Food... Is it wrong to love it?

There is a local restaurant in  Starved Rock Country  that serves food that is very different from the regular Midwestern food that we are used to.

Cajun food is not what one thinks about when you are in Illinois. You think hamburgers,  pizza, ...yeah defiantly  Pizza , but Cajun...nope that is not what pops into my head when you are thinking about what to eat for dinner.



However, Cajun Connection just outside Utica, IL, is this little place that when you drive past doesn't look like much , but the food is AMAZING! Alligator, jambalaya, etouffee’, or jumbo shrimp,  fried corn, and so much more.

 Some of the dishes are served with Vodoo sauce... first off I want to know what it is and what can it do???
Because that just sounds awesome.

Getting a drink with dinner is just a part of life so  make sure to order a Turbo Dog  then stick around for desert because any restaurant that serves AMAZING bread pudding with sauce deserved a stop regardless of whether you eat anything else... but you will .. PROMISE

The local reviewer / concierge  service  called "Honey Let's Eat" gives this place great reviews.

So the next time you are in Starved Rock Country. Stop by the little pink house outside Utica, Illinois and get yourself some gator... you will be glad you did. 

"Life is an Adventure ... Live it Here!"

Country Music comes to Starved Rock Country

Concerts in Starved Rock Country are held in venues that allow you an opportunity truly enjoy the entertainment. From the annual charity event “Concerts for a Cause” to local county fairs that are just a short car ride away, you can see chart topping artists in outdoor venues that give you that up close and personal experience unlike any other.

Spend the evening with family and friends and enjoy chart topping live entertainment in a family friendly environment. When you are a part Heritage Harbor Ottawa your Adventure Lifestyle is our priority!

Starved Rock Country has more to offer than you ever imagined!

Lady Antebellum
Saturday August 14, 2010 “Concerts for a Cause” benefit, Cedar Point Sportsman Club, LaSalle
This annual event has grown over the years, bringing some of country’s top acts to the area. Country superstars such as Willie Nelson, Blues Traveler, The BoDeans, Jason Aldean, Chris Cagle, Montgomery Gentry and Sugarland and the proceeds from the concert go to benefit a local school or some other worthy cause.
This amazing charity event has raised over $162,000 for local causes.

Craig Morgan
Friday Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bureau County Fair, Princeton, IL

Jake Owen & Jason Michael Carroll
Friday September 10, 2010 at 7:00 pm at the 123rd Sandwich Fair, Sandwich IL


Just one more reason why Starved Rock Country is such a great place to live and play!


The Adventure Lifestyle awaits at Heritage Harbor Ottawa in the heart of Starved Rock Country.

Wakeboarding comes to Starved Rock Country

While at Heritage Harbor Ottawa you are only minutes away from any number of different types of sports,events, and festivals,
The sport of wakeboarding is growing in popularity and Heritage Harbor Ottawa along with the Illinois River are perfect for living your next great adventure.



Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques. Wakeboarding is more than simply staying up and riding on the surface. Riders eventually learn to use edging techniques, learning to move outside of the wake or cut rapidly in toward the wake. Jumps are performed by hitting the wake and launching into the air.

Wakeboard Chicago has partnered with Skydive Chicago to provide a place for those who seek an adrenaline rush like no other. Located on the private sports resort at Skydive Chicago, Wakeboard Chicago has the perfect combination skilled instruction and a comfortable feel that you won’t find anywhere else. Professional instructors give each student individual attention and teach at the level of the student. On land instruction is especially helpful to those who have never tried this sport. Wakeboarding can take more than a few attempts to get the hang of and that is why safe, professional, skilled instruction is so important.

Wakeboard Chicago is a safe, fun introduction to the sport of wakeboarding for anyone age 10 and over. Lessons include training, equipment, and launches from a private dock.

Call for a one on one instruction or set up a group outing. Whether you are just learning the sport or just want to improve Wakeboard Chicago can provide the ride of your life.


Wakeboarding is a great Adventure Lifestyle sport for those who like the adrenaline rush. The feel of being pulled behind a boat, speeding down the river, with your legs strapped to a board is not for the faint of heart.
But once you try it, you’re hooked!


At Heritage Harbor Ottawa the Adventure Lifestyle awaits you in the heart of Starved Rock Country.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Ever think of your life as if it were homework?

We all have checklists of things that need to or that should be accomplished before the end of the day, the week, the month, the summer.

Remember being asked about what you did on your summer vacation? It was a time to recall the adventures you had dared to explore, and the time you spent with family and friends. Retelling the story allowed you to relive the glory and the fun.
Ahhh… the good old days when adventure was expected and doing things because it was fun was what filled your days.

Who say’s that the adventure has to end! Your life is what you make it and if you want to put adventure back into it then Heritage Harbor Ottawa can help you find your bliss.

Our location in the heart of Starved Rock Country can give you access to a multitude of things to do that will ignite a spark within you and allow you and your family to make great memories.Just think of all the new stories you will have to share if you started living the life you always wanted!

Your Adventure Lifestyle awaits at Heritage Harbor Ottawa.

Quality of Life

Heritage Harbor Ottawa, a Premier Marina Resort Community asks if you are looking to improve your quality of life, we have the waterfront property you are looking for.

Our single-family cottages, row homes and waterfront condominiums are designed for a lifetime of maintenance- free ease and beauty at the water's edge.

With scenic riverfront properties and a world-class full-service marina in the heart Starved Rock Country, Heritage Harbor has a home design that offers the amenities that will encourage you to embrace your adventurous spirit and find your bliss.

Heritage Harbor Ottawa offers life on the water in a home that fits your budget but more importantly your lifestyle. Whether you are looking for a vacation home or a year round residence, our premier resort community has new home designs that will allow you to experience the Adventure Lifestyle that you have always dreamed of.

Heritage Harbor Ottawa is located in the midst of some of the most beautiful gifts Mother Nature has to offer. The Illinois River waterway, the majesty of Starved Rock Country, and the peacefulness of a small community, with hidden treasures that cannot be found in large urban areas or even other parts of the country.

So, if you believe that life is something to be enjoyed not simply endured, ask yourself how does one measure the quality of life? At Heritage Harbor Ottawa we believe it to be in the memories you have made, the family and friends you have surrounded yourself with, and the adventures you have taken.

Come for a visit and experience all Heritage Harbor has to offer because we believe you will want to stay for a lifetime.

The Adventure Lifestyle awaits you at Heritage Harbor Ottawa