Fall Travel Series: Galena, Illinois

The best way to describe the historic main street shopping area of Galena Illinois is that it resembles any small town in a Hallmark Christmas movie. The pictures don’t do it justice. The beauty of the old buildings lining the street is that the road curves and ascends slightly uphill. This gives the whole downtown a layered cozy look that you just can’t quite experience through the camera lens.

There are a few other buildings off the main area that still look and feel the charm of the area.

A bridge over the river connects the downtown to a park and the residential area that is full of historic homes and other museums such as the US Grant State Historic Site and the Belvedere mansion (pictured below).

Having been to the area a couple of times now, and twice in November when there was snow on the ground, we found ourselves a waterfall and a hiking trail to round out this very hiking heavy fall travel series. The day we went was brisk but we fell in love with the stone bluffs and the solitude of being the only visitors out on this mid week November day. We started at Thunder Bay Falls and then drove to a few trail heads in Apple River Canyon State Park.

This trip we had chosen to stay at the Irish Cottage hotel on the edge of town and driving through the snow tipped hillsides and taking in the waterfall made us feel that spirit of Ireland that was the inspiration behind the hotels naming. It was gently snowing on our hike as we followed the water down along this limestone bluff. It was a pleasant experience, but one that told us that despite the days still left on the calendar- the warm and colorful autumn we love has passed. Time to warm yourself by a fire after a long day outside in the cold and start thinking of Turkey feasts and Christmas dinners. Our Fall Travel Series has come to an end. Until Next Year!