Playground

Right next to the Ohio River and the famous cave itself, this spot is more about the surroundings than any fancy equipment. Kids who’ve been cooped up in the car on the way to Cave-In-Rock State Park basically explode out here, drawn more to the trails and rock formations than whatever’s on the actual playground. It’s the kind of place where the natural setting does most of the heavy lifting — the cave is literally steps away, and that alone keeps kids occupied for a good while. Bring bug spray and don’t expect manicured anything; this is southern Illinois, and it feels like it.