Fall Cruise to Effingham, IL October 5-6, 2019
Fall, crisp air and it usually rains on our fall cruise! So let’s travel south and visit Effingham, IL which isknown as the cross roads of America!
We’ll start out meeting at the Mobil K off of route 57 in Champaign, IL. Then we’ll head another hour south to Effingham. We’ll stop and visit the My Garage Museum. Rare and one-of-a-kind cars, antique automotive memorabilia, vintage collectibles, Corvette and Air-Cooled VW apparel. Between 20 and 25 cars from the collection are on display at a single time, from the rare XP-819 prototype Corvette to the last C4 Corvette. The display is constantly changing to feature as many of the vehicles as possible. In addition to the cars, My Garage is home to thousands of collectibles and antiques, Neon signs, antique gas pumps, collectible model cars and even vintage display cases complete the experience.
After our visit to My Garage Museum, we’ll head out to lunch at the Gabby Goat American Grill.
After lunch we’ll head over to John Boos Cutting Boards. They manufacture gourmet butcher block kitchen furniture (cutting boards, countertops, carts, worktables and kitchen islands) and stainless steel equipment (compartment sinks, work tables, equipment stands and custom fabrication) for the foodservice industry. They don’t offer tours but we can browse their showroom.
Then we’ll head over to another car museum, Heartland Classics Auto Museum. This museum is a 30,000-square-foot showroom filled with over 200 classic cars and motorcycles.
If time permits, we’ll visit the Hodgson Mill. The Hodgson family have been milling grains for over 5 generations. Bob Hodgson who is now owner and president, has traveled the world to hone his skills by learning from other great millers with hundreds of years of tradition and experience. He journeyed through Italy learning pasta manufacturing in the country where pasta was perfected. Bob states he is a gatherer of information!
We’ll then check into the Country Inn and Suites and then head over to the Firefly Restaurant for a great dinner! A farm & table restaurant! They are passionate about their ingredients, many of which they grow. Or their ingredients are hand selected locally or sourced from artisan farmers and fisherman who care for them. Their philosophy is simple: source the best ingredients possible and stay out of the way!
Sunday morning we’ll head over to the Cross of the Crossroads. 200 feet into the Midwestern sky, The Cross at the Crossroads is a landmark for the over 19 million travelers who pass through Effingham on Interstates 57 and 70 each year. The Cross includes a Ten Commandments display surrounding the base and a Welcome Center, featuring a chapel and a 10 Commandments display.
After our morning visit at the Cross of the Crossroads, we’ll head out to Casey, IL, about a 30 minutedrive from Effingham. Casey’s is known for their “oversize” items such as the world’s largest rockingchair or the world’s largest wind chime. Plus they have “big” attractions too such as an Ear of Corn, aPencil and a Minion! Should be fun browsing through these “oversize” items! Then we’ll head over toRichard’s Farm Restaurant in a 1930’s barn for lunch.
After lunch we’ll head back home.
Don’t forget to make your hotel reservation by September 21 and ask for the Vipers of IL room block.
Rate is $92.00
Country Inn and Suites 1200 North Raney Effington, IL 217-540-5555