Illinois River
2021 Photo Contest Winners
Thank you to all that participated in the 2021 Photo Contest. Below are the contest winners that will appear in the printed guide — available at the end of February. Keep an eye out for that edition to see the overall winner. 2021 was a great year on the Western Rivers and Gulf Intracoastal Waterway […] Read More
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
River Festivals
Let’s face it, 2020 was not the best of years for nearly everything — including events. Luckily, with the official 2021 boating season just around the corner, events are back — and that means the sound of boats on the water and people on the banks of river festivals around the Heartland. Take a look […] Read More
Historic River Town Opens New SkyTour
The city of Grafton, Illinois is continuing to expand upon its all-inclusive nature with a new SkyTour just minutes from the river. Launched in late October, the new cable lift starts at the town center near Mainstreet and climbs 300ft above the river bluffs for one of the best views of the Mississippi, Missouri, and […] Read More
A Floating Island in the midst of Historic Floods
The city of Grafton sits at a unique position along the confluence of the Illinois & Mississippi Rivers and is a popular spot for local and transient boaters – as well as motorists from across the country traveling the Great River Road. With the 2019 tourist season just underway, the city of Grafton has been […] Read More
Dock & Dine
A brief guide to eating your way along the inland waterways By Brad Kovach Part of the fun of cruising on the inland waterways is discovering new places, new people and, for some, new restaurants. To help you reach the highest levels of gastronomic boating bliss during your travels, we’ve compiled a list of spots […] Read More
TowBoatUS Opens New Locations in Racine, Wis., and Waukegan, Ill.
Captain Gareth Stamm, a recreational boat-towing captain and business owner, opened his second TowBoatUS location on the Illinois River last year. Now Stamm is seeing growth potential on Lake Michigan with the opening of TowBoatUS Racine and TowBoatUS Waukegan. The two new locations, which span the Illinois-Wisconsin border, replace TowBoatUS Kenosha, essentially doubling the company’s […] Read More