Summer in Effingham, Illinois: Single Mom Travel
How to spend two days in Effingham
I can not believe I am even writing this blog post right now but I AM DOING IT! When Effingham Tourism reached out to me about visiting Effingham, Illinois I was like who?!? ME?!? I couldn’t even believe it was real. But here I am writing a blog post all about my time visiting. Being from Illinois anything that has to do with helping tourism I AM HERE FOR IT! So Thank you to Visit Effingham for bringing me to your amazing town so that I can see everything you have to offer!
Day 1: Effingham, IL
Fun fact: Effingham is just under a two hour drive from Southern Illinois and ONLY 100 miles from St. Louis, MO! It was such an easy drive and I was so excited to get there! I was able to Check in @ The Exchange around 10 am and get my day started. As I was driving to Effingham I realized what an easy weekend trip or even just an overnight trip it would be to go there with your friends or significant other!
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While visiting I stayed at The Loft studio apartment. It sleeps up to two people and is the perfect spot for your overnight trip. Whether it be a romantic getaway or in town for a night or two you won’t be disappointed with this space. If you are traveling with a larger group the The Loft three bedroom unit is PERFECT. Both adequately stocked with all the best ammenities and necessities. I was so impressed to see the k-cups fully stocked, a washer and dryer and lord knows I need a fan for noise purposes. The space was spotless and the communication was amazing with the owner. The directions given for check-in were seamless! These are all super important things to be when renting an airbnb.
Next up on the agenda: cocktails & lunch with view
Village Wine Bar and Taqueria Don Pedro are located right beside eachother and actually share a rooftop space. I love that you shop the village wine bar but also pick up lunch and eat on the rooftop patio! My meal was so fresh and delicious. Be sure to grab a margarita too! The best part about these two spots is that they are located directly across from the Exchange, so I was able to walk right on over and grab lunch and cocktails! The shrimp tacos were an added bonus to my meal and super light for my busy day ahead. I also started with chicken nachos with guacamole! The service was great and food was super quick!
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A Segue to Tuscany
Located about 10 minutes from downtown Effingham you will find the Tuscan Hills Winery. The experience itself was so relaxing and the views are gorgeous! I ordered a flight of wine which comes four tastings. My top two favorites on the menu were the Dry Rosa and Chambourcin. You can pick up bottles of wine and lots other goodies in their shop! Along with lots of wine they have a full bar too! The bartender was super knowledgeable about the wine and made great suggestions! The winery was peaceful and provided a great space to unwind on a Tuesday afternoon! Added bonus: Every Monday glasses of wine are 50% off, so plan accordingly!
Kiki’s Paddleboard at Lake Sara
Looking for some afternoon fun or an outdoor activity. Look no further than Kiki’s at Lake Sara. This is also only about 10 minutes from downtown Effingham and a super easy drive! Scott the owner will take you on a tour and teach you how to paddleboard. It was the perfect afternoon activity especially after all the eating and drinking.
Pinky’s
Welcome to Pinky’s my new favorite spot at any lake I have ever been too! They are located at the marina with the cutest gift shop and massive outdoor patio! They have a pretty expansive menu and loads of drinks! The nachos were SOOOOO good and I added on a draft beer with it! It was the perfect spot to take a break in the afternoon! Make sure you grab a photo in the BIG pink chair when you walk in!
Dinner Date
I had a brief break from all my activities and before dinner so I went back to the xchange to get ready for Dinner @ Firefly Grill. Firefly Grill is located less than 10 minutes from downtown Effingham. Be sure to make reservations for special occasions. I started with the cobb salad, ate the Montana mignon as my main course and ended with crème brulee. Be sure to try the firefly sweet chili sour drink and if you can have a glass of the Caymus with your steak!
Day 2: How to spend two days in Effingham, IL
Straight out of a Hallmark Movie Breakfast: First things first is grabbing breakfast at the most quinetessential small town diner—Niemerg’s Steakhouse. Grab a hearty breakfast and take home an iconic pie for later! You will be blown away by how cheap this meal is! For less than $10 you can get you entire meal plus coffee! In the picture below you will see eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and pancakes! Plenty of food for two people!
Hot Girl Walks + Food Network Finds
You all know my love for hot girl walks! So nothing better than burning off the hearty breakfast with a hot girl walk along the TREC which is a paved trail system that weaves in an out of the city, allowing travelers a scenic place to stretch their legs. Whether you are a local or visiting the perfect spot to get your outdoor exercise in!
I was most exctied to venture in to the John Boos & Co Factory Showroom. They create butchers blocks used by the stars in their homes, professional chefs and the pros on Food Network. I wanted to grab some gifts for my favorite people. I love the gift of a butcher block cutting board. The great thing about visiting this showroom they offer amazing factory prices and you will get a one of a kind peace at a fraction of the normal prices.
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Lunch in Effingham, IL
If you are looking for some Downtown Vibes for lunch then look no further than Joe Sippers Cafe. It has amazing food, friendly atmosphere and delicious coffee. Thank you to Brennan the owner for doing a full cupping procedure with me to teach me how to truly taste coffee. It was an amazing experience! The wrap was amazing but I def was eyeing the chicken salad sandwich too!
THE WRAP UP
On my way out of town I stopped by Ginger Ale’s which is a drive thru only drink/snack spot! Of course I stuck with my normal a large unsweet tea but they have FULL blown drink menu that will not leave you disappointed. I was so blessed with an amazing two days in Effingham. I can’t thank the tourism board enough for taking care of me and putting together the most amazing itinerary. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Effingham or you are driving through I hope this blog post provides guidance on the best LOCAL spots! There are so many amazing small businesses in Effingham that truly love their community! Thank you again for making it this far in my blog post!
-Jessica aka Caffeine until Cocktails
