Road trip from Baton Rouge to Peoria

Overton Park is a 342-acre public park in Memphis, Tennessee. The park is home to two playgrounds, a dog park, an open Greensward for recreation, a Veterans Plaza, and the 126-acre Old Forest State Natural Area. It features more than eight miles of trails, including the Bike Gate arch and plaza trail. The park is managed by the nonprofit Overton Park Conservancy. Overton Park is also a major cultural attraction, home to a nine-hole golf course, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, the Memphis Zoo, Memphis College of Art, and the Levitt Shell concert pavilion.

Tucked away in Affton, Missouri stands the country home of the pioneer banker, Louis A. Benoist. Today, his mansion has been completely restored today to its original beauty from 1853. The house, now a historic museum, is owned and maintained by the Affton Historical Society. They began Oakland's restoration back in the early 1970s. Visit us for a historic tour of one of Affton's most hidden gems that was saved and still stands today. View our calendar for upcoming events and open house times.

The Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum provides children with the tools and inspiration they need to be explorers and creators of the world. We do this in part through understanding, supporting, and promoting play in the fullest sense of the word, one that includes imagination and creativity.

Surround yourself with spectacular displays of spring blooming bulbs or the blazing color of autumn, the Garden offers a tranquil setting to enjoy the beauty of each passing season. Established in 1951, Luthy Botanical Garden encompasses five acres and offers over a dozen theme gardens, a Conservatory, a garden gift shop educational programming, numerous events, a rotating sculpture exhibit and magnificent floral displays.

A Peoria Park District facility, Forest Park serves as the doorway to more than 500 acres designated as part of the Illinois State Nature Preserve. The center provides visitors with more than seven miles of trails that lead through dense forest, along trickling stream beds, and over dramatic hillsides. The A-frame trail head features a small natural history museum, nature store, and a room dedicated to bird-watching. Trails and museum are free and open to the public. NO PETS ALLOWED!