Amish Country and Lake Shelbyville serve as two local attractions that can provide for a day of fun outside of campus.

Both attractions are located about an hour outside of Charleston. Amish Country spreads across Arcola, Arthur, Tuscola and Sullivan.

Less than an hour north of Charleston, the area offers a break from the modern world and a look into a simpler world.

Those wishing to learn more about the Old Order Amish of Central Illinois can go to the Amish Interpretive Center in Arcola, which offers an introductory video and exhibits of contemporary and historical objects.

The center also has guided tours of the Amish community, meals in Amish homes and tours of Amish homes and farms.

Arthur is completely surrounded by Amish Country and has many stores selling Amish-made goods.

The gem of Amish Country is Rockome Gardens, which is filled with gardens, shops, displays and activities.

The 15 acres of gardens and grounds allow visitors the Amish experience with demonstrations in cheese and honey making and blacksmithing.

Visitors can also experience using a horse-powered buzz saw. Visitors also have an opportunity to see an example of an Amish home, have meals cooked by an Amish family at the Rockome Restaurant and go on buggy rides.

Rockome Gardens is currently open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, but beginning June 6 the park will be operating Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There is also the Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum in Arcola, which is a free, not-for-profit museum that preserves and celebrates the artistic and social contributions to American popular culture by Raggedy Ann and Andy and their creator, Johnny Gruelle, who was born in Arcola.

Arcola also houses the world’s only Hippie Memorial, which was built in 1992 by Bob Moomaw.

About an hour west of Charleston is Lake Shelbyville, located in Shelbyville. The lake has more than 11,000 acres of water for recreation such as swimming, fishing, boating, hunting, camping, hiking and biking.

The lake has five federal campgrounds, two state campgrounds, three public beaches that will open on May 26, three marinas and several other recreational facilities.

While the lake is the main attraction, people can visit other places in the area. The General Dacey Trail is designed for walkers, runners and bicyclists.

For history buffs, the city of Shelbyville has several historical sites available for visits. The Lincoln Public Square houses the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which was built in 1907 in memory of all of those who fought for the United States.

In 2002, an eternal flame was dedicated at the square to the men and women who had served in past wars.

The Shelby County Courthouse is a late 19th-century building that houses historic paintings like Robert Root’s depiction of the Lincoln-Thorton Debate in Shelbyville.

The courtrooms are open for viewing on weekdays when court is not in session. Shelbyville is home to the Thompson Mill Covered Bridge, which was built in 1868 across the Kaskaskia River.

The 157-foot bridge is one of five remaining covered bridges in Illinois.

The Best Wedding Chapel in Shelbyville is home to a mobile wedding chapel, which was featured on a 2010 episode of “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” and in the 2011 “Guinness Book of World Records.”

The chapel accommodates theme weddings such as fantasy, exotic, biker and hippie.