Galavanting in Galena
For those of you that are not from the midwest, Galena is a small, cozy town located in Northern Illinois. It’s unique architecture boasts 19th century buildings, an impeccably preserved downtown, and the childhood home of President Ulysses S. Grant. My friends and I had an extended weekend this fall and wanted to escape the shenanigans that happen in our city over Halloween weekend (more on that later). We knew that only one destination would do.
Being from Wisconsin, we drove into Galena late Friday night. We checked-in to an affordable B&B about fifteen minutes from downtown. The Longhollow Point Inn allowed all six of us to stay in the same room – the cozier the better #amiright – while still affording privacy. The location was prime and allowed us to easily travel downtown, as well as being a short drive to the many (many!) surrounding wineries.
Making it downtown, we quickly picked out a local spot for dinner. Gobbie’s Sports Pub & Eatery presented an extensive menu with a multitude of options for dinner and drinks. We chatted and drank the night away, engaging in shuffleboard, late-night karaoke, and plenty of laughs between friends.
Waking up Saturday morning, we ventured downtown for a little bit before heading to the Woodland’s Lounge for a quick bite to eat. We drove over to Galena Cellars Vineyard and Winery – you guys, THIS PLACE WAS GREAT. We sampled multiple wines, chatted and laughed, and even ended up buying more wine than we bargained for. Pro-Tip: Try the Concord Grape Wine. You’re welcome.
After our afternoon of wine tasting, we headed back downtown to find a spot for dinner and enjoy the nightlife. Remember when I said we took this little trip to escape our city’s Halloween weekend? Wellllll little did we know that Galena does Halloween just as crazy as where we’re from! We drove downtown and were greeted by throngs of people dressed in all kinds of costumes – monsters, princesses, fantasy characters, you name it! We ended up stopping at Galena’s Kandy Kitchen (because why not?) before making our way to The Galena Brewing Company for dinner. We ate dinner while taking turns running outside to catch the extravagant Halloween parade taking place with floats, hot air balloons, and residents of Galena.
The next morning, we made a few quick stops around town, including the Great American Popcorn Company and the Galena Canning Company. If you love samples, these are the stores for you! Needless to say, we came home with more wine, popcorn, mustard, cheese, and candy than we anticipated!
If you’re looking for a quick, cozy, and intimate weekend getaway, head to Galena. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Until next time –
