Lebanon, Illinois

What's so great about it: If you're ever nostalgic for yesteryear, Lebanon is a great place to go. The historic town has a strip full of cute shops, a community theater and beautiful homes for architecture geeks to admire. Photo courtesy of Instagram / jillianpye.

Lebanon, Illinois

What to eat and drink: You'll feel like you've stepped back in time at Dr. Jazz, an old-school soda fountain in Lebanon. Grab a table for a burger and fries, or pick a stool at the counter to enjoy a milkshake. Photo courtesy of Instagram / semisuitelife.

Clarksville, Missouri

What's so great about it:Quality often matters more over quantity, and that is surely the case in Clarksville. The population may be smaller that your high school, but Clarksville offers beautiful views of the Mississippi, historic homes, antique shops and simply a chance to disconnect. Oh, and the food. This is definitely a town where you don't want to forget that. Photo courtesy of Instagram / mrkeanebean_p.

What to eat and drink: Clarksville is home to Overlook Farms (901 MO-79, Clarksville; 573-242-3838, overlookfarmmo.com), which is made up of 327 acres, 5 greenhouses and 26 hoop houses. The farm produces its bounty all year, and you can try the amazing food when the farm is open to the public for special events (keep an eye on the farm's calendar and social media). The kitchen makes dishes made with the farm's produce, and other ingredients come from local suppliers. Photo by Three Ring Zing Photography.

Elsah, Illinois

What's so great about it: You know those miniature village scenes people use as decoration around the holidays? Yeah, those might as well have been modeled after Elsah. Tucked up in the bluffs, this small town is a hidden gem. Park, wander the shops and take in some great food. Photo courtesy of Instagram / morganb2014.

What to eat and and drink: Located along the Mississippi along with nearby Grafton and Alton, Elsah has access to all sorts of food and drink options. A quick drive will take you to the Loading Dock (401 Front St., Grafton; 618-786-3494, graftonloadingdock.com), a laid-back spot along the water that offers great patio seating, live music and food such as burgers and fish tacos. Photo by Dreaming Tree Photography.

Kimmswick, Missouri

What's so great about it: Kimmswick looks positively lovely from the sky ... and from the ground, too. Here you can step back in time on the Delta Queen, the country's last authentic overnight steamboat, or in one of the town's numerous shops, many of which reside in historic buildings. Kimmswick is only 25 miles from St. Louis, making it perfect for a day trip -- but if you want to make a night of it, you can stay at one of Kimmswick's bed and breakfasts, too. Visit visitkimmswick.com for more information. Photo courtesy of Instagram / magnus_fett.

What to eat and drink: While in Kimmswick, you have to visit the Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery (6116 2nd St, Kimmswick; 636-464-3128, theblueowl.com). It's home to the "Levee High Caramel Apple Pie," which has been featured on the Food Network, in Oprah Magazine and more. In addition to desserts, the Blue Owl also has a full menu of homemade cooking. Photo courtesy of Instagram / eireann.ev.

Cuba, Missouri

What's so great about it: When you're looking for interesting attractions, there's nothing quite like road tripping along historic Route 66. And Cuba is a great stop: it's home to a giant rocking chair. In addition, Cuba has numerous murals that would make for a good Instagram photo while you're there. Go to visitcubamo.com for more information. Photo courtesy of Instagram / p1nkgypsy.

What to eat and drink: Cuba has several unique eateries. We suggest a trip to Missouri Hick BBQ (913 E. Washington Blvd., Cuba; 573-885-6791, missourihick.com). This two-story restaurant is an obvious photo op, with hand-crafted tables and chairs, as well as meats treated with its special rub and house sauces. Photo courtesy of Yelp / Laney C.

Waterloo, Illinois

What's so great about it: You can get your history fix in Waterloo with visits to Peterstown House (275 N. Main St., Waterloo; 618-939-4222), Bellefontaine House and the History Museum of Monroe County (618-939-5008, monroecountyhistorymuseum.org). Love beer? Visit Hopskeller, a brewery located inside a remodeled, pre-Civil War home (116 E. 3rd St., Waterloo, 618-939-2337, hopskellerbrewing.com), or the Stubborn German Brewing Company (119 S. Main St., Waterloo, 618-504-2444), which serves “real German beer, in a real German town, made by real Stubborn Germans.” Photo of the Stubborn German Brewing Company courtesy of Instagram / stubborngermanbrewingwaterloo.

