Things to do in Grafton Illinois

A year ago I had not even heard of Grafton, Illinois. Now I can say that we have visited the area twice in 6 months! It started off with Payton’s obsession with the World’s Tallest Man – Robert Wadlow, whose hometown is in neighbouring Alton, Illinois. But we enjoyed the area so much, we decided to visit again as part of our Fall Foliage tour north. Due to flooding during our last visit, many of the activities along the Great River Road in Illinois were unavailable on our previous visit, so we were keen to return and try again! Here are my top recommendations for things to do in Grafton, IL.

Disclaimer: We were hosted by Alton Visitor Center during our visit. However, as always, all opinions are my own.

Things to do in Grafton IL, and along the Great River Road

Pere Marquette State Park

Pere Marquette is a beautiful sweeping state park on the banks of the Illinois River. It is a nature lover’s paradise, with trails into the bluffs and plenty of places to spot eagles.

Elsah, IL

Elsah was founded in 1853 by James Semple, a local lawyer, prominent politician and US Senator from Illinois. He offered free lots to anyone who built houses with stone from his quarry. Due to geographic and economic limitations, by 1861 the village had grown to its current size. Elsah prospered as a river town in the beginning, then began to diminish with the coming of the railroad, and then was later revitalized when Principia College was established there in the 1930s. Elsah remained mostly a quiet village until the opening of the Great River Road in 1964. Even though all of the homes in Elsah are privately owned, in 1973 the entire village was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town currently covers 1.09 square miles with a population of less than 700 and is absolutely adorable.

While in Elsah, stop by the Village Hall to learn about the history and see artefacts from the town. Then make your way to the Elsah General Store. This started out life as the Vanderslice Saloon in 1877 before the days of prohibition, and it was then turned into a general store. The current owners returned it to its former glory, and it is a great spot to pick up provisions if you’re in the Elsah area.

Treehouse Wildlife Sanctuary

The Treehouse Wildlife Sanctuary does an amazing job at rescuing, rehabilitating, and returning wild animals back into the wild. The ones that are not able to be returned safely become permanent residents and ambassadors to the center. They receive enrichment and also provide education to the community. We got to meet the eagles and pelicans and have a tour of the sanctuary – it was very educational.

Pere Marquette Riding Stables

The Pere Marquette Riding Stables are located between Grafton and Pere Marquette Park. I don’t know who was more excited at the prospect of horseback riding – Payton or I? Neither of us had been horseback riding before so this was a very new adventure for both of us.

This may have been our first time on the back of a horse, but I seriously doubt that it will be the last. Our guide Kelly was wonderful. She was very patient with Payton and always made sure that she was comfortable, safe, and having fun. The ride was peaceful and relaxing and the area was beautiful in October. Payton rode Casey and bonded with him almost instantly. I would definitely recommend this activity to families visiting Grafton. Whether you are an avid rider or have no experience at all, this place is wonderful.

Eckert’s Family Farm

After our visit to the stables, we drove out to Eckert’s Family Farm. The farm has many locations with one just north of Alton. This location is open seasonally – so if you come in autumn and winter, this attraction won’t be open. They offer pick your own produce, which varies by season, and a country store full of cider, jams, jellies, honey, and more.

Grafton Winery

Grafton Winery is a great place to warm up with a wine tasting. The facility is large, but welcoming. We met Jameson Dehner on arrival. He offered us a wine tasting and also a tour of the production area – the entire process is just amazing. Even though Payton can not yet taste the product, by visiting the vineyards she was able to see how the grapes make it from the vine to the bottle. The wines were delicious with a vast variety of flavors. Since I was feeling bad that John was not able to make this trip with us due to work, and it was almost his birthday, I decided to purchase a few bottles to bring home to him!

Just another benefit of road trips vs. flying! Plenty of room for souvenirs along the way.

Aerie’s Resort & Zip line

The Zip Line

The tree top canopy adventure includes 7 zip lines, a couple of rope bridges, hiking trails, and views of the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. You soar like an eagle from bluff to bluff traveling at a max speed of 45 mph. Payton enjoyed every minute of it and squealed with excitement all the way!

Payton has been enjoying zip lines since she first met the height/weight requirements. She has zip-lined in Helen (GA), Tallahassee (FL), Gatlinburg (TN), Minneapolis (MN), and the Dominican Republic.

The views on the lines don’t get any better, especially with the fall foliage and the river. There were also tons of wildlife all around us and even deer that were almost within reach from one of the platforms. If you have zipped before, you know that the braking system can literally make or break your experience. Here at Aerie’s they control the braking so you have nothing to do but relax and enjoy. This is especially nice if you have a child that has trouble gripping the line tight enough to break effectively. It is also not a instant break like some of the systems that stop you with a sudden halt. This system is carefree and provides a smooth finish for everyone except the poor guides that are doing all of the work.

The Resort

Besides the zip line adventure, there is a winery and restaurant, a terrace for weddings and events, resort lodging, and a brand new SkyTour that opened just days before our arrival. Aerie’s is a complete vacation package located on a high bluff overlooking Grafton and the confluence of the rivers. The views alone are worth the visit.

Mississippi Boat Ride

Enjoy seeing the beautiful landscape, bluffs and foliage from the Mighty Mississippi. It is a whole new perspective, and a great way to see Grafton.

Grafton Illinois Eagle Watching

Grafton is famed for the bald eagles that come to nest there over winter (December – March). There are guided walking tours and nature trails from where to watch them, and events offered every weekend. For more information on eagle watching, please call the Alton Visitor Center at (800) 258-6645. You can also download a FREE Eagle Watcher’s Guide.

Great River Road Illinois

The joy of this area is the amount of time you can spend exploring the Illinois section of the Great River Road. This famous road is actually 2,000 miles long, passes through 10 states along the Mississippi, and hundreds of historic river towns. Certain portions of the road have been designated as a national scenic byway, including the 33 mile stretch from Hartford to Grafton, IL. We combined our visit to Grafton with a Great River Road fall color tour, and enjoyed spectacular displays despite it not quite being at the peak during our stay.

Where to eat in (and around) Grafton

Drifter’s

While in Grafton, we enjoyed lunch at Drifters. The food was fabulous and the views of the river were amazing even on an overcast day.

Grafton Winery (Downtown)

The Grafton Winery also has a location downtown, so we made sure we visited for dinner. The menu was interesting and offered something for everyone. And of course the wines were perfect for pairing.

Lodging in Grafton, Illinois

Pere Marquette Lodge

This is our go-to place to stay when visiting the Grafton area. Right on the river, it is a beautiful spot for exploring the surrounding Great River Road trails and quaint towns. On Sundays, the Lodge restaurant serves an impressive buffet. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits, baked ham, turkey, macaroni and cheese, and more desserts than even Payton could eat.

The photos below show the difference between the river levels on our May and then October visits!

Green Tree Inn Bed & Breakfast

This bed and breakfast would be perfect for couples, families, and groups and they even offer wedding packages. Green Tree Inn is quaint, cozy, and full of character. Sweet treats are served every afternoon along with an amazing breakfast every morning. Guests also have access to a full kitchen during their stay. We hope to return one day to stay on site. Based on the cookies that we were given, I can only imagine how incredible breakfast would be!

If small town vacations appeal, then give the mountain town of Helen, Georgia a try!

Things to do in Grafton IL

I really can’t express how much this area means to us. Payton’s connection to neighbouring Alton, Illinois, is strong and we will be back often. Located just across the river from St Louis, this area is perfect for families, couples, and people of all ages. From historians, to outdoor adventurers, to foodies, to wine lovers, and eagle watchers, there really are so many things to do in Grafton Illinois.

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