Allerton Park is in Monticello, IL just outside of Champaign. Kevin grew up going to this park and wanted to show us. It was a perfect way to have a road trip and social distance. It was brutally hot so Camden had a hard time enjoying it, but we walked to some great statues and enjoyed beautiful gardens.
From their website: "Built as a private residence by artist and philanthropist Robert Allerton in 1900, Allerton Park and Retreat Center is a historical treasure that was donated to the University of Illinois in 1946. The property contains 1,500 acres of woodland and prairie areas, a mansion and reflecting pond, a 10-acre meadow, formal sculpture gardens, hiking trails, a cafe, and several lodging facilities."
I have been taking photos on Kevin's phone since it takes better ones, but when the setting gets put on "live" when I upload them to the blog, they are blurry. Lesson learned. Hopefully future pictures will be more clear. I borrowed some photos from the park website so I can capture how beautiful it truly was.
The Fu Dogs lined a wide path near the House of the Golden Buddhas at the end of the Vine Garden.
The Evergreen Lodge was the former residence of the estate owner. The pond was filled with turtles and fish and we enjoyed searching for creatures.
The Sun Singer statue is the first and last thing in the park that the sun touches.
We couldn't find the correct trail to take us to the Gorilla and Bear statues which Kevin said always scared him as a kid. Would love to see!
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