Driving down highway 178 (Clark street) just beyond the down town business district of Utica Il on…read morethe east side of the street you will find an old western frontiersmen style of store called Mix's Trading Post. Upon waling in through the front door you will either be delighted or intimidated at the decor and style, but do no fret this place is awesome. From 1920's post cards ($1.00 collectors items) to moccasins to Motorcycle Jackets, this place has it all. I stopped in on this particular occasion to look for a new pair of biker boots, I have looked around and I was either unhappy with either the style or prices I found else where then I laid my eyes on some traditional style Milwaukee lace up boots (not those plastic buckle sort of things that look like roller blades) with a nice modern touch dual zippers on the side so you lace them the way you like tie a good knot and you never have to lace them again! Thankfully they take credit cards becasue I was not planning on making a purchase but at $105.00 who could pass this up. The owner is good old guy who checks up on you but does not follow you around and keeps good conversation short. If you are from the area and have not been here what are you waiting for? and if you are just passing buy stop on in and check them out there is something here for everyone.

In 15 years of coming to Starved Rock State Park and exploring the surrounding towns, I've only…read morestopped in twice, the first time in 2002 or so, and more recently just 2 days ago. The place hardly changed (except for a new biker bar annexed to it), and is a welcome sight whenever we visit town, with its familiar storefront and vintage Western style sign. It promises unique treasures inside, and it delivers! The eclectic mix of merchandise includes biker/Native American/fantasy themed tchotchkes. They also sell Minnetonka and Red Wing boots. I saw a whole wall of guns and bullets. My prize finds are vintage Starved Rock postcards and some new old stock glass seed bead bracelets. Prices are inexpensive to moderate. I hope they stay in business for many, many more years!

A nice little shop in the center of North Utica. On my way in to August Hill there was a sign on…read morethe door saying they'd be back in 10 minutes, and I stopped in after my visit to the tasting room. This gift shop is bursting with interesting items, from locally handmade candles (soy wax), to dishcloths that disintegrate after a few weeks, to pouches and pockets made from paper. There are t-shirts, items for infants, and so on. It's a very small shop. I love the sustainable and environmentally friendly niche it's carved out for itself. The proprietor was welcoming and friendly (chatting with myself and the shoppers as we wandered around). I bought several candles (I really need to stop buying or start burning them, because I have more than I have burned in the past ten years), one of which was the plant parent scent for a friend of mine. It smells so amazing--like having a bouquet of cut flowers right next to you--that I worry I'll talk myself out of it and it won't make it to her birthday. You should pop in when you're in town.

As I walk in a feeling comes over me! Of excellence. This is definitely a family business - it's…read moreclean, the little details are all in place. The cashier was attentive and there is a lot here. Military, household items, historical artifacts - i'm sure this could keep you occupied for years of repeat visits. A gem of a find. I wish the cashier was a slight bit more welcoming! I traveled a long way to get there!

I loved the place and it's where I could get a real made westclox and it's not made in China it's…read moremade in LaSalle

Today was the first time we had eaten at Lock 16 in 7 years. So glad we decided to stop. Some of…read morethe original cooks are back in the kitchen again. The soup and quiche were delicious. We will definitely stop again. Glad the have Lock 16 back on our list of places to eat!

Friendly place, service was excellent, prices very fair…read more Food was MUCH better than was expected. In fact, my Lock 16 Club sandwich with a Caesar salad was among the best clubs I've ever had. Family got the black bean burger and the Turkey/Cranberry sandwich, all enjoyed. Stop by, you won't be disappointed.

Can be a little chaotic with a long menu and folks wandering around in there to get away from the…read moreheat and still dealing with the pandemic. Would have to agree with Natasha P. that $3 for a generous soft serve cone is a good option here - flavorburst is just $.25 more. Finishing a hike with this to look forward to is a nice cap to the day or to take on a sunset walk out to an overlook.

This is the gift shop at starved rock and I have not really perused the souvenirs but I sure have…read morehad the ice cream every time I am here. It is a nice and inexpensive treat that you can enjoy after a log hike on the rock! The have both the soft serve in many flavors (which is what I get) and they have actual ice cream and fudge that look amazing but I have never had.

Starved rock is a beautiful destination for hiking. Lots of pretty trails and depending on the…read morerain and time of year they have waterfalls. The lodge and visitors center and clean and welcoming.

Quality/Quantity - Good visitor center. Also staffed with…read morefriendly volunteers, thank you. Lots of information at the visitor center, and the volunteers go out of their way to set up your hike for success. They recommended to go counterclockwise when looking at the map to avoid going up the 150+ stairs. We did the Wildcat Canyon Trail. Very easy and shaded. The canyons are so beautiful. Atmosphere - 2630 acres. Open 7 days a week, see pictures, Yelp, or their website for specific hours. Small cafe, ice cream station. Events, see picture or website. Clean bathrooms at the visitor center, plenty of outhouses in the parking lot. Many picnic spots, BBQ grills, some shaded, some open, etc. Plenty of free parking. No water, streams, etc... No falls today. We only saw one orange water stream, polluted, do NOT drink or get into the water! The volunteers at the visitor center said the water is toxic. Campgrounds, lodges, etc. Service - 6 stars, especially from the volunteers. Price - Free, parking free also. Owner Comment - Thank you Illinois for such a beautiful free park.

I loved this bar. So much room for big events. Had a live band. Multiple full bars. The food menu…read moreis short but it's good food! Will definitely be back here.

Good food, good music good drinks. and shopping. Great place to see your local bands.read more

A nice little shop in downtown North Utica that sells a host of items: Jewelry, clothing,…read moreaccessories, lotion, and so on. I was greeted when I entered the store and wandered around a few minutes before I stumbled on to the cute little bottles of perfume that are small enough to attach to a keychain like a charm or something. Cute, practical, useful! While there was plenty to peruse, yet it didn't feel cluttered or overwhelmingly crowded. They use ApplePay (and probably other digital wallets, but this is the one I have) which I appreciate because it makes payment so simple! I'd recommend a stop here when you're in town.

This is a quaint women's clothing store that includes shoes, purses, jewelry, dress clothes, and…read morenice everyday clothes. The owner is friendly and polite. I was in today and she had many nice items with wide aisles and little clutter. The store is in the ever-evolving village of Utica. I hope to visit again when I have more time to shop.

My husband and I stopped in at the tasting room for the first time last October. We enjoyed it so…read moremuch we returned again this Spring. We were warmly greeted by Rori, our server (also our server last year). We chose 6 wines to sample and Rori poured and explained each wine to us. This young woman really knows her stuff. We ordered a small cheese board to enjoy with our final wine choices. This was more than just a stop for wine; it was an experience. I highly recommend the wines, the food and the friendly and knowledgeable staff. we'll be back.

This is a review is for August Hill Winery on the Hill in Peru Illinois. This is their production…read moreand vineyard location open only on Sat/Sun from mid May thru October. They also have a tasting room and ship in North Utica. Wine flights,glass or bottle and light snacks are available for purchase. You can bring in your own food and pets are welcome. Bring a lawn chair,enjoy the views of the Illinois Valley and listen to free entertainment from 1-4 on selected weekends. More info on their website. They do need outdoor facilities and steps or a ramp up to the Hill would be a nice addition along with a paved entrance. A fun way to spend a day !