Helpful tips for renting vacation getaway cabins in Il.

Tips for Renting Cabins in Southern Illinois

There are many wonderful cabins for rent in Illinois and sometimes it may be a little bit overwhelming choosing the right place to take a vacation.

Whether you book at Docs Lakeside Cabin or somewhere else, here are a few things to think about and questions to ask when booking your vacation getaway in Il.

When was cabin built?
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Built in 2012

Do you want a cabin with a view?

View of lake from hot tub

Do you want to Vacation Rental with a Hot Tub?

                                                                           

Does the Cabin Rental have a screened in porch to help keep the bugs away as you enjoy the evening views?

Are cabin photos recent?
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Other things to think of when choosing Cabins in Il.

Whats on your agenda? So you pick the right location!

Cabins in Southern Illinois are located from the western to eastern side of Illinois with wonderful sites to take in, The Shawnee National Forest, Lakes for fishing and swimming, take a wine tour on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail!, Shop the many small town stores!, Hike our state parks and national forests! and much more.

Docs Lakeside Cabin Bucket List

Here Is a top 5 bucket list of things our guests must see, visit, or try while staying at Docs Lakeside Cabin!

1) Our area has a new attraction that must be visited at least one time while visiting and that is the Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour. They have 8 different ziplines that carry you through the tree tops along the Shawnee Forest. My wife and I were able to visit and absolutely loved it. Tanya is afraid of heights and if she can do this anyone can. Visit their website @ www.shawneezip.com

2) If you like antiques and odds and ends then you need to visit This N That Resale & Consignment Shop located in downtown Anna Il. They have a little of everything. Visit them on Facebook 

3) For those who like to hike we have a couple of places close to the cabin. Trail of Tears State Forest and Larue Pine Hills. For more hiking and rappeling you need to visit Giant City State Park in Makanda Il. The park is about 20 minutes from cabin. Even if you don't want to hike or rappel the drive throught the park is great.

4) Looking for a place to eat? Then you need to stop in at the Brick House Grill located in downtown Anna Il. When we want to eat close to home, this is where we go. The owners are very friendly and the food has always been good. We have also heard good things about the Yellow Moon Cafe in Cobden, about 15 minutes from the cabin.

5) Last but not least, and that is The Bald Knob Cross in Alto Pass. The Cross had a make over a few years ago and looks awesome. Tanya and I were able to go up in the cross before the new panels were installed and the view was spectacular. We were told on a perfect clear day you can see both rivers the Ohio and the Mississippi. The drive from the cabin to the Cross is about 15-20 minutes. If any site is visited this is a must. You won't regret it! 

If you visited the area or are from here and have a top 5 bucket list please let us know.

Some Things to do While Visiting Doc's

Visiting Docs Lakeside Cabin
here is a few things to do!


Hiking / Scenic Views

Pamona Natural Bridge

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Trail of Tears State Forest

Larue Pine Hills

Shawnee National Forest

Cache River Natural Area

Giant City State Park

Bald Knob Cross

Golf

Union County Country Club 

Dalhousie Golf Club

Local Orchards

Flamm Orchards

Rendleman Orchards

Area Restraunts

Brick House Grill

The Potato Barn 

Yellow Moon Cafe

Pizza Villa

The Blue Boar

Giant City Lodge

Fishing / Boat Rental

Cedar Lake

Little Grassy Lake

Crab Orchard Lake

Cache River

Horseshoe Lake

White Crane Canoe Rental

Bicycling 

Tunnel Hill Bike Trail

Illinois Bike Trails

Horseback Riding

Giant City Stable 

Swimming

Anna City Pool
Cedar Lake Beach

Cape Splash and Aquatic Park

Tours / Transportation

Shawnee Shuttle

SI Tours

Shopping

This N That Resale

Rhonda's Place

A Little History On Docs Lakeside Cabin

Doc’s Lakeside Cabin

History

My grandfather “Doc” worked as an iron worker in the northern part of Illinois and would come here to hunt and fish.  Grandpa was the first to have the vision of this area, he wanted to build an “A” frame house, however at first the bank did not share the same vision and it almost did not come to pass. Finally in 1969 the “A” frame was built along with a small pond stocked with different types of fish, including some albino catfish.  Grandpa and Grandma Marge would feed them every day and bluegill would come to the top of the water, and once in awhile we could get a glimpse of those albinos’. Grandpa was an outdoorsman who would coon hunt on “John Henry” his mule and loved to turkey and deer hunt, dig for ginseng and to fish.  He and grandma owned and operated Marge’s Country Kitchen/Doc’s Place.  It was the only place in town that you might have the same person bring your food as well as get some live bait for fishing.  As time went on, many hunting and fishing memories were made.  Doc loved to sit out on his porch in the A frame house and smoke his pipe.  He would look out across the lake and say “That is a perfect place for a little cabin.”  He was a “corker” and loved this lake and this land, so we named this cabin in honor of my Grandpa.  “Doc’s Lakeside Cabin”

The lake was built in the early 1990’s, when my grandmother sold her stock in Johnson & Johnson.  It was always their dream to build one on this property that has been in the family now for 6 generations.   My Great Grandfather had a cabin here many years ago, which would now be under about 24 feet of water, so we thought it would only be fitting to build a cabin back on the land and invite others to enjoy this area as we have for so long.  We love that we are in the backyard of the Shawnee National Forest and the “trail of tears”. 

My father who carves totem poles has one on the point, across the lake, as well as a memorial “Trail of Tears Totem Pole “which is more public and visible at the Vienna Park. He also has built a little red cabin nestled in the woods, where he enjoys his hobbies and horses Cheyenne and Apache.  Cheyenne thinks that fences are for “horses”, and doesn’t believe that “she” falls under that category.  She follows dad around the yard and comes up on his porch wanting something to eat, acting more like a dog than a horse.

We hope you will enjoy watching the ducks, you may also see a few turtles peddling around the lake.  Our newest arrival is a beaver; she is normally spotted early of a morning or at sunset.  The lake has tons of fish and even a few snakes, so watch your step.  One year, Grandpa Doc caught a 20 pound catfish out of this lake.  My little nephew fishes several times a week trying to beat that record.

Doc’s Lakeside Cabin is family-owned and operated right here in Jonesboro, IL.  As my whole family surrounds the lake, we want our guest to feel like “they are family too.”
This lake is special to us, we hope you enjoy it, and come back again.

Video of Docs Lakeside Cabin

Newest Video Of Docs Lakeside Cabin