National Forest… National Park… Illinois State Park… What’s the difference and does it even matter? I’m sure you’ve heard all the terms: National Forum, National Park, State Park, Wilderness, Recreation Area, Natural Area, Ecological Area, and so on and so on! A lot...
Visiting the Shawnee National Forest: Know Before You Go It is no joke that visiting the Shawnee National Forest has become a popular activity over this and last year. The COVID-19 Pandemic has really encouraged people across the country to start recreating in the...
Durable Hiking Footwear: How to choose the right hiking shoes for you! Durable hiking footwear is a topic that I am asked about a lot. It is important to keep your feet comfortable, dry and protected from the elements that you hike in. If you don’t have durable hiking...
A Case Against the Creation of Cairns (Rock Stacking)… Cairn destroying. If you watch my videos, look at my photos and follow me on social media, you’ll know I’ve written and said the phrase ‘cairn destroying’ many times throughout my Hiking with Shawn adventure. You...
5 Southern Illinois State Parks: To Do List Southern Illinois State Parks are great for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy nature while also getting out with friends and family. While most southern Illinois State Parks offer some kind of hiking trail, there is...
10 Hiking Hacks to make your Hike Better! Hiking hacks can go a long way to make your hike better. Hiking hacks are little tricks to make hiking easier for you to focus on enjoyment of the hike. Most hiking hacks we tend to learn on our own – I know I have over the...
