lindsay + Tim Stockhecke www.deliciouslyordinary.com Makanda, Illinois is known by locals and transplants alike but depending on who you are will determine what it means to you or what you know it for. Nevertheless, anyone who has visited knows it is special. Frequently called the hippiest town in Illinois, it has made a name for […]
Exploring Lake Kinkaid Spillway

Lindsay + Tim Stockhecke www.deliciouslyordinary.com After weeks of dry weather, the forecast promised a day full of rain, and a mild 73 degrees provided the perfect opportunity to visit Kinkaid Lake Spillway. Offering a multi-level cascading waterfall leading to a deep pool at the base, the spillway is a popular known swimming spot in Jackson […]
Come one, come all | Rte 51 Brewing Company and Banquet Facility

Lindsay + Tim Stockhecke www.deliciouslyordinary.com As honey-hued wheat dances alongside the road, and a train whistle can be heard in the distance you can almost mistake Rte 51 Brewing Company and Banquet Facility for an industrial facility, which makes sense as this brewery is housed within what was previously Purcell’s Flooring building. Opening in 2016 […]
“Just Like Granma’s House” | Exploring rural Jackson County, Illinois

Lindsay + Tim Stockhecke www.deliciouslyordinary.com “It smells just like Grandma’s house!” our eight-year-old proclaims as we enter Ava Food and Family. We opted to spend a slow day exploring the western side of Jackson County on a toasty summer afternoon, keeping our agenda open-ended to allow for unexpected roadside delights. Southern Illinois is the perfect […]
Poplar Camp Beach | Cedar Lake

Lindsay + Tim Stockhecke www.deliciouslyordinary.com There is something undeniably special about Poplar Camp Beach. With its slight incline leading to the sandy waterfront, the candy apple red lifeguard stand, lush treeline view, and occasional fisherman cruising by slowly you can’t help but relax and enjoy the simplicity of it all. That being said, I have […]
Giant City State Park – A Snap Shot

Lindsay + Tim Stockhecke www.deliciouslyordinary.com With the vast nature of the Shawnee National Forest spanning 289,000 acres across the most southern part of Illinois, Giant City State Park, located within SNF, is a great option for visitors looking for a self-contained park with a clear entrance and trails all within close proximity of one another. […]
Little Grand Canyon | 5 Tips Before You Go

Lindsay + Tim Stockhecke www.deliciouslyordinary.com One of the most advanced hikes we take as a family, Little Grand Canyon was admittedly intimidating the first time we did this trail a few years back. With that being said many of my fears were dispelled that first time and we have since found this to be our […]
Kayaking Cedar Lake

Lindsay + Tim Stockhecke www.deliciouslyordinary.com My first time kayaking was on vacation in Kauai and I remember thinking, while it was undeniably phenomenal the lush scenery was so similar to southern Illinois. Since that first paddle we have enjoyed many more right here in our region and each time are reminded that the very scenery […]
Six Stops, Nine potters | Enjoying the Shawnee Hills Pottery Trail

Lindsay + Tim Stockhecke www.deliciouslyordinary.com Spanning Jackson and Union Counties, the Shawnee Hills Pottery Trail is an annual shared experience over a two-day period in the month of May. While some of the artists keep regular studio hours the majority of them do not making this the perfect opportunity to meet, ask questions and experience […]