Alton Local Guide
Honeybee Vintage is proud to offer the following local recommendations for your next daytrip or shopping excursion to historic downtown Alton, Illinois. This is our go-to list of more "sweet finds" for you in the Alton area.
Whether you are visiting us to enjoy the natural beauty of the river, drive the Great River Road to Grafton or Pere Marquette, do some eagle watching or visit Riverlands Audubon Center, experience the Alton Farmers Market, enjoy a concert at the riverfront outdoor amphitheater, attend one of our festivals, or just stroll historic downtown to explore our shops and restaurants, we hope this list of personal favorites will enhance your trip planning!
Downtown Alton Shopping
Honeybee Vintage - 114 E. Broadway, Alton IL 62002 - 618-619-0811
That's us! Honeybee is a curated mix of vintage, antiques, clothing, jewelry, and gifts in a charming historic setting
Country Meadows - quality country, primitive antiques and multiple dealers - 401 E. Broadway
Tinner's Anvil - well-curated antiques including furniture - 550 E. Broadway
Strangelovely - vintage furniture, decor, and clothing with urban vibe - 230 E. Broadway
Persnickety - traditional vintage furniture and decor - 303 E. Broadway
Mississippi Mud Pottery - handcrafted onsite - 310 E. Broadway
Plant Em - houseplant haven - 302 E. Broadway
Funky Planet Toys - family-owned kid-friendly toy store - 10 E. Broadway
Picture This & More & Nside the Box - art and custom framing, gift boxes - 17 E. Broadway
Jacoby Fine Violins - nationally known violin maker - 11 E. Broadway
Coco+Oak - trendy women's boutique - 110 W. 3rd Street
Olive Oil Marketplace - oils, vinegars, and gourmet - 108 W. 3rd Street
Bluff City Bazaar - local makers and artisans - 612 Belle St.
More Shopping in the Area
Alton Exchange - huge vendor mall with wide variety of old and new - 2990 Homer Adams Pkwy, Alton
Ruby Wren Eclectic Boutique - handmade gifts by local makers plus workshops and classes - 5761 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey
State Street Antiques - 115 N. State Street, Jerseyville
Grafton Art Gallery - 301 E. Main St., Grafton
Grafton Limestone - gift shop with vintage charm - 300 E. Main St., Grafton
Grafton Riverside Flea Market at The Loading Dock - seasonal flea market, 4th weekend April - October - 401 E. Front Street, Grafton
Food and Drink
Post Commons - fabulous coffee hangout, also houses Idle Roasters, CJ's Juicery, and Good News Brewing for woodfired pizzas and craft beer - 300 Alby St.
CJ's Juicery - instead Post Commons - fresh pressed juices - 300 Alby St.
Germania Brew Haus - drive-through local coffee - Ridge St off Landmarks Blvd.
Duke Bakery - neighborhood bakery since the 1950s featuring donuts and more (try the "yum-yum" donut!) - 819 Henry St.
Good News Brewing Company - craft beer and wood-fired sourdough pizza for lunch and dinner with indoor and outdoor seating - 300 Alby St.
My Just Desserts - home cooking, soul food, BBQ for lunch only - order your pie first! - 31 E. Broadway
O/B Slices - crafted pizza by the slice or whole pie plus artisanal fries - 4 E. Broadway
Brown Bag Bistro - local favorite for sandwiches and salads with indoor and outdoor seating - 318 E. Broadway
Old Bakery Beer Company - working brewery with an industrial vibe offering burgers, sandwiches, and appetizers - 400 Landmarks Blvd.
FLOCK Food Truck Park - resident food trucks and indoor cocktail bar - 210 Ridge St.
Gentelin's - fine dining for dinner only - 122 E. Broadway
Tony's Steakhouse - local long-time favorite for steaks and special occasions - 102 W 9th Street
Bluff City Grill - 424 E. Broadway
Fast Eddie's Bon Air - 1530 E. 4th St., Alton
Art Exploration
Mississippi River Steamboat mural - 550 Landmarks Blvd. - This mural is one of the first works of art as you enter Alton. It depicts the heydey of the riverboats on the Mississippi River, by artist Mike Eckhardt.
Piasa Bird - 900 W. Broadway - Perched on the limestone bluff along the Mississippi River, the Piasa Bird Mural is a striking 48-foot-wide tribute to the legendary creature. The stories of the Piasa Bird were rooted in Illini Indian lore and were already well known by the time explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet recorded the details during their 1673 voyage down the Mississippi River. It has been repainted over the years, and is an imagined depiction based on verbal and written descriptions.
