Southern Illinois Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
region of Illinois in the United States
About Southern Illinois
In contrast to northern and central Illinois, Southern Illinois was primarily settled by Southerners from Virginia and Kentucky, giving it a distinctive upland south culture. In general, the area's accent and culture share far more in common with Missouri and Indiana than Chicagoland and Wisconsin. The area is fiercely independent and, while friendly, does not particularly care for Chicago. Several communities in the region have very old and unique histories as the area was the first one settled in the state and, given its relative remoteness, it attracted more than a few Utopian communities. Each town tends to be very proud of its unique history and views itself as distinct from other ones in the area. The nickname "Little Egypt" is often used to refer to the region. This stems from the
Southern Illinois Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 12 sections including: