Eastern Illinois University (Charleston, IL)

Kid-Friendly Activities:

🌳 Douglas-Hart Nature Center — Mattoon, IL

🎢 Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site — Lerna, IL

🎨 Fox Ridge State Park — Charleston, IL

🧠 Lantz Arena Family Rec Center — Charleston, IL

Family-Friendly Eats:

🍔 Dirty’s Bar & Grill — Charleston, IL

🍕 Pagliai’s Pizza — Charleston, IL

🍦 TCBY Frozen Yogurt — Charleston, IL

Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO)

Kid-Friendly Activities:

🎢 Kokomo Joe’s Family Fun Center — St. Peters, MO

🎨 Foundry Art Centre — St. Charles, MO

🌳 Frontier Park (riverfront walking trails) — St. Charles, MO

🧠 St. Louis Science Center — St. Louis, MO

Family-Friendly Eats:

🍔 Prasino — St. Charles, MO

🍕 Dewey’s Pizza — St. Charles, MO

🍦 SugarBot Creamery — St. Charles, MO

Little Rock (University of Arkansas at Little Rock)

Kid-Friendly Activities:

🧠 Museum of Discovery — Little Rock, AR

🌳 Little Rock Zoo — Little Rock, AR

🎢 Big Rock Mini Golf & Fun Park — Little Rock, AR

🎨 Clinton Presidential Library — Little Rock, AR

Family-Friendly Eats:

🍔 The Root Café — Little Rock, AR

🍕 Damgoode Pies — Little Rock, AR

🍦 Loblolly Creamery — Little Rock, AR

Morehead State University (Morehead, KY)

Kid-Friendly Activities:

🌳 Cave Run Lake — Morehead, KY

🎨 Kentucky Folk Art Center — Morehead, KY

🎢 Eagle Trace Golf Course (kids welcome) — Morehead, KY

🧠 Daniel Boone National Forest — Morehead, KY

Family-Friendly Eats:

🍔 Pasquale’s Pizza & Pasta — Morehead, KY

🍕 Reno’s Roadhouse — Morehead, KY

🍦 Dairy Cheer — Morehead, KY

Southeast Missouri State University (Cape Girardeau, MO)

Kid-Friendly Activities:

🌊 Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center — Cape Girardeau, MO

🎨 Discovery Playhouse Children’s Museum — Cape Girardeau, MO

🌳 Trail of Tears State Park — Jackson, MO

🧠 Lazy L Safari Park — Cape Girardeau, MO

Family-Friendly Eats:

🍔 Broussard’s Cajun Cuisine — Cape Girardeau, MO

🍕 Pagliai’s Pizza — Cape Girardeau, MO

🍦 Andy’s Frozen Custard — Cape Girardeau, MO

SIU Edwardsville (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville)

Kid-Friendly Activities:

🌳 Watershed Nature Center — Edwardsville, IL

🎢 Edison’s Entertainment Complex — Edwardsville, IL

🎨 Wildey Theatre — Edwardsville, IL

🧠 The Magic House — Kirkwood, MO

Family-Friendly Eats:

🍔 Peel Wood Fired Pizza — Edwardsville, IL

🍕 Dewey’s Pizza — Edwardsville, IL

🍦 Annie’s Frozen Custard — Edwardsville, IL

Southern Indiana (Evansville, IN)

Kid-Friendly Activities:

🎨 Children’s Museum of Evansville — Evansville, IN

🐾 Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden — Evansville, IN

🌳 Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve — Evansville, IN

🎢 Walther’s Golf & Fun — Evansville, IN

Family-Friendly Eats:

🍔 Turoni’s Pizzery & Brewery — Evansville, IN

🍕 Angelo’s Italian Restaurant — Evansville, IN

🍦 Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream — Evansville, IN

Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN)

Kid-Friendly Activities:

🎨 Adventure Science Center — Nashville, TN

🐾 Nashville Zoo — Nashville, TN

🌳 Centennial Park — Nashville, TN

🎢 Gaylord Opryland Gardens & Delta Riverboat — Nashville, TN

Family-Friendly Eats:

🍔 Burger Republic — Nashville, TN

🍕 Five Points Pizza — Nashville, TN

🍦 Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams — Nashville, TN

Tennessee Tech University (Cookeville, TN)

Kid-Friendly Activities:

🌊 Burgess Falls State Park — Sparta, TN

🎨 Cookeville Children’s Museum — Cookeville, TN

🌳 Cane Creek Park — Cookeville, TN

🎢 Dogwood Park Splash Pad — Cookeville, TN

Family-Friendly Eats:

🍔 Father Tom’s Pub — Cookeville, TN

🍕 World Foods — Cookeville, TN

🍦 Cream City Ice Cream & Coffee House — Cookeville, TN

University of Tennessee at Martin (Martin, TN)

Kid-Friendly Activities:

🌳 Discovery Park of America — Union City, TN

🎢 Martin Recreation Complex — Martin, TN

🎨 Weldon Public Library Kids Zone — Martin, TN

🌊 Reelfoot Lake State Park — Tiptonville, TN

Family-Friendly Eats:

🍔 Sammies — Martin, TN

🍕 Blake’s at Southern Milling Co. — Martin, TN

🍦 The Grind Mac & Cheese Burger Bar — Martin, TN