Alton Flyaway mural - 136 Front St. - birds take flight on this outdoor mural in honor of the Mississippi Flyaway migratory pathway
Lesser Yellowlegs mural - 224 Front Street - this mural highlights bird conservation by depicting the Lesser Yellowlegs, a species in decline with a migratory path through our area on the way to South America
Miles Davis statue - 117 W. 3rd Street - Alton is the birthplace of one of America's most talented jazz musicians. Born in 1926, Miles Davis has made Alton "the birthplace of cool."
Miles Davis mural - "Eyez on Milez" - 219 W. 3rd - bring your phone for an interactive experience at this outdoor art mural (download Artivive app)
Welcome to Alton mural - 145 W. Broadway St on Ardent Mills flour mill - notice the black line below the flag for 1973 flood level and the red line showing 1993 flood level - 145 E. Broadway
Lincoln and Douglas statues - 100 Market Street "Lincoln Douglas square" - These bronze statues depict Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in the throes of one of their final famous debate of the 1858 US Senate. The debate was held at that location, which is the site of the former courthouse, and the outcome was that Douglas retained his Senate seat, but Lincoln came to prominence in national politics.
Mississippi Mud (Alton Historic Figures) Mural - 310 E. Broadway - This mural pays tribute to some influential figures in Alton's history alongside the Lovejoy Monument spearhead. These include: Urban League activist Jesse Cannon; Alton Memorial Hospital founder Eunice Smith; Hayner Public Library founder Jennie D. Hayner; late senator and River Road Bike Trail pioneer Sam Vadalabene; and a composite image of a Native American.
Other Things to See and Do
Alton Odyssey Tours - walking tours by reservation - 112 E. Broadway
Alton Marina - marina to dock when visiting Alton by boat, frequented by the "Loopers" doing the Great Loop down the Mississippi on private boats - 1 Henry St.
Alton Riverfront - family-friendly destination featuring a playground and splash pad for summer fun - be sure to watch for riverboat cruises docking in Alton, especially Viking Cruise Lines and American Cruise Lines - catch a concert at the Alton Riverfront Amphitheater
Alton Splash Pad - let the kids get soaked at this free Alton-themed splash pad on the riverfront - bring money for concessions and stop at the neighboring playground -
Audubon Center at Riverlands - scenic stop for bird enthusiasts - 301 Riverlands Way, West Alton (just over the Clark Bridge)
National Great Rivers Museum & Melvin Price Locks and Dam - learn about Mississippi River history, wildlife, and commerce, and go to the top of the dam to watch a towboat and barge locking through - 1 Locks and Dam Way
Hayner Public Library - stop in to do research, browse their books, or visit a children's storytime - 326 Belle Street
National Memorial of Military Ascent - outdoor statue display on the bluffs commemorating the WWII D-Day battle at Pointe du Hoc - Great River Road, Grafton IL
The Wedge Innovation Center - This AltonWorks urban revitalization project turned the historic "Wedge Bank" into a technology and innovation center, in partnership with SIUE, and open to the public for co-working space. The Wedge serves our community as a business hub and center of expertise for downtown business development. - 620 E. Broadway
Resources for Trip Planning
Alton Visitor's Center - welcome center and information - 200 Piasa St.
Alton Main Street - altonmainstreet.org - supporting downtown Alton events, shops and restaurants.
Great Rivers and Routes - riversandroutes.com - regional tourism bureau with all the details on area lodging, events, shopping and restaurants - this year we will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the 250th anniversary of America's founding, and the grand opening of the National Memorial of Military Ascent
Annual Local Festivals and Events
Eagle Ice Festival (January) - FLOCK Food Truck Park, Alton Visitor's Center, National Great Rivers Museum, Audubon Center at Riverlands
Bald Eagle Days (February) - Audubon Center at Riverlands, Pere Marquette State Park
Ice Jam at the Dam (February) - National Great Rivers Museum, Melvin Price Locks and Dam
Alton Farmer's and Artisan's Market (March - October) - Landmarks Blvd
All Wheels Drive-in - classic car show (June) - 3rd Street, Downtown Alton
Mississippi River Festival (June) - national and local bands - Alton Amphitheater
Mississippi Earthtones Festival (September) - art, music, and conservation - Alton Amphitheater
Alton Historic House Tours (October) - annual tour of local homes offering a peek inside local historic residences - Alton Area Landmarks Association
First Fridays (First Fridays in October - December) - evening shopping - Downtown Alton
Halloween Parade (October) - Downtown Alton
Christmas Wonderland (November - December) - drive-through light display - Rock Springs Park
Ice Skating at The Loading Dock (November - February) - Grafton