I have been looking for a waterfall that doesn't require any hiking and voila this is what I found…read more We went to this place on the way to Galena it is called Thunder Bay waterfalls you just park walk a little bit and the Falls is there they even have a selfie station or a ledge that you can put your phone in and just take your selfies it's a pretty nice place to stop at for a few minutes and just take pictures. Happy sighting!

Discovered this nice , small waterfall in the Galena Illinois area. You don't need to spend much…read moretime here , maybe fifteen minutes tops. If you're in the area , it's worth a quick stop for some nice photos. The parking area is located very close to the falls. Maybe a two hundred yard walk. The terrain is a little bit bumpy for elderly people to walk on, but you can still view the falls from the road above if you don't want to get out of the car. The water empties into a beautiful , slow moving stream , surrounded by wildflowers. This attraction is free to view.

The Belvedere is a beautiful mansion that has stood the test of time--rich with history. You'll…read morefind youself wanting more. It has had multiple owners over the years and the few historians who are trying to maintain and preserve it do a wonderful job. Also, the tours are extensive with, Q&A throughout. I'd like to mention that you need to ring thr bell. (Push button). Again this is a very old building. If you show up and you are not greeted, it is because you did not ring the bell.

Beautiful Mansion and everything you want to learn about the history of the Belvedere. The tour had…read moregave plenty of history, why it was build, and the history it still contains inside. The Mansion itself is just so beautiful, feels a bit cramped and so much pieces and masterpieces that it contains. The tour guides were friendly and knew all the details and explained the story the correct way and very entertaining. After we left we had to google the history itself to learn more. This is such a hidden gem! Tip: To save some money buy the combo tours which include Belvedere mansion and the dowling house. Also bring cash for the tips at the end of the tour!

Great place to stop if you are spending anytime in Galena! Staff was very knowledgeable and kindread more

One of many historical buildings associated with our 18th president, the Ulysses S. Grant home in…read moreGalena, IL, is a good stop for history buffs. Growing up in IL, I had learned about the town of Galena and this home from my school education, but never seemed to find a trip to take me there to check it out. So as my wife and I were heading down the Mississippi River road from Iowa/Wisconsin to Missouri, we made a slight detour to come to Galena to visit. There are two main parking areas (both free): one on the opposite side of the road and one next to the home. There is a large lawn to the left of the house, where one can wander while waiting for the next tour to start. The tours run continuously from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm, and multiple guides will lead multiple small groups of 16 or less through the home. One might need to wait outside for a maximum of 15 minutes, which is how long we ended up waiting. Admission is free, with a donation box (suggested $5 per person) at the end of the tour. This 3,300 square feet, brick home was built and fully furnished as a gift to General Grant and his wife, coming from the citizens of Galena, after the end of the Civil War. The Grant family did live here for a short period of time, before he moved to Washington after being elected president, though they maintained legal residence here for sixteen years. The Widow Grant maintained ownership until her passing in 1902. It was donated to the City of Galena, and then given to the State of Illinois in 1931, which manages it today. More than 90% of the items inside the house were originally owned/used by the Grants. It's a short tour, about 20 minutes in length. Our volunteer guide was good, answering our few questions and guiding us where we needed to move to. After the tour, he suggested we go next door to a replica of a general store during that time. One interesting display was a large diorama of each president and the pets that they had in the White House. There are a lot of open historical museums associated with President Grant: -- He was born (1822) in Point Pleasant, OH, in a small one bedroom cottage which is now a private museum. -- National Historic Site is in St. Louis, MO, in the estate where the Grants from 1854 - 1860. -- rented a small home in Galena from 1860 - 1861. Left to rejoin the army. -- returned to this home in 1865, until becoming president. -- National Landmark is found in Mount McGregor, New York and was his final home, where he finished his memoirs and died in 1885. -- National Memorial (Grant's Tomb) is found in Manhattan, NYC and where he and his wife are buried. -- Presidential library and museum is on the campus of Mississippi State University.

Laid back place to get a unique cocktail and enjoy some music. Bartenders are friendly and have…read moregreat suggestions. Huge drink menu. Don't expect a quick (or common) drink here, plan on relaxing and enjoyable experience.

We had a blast at the Bloody Mary bar and listening to live music on St. Patty's day weekend! This…read moreWisco couple loves Galena!

This is a must tour when visiting Galena! They took us to 3 different wineries in the area that…read morelasted 3 hours. The tour guide, Randy, was very informative and friendly. The people on the tour were very nice too! I will definitely go back for another wine tour next time I visit Galena!

Gorgeous locations, great wine and value, such a nice time! And Randy the bus driver is the…read moreabsolute best!

A visit to Council Hill Station is one of my most highly anticipated experiences. It's a uniquely…read morebeautiful and unusual experience. It's beyond my capabilities to adequately describe the place. It's a historic landmark with remarkable charm. But perhaps it's most unique and delightful feature is the proprietor, he is a most charming and charismatic person. He shares his many interesting stories of his musical career And he often will pick up a guitar, harmonica or sit at the piano and thrill you with amazing songs and his impressive musical skills. not to be missed.

We've been coming here a long time and I don't know of any place as significant and unique as…read moreCouncil Hill. We made it out there in the winter time because we were with friends who had never been there. We had to practically drag them away. The vibe and the patrons make it really special. Drop in musicians and impromptu jams in a groovy, historical place .... Nothing else like it.

The tours meet inside the DeSoto Hotel lobby area and you must pay in cash for the tour. Our guide…read morefor the night was Steve. Steve works at the local library and helps patrons with historical research, so he gets to hear a lot of ghost stories. The tour is a walking tour that winds its way around several blocks in town and even goes up the hill slightly to Bench street, so be prepared to walk. Steve mixes the history of the town with assorted ghost sightings and stories. He will even show you areas that were used to film "Field of Dreams". To round off the tour you get to go back inside the DeSoto for a little building history and the ghost stories there. One story which I found to be very striking is the "lady in black" especially since the hole was found in the wall last year after the flood. That is very eerie as that the spot she always disappears into. Remember the show "If Walls Could Talk"? A final stop in a quiet dark room to sit around a table and talk about our experiences if you wish, and the importance of learning the history of places. All in all it was definitely worth the money for the history, ghost stories and the entertainment. It was a fun evening and I would do it again just to hear the stories.

With our kids being 9 and 12 years old, we were looking for something light and fun...something…read morewith a bit of history and mystery. Local library historian, Steve, more than delivered. He was enthusiastic, knowledgable, and a bit corny. He was perfect! We loved that the tour was on foot, that the price was reasonable ($15 per adult and kids free), and that the stories of "ghost-like experiences" were just right for our kids. A must 90 minutes after dinner on a gorgeous night in Galena.

My favorite place in the world. Breathtaking and beautiful! Full recharge place mentally.read more

This location has a beautiful scenic view of other states, bluffs and well manicured wide green…read moregrass walkways. Be sure to walk East from the main McKeague overlook (the one with with the Summer/Winter and true North/South markers), on the grassy path over to the next view of the Mississippi River and more flower, foliage and butterfly's.