What to do and see in Vienna, United States: The Best Places and Tips

March 31, 2018 Sheron Bogner

Vienna (/vaɪˈænə/) is a city in Johnson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,434 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Johnson County and the site of two well-known state penitentiaries.
Restaurants in Vienna

1. Mermet Springs Scuba

Vienna, IL 62995
Excellent
86%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 69 reviews

Mermet Springs Scuba

Mermet Springs is a full service dive site and scuba training facility that offers on-site scuba instruction. We strive for excellence and cater to dive shops, instructors, students and certified scuba divers of all experience levels and certifying agencies. Whether you are looking for a scuba training facility or a dive site that you and the entire family can enjoy, plan your next trip to Mermet Springs where you can dive in First Class.

Reviewed By phil0859 - Grand Junction, Colorado

Mermet Springs offers a great venue for fresh water diving with equipment rentals and instruction combined with lots of interesting submerged attractions and friendly and attentive services. Wreck diving on the 727 alone is worth the trip, but that's just one of the remarkable things to do and see. I've been to tropical diving locations, but enjoyed Mermet Springs just as much.

2. Cache River State Natural Area

930 Sunflower Ln, Belknap, IL 62908-1000 +1 618-634-9678
Excellent
87%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 21 reviews

Cache River State Natural Area

State-owned and managed nature reserve consisting of 11,768 acres of wetlands including bald cypress and tupelo gum swamps.

Reviewed By Taylor B - Chicago, Illinois

Friends who live in southern Illinois or visit the Shawnee National Forest on vacation often have talked to us about the wetlands and swampland in the Cache River State Natural Area. A swamp in Illinois? Sure enough. Cache River State Natural Area is situated in southernmost Illinois within a floodplain carver long ago by glacial floodwater of the Ohio River. When the Ohio River adopted its present course, it left the Cache River to meander across rich and vast wetlands. Among the outstanding natural features in this unique backwater are massive cypress trees whose flared bases, called buttresses, exceed 40 feet circumference. Many are more than 1,000 years old, including one that has earned the title of state champion bald cypress because of its huge trunk girth, towering height and heavily branched canopy. It reminds of the famous Rain Tree in the movie Rain Tree County. The Cache River State Natural Area covers 14,960 acres in Johnson, Massac and Pulaski counties. It provides food, cover and water for an incredible diversity of plant and animal species, more than 100 of which have been listed as endangered or threatened by the State of Illinois. The wetlands in this area are so important to migratory waterfowl and shorebirds that i 1966 the Ramsar Convention collectively designated them a Wetland of International Importance, only the 19th wetland in the United States to receive the distinction. The site also offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing and hunting in season. If you plan to stay overnight, there are cabins available in the nearby towns of Goreville, Ozark, Jonesboro, Elizabethtown and Buncombe. To reach Cache River State Natural Area, take I-57 south to I-24, go east to exit 14 (Vienna), turn right at the stop sign onto U.S. Route 45, go south through Vienna for 7 miles, turn right on the Belknap road for 4 miles to the stop sign in Belknap, turn right at the stop sign on Main Street and go 2,000 feet, turn right onto Sunflower Lane (past the Belknap Methodist Church) and go north 1 mile to the park office, which is located in the white metal Pole building. It may seem like you'll never get there but the informative and friendly staff is as excited to see you as you are to see them. Eureka. You probably never thought places like this existed in Illinois.

3. Tunnel Hill State Trail

Rt. 146 East, Vienna, IL 62995 +1 618-658-2168
Excellent
79%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 36 reviews

Tunnel Hill State Trail

Reviewed By sldufhglviuser - wisconsin

My wife and I rode here two separate days in March 2017 and covered the entire trail in that time. Surface is crushed stone and easily rideable with our 32 mm tires. Riding skinny road bike tires might be a challenge as the surface does give a bit and it would be a chore to manage then. That said, the trail is interesting and fun to ride. We started both days at Tunnel Hill and round tripped south, then north the 2nd day. Bathrooms are a bit uncared for but useable. Well worth the ride though!!

4. Cache River Basin Vineyard and Winery

315 Forman Ln, Belknap, IL 62908-1311 +1 618-658-2274
Excellent
73%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
0%
Terrible
18%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 11 reviews

Cache River Basin Vineyard and Winery

Reviewed By Barry-n-Jill - Fairfield, Illinois

Jack is a hoot, and the wine here is really top notch with many varieties, something to fit everyone's taste. The restaurant here is top notch, it really is out favorite place to eat in Southern Illinois.

5. Vienna Town Square Antiques Mall

114 N 4th St, Vienna, IL 62995-1683 +1 618-658-2215
Excellent
84%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 6 reviews

Vienna Town Square Antiques Mall

Reviewed By macska - Paducah, Kentucky

I had heard about this antique mall but hadn't had a chance to visit until this past Saturday. We were pleasantly surprised and happy with the variety, price and style of items that they have there. Here you can even buy farm fresh eggs, when they have them. Unfortunately they had not had a delivery yet that day so we left with the few treasures that we had found, but without fresh eggs.

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