Best of Galena, IL
The best of Galena, IL! I’ve been there three times, so I figured it’s time I share some of my favorites! If you’ve never been, this is a perfect place for a short getaway with some girl friends, the family, or you and the hubs! I feel like I’ve experienced it in quite a few categories - honeymoon, girls trip with my mom and sister, and most recently, a bachelorette party! I’ll share some of my favorite small shops, other activities to do in the area, places to stay, and of course restaurants!!
Favorite small shops:
The best part about going to Galena is going in and out of all of the small shops. I think I;’ve been into almost every single one of them! It’s so fun to see the unique little gifts and treasures in each. I did have some favorites, though!
Poopsies: This is such a fun store for babies, toddlers, and kids! Even if they’re not with you, this is the perfect place to pick up a gift for them! They have toys, games, books, stuffed animals, and so much more!
Great American Popcorn Company: The BEST popcorn & saltwater taffy, plus such a fun atmosphere & kind people! Definitely a must stop for some snacks & sweet treats!!
Red’s Iron Wholesale Barn: There are so many incredible metal signs and decor for inside and outside! Definitely a must see!
Root Beer Revelry: Exactly what it sounds like! Racks full of different kinds of root beer! The labels are fun to read and this makes an awesome gift, too!
Union Leather: Tons of cute bags, jackets, wallets, etc! Fun to look around and find pieces you might not see elsewhere!
These are just a few. There are so many interesting and amazing shops to spend time in! There are boutiques with clothes + home decor, numerous snack + sweet treat stops, and other places to look around!
Favorite Restaurants:
I know that I haven’t even scratched the surface on this! I can’t wait to go back and hopefully try some new ones soon, too! No matter what kind of food you’re looking for, they most likely have it!
Vinny Vanucchi’s: This one holds a special place in my heart. This is the first restaurant my husband and I went to on our honeymoon and it was just us and another couple in the upstairs area - it was so romantic! Christmastime and the only things lighting up the room were candles and Christmas lights! They have delicious food! Definitely recommend!!
Durty Gurts: This place is full of laughs. Everywhere you look around there are silly sayings and things around you. I had a chicken sandwich when we went (I wish I could remember which one, sorry!) and it was one of the best ones I’ve EVER had!! They have your burgers, fries, and baskets type meals!
Victory Cafe: The best breakfast spot! I love breakfast foods, so this was the perfect find for our last morning on our honeymoon, plus when I went back with my mom and sister, we went again and they agreed!
Activities to do in the area:
Shenandoah Horseback Riding: Everyone here was so nice and they offer a variety of different activities involving horseback riding. Evening rides, trail rides, riding for kids, etc. Great place!
Winston Tunnel State Natural Area: I haven’t ever been to this area, but this definitely looks like something my husband and I will do if we ever go back! 203 acres for hiking, nature viewing, and a historic railroad tunnel!
Grant Park: This landscaped park is right next to the Galena River and a short walk from all of the fun shops downtown! There’s a gazebo, numerous pieces of history to read more about, basketball court, and walking bridge! This was peaceful and a nice place to sit in the beautiful weather!
Places to stay:
Hotels: There are plenty of hotels in the area if that is the option you prefer! For our honeymoon we stayed in a Best Western and it was really nice! (This was before VRBO & Air B&B became big things!
VRBO/Air B&B: The second two times I went (both girls trips) we stayed in VRBO/Air B&B’s. I really liked this and I will include my favorite one! There are so many amazing options in the area, so you really probably can’t go wrong!!
As you can tell, there is so much to do here! The options are endless whether you are there with a significant other, friends, family, etc! I hope this was helpful, I can’t wait to hear about some of your favorite things if you’ve ever been there or are going!☺️
🖤Sydney
