If you enjoy nature but don't like sleeping outside, then this incredible lodge in Illinois is a place for you to visit.

Camping And The Outdoors Isn't For Everyone

I was pretty lucky as a kid because we took some awesome family vacations. Every summer, we would take a road trip. Sometimes, it was completely planned out while other years it was impromptu and we didn't exactly know where we were going to end up.

One thing I knew we definitely weren't going to do was camping. My parents wanted no part of it. When I asked, they never gave me a straight answer. I was good with that. I had gone once in Cub Scouts. It's never fun camping in a tent when it rains all weekend.

Enjoying Nature Without Camping

It's funny because my mom and dad did enjoy spending time outside and taking in nature. They created a loophole. They figured out that many of the amazing state parks across the United States had beautiful lodges. We would rent a room in one of those places instead of camping outdoors. In fact, that was what my parents considered roughing it.

Illinois Is Home To Some Of The Best State Parks Lodges

I know a lot of visitors to Illinois focus on Chicago but there are plenty of other interesting places outside of the Windy City. The Land of Lincoln is home to some incredible state parks and lodges. One of the best in the country is located here.

One Of The Top State Park Lodges In Illinois And The United States

If you're thinking about hitting up an Illinois state park and lodge this summer, I recommend checking out Pere Marquette State Park and Lodge. It's located in the southern part of the state in a little town named Grafton.

According to pmlodge.net,

Welcome to the most unique, hand-made Lodge in Illinois, located within 8,000+ acres of State Park!

Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, the historic Pere Marquette Lodge and Conference Center is the place to go if you are looking for a popular tourist attraction but, without the crowds!

Some of the things you can enjoy during your stay include a huge stone fireplace, a life-size chess set, a view of the Illinois River, an indoor pool with a hot tub, a restaurant, a winery, banquet space, special events, and so much more.

For more info, HERE.

RANKED: Here are the most popular national parks

To determine the most popular national parks in the United States, Stacker compiled data from the National Park Service on the number of recreational visits each site had in 2020. Keep reading to discover the 50 most popular national parks in the United States, in reverse order from #50 to #1. And be sure to check with individuals parks before you visit to find out about ongoing, pandemic-related safety precautions at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

LOOK: Stunning vintage photos capture the beauty of America's national parks

Today these parks are located throughout the country in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The land encompassing them was either purchased or donated, though much of it had been inhabited by native people for thousands of years before the founding of the United States. These areas are protected and revered as educational resources about the natural world, and as spaces for exploration.

Keep scrolling for 50 vintage photos that show the beauty of America's national parks.

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