Pool 13, the portion of the mighty Mississippi River between a pair of dams in northwest Illinois, is chock full of wildlife on the ground and in the air, enjoyable by river travelers from the banks and on the boats, from Bellevue to Fulton.

The next time you include cheese in your recipe, maybe there's another variety that works well. Visiting a cheese shop can bring one closer to a new taste, and a place in eastern Stephenson County has more than 50 varieties that can work.

Iowa isn't just all cornfields, there's an island getaway there as well: a place to dock your boat or fuel up, a store to shop at, and places to spend the night. It's all wrapped in one harbor experience in Sabula and a family business for three decades.

The lord in our shelter: You won't find an actual church building in Lake Carroll, but there is church on Sunday summer mornings at its East Marina, where those mindful of their faith come for inspiration and support of one another.

A Chadwick couple's labor of love and Earth has given area veggie and fruit lovers a fresh product for their meals.

Hidden within hills and away from highways in southeast Jo Daviess County is a tiny community best known for its annual music festival and large antique barn – attracting social butterflies and lovers of bluegrass, gospel and country music.

Pungent smells and sour tastes often are what one thinks of when it comes to sauerkraut, but Forreston makes a big deal about it – with plenty of fun and entertainment in a four-day festival that is pleasant and appetizing.

The hymnals inside an Elizabeth church building have long been silenced, and now there are hops hopping all over it – gathering beer enthusiasts who cruise along Highway 20 looking for a lager or Kölsch.

Down on the corner: What might appear to be Sam Malone serving drinks inside a house is actually a Stockton bar with a longtime owner in charge who keeps his customers talking and wanting more.

Before the kids go trick-or-treating at October's end, Mount Carroll attracts the kids on the weekend before the spooky holiday for a festival full of fun, shopping and running around town. This year’s event is 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26.

Rather than shopping at a grocery store for apples, pumpkins and raspberries, a Jo Daviess County farm gives customers the opportunity to pick them straight from the crop, all with plenty of fun around them.