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 (800) 258-6645 A Special Feature of Southwest Illinois News |
 "A Real Little River Town"
by Betty Magrath Enjoy the beautiful scenery as you drive up Route 100, officially known as the "Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway", from Alton to Pere Marquette State Park. The Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail runs along the same route. Once in Grafton, you will find a wonderful selection of various craft and antique shops, bed and breakfast places among homes and a host of other unique businesses. Grafton, the oldest town in Jersey County, offers a wonderful selection of antique and craft shops, restaurants and bed & breakfast lodgings. Families can enjoy year round fun country activities. Visitors will discover as they stroll along the East Main Street of the historic town. Shops specializing in antiques include Country Corner Fudge, Golden Eagle Antiques, Grafton Museum & General Store, Grafton Trading Post, Jacobs Flea Market, This 'N' That Antiques, Treasured Memories and White Horse Antiques. There are numerous specialty shops including: Custom Embroidery Dip Sticks, Fin Inn Gift Shop, Grandma's Dream, Jean's Bright Ideas, The La Marsh House, Mosby Woodworking, My Second Home, Old Rivertown Trading Co, O'l Stone Honey House & Gift Shop, Paddlewheel Treats, Pajarito, Uncle Andy's Produce Stand, W A O Art Gallery and The Wood Worker's Wife. If you enjoy a little bit of everything, stop by the Lighthouse Gift Shop or the Water Street Market, located in the DeSherlia Landing Mall on Water Street. The Grafton Riverside Flea Market, located in the Old Boatworks building, hosts many antique and craft stalls. The Old Boatworks once housed an old paint house and machine shop where they built paddle wheels and the PT109 boats used in the Korean and Vietnam wars. The Kampsville II Ferry, Brussels Ferry, Barge II Ferry and the Brussels II Ferry made at the Old Boatworks are in use daily. Boat building ceased in Grafton in the early 1980's. Today, antique lovers can browze through endless tables of collectibles on several weekends each month from April through October at the Old Boatworks. Relax a while and enjoy a hearty meal or a refreshing snack at some of the most popular eating establishments including the Elsah Landing Restaurant and the Wild Goose Saloon. Plan a rendezvous at the restored Ruebel Hotel and Saloon for the Mystery Dinner Theater or a night in one of 10 new cottages with hot tubs. The Fin Inn Aquarium Restaurant is noted for its 8000 gallons of aquariums built into the walls. It's hard to pass up the homemade desserts at Brainerd's Village Inn. The Brainerd House is home to the award winning Elsah Landing Restaurant, well known for its homemade soups. Stroll down to the river's edge and drink in the beauty of the riverfront scenery from the open-air dining decks at O-Jan's Fish Stand or enjoy food and drink on the decks overlooking the river at the newly expanded Loading Dock. Visitors can enjoy complimentary wine tasting of regional and national wines at the Piasa Winery, housed in a stone building on East Main Street. The native limestone quarried in Grafton during the mid nineteenth century was used as the piering for the Eads Bridge in St. Louis as well as the old St. Charles Bridge. Complimentary wine tasting is also available at Aerie's Riverview Winery or the Chateau Ra-Ha Winery after shopping or riding on the Great River Road. Bike rentals are available at the Country Corner Fudge Store. During late fall and winter, American Bald Eagles can be seen flying over the bluffs above the Mississippi River at the confluence. 
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