The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail is roughly 18 miles from Carbondale. Visitors can explore the wine trail by foot or choose one of the bus or limousine tours offered by the establishment. Many restaurants are near the trail, as are Rendleman Orchards retail shop and Flamm Orchards retail shop. For those looking to spend a significant amount of time at the wine trail, or who wish to explore one of Shawnee Hill's many wineries, a variety of cabins, hotels and bed and breakfasts are conveniently located nearby.
Shawnee National Forest, roughly 15 miles from Carbondale, is home to over 500 species of animals. Situated in between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, guests are welcome to explore the Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area as well as Giant City State Park and Johnson Creek Recreation Area. Visitors who do not wish to hike can also climb, fish or go horseback riding at one of the many equestrian campgrounds in the forest.
The Hickory Ridge Golf Course is a part of Carbondale's Park District. Hickory Ridge is an 18-hole public golf course. The Carbondale Park District also offers Junior Golf and Hook a Kid on Golf clinics for children, both of which are roughly one week in length. A club house is also open to visitors and features an on-site restaurant and retail pro shop.
Cedar Lake is south of Carbondale and the city owns and maintains a public beach and boat dock. Enjoy the scenery and family atmosphere of Poplar Camp Beach, which includes a lap lane, swim and play area and an area for flotation devices and rafts. Red Cross lifeguards are on duty during beach hours while the area is patrolled by police and Cedar Lake personnel. Visitors to the public beach area have access to picnic tables, restrooms and a concession stand. Those who wish to use the boat dock must have boats with no more than a 10-horsepower motor.
