Find your kind of country

Good stops.
Great stories.

These are places I’d love for you to get to know. Pick two or three that feel like your kind of weekend, and leave room to linger.

Waterfall country · Matthiessen State Park

Coming to Hungry World Farm · In development

Come curious.
Leave inspired.

Hungry World Farm is developing a new lineup of workshops. I’m looking forward to sharing more as the plans take shape.

Topics, dates, and booking details are still being developed. Share what you’d love to learn and when you’re thinking of visiting.

Inquire about upcoming workshops

Workshop dates are not yet announced. This is an inquiry, not workshop registration.

Visitors learning in the garden at Hungry World Farm — Learning on the farm · a glimpse of the setting

A Forest View tent glowing among the trees at Hungry World Farm — Let the evening unfold at the farm.

The best reason to stay overnight

Campfire conversations.
Eyes on the stars.

Slow down around a campfire. Look up at the night sky. Leave time for the kind of evening you came to the countryside for.

Make it part of your yurt-glamping getaway, apartment stay, or group retreat. Campfire arrangements vary by accommodation and depend on weather and current conditions. Stargazing is best on clear nights.

Plan your night at the farm

Start with the land.

Tiskilwa · My top farm recommendation

Hungry World Farm

Meet the farm through guided experiences focused on animals, gardens, and the connections between food and land.

Plan ahead: check the schedule and reserve your tour.

Plan your farm visit

Outside Princeton · Gardens

Hornbaker Gardens

Build an unhurried afternoon around the display gardens and garden center. Pair it with Princeton browsing and dinner.

Seasonal: check opening days, particularly Sundays.

Garden hours & directions

Alpacas beside a red barn at Tiskilwa Farms

Tiskilwa area · Animals

Tiskilwa Farms Alpacas

Add an alpaca farm visit to an animal-focused weekend. Arrange the stop directly with the farm before traveling.

Tours by appointment.

Arrange an alpaca visit

A little more open sky.

Bureau County & beyond · Walking

Hennepin Canal

Choose a canal access point for a waterside walk or bring your bicycle for a longer outing. The visitor center is near Sheffield.

Pick a specific trailhead; the canal covers a large area.

Canal information & access

Near Hennepin · Wildlife

Dixon Waterfowl Refuge

Bring binoculars for a slower outing along wetland trails. This refuge is near Hennepin, rather than in the city of Dixon.

Check the current trail map and visitor notices.

Visitor information

Visitors beside a waterfall at Matthiessen State Park

LaSalle County · Hiking day

Starved Rock & Matthiessen

Give a canyon-and-trail outing its own generous block of time. Return to your overnight stay afterward instead of adding more stops.

Allow for driving, parking, trail conditions, and closures.

Starved Rock visitor information

Also planning Matthiessen? Check Matthiessen trails & conditions

Small-town discoveries.

The Tiskilwa Inn and neighboring homes surrounded by autumn trees in Tiskilwa

Our hometown · A little exploring

Tiskilwa, Illinois

Make time for the village beyond the farm: wooded hills, historic Main Street, and parks for a picnic or a little play. Stop into Museum on Main when it’s open, then pick up Sticks and Bricks wood-fired pizza on your way back to your overnight stay.

An easy addition to your rural road trip. Check museum hours before visiting.

Explore Tiskilwa’s history Plan a pizza stop