Last fall Marcia and I took a weekend trip to Oregon, Illinois. Now Illinois is the second flattest state in the US, beaten out only by Florida. So many people think there is not much to see here outside of Chicago. In fact, I suspect the highest point in the state reached by the general public is the observation deck of Sears Tower.
 

However, Oregon, Illinois is the starting point for the Chocolate Trail, the delicious creation of Sharon who runs the Pine Hill Bed and Breakfast, a restored Victorian mansion dating from the 1800's. She hands out a brochure, which lists many places in Oregon, and nearby villages where you can buy chocolate treats. If you visit ten places, get your brochure stamped, and mail it in, you are in the running for some free pounds of chocolate. We are waiting.

The Rock River flows through Oregon. On a bluff overlooking the river is a huge concrete statue of Chief Blackhawk. We were told he weighs several thousand pounds. Marcia thought he must have hit the Chocolate Trail big time.

Pine Hill B&B is a yummy place to stay, literally. Upon arrival you find your bedspread strewn with chocolate kisses. In the afternoon Sharon sets out a tray holding several varieties of her delicious, rich homemade chocolate fudge in huge chunks. Take a knife and carve yourself out a few pieces. Along with the fudge is fresh coffee and tea with ice cream and real whipped cream standing by in the refrigerator. You can have everything mit schlag. For true decadence, sweeten your coffee with fudge and plop a gob of whipped cream on top. That combination should rocket you the top of Pine Hill's sixteen-foot ceilings.
 

Sharon even has a full-fledged chocolate library and research center at Pine Hill. You can study the history of chocolate, check up old recipes, and become a chocolate expert while sipping her coffee and consuming mounds of her chocolate fudge concoctions. What a way to go!

White Pine State Park is a few miles west of Oregon. It has the southernmost stand of white pine in the USA and is very scenic. It also has a very good restaurant that serves buffalo and rabbit along with more standard fare. I had rabbit and Marcia promised not to tell Chaucer I ate his brethren for dinner.

The thumbnails to the left lead you to four photos of Pine Hill, one of a chocolate display in the Cat and the Fiddle, and a view of the restaurant at White Pines State Park.