Activities @ Back2Basics

• Relaxing and enjoying the nature views .
  
• Fishing our pond and our lake: Fish @ Back2Basics: Only guests, staying at the Back2Basics' premises are allowed to fee-fish both of our ponds (catch and release only).
  A Fishing License is not required when you fish here.
  To enable us to maintain the ponds we charge $ 5.00/person/day.Keep in mind that you will need a fishing license when fishing anywhere else!
  To purchase Fishing and Hunting licenses and stamps over the Internet,please visit the Department's homepage at http://www.dnr.state.il.us/index.htm or Click Here. 
  
• On rainy days, taking your kids to the Science Center, in the University Mall in Carbondale. 
  
• Attending our Back2Basics Academy workshops
  
• Visiting  local vineyards and tasting their wines.
  Be sure not to miss exciting events at the individual wineries & steal a taste of all the wines at the annual Fall Festival, Labor Day Weekend!
  The Shawnee Hills AVA (American Vinticultural Area) was approved effective December 27, 2006. This means that their wines now have the distinction of coming from a recognized wine producing region.
  Our vineyards will also be able to label those wines produced exclusively from their own vineyards as "Estate" wines. Perhaps one day everyone will identify quality Illinois wines from the Shawnee Hills as easily as they do those labeled Napa, Sonoma, or French Bordeaux.
  
  Back 2 Basics' location is only a short distance away from some of the most beautiful Vineyards/Wineries in Southern Illinois: a 6-minute drive from Blue Sky Vineyard, a 10-minute drive from Orlandini Vineyards, a 15-minute  drive from Owl Creek Vineyard and a 20-minute drive from Starview Vineyard .
  
  
  You can also savor the flavors of Sweden @the Peach Barn in Alto Pass!(40-minute drive)
  

  
  If you're going to enjoy wine, do it safely.
  
  Using SI Tours or Amore Limos is a great way to do just that. Sit back and let them get you there safely, that way everyone can enjoy the wine.
  For more information call 618-985-6953 (SI Tours)
  or 1-888-842-5258 (Amore Limos)
  or 618-457-2665 for the Shawnee Shutlle.
  

• Vertical Heartland Climbing School is a 10 minutes drive from Bac2Basics.
  Eric and Kathy teach rock climbing skills including, climber safety, physical movement and body awareness, technical equipment usage and methods, communication with others and respect for the vertical environment. 
  More information> call: (618) 995-1427
  
• Visiting a Farmers Market in Carbondale on Saturday Morning (April- November) 8am-12 Noon.
  The number one reason customers shop at farmers' markets is produce quality. Consumers also derive utility from the social interaction with farmers and the farm community, especially the recreational experience from a visit to a u-pick or roadside farm stand.
  Area farmers, gardeners and crafts people sell their produce, plants, crafts, and homemade baked goods,jams, jellies, prepackaged salads and maple syrup...
  
  Farmers Market Carbondale
  Westowne Mall Parking Lot
  Route 13 West in Carbondale Free admission.
  For more information call 618)893-4281
  
• U-pick strawberries,blueberries and blackberries in Season. May-July 8am to 8pm Blueberry Hill Farm - Hwy. 51 - Cobden, 62920 - for more information call (618) 893-2397
  For more information about Orchards U-pick activities, please visit the Agritourism website
   
• Take nature walks, hike the River-to-River Trail or, or hike in the many other parks or forests nearby; B2B is surrounded by the Shawnee National Forest and very close to some other fantastic nature destinations.  Opportunities provided by the Shawnee National Forest include hiking and climbing, hunting, fishing,  pedestrian/equestrian trails (i.e.River-to-River Trail), beach recreation, bird watching, rock-climbing/rappelling,  and two National Scenic Byways (Ohio River and Great River Road).  A rich geological history and five ecosystems make the area quite unique. The Shawnee National Forest, with scenic rivers and roadless areas, has the largest acreages of wilderness and roadless areas in Illinois.
  
  
• Playing Golf at the Crab Orchard Golf Club, an 18 hole semi private facility. The par 70 golf course has established itself as one of the better competitive venues in the area.
  The 18-hole course features 6,420 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 70.
  The course rating is 71 and it has a slope rating of 129 on Bermuda grass.
  For more information call (618) 985 4653 GOLF)
  For any other information about the true spirit of the game of golf throughout Southern Illinois visit the SIGA website.
  
  
• Swimming : Public beaches throughout the region provide relief from the heat, plus sand and scenery lacking at concrete municipal pools. Beaches are a great place to spend time with families and friends with picnics and swimming at.Cedar Lake.
  Call ( 618) 549-8441 for more information on the Cedar Lake Beach.
  
• Scuba Diving: Mermet Springs offers submerged training platforms, easy entry docks, dives from 15 to 120 feet in depth and numerous sunken treasures to explore. Mermet Springs is a 40 minutes drive from Back2Basics.
  
• Lamb and wool products at the Walton Farm in Anna an historic 1860s farm.
  Excluding July and August, tours may be arranged for groups of 20 or more with advance notice.
  off Hwy. 146 & Lick Creek Rd.
  For more information call 800-248-4373
• Hunting the thousands of acres of designated hunting areas in Southern Illinois; hunt for deer, turkey, pheasant, and more.
  Also check SILOUTDOORS.COM: a place to learn, share, and experience outdoor sports in beautiful Southern Illinois.
  
  
• Fishing elsewhere: Bluegill, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Walleye and Musky, Rainbow Trout...
  For more information: visit this website
  Want to go Bowfishing ?
  
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►Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge - south side of the refuge is about 10 minutes driving from Back 2 Basics, just north of Blue Sky Vineyard, but the visitor center is 32 minutes according to Mapquest
Phone : +1(618) 998 5933

►Fern Clyffe State Park - 22 minutes according to Mapquest
Rt.37, P.O. Box 10
Goreville, IL 62939
Phone : +1(618)995 2411

►Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge - 26 minutes according to Mapquest
0137 rustic Campus Drive, Ullin, IL 62992
Phone: +1 (618)634 2231

►Giant City State Park - 29 minutes according to Mapquest
235 Giant City Road
Makanda, IL 62958
Phone : +1(618)457 4836 

►Cache River - 46 minutes according to Mapquest - includes Tunnel Hill State Trail
930 Sunflower Lane
Belknap, IL 62908
Phone : +1(618)634 9678

►Rend Lake and Wayne Fitzgeral State Recreation Area - 52 minutes according to Mapquest
11094 Ranger Road
Whittington, IL 62897
Phone :(618)629 2320

►Garden of the Gods - 1 hour and 40 minutes

The Wilderness area is over 320 million years old and covers over 3,300 acres of beautiful old growth forest

►Illinois Wildlife and Nature Viewing Guide


Links to local Events/local activity calenders

►FLIPSIDE: A weekly entertainment window to the Southern Illinois region... and beyond

►Check NIGHTLIFE if you are looking for Live Music in Southern Illinois

►View the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Events Calender

►View the Carbondale Convention & Tourism Bureau's Event Calender

►View the Williamson County Calender of Events.

►View the Blue Sky Vineyard Events Calender: only a 6 minutes drive from Back2Basics.

►View the Starview Vineyard Events Calender: only a 15 minutes drive from Back2Basics

"Reported Wildlife Sightings in Southern Illinois"www.discoversil.com for more information)Links to sites across the state