Image by dok1 via Flickr
Rich in history, this small Illinois town boasts a large and diverse collection of noteworthy buildings. Many of the shops, restaurants and private homes are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and showcase varying architectural styles, including Victorian, French Colonial and Greek Revival. The city’s Main Street hosts a large number of these treasures, and some regard it as uniquely frozen in time. Boutiques, charming gift shops and outstanding restaurants fill the old buildings, giving the street an old-timey feel. While visiting, be sure to stop by the John Dowling House, the city’s oldest structure. Among the many other historic homes to be viewed are the Belvedere Mansion and President Grant’s Home. Museums like the Vinegar Hill Lead Mine and Museum and the Galena/Jo Daviees County Museum chronicle the area’s past. Fruits of the land can be sampled at the Galena Cellars Winery, and the beautiful countryside for which this area is known can be viewed at lookout points like Long Hollow Tower in nearby Elizabeth. Outdoor activities are also a big draw — skiing at Eagle Ridge Resort, riding the Alpine Slide at Chestnut Mountain Resort (a toboggan-type track that conducts a sled on wheels), fishing, camping, hiking and boating all take advantage of the area’s changing seasons and the beautiful outdoors.
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