The charming town of Galena, Illinois features a lovingly preserved historic downtown with 19th century buildings. Stroll its historic Main Street and feel all the small town feels.
Walk the cobblestone streets, sample ice creams and root beers and shop from over 125 independently owned businesses. Learn a bit of history at the Ulysses S. Grant Home, pursue outdoor adventures at Chestnut Mountain and attend a magic show. A family getaway to Galena is about enjoying simple moments and togetherness.
What to do in Galena with kids
Galena’s downtown is the main draw, with a variety of shops and restaurants. Kids will clamor for the toy store, candy and ice cream shops. See wooden spoons carved by hand while you watch at Galena Spoon Co. and iron and steel shaped into tools at The Old Blacksmith Shop. Visit galleries, wineries, pottery studios and a store where you can make your own candles and fragrances, Scent Workshop. P.T. Murphy magic show wows with an intimate, interactive one-hour show.
As the adopted hometown of Civil War general and U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, Galena will celebrate its bicentennial in 2026. Tour the Ulysses S. Grant Home to see original furnishings and hear stories of resilience and world travel. Tours run every 15 minutes Wednesday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
About a 15-minute drive from downtown Galena, Chestnut Mountain is a great escape for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and alpine slides, ziplining and hiking in the summer. Overlooking the Mississippi River, the resort offers mini golf, disc golf, Segway tours, river cruises and a bike park. Relax at the indoor pool, hot tub and restaurants.
Galena hosts a variety of events like Great Galena Balloon Race in June, where you can watch hot air balloons float over the park from a picnic blanket while listening to live music.
Where to stay in Galena
Newly renovated Ulysses Suites offer modern, luxurious accommodations right on Main Street. Seven suites in the historic building that used to house the Grant Hotel are fully stocked with luxury linens and comfortable furnishings. We stayed in No. 201, a two-bedroom, two-bath suite with a cool bathtub, window overlooking Main Street, cushy beds, a full kitchen and balcony. Walk out onto Main Street for coffee in the morning and dinner in the evening. We’ve stayed in many places and our kids said this had to be one of the best Airbnb’s we’ve experienced.
Where to eat in Galena
Galena’s local eateries dish up tasty bites from morning to night. Bread & Vine is a favorite for fresh brewed coffees, French pastries and colorful macarons. Their unique bistro menu dabbles in a variety of dishes from ramen to gyros. Otto’s Place and Charlie’s Place are sensational choices for brunch. Our daughter could not have been more delighted with her Nutella and strawberry-topped French toast at Charlie’s Place, where the staff was incredibly friendly.
Try some made-from-scratch Italian recipes at Vinny Vinucci’s Italian restaurant. Dine on the red checker-tableclothed outdoor patio at this authentic trattoria and enjoy family recipes like lasagna layered with creamy cheese and homemade sauce. Pasta a la Vinny is a spicy mix of shrimp, scallops and crabmeat over linguini bathed in olive oil and hot sauce.
Green Street Tavern, in the DeSoto Hotel, serves a French salad topped with Parmesan Dijon-crusted chicken, pecans, apples, cranberries and Blue cheese. The best part is the strawberry-infused butter they serve with the accompanying roll. The historic hotel the restaurant is housed in once hosted President Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain and other notable guests.
Campeche is the place to go for authentic Mexican meals served on an umbrella-lined outdoor patio. If you recognize the name, that might be because the family also owns five other locations of this restaurant on the north side of Chicago.
American Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor scoops Cedar Crest ice cream into crunchy waffle cones and dunks it into nostalgic floats. La Michoacana spreads joy with a variety of homemade popsicles and ice creams with interesting mix-ins. Try the rice pudding ice cream for an interesting spin on two desserts at once. Stop at Root Beer Revelry for foamy root beer tastings and take a six-pack to take relive the happy memories.
Follow Chicago Parent on Instagram.
