A lot of you have heard of Starved Rock State Park. It's pretty well known in Illinois as a breath-taking place for hiking and adventure. I set out with my best friend to experience it. Although it was pretty, it was so crowded and a little disappointing when it can to the trails. Everything was very modernized and it took away from beauty of the park.

We decided to go to another state park that was nearby called Matthiessen. This was definitely more of what we wanted. If you're looking for waterfalls, hiking, and a less crowded environment this is your place to go. Illinois is known for cornfields, yes, but you'd be surprised to see the beauty Matthiessen has to offer.

There are a few tips I think are super important when heading there. I want to give you the kind of details that are truthful and will make your time there awesome. So first of all, wear rain boots. Not everyone will do this as it seems a little extreme, but there are tons of puddles and streams you will be walking through. Without boots, you will regret it and be soaked. You want to be able to enjoy the full waterfall experience.

Also, bring food. I can't remind others of this enough. If you're like me, you will probably end up like a crazy Dora the explorer wanna-be and before you know it you're far from where you came from. So bring a snack, you'll need it.

Obvious but easily forgotten, bring water. Hydration is key because you know your health and stuff. Also easily forgotten, bring a friend. Preferably one of your favorite friends in the universe. It will make driving there a fun road trip (depending on how far away you are) and exploring even better.

Bring your phone because you'll want to take so many pictures. Don't bring your phone to keep in touch with the outside world because you won't have any service. But hey, that's not really important for the moment anyway.

Finally, and most necessary, explore. Explore the small town that surrounds the park (it has a really cute ice cream parlor nearby.) Explore the-the park itself, get a little bit lost and have a magical adventure.