As we left the Giant City State Park in the rain, we decided to drive to the nearby village of Makanda hoping for some cell service to load maps. What a fortunate turn that was. We came across the Makanda Boardwalk, which is a set of eclectic shops in old buildings.

We made a couple of purchases from the art studio at the south end of the buildings. We had noticed a garden out back and I climbed up a couple of stairs for a picture. The artist quietly suggested we needed to keep going up the stairs, so we went back and were absolutely amazed at the loving work put into a multi-tiered garden. I asked him how long he had been working on the garden, and he said “about 50 years” with a shrug. It is the most original, inviting garden I have ever stepped up, down, around and through with stairs and passages and plants and sculptures everywhere. If you are ever near here, you must stop and experience this artist’s garden!

The skies cleared and the sunshine was a welcome sight as we arrived at the Marion/Shawnee National Forest KOA Holiday campground. It is a brand new KOA with new RV sites and cabins from the original Egyptian Hills Resort. Maps and signage have not all been switched over to the new name, and they were most eager to welcome guests to the new resort. It has a bouncy water park at the edge of the lake, and a marina to welcome boats for snacks and pizza at the restaurant. This is a great spot for camping or even a small wedding.