Wend your way through Galena's past
I always feel like I'm 5 years old again and zipping along a roller coaster as I drive the twists, turns and hills on Highway 20 into Galena. Yet it's only with the eyes of an adult that I can appreciate the majestic beauty that unravels with each passing mile.
If you've never made the trip to Galena, now is the time to go. Spring is exploding in hills as the harsh winter slowly slips away, and there is no better way to greet the first signs of summer than with a hike through the palisades.
The nice thing about a trip down to Galena is that it can fulfill the needs of almost anyone. Galena is a historic town filled with museums, bookstores and antique shops, as well as being a mecca for nature lovers and outdoor sports enthusiasts.
You can hike the hills carved out by glaciers thousands of years ago. But flatlanders beware: While the hiking isn't mountainous, the palisades are a little tougher than your average hike through the mall. If you're not into seeing the arresting landscape by foot, you can hop on a bike and follow several winding trails or take a tour boat on the Mississippi River, soaking up the sights, sounds and smells of nature.
Galena is also known for its birding, so the ornithologist in the group can track down the bufflehead. And flower lovers can also hike the paths and hope for a sighting of the rare birds-eye primrose.
If you just can't have fun without a 9-iron in your hand, Galena also features some top golf courses, including Eagle Ridge Resort, which was named by Golfweek as one of the best courses in the U.S.
And if you'd like to think you're above it all, you can hop in a hot air balloon and get a unique view of the hills and valleys.
For those of you who live to shop, you'll be charmed by the little storefronts lining Main Street. At Poopsie's, you'll find all sorts of quirky gifts. And at Galena Canning Co., the gourmet sauces and snacks beg to be brought home as gifts. The Atomic Toy Co. takes you back in time to when you fought fierce battles with your siblings using a sparking ray gun or spent lazy afternoons with baseball pinball. You can't walk more than 10 feet without spying an antique store. (It's worth noting that antiquing in Galena should not be equated with bargain hunting. You'll find a lot of hidden treasures in these stores, but you'll have to spend some dough for them.)
Local artists display wares in several shops so you can bring home a vision of Galena in a sculpture or painting. Or, if you'd rather, a taste of Galena after touring the town's winery, Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery.
After a day of hiking, biking, rafting, ballooning, wine tasting and shopping until you darn near drop, you might head up to Stonedrift Spa at Eagle Ridge Resort and get a drifting stone reflexology massage, as well as a pedicure for those pooped phalanges.
Now that you've exhausted and refueled yourself, it might be time to feed your body and your mind.
There's no shortage of restaurants, from casual bar food at historic Benjamin's and Italian at Vinny Vanucchi's to upscale dining at Eagle Ridge or the DeSoto House Hotel (by upscale, I mean you'll get a cloth napkin; the overall dress code in restaurants very casual -- nary a tie in site).
To feed your mind, hit one of the roughly 15 museums and historic sites in the area. You can wander through historic old homes and museums to see how early settlers lived, visit the Apple River Fort where one of the battles of the Black Hawk War was fought or tour the home of General Ulysses S. Grant.
OK. So, this is supposed to be a story about taking a day trip. No doubt, you can jet down to Galena from the suburbs, do some shopping, grab a bite and then head home (it's about a 2½-hour drive). But you just might want to spend a day or two to really embrace all the town has to offer.
Key sites
• Ulysses S. Grant's home
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday
Suggested donation: $3 for adults
• Apple River Fort
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday
Suggested donation: $3 for adults
• Galena Canning Co.
106 S. Main St.
• Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa
www.Eagleridgeresortonline.com for information on Eagle Ridge, the spa, hotel accommodations, restaurants, horseback riding and golfing
• DeSoto House Hotel
• Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery
Vineyard tour hours: 2 p.m. daily; 2, 4 and 6 p.m. Saturdays; noon and 2 p.m. Sundays
General info:
www.Galena.org for information and trip planning assistance, including lists of restaurants, hotels, shops, museums and groups to organize outdoor activities.