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Home You are in… Take a Road Trip » Couples Getaway in Mt. Vernon

from the local experts at the City of Mt. Vernon

With its convenient location and unique offerings, Mt. Vernon is a great place to come with friends. For a leisurely weekend to go at your own pace and have a good time, make reservations now for a trip to Mt. Vernon. While here, enjoy great food, outdoor recreation—golf and sculpture park, retail therapy at boutiques and specialty shops and live music. Spend time with friends and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

Make sure to check with attractions ahead of time for up-to-date operating hours, travel policies and health and safety information.

  • Day 1

Swimming Pool at The Doubletree by Hilton

When you arrive in Mt. Vernon in the evening, get checked in to your hotel. The DoubleTree by Hilton has been completely renovated with modern décor and a pleasant atmosphere to be your home base while in Mt. Vernon. Contact free check-in is available, but you will want to stop by the front desk to pick up their signature warm chocolate chip walnut cookie on your way in. Your room will have had a “Lysol 5-point Check” and sealed just for you to ensure proper sanitation. Toss your bags in your room and head down to the lobby for Double Overtime Grill. Enjoy delicious appetizers and a great selection of beer, wine and cocktails, visit with your friends and talk about your adventures for the rest of the weekend before you turn in and get a good night’s rest for a busy Saturday.

  • Day 2

Granada Theatre

The Painted Cowgirl Market

Saturday morning kick-start your day with breakfast at Farmhouse Bakery & Café. Enjoy a scrumptious breakfast and don’t leave without getting a pastry or succulent cookie for a mid-morning snack! Once breakfast is over, decide between golfing and shopping. Golfers head off to Indian Hills Golf Course for 18 holes in a beautiful setting on the north side of Mt. Vernon. 

Now the shoppers are ready to hit the numerous boutiques and specialty shops that call Mt. Vernon home. In our downtown area alone you can visit Daydream, Bling Bling, Laced ‘N Grace and the brand-new Sissy’s General Store. If you have smaller children at home, you will definitely want to make a stop uptown at Little Britches Boutique. If you like specialty gifts and upscale clothing, a stop at The Gallery for Carl’s and M.E. Jackson Jewelers is a must. More home décor, novelty and picking stores can be found on the outskirts of town including Finders Pickers Treasure Island, and The Painted Cowgirl Market. If resale and consignment shops are your jam, call the Mt. Vernon
Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information: (800) 252-5464 

After a full morning of shopping and golf, meet up at The Frosty Mug Bar & Grill for a late lunch or light snack and a cold one or two. Try Matt’s Hog Wings, a Horseshoe (voted best Horseshoe south of Springfield), or the special of the
day. After “The Frosty” as the locals call it, head to Stress Knot Massage for pre-booked couples’ massages that will leave you relaxed and ready for a night on the town. 

After your massage, head to the hotel and get ready for a fun night with two live musical performances and melt in your mouth cuisine from our very own Rare Chop House. Start off with buffalo cauliflower and pork belly bites in the bar area where you will be serenaded by extraordinary musical talent before moving to the dining area for your meal. Enjoy the Rare Experience which includes one starter or two salads, two entrees and two desserts or a bottle of wine from the day’s selection... or order off the exquisite menu featuring favorites such as a hand-cut choice filet, smashed cauliflower and redskin potatoes or fresh salmon with Cajun seasoning, bourbon sauce and choice of side. 

After dinner, stretch your legs with a walk up 9th Street under the glow of the lights to the Granada Theatre where you can take your picture under the historic marquee and see a live performance (tickets required in advance).

  • Day 3

Bonnie Cafe

Cedarhurst Center for the Arts

Start with the breakfast buffet or order off the menu at the Bonnie Café – Airport just east of Mt. Vernon. While you are there, check out the Hall of Honor and Veteran’s Museum. Head back into Mt. Vernon and stop at the Appellate Courthouse, which is the only courthouse Abraham Lincoln tried a case in that is still in use as a courthouse. Take a picture with the 9-foot tall bronze Lincoln statue and walk up the front steps for a picturesque view of the downtown. 

Next, you will want to visit the Goldman-Kuenz Sculpture Park at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts. Cedarhurst is one of only three nationally accredited museums in the state of Illinois! Here you will enjoy one of the premier destinations for large-scale outdoor sculpture in the Midwest, featuring more than 70 sculptures thoughtfully placed throughout the park’s 80 acres. 

We hope you have enjoyed your time in Mt. Vernon and look forward to welcoming you back for a new adventure in the future.

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