Hotel and ground squirrels at Illinois Beach State Park

July 14, 2024

I was curious about the reopened hotel at Illinois Beach State Park, so went there for a drink and appetizer — with a lengthy detour to the souvenir shop. The lobby still feels empty, and I wonder if there will be any renovation work. It was hard to tell if there’s work in progress, stalled, or not yet begun. There also weren’t many people around, but there might not be mid-afternoon.

The restaurant was also uncrowded. By mid-drink, the only other patron, several tables away, began a monologue on a slight pretext and went on for at least 20 minutes or more — almost nonstop. I can’t tell you about what because I tuned out the barrage of words. There may have been a “how times have changed” theme. Later, the staff apologized, but of course not their fault. Some people need someone to hear them, I suppose.

We didn’t have a lot of time left and I wasn’t up to walking, so we drove around for a bit. Illinois Beach State Park is the only place where I’ve seen 13-lined ground squirrels. The first time there was one in the shorter grass alongside the road. I always hoped to see them again — and now I have.

This time they were in the grass around the parking lots. They popped up like midwestern meerkats. I didn’t count their lines.

For dinner, we went to Stone Creek Grill in Winthrop Harbor, which has the outdoorsy vibe I love.

As long as a canoe doesn’t fall on my head.