Day Trip to Galena Illinois

John and I are still over in Iowa, enjoying a quick day trip to Iowa City. We’ve been on the go quite a bit during this trip but it’s all been good times with friends and family. The other day John’s brother’s family took us over to the historic town of Galena, Illinois.

Along the banks of the Galena River, a tributary of the Mississippi, Galena is a tourist destination best-known as the home of Ulysses S. Grant and the DeSoto House where hotel guest Abraham Lincoln spoke from the balcony in 1856.

The main street is lined with pubs, restaurants, confectioneries and shops filled with goods from local artisans. We strolled along until we came to the Galena Cellars Winery where we stopped in for a tasting… or six.

Trolley tours, ghost tours, and trips to Grant’s old house are staples for out-of-town visitors however our shopping, wine tasting, fresh popcorn flavour-sampling, and river-side stroll was plenty to enjoy already.

We’re heading back to John’s hometown today from Iowa City and the sun is shining once more. Time to hit the road and the rolling hills of Grant Wood country on the way home.