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Galena, Illinois

Located at the tip of Illinois, a four hour drive from Decatur,
Galena is an area rich in history with a wealth of relaxing
pursuits for your weekend getaway.

HOW TO GET THERE
Take IL 121 to Lincoln. Take I 39 North to US 52 West. Stay on US 52 to Savannah IL to SR 84 (Main St.). Then, take US 20 into Galena.

ACCOMODATIONS
Jo Daviess County is known as "the B & B capitol of the Midwest", with nearly 50 bed and breakfasts, guest houses, and country inns scattered throughout the countryside. While all the facilities in this category have characteristics in common, a true bed and breakfast has a resident host or hostess, serves breakfast, has five guest rooms or less, and offers guests access to the common areas of the house. A guest house may lack one of those elements.

DINING
Dining opportunities in Galena range from home-cooking to haute cuisine. You can breakfast with local farmers at the corner café or dine by candlelight on gourmet fare. Dress in most places is "come as you are" or "casual elegance". For a complete dining guide call toll free 1-888-8GALENA.

LOCAL COLOR
The Galena area offers locally produced products and on-site tours including a vineyard, cheese plant, and toy soldier workshop. The Galena Cellars Vineyard Tasting Room, located at 4746 North Ford Road, offers over twenty varieties in their wine tasting and bottling area with locally produced cheese and sausage available. Follow a sensory program that explains the experience of wine tasting from 11am-8pm on weekends. W. Paul LeGreco is known for his hand painted pewter figurines found at The Toy Soldier Collection at 245 N. Main Street in Galena. All figurines are hand-made on site. Watch as the figurines are assembled and painted. See curds and whey being made into the famous Illinois State Fair Grand Champion Apple Jack Cheese and World Champion String Cheese at the Warren Cheese Plant at 415 Jefferson Street in Warren. The retail shop is open 8am-Noon on Saturdays.

THINGS TO DO
The Galena area offers scenic drives, hiking trails, and world class golf, plus an abundance of antique and local craft shops to visit.

SCENIC DRIVES: the winding country roads of Jo Daviess County offer leisurely scenic roadways including the Stagecoach Trail between Galena and Warren; Canyon Park Road between Stockton and Warren, and The Great River Road, which runs along both sides of the Mississippi River beginning in East Dubuque and passing through Galena and Hanover on its way south.

HIKING TRAILS: A wide variety of hiking trails exist in Apple River Canyon State Park (north of Highway 20 between Stockton and Warren) and Mississippi Palisades State Park (on Highway 84, south of Hanover near Savanna). Eagle Ridge Inn & Resort also has a network of paved fitness trails, primarily for the use of resort guests.

GOLF: The area offers world class championship courses at the Eagle Ridge Inn & Resort. Golf Magazine rates "The General" in the "Top 100 Courses to Play". There are three 18-hole courses and one 9-hole course. Apple Canyon Lake Golf Course and the Galena Golf Club also offer excellent golf. Tee times are required and range from $57-$145 for 18 holes.

This article originally appeared in the June/July 2000 issue of Decatur Magazine.
It may not be reproduced or redistributed in whole or in part without the publisher's consent.
© Copyright 2000 Decatur Magazine - First String Productions. All rights reserved.