The springtime thaw is finally upon us here in Downstate! That means it’s time to kick hibernation to the curb, pull on your rain boots, and get out and explore all of the wonderful things that the area has to offer. Nothing hits the spot this time of year quite like embracing nature and reconnecting with the planet as it blooms back to life. Lucky for you, Southern Illinois is a hotbed of activity for agritourism and outdoor adventures. This list is just a few of our favs!

Rainbow Ranch Petting Zoo Baby Bonanza

Nothing exemplifies the bloom of life that happens in the spring quite like this multiple weekend extravaganza in Washington County. Newborn babies of all sorts of critters turn Rainbow Ranch’s barnyard into a bustling place bursting at the seams with cuteness. Goats, sheep, cows, and chickens greet visitors at the gates, proud to show off their adorable new little ones. Aside from the babies, the familiar but still adorable exotic animals are still on display, letting guests get up close and personal with a number of species from faraway lands.

The event, which is opening early for the season in 2026, will run on Saturday and Sunday each week starting March 14^th and continuing through the duration of the spring into May. While Rainbow Ranch is a Downstate favorite year-round, Baby Bonanza brings the added experience of getting to hand-feed farm animals and pet some of the cutest, fluffiest critters around.

Wild Child Flower Farm

Nothing quite manages to liven up a living or office space like fresh-picked flowers. Another springtime favorite here in Downstate, Wild Child in Sumner, is one of the loveliest ways to get out into the world after a few months of cold, dreary weather.  Their rotating selection of hand-picked flowers, delivered on a regular rotation or picked up on a whim at their roadside stand, are always a breath of fresh air, especially in the spring. Later in the year, visitors are welcome to swing by the flower farm itself, where you-pick blooms and photo ops are bountiful.

Schwartz Orchard

In the serene countryside of Marion County, a quaint farmstead sits surrounded on all sides by fruit-bearing trees. While most people associate orchards with the fall, this country store and self-pick farm open their gates to the public in the spring and invite visitors to come and harvest a variety of early-season fruits. Most notably, fresh strawberries bloom in the fields, offering a sweet kickstart to the season.

If you prefer to keep your shoes clean, Schwartz Orchard is still worth a stop. Their farm store features a broad array of homemade products that will spruce up every seasonal dish. Jams and preserves made from the same fruits available on the farm, hand-poured candles, and specialty topicals all line the shelves of this adorable farmstand in the heart of Downstate.

Eckert’s Country Store & Farms

We can’t talk about agritourism in Downstate without mentioning the biggest name of them all. Eckert’s Country Store and Farms, headquartered just outside of Belleville in the Metro-East of St. Louis, has been a shining light of hands-on agritourism for over a century. What started as a humble family farm and orchard has blossomed into an agrarian playground that gives visitors a front row seat to how fresh fruits and vegetables make their way to the table.

Spring is a happening time around the Eckert’s Belleville Farm, with multiple crops bursting to life for travelers to pick. Early in the season, over 300,000 tulips line the fields and rolling hills of the property, adding much-needed color to the season. A scenic wagon ride, curated photo opportunities, and a seasonal bar offering refreshing beverages make this one-of-a-kind event a truly luxurious experience.  Tickets are sure to go fast, so check out their website to grab yours today!

The fun doesn’t end there. Late spring brings yet another crowd favorite to the vast green fields of Eckert’s farm.  As the warm days and rain showers of May move in, bright red strawberries balloon off the vine. These succulent fruits are a springtime classic, making great additions to salads, desserts, and charcuterie boards. Eckert’s offers the option to wander the fields and pick them yourself or browse the aisles of their Country Store for a wide variety of products made with those same berries.

All these options and more make Downstate the perfect place for a spring outing in 2026! With warmer days ahead, be sure to block off a weekend to get your boots dirty and get up close and personal with the agricultural heritage that makes the region so wonderful. As always, be sure to share your outing photos with #DownstateIL for a chance to be featured on our social media!