TL:DR - Great value, fun and easy ride, would definitely come back…read more ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pricing was about expected for a trail ride. Booking and paying online was easy. Printed the waiver and brought it in. We arrived 15 min early as requested, but no one was in the office. Had to ask someone to get a worker, and someone finally came in 5 min after or scheduled time. A little annoying, but the rest of the trail ride was great, so water under the bridge. Brandi and Bethany helped us on our horses (Pengo and Spartan) and gave us a quick run down of how to guide the horses. The horses were very easy to ride, each with their own amusing personalities. Our trail guide was friendly, answered any questions we had (we were the only riders), and pointed out a few of the other resident horses and little tid bits about them. Also gave us some space to really just enjoy the ride, which was perfect. The trail itself was a basic trail that traversed the Galena territory, went by some houses, up and down some gentle hills. We got back after an hour and they took some photos for us. All in all, it was a great ride and we wouldn't hesitate to come back in the future.

We took a two day adult horse camp this past weekend 10am - 1. The classes were a lot of fun…read more educational, and ended with a one hour long trail ride the second day. Highly recommended!

I absolutely love this place. Limestone cliffs, ravines, bird watching, fishing & hiking. It's not…read moretoo far from Chicago & is a place that makes you happy...breathe in the fresh air, listen to the river water & the sound of birds. Bring your waterproof knee high boots to walk in the river & fishing gear. It's a great stop on your way to Galena. It's off the stagecoach trail so be warned that you may not get reception for some areas so have a map or know some of your logistics. Make sure your GPS has the right location, the state park & not the campgrounds.

My review may be a bit different than other people but during my time here I absolutely enjoy the…read moreviews but what I did not enjoy here were the amenities featured. The bathrooms here were absolutely in shambles and the maintenance at the park is pretty bad. Please be cautious that your GPS will not work in this area either. Poorly labeled trails as well where you can get lost.

A welcoming studio with many pottery pieces to choose from. The owner is a delightful person!read more

To start my twins' 7th birthday weekend, we went hands-on at Creative Adventure Lab -- part art…read morestudio, part science lab, part playground for the imagination. Think oversized Lite-Brite wall, LEGO heaven, magnetic walls, pottery painting, colorful straw building, and even an indoor rock climbing wall. My 3 autistic boys were in sensory heaven: Benjamin dove into LEGO builds, all of them loved the giant foam blocks and magnetic wall, and the Lite-Brite lit up their creativity (literally). The climbing wall? Not their fave -- but that's the beauty of this place: so many choices, you just follow what sparks joy. We only had 2 hours (after school, before closing) but it was the perfect amount of time. Just $10 per kid and free for me . Small crowd = basically our own private creative wonderland. We left with happy hearts, and a few more problem-solving skills under our belts. Checked this spot off my bucket list -- and now it's on my "must-return" list too.

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.

Between the animals feeds and the family style outdoor meals, you couldn't ask for a better family…read morevacation. Every kiddo asked to come back next year. The cabins have beds and A/C which is all you need to encourage the kiddos to play with the animals and explore the farm. Thank you, Amstutz Family Farm, we will be back next year!

Our stay at the Bellevue State Park has been great (minus the gnats) ... many thanks to our…read morecampground hosts for an impeccably clean shower house and bathroom... very much appreciated! We will be back!

Beautiful view of the Mississippi River. Lots of spaces for a picnic. Lovely tree lined drive into…read morepark. Beautiful wild flowers.

Springer's is a fantastic place to learn a practical and fun sport for people of any age group…read more Master Springer is great with kids and the adult classes are a fun, exhausting workout. Tae Kwon Do is the base of the learning, but multiple styles are also taught including judo and tiger style kung fu (kajukenpo).

Walk the trails. I found a scroll hidden and it lead me on a scavenger hunt…read more BEAUTIFUL. Well worth the free admission. So peaceful I was the only one there. I love the road less traveled What a find

If you an outdoor enthusiast, a hiker, biker, and lover of great scenery, you will love what JCDF…read moredoes and offers to the residents and visitors of Jo Davies's County. Staffed mostly by volunteers, they fill the void or lack of a local "Park District" by securing land, preserving, and maintain it for public use. You can visit the following places to enjoy birding, hiking, dog-walking, effigy mounds, and picnicking: Buehler Preserve, Casper Bluff, and Keough Effigy Mounds in Galena, Schurmeier Teaching Forest in Elizabeth, and Wapelle Land and Water Reserve. Another restoration is in process at Gateway Park in Galena which boasts beautiful views or downtown Galena. Also, if you're visiting Galena, make sure to visit and hike Horseshoe Mound, which has commanding views of Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. JDCF also has a monthly narrated tour of Horseshoe, and a number of other educational programs for anyone who wants to attend. Great family events, too like picnics and nature tours for kids. You can learn a lot about the whole Driftless Area from their programs and publications, too. They are funded completely by memberships and grants. One incredible asset to Galena and other communities in this northwest corner of Illinois.