For outdoor enthusiasts looking for new places to visit, put Moraine View State Park at the top of your list. Named for moraines, or irregular crests formed by glaciers of the last Ice Age, the Park boasts light swells and spacious valleys containing groves of red oak, white oak, maple, hickory, black walnut, ash and elm. Featuring a 1,687-acre recreation area and a 158-acre lake, the Park is a mecca for hiking, picnicking, fishing, boating, swimming, and horseback riding.

1. Hiking – For stimulating exploration, Moraine View offers a variety of opportunities. Nature lovers will enjoy the 0.5-mile Tanglewood Self-Guiding Nature Trail, which winds around the lake finger in a wooded area revealing a thriving beaver dam and lodge. Backpackers will relish the Tall Timber Trail, a 1.5-mile trail over moderate terrain. The half-mile Timber Point Handicapped Trail offers an opportunity for visitors with disabilities to enjoy the woods as well.
2. Picnicking – Eight shaded picnic areas with tables and fireplaces and five picnic shelters (three available by reservations and two available for first-come) provide the perfect place to picnic with friends, family, or that special someone.
3. Fishing – Regularly stocked with large mouth bass, bluegill, bullhead, crappie, sunfish, walleye, channel catfish, northern pike, and yellow perch, the lake is a fishing paradise. What’s more, the 5 miles of shoreline, handicapped-accessible fishing pier, and two-lane launching ramp with docking facility and boat rentals, offer numerous places to cast your line.
4. Swimming – The Black Locust picnic area includes a public sandy beach where swimming is permitted from memorial Day to Labor Day, Friday through Sunday.
5. Horseback Riding – Timberline Ridge Trail offers more than 10 miles of winding bridle paths for equestrian lovers.

These are just a few of the reasons to plan your next getaway in Bloomington, IL. What’s more, located in the heart of downtown, situated in a park-like setting surrounded by trees, the historical Vrooman Mansion provides exquisite comfort and luxurious amenities for your overnight getaway. Book your favorite room today!