Want a peaceful, relaxing day of picnicking, hiking, fishing and good old fashioned family fun? Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park is just the place you're looking for. Spend the day and bring a picnic lunch along. There are plenty of picnic tables at the 104.5-mile linear park which spans five counties (Rock Island, Bureau, Henry, Lee and Whiteside). An old tow path, originally intended but never used by animals for towing boats along the canal's main line and feeder routs, provides 155 miles of one-foot-after-the-other fun. Because you're right next to the canal, you'll get a great view of its locks and aqueducts, not to mention the animal life. The going is level and easy at the Hennepin - but be sure to make several stops along the way if you're hiking the canal's entire length.

• Don't miss the marsh observation area and duck blind located near the Visitor Center. There you will see a variety of marsh type plants and animals including ducks, geese, redwing blackbirds, muskrat and cattails.
• If you're up to something challenging, try the 4.5-mile trek in the main complex which is moderately difficult and gives you a broad taste of landscape from tall timber to grasslands to marsh.