3 moments of delight in Southern Illinois
Just to be sure there’s no question about us being a crazy terrier family, we snapped a pic of Super Clyde at the rest stop in Metropolis, Illinois.
In UX writing, which is what I do for a paycheck, we talk about “moments of delight.”
It’s more or less as it sounds. How can we, through the messaging in a mobile app or on a website, make the person on the other side of the screen feel good. A small smile, or maybe a full-on chuckle.
It could be a cheerful greeting on the log-in page, or a silly message when a page isn’t found (404 error). Or, perhaps a little encouragement while completing a process with many steps.
But, moments of delight aren’t only online. In fact, I’m finding them in the real world quite often. Particularly on van trips through Southern Illinois.
Surprise, after all, is one of the best elements of a road trip. Anytime you take a new route or stop for gas, you never know what you might find.
Here are three Southern Illinois towns that gave me a moment of delight, in the order I came upon them.
Chester, IL
One way to cross the Mississippi River from Missouri into southern Illinois is the Chester Bridge, which takes you — not so surprisingly — to Chester, Illinois. And, while it looks like just any other small Midwestern town, it’s not.
It's the hometown of Elzie Crisler Segar.
Who?
The American cartoonist who brought the Popeye character and comic strip to life. The character dates back to the late 1920s, branching out into cartoons, merch and even a 1980 movie starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall (58% on rottentomatoes.com at the time of this posting).
Chester celebrates its famous son with statues — 19 of them form the Popeye & Friends Trail through town. You can also stop by the Popeye Museum and Spinach Cans Collectibles store.
I have to admit, I haven’t experienced any of this. But, I was certainly delighted to see all the Popeye signs while driving through town.
When we do stop, I plan to go to St. Nicholas Landmark, a brewpub in one of the oldest buildings in town. You can sit and watch the Mississippi River roll by while having a bite and a brew.
2024 update: We went back to Chester and nearby Fort Kaskaskia on a recent camper van trip. Our blog is packed with tips for your visit — check it out..
Carbondale, IL
If you’re on this blog (hi, Mom and Dad!), then you likely know that we’re a terrier family. With Scotties topping our list of not just the best terriers but the best dogs.
Maybe crazy terrier family is more accurate.
So, imagine my shock of delight at driving past a high school in Carbondale, Illinois, with terriers as their mascot.
Carbondale Community High School, you are hands down the coolest high school ever. I want a hat, a T-shirt, a jersey, you name it.
Me wear high school swag? Not from my school. But, this school? YES.
The school’s logo is clearly a Scottie, and a ferocious looking one at that.
Their newspaper is the Terrier Times. Their band is the Marching Terriers. And, their athletes are simply Terriers.
One of these days, I’ll plan a family photo shoot in front of a wall around the school that has their mascot and name.
And, well, if I ever have a chance to buy some sweet school swag, you know I will.
Metropolis, IL
Finding Superman and Wonder Woman photo stand-ins at the gas station seemed a little random.
Coming across another Superman at the rest area made us think maybe it wasn’t so random.
Where were we, anyway?
Turns out, we were in Superman’s hometown.
I’m by no means an expert on Superman lore. But, from what I understand, after his home planet Krypton was destroyed, he grew up on Earth, in a town called Smallville. As a young adult, he moved to the nearest big city for work — as many of us do.
That big city is Metropolis.
And, that’s where the story most of us are familiar with picks up. Clark Kent, newspaper reporter at The Daily Planet, is also Superman, the Man of Steel.
Now, what does southern Illinois have to do with all this?
Long before there was a Superman, there was the town of Metropolis, Illinois, founded in 1839 — 100 years before Superman came to be.
In the 1970s, some locals of the real Metropolis had the idea to cash in on a local of the fictional Metropolis. They bought the licensing rights to begin touting their town as the “Hometown of Superman.”
A proposed theme park never happened, but other things did. The town newspaper changed its name from The Metropolis Times to The Metropolis Planet.
Statues followed, and a museum. Gift shops, of course. And, there’s even an annual Superman Celebration in June.
Delightful, no?
Some other destinations in Southern Illinois that seem delightful:
Little Grand Canyon, Pomona, Illinois
Shawnee National Forest, Herod, Illinois
Giant City State Park, Makanda, Illinois
Scratch Brewing, Ava, Illinois