All of us in the Underwood Family are pleased to introduce ourselves and invite you to stay with us soon and often at Westerfield Cabins.
Dude and Joy met in college and have lived in several places while Dude was in the Navy. Their family grew along the way – they have four children who are not kids any more! Time in Germany was particularly special and enjoyable, and the German influence here in Southern Illinois is a treat. We especially enjoy the Christmas Markets, parades (we particularly like the one in St. Charles), and the Way of Lights drive-though light display. This year we checked out WonderLights and we highly recommend it!
Dude’s sister, Dawn, manages the property – and I cannot wait to meet you! I live in Mascoutah with our Mom, and we love it here. We recommend that you come and visit in August to experience the Mascoutah Homecoming – there is a parade Saturday and Sunday, tractor and truck pulls, a car and motorcycle show, and live music. There is also a Christmas Parade in December, and a Chili Cook-off and Car Show in October.
All the Underwoods enjoy the outdoors, here are some local activities we enjoy:
Freeburg Recreation Park is 70 acres with a fishing lake, modern playground, and picnic pavilions.
Knobeloch Nature Preserve is a .75 mile loop trail just a couple miles from the Cabins. From the Cabins, you turn right on Rentchler Road and it will be on your right. Parking is limited.
Silver Creek Preserve is an easy 1.1 mile loop trail great for birding, running, and walking.
World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park Missouri has self-guided displays and outdoor animal exhibits, and is well worth the trip to see the important work they are doing to preserve, protect, and inspire. It is 45 miles from the Cabins, they are next to a 300 acre elk preserve called Lone Elk Park.
We are a family of avid readers. You’ll find books tucked into drawers and displayed on shelves throughout the cabins. Curling up with a good book before a roaring fire in a rustic log cabin is a serene experience. Here are some books our family recommends:
- Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
- The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson
- Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
We love to cook! Some prefer to bake, others prefer to grill; there have been bread masterpieces, and some of our holiday favorites include pink candy and peanut butter balls. Yum!
This pink candy recipe is very similar to our family recipe. We buy the cherry chips when we visit Joy’s extended family in South Dakota, but you can also buy them on Amazon.
Music is very important to us! We sing, play, create, and enjoy a wide range of music:
Masterworks Chorale performs live concerts and events throughout the year – they are stunning!
Belleville Philharmonic is another local, incredibly talented group that has live concerts throughout the year.
Instruments we play and enjoy include guitar, piano, synthesizer, violin, voice, and an occasional recorder, ukulele, and ocarina. We nicknamed one of the living areas in the Cabin the “Jam Room” in honor of the previous owners, who are musicians that utilized that space as a music room. It’s a great place to jam to whatever music you like! We provide bluetooth speakers in each of our units, as well as WiFi.
We enjoy the arts, and highly recommend:
The Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis is a former movie palace (it opened in 1929) that now shows broadway shows, Vegas performers, top pop, rock, and comedy concert acts.
Looking Glass Playhouse in Lebanon was founded in 1972 and shows live community productions – we loved Matilda!
The Muny in St. Louis is the nation’s largest outdoor amphitheater dedicated solely to musical theater. Their productions are impressive, and they have free tickets for every show!
St. Louis Art Museum has amazing things to see inside and out.
We are all excited to share Westerfield Cabins with you! It is a great place, a labor of love, and a treasure to experience any time of year. The fall colors will take your breath away, the fire places in the winter are magnificent, the garden beds bloom all spring and summer – it is truly an oasis. Whether you venture out to find local fun and attractions, or enjoy the peace and quiet – you can watch the sun come up or go down over the rolling green southern Illinois farmland. We provide a few books, board games, and some fun old movies; there is always star gazing from the wood deck and s’mores around the fire pit. The Cabins are ready for whatever adventure you have in mind!
We trust that this rustic retreat with modern accommodations will exceed your expectations – visit us today at Westerfield Cabins, just hit Reservations.
Many Happy Returns,
The Underwood Family