Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route
Brussels Ferry, IL

Take a free ride across the Illinois River (it is okay to turn around and come right back!) Get a feel of the river under the wheels of your vehicle. Nearby is the Mark Twain Wildlife Refuge, the seasonal home for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds on the Mississippi Flyway. (American Bald Eagles, herons, owls, pelicans, geese, duck including many unusually rare species). Free of charge, restrooms available. About 45 minutes round-trip, but note that on sunny weekends the wait can be up to two hours.