Galena, IL

I recently took a weekend getaway trip to Galena, IL, only about 3 hours west of the Chicago. If you’re looking for a little escape from city life, Galena’s got a lot to offer; cute B&Bs, plentiful dining options, wineries and breweries, historic buildings, an active live music scene, nature trails, river walks – and it’s only a 10 minute drive from the Mississippi River. 

A quaint little town with a big heart and an old-timey Americana feel, Galena honors its past like few places I’ve seen. Bring some good walking shoes because the terrain is quite hilly (something us flatlanders of Chicago may not be used to)!

A view of Main Street

Main Street – getting acclimated

Stay near Main Street and you will have an abundance of things to do right outside your front door. We ended up staying at a B&B right off Main and we enjoyed being able to finish up our breakfast and then walk down the street to downtown Galena’s abundance of charming shops and attractions.

Photo by Andrew Jessop

Places to shop

Let’s start with how I start almost every day – with coffee. We stopped into the Mean Bean to get a cup of joe for our morning stroll and we were pleasantly surprised variety of options. You can “create” your own coffee blend using their specialty flavored oils if you so choose, or purchase one of their many varieties already bagged up and ready to go. 

That's some badass coffee

We “created” a bag of toasted marshmallow beans and also bought a bag of “Maple Bacon” beans and “Slippery Nuts” which is a blend of amaretto, butterscotch and toasted almond flavored beans.  I liked that there were several samples of coffee ready to try and the friendly shopkeeper kept opening up bags of beans for us to smell. It was a multi-sensory experience!

Like a kid in a candy store! Photo by Andrew Jessop.

There are plenty of cute ice cream shops to satisfy your sweet tooth in Galena, but if you want to step back in time to the candy stores of your youth, check out Galena’s Kandy Kitchen. I loaded up on candy buttons, rock candy sticks, satellite wafers and other fun treats you just don’t see around much anymore.

Vignettes in a good stop for interesting interior design pieces. We picked up an fun clock here for a very reasonable price. 

Galena Canning Company was probably my favorite shop along Main Street.  This place is a mecca of local canned goods ranging from pickles and preserves to salsas, BBQ sauces and pie fillings – and it’s all available to sample! We had one heck of a belly-filling time munching our way through 50+ free samples and picked out some of our favorites to bring home including pesto, bloody Mary mix, maple syrup and Monterey Jack queso dip. A word of warning – watch out for the “Fire in the Hole” salsa. It’s seriously probably the hottest thing you’ve ever tasted. Sample at your own risk!

Places to Eat and Drink

Main St is overflowing with great dining options and I was able to try a few during my stay. I had 3 memorable meals while I was there, the first being a casual lunch at the Galena Brewing Company, where I tried a flight of their seasonal beers and a yummy club sandwich. The seasonal tiny beers were fun, but my favorite was their Anna Belle’s IPA (what can I say? I’m at IPA fan).  We actually went back there the next night to catch a great music group called the Old 57s, a band that specializes in rocking out to vintage tunes while patrons get their groove on.

My second restaurant rec would be Fritz & Frites. I had a lovely dinner at this bistro that is “A little French… a little German”, but not really a fusion, just a little of each. I’d recommend trying their frites of course, and make a reservation if you think of it, because they do get busy around dinner, especially on the weekends.

Finally, Vinny Vanucchi’s is a place you will probably hear people talking about and for a good reason. This place has got the distinct feel of an authentic Italian trattoria. The décor will keep you interested in piecing together the history of the fun-looking Italian family that owns and operates the place. The food was delicious and I just loved the ambiance and the entire experience of the place.

Back to Nature

The great Mississippi River

Gorgeous woods and hiking paths are everywhere in Galena, and the Galena river winds through the town from its source at the great Mississippi, only about a 10-minute drive (or a substantial hike or bike ride) from downtown. Just west of Galena, the Mississippi is dotted with tons of little islands and would make for some great exploring via kayak or canoe. Some memorable nature moments for me in Galena were rolling down a steep hill across from Grant Park, climbing up a fallen tree, and listening to the numerous varieties of birds while watching the rain peacefully fall over the Mississippi river from a dock.  The quiet of Galena sounds wonderful to a city dweller. I think I slept more soundly here than I have in a long time.

I just HAD to roll down this hill. Photo by Andrew Jessop

A little Galena history

Photo by Andrew Jessop

Galanians are proud of their history, there’s no denying it. You can’t walk a block without coming across a historic building or two, usually boasting a plaque about it's history and built in the mid-1800’s. We visited the historic Ryan mansion during a ghost tour, still open to the public and apparently filled with paranormal activity. Rather than being spooked by spirits, I was in awe of the care given to the preservation of the building and ornate and authentic furnishings of the place. It made me feel as though I had stepped back in time. Galena is also home to Ulysses S. Grant’s home (which offers public tours) and a historic hotel called the Desoto House hotel where Abe Lincoln once delivered a speech on the balcony.

Make sure to consider this charming town for a weekend getaway. The 3-hour drive to Galena is a perfect distance to get away from Chicago, but close enough that it’s an easy weekend escape.

Happy Travels!