What to Eat and Drink: Don't miss a chance to eat at Dreamland Palace, a restaurant offering traditional German food. The building was originally a general store, dance hall, tavern and stage-coach stop used by Waterloo's German immigrants. While it has had renovations since it was built in 1875, much of its historical elements are still intact. RFT photo.

Ste. Genevieve, Missouri

What's so great about it: Ste. Genevieve is the oldest permanent European settlement in Missouri, and you can see its rich history even today with its eighteenth century architecture and narrow streets. It's also near some awesome outdoor adventures, including Hawn State Park (12096 Park Dr., Ste. Genevieve; 573-883-3603) and Cave Vineyard (21124 Cave Rd., Ste. Genevieve; 573-543-5284, cavevineyard.com), a winery that, yes, includes a cave for your sipping pleasure. Ste. Genevieve has a great tourism website to find just the activities you're looking for during your stay. Photo courtesy of Instagram / ohhilindsay.

Where to eat and drink: Beyond the wine, Ste. Genevieve also has a great restaurant called Audubon Bar and Grill. Named after the famed ornithologist and artist John James Audubon, who once owned a merchant shop in downtown Ste. Genevieve, Audubon Bar and Grill serves contemporary American dishes with locally sourced ingredients in a relaxed atmosphere. Photo by Jessica Wolk.

Hermann

What’s so great about it: Wine, wine and more wine. Hermann is home to the Hermann Wine Trail, a network of seven family-owned wineries nestled among beautiful scenic countryside. The quaint town is beautiful too, dotted with antique shops, bed and breakfasts and plenty of German charm. Photo by Elizabeth Semko.

Where to eat and drink: Get a taste of German cuisine at the Vintage Restaurant at Stone Hill Winery (1110 Stone Hill Hwy, Hermann; 573-486-2221, stonehillwinery.com), the oldest winery in Missouri. The restaurant is located in a former carriage house. Got a sweet tooth? Dig into some of the amazing pie at Sugar Momma's (407 Market St, Hermann; 573-486-5263, sugarmommashermannmo.com). The coconut cream pie is a best-seller. Photo by Elizabeth Semko.

Springfield, Illinois

What's so great about it: As home to all Lincoln's presidential library, Springfield is an ideal trip for history buffs. Check out Lincoln's tomb, located less than five miles from Cozy in the Oak Ridge Cemetery (1441 Monument Avenue, 217-782-2717; lincolntomb.org), the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum (212 N. Sixth Street, 217-558-8844; www.illinois.gov/alplm) and the Lincoln Home National Historic Site (426 S. 7th Street, 217-492-4241; www.nps.gov/liho), along with some great hole-in-the-wall dining. Photo of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum by Doyle Murphy.

What to eat and drink: It would be wrong to leave Springfield without eating a horseshoe, an open-faced sandwich topped with cheese fries that will remind you of a slinger. D'arcy's Pint (661 W. Stanford Avenue, 217-492-8800; www.darcyspintonline.com) is a good option to get your fill. Photo by Doyle Murphy.

Greenville, Illinois

If you feel like all small towns around St. Louis sort of just blur together, you haven't seen all the quirky things in Greenville. There's the DeMoulin Museum (110 West Main Street; 618-664-4115), a nod to the interesting products created by DeMoulin Bros. & Co. (think: a spanking machine, bucking goats and trick chairs). Then take a tour at Marcoot Jersey Creamery (526 Dudleyville Road, 618-664-1110) to learn about the milking process and other fun things related to cheese. Photo by Allison Babka.

What to eat and drink: Be sure to grab some homemade ice cream at the end of your tour. On your way out of town, hit up Blues Springs Cafe (3505 George Street, Highland; 618-654-5788) for a down-home meal of fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, or catfish. P.S.: It's cash only. Photo by Allison Babka.