Galena Getaway

Thanks to so many of you (our wonderful friends and family), we were on a little Galena getaway this weekend. And what a relaxing getaway it was!

Robert and Douglas, the innkeepers of Aldrich Guest House, made us feel right at home in their beautiful bed and breakfast. The food they made was absolutely delicious, especially the extra treat we received for having to go a day with a broken shower. (The guests before us broke off the knobs on the shower so we could only take a bath that first day. They had a replacement part shipped and installed by the time we got back that night, and it was as good as new. We even joked that we would have totally had that happen again if we could eat their sea-salted caramel chocolate torte again!)

We spent Friday touring the Blaum Bros Distilling Company, which you should totally tour if you are in that area, eating lunch and beer tasting at the Galena Brewing Company, and then winery hopping at the four local wineries.

Saturday we were in total tourist mode as we took a historic trolley tour of the city and learned so many interesting facts about the history of Galena. We visited the Belvedere Mansion and the home that the people of Galena bought for Ulysses S. Grant after the Civil War. We walked up and down the "Helluva Half Mile" admiring the historic buildings and little shops that adorn the streets. We even indulged in some ice cream and all sorts of dips, jellies, and spreads at the Galena Canning Company. We enjoyed wine and a snack back at the Aldrich House with Robert and Douglas. I loved that we were able to learn more about them, how they ended up in Galena, and about all the renovations they made to the place. If you could see their before and after pictures you would understand- there is such a thing as too much floral. Before dinner that night we went out to Horseshoe Mound to check out some of the amazing scenery that Galena has to offer. I think I only mentioned about a thousand times how badly I wanted to come out there and do family or senior pictures. If only it wasn't over five hours away!

Overall, it was the perfect way to end our summer. If we ever make it up that way again, the Aldrich Guest House will definitely be where we will stay. Thank you to everyone who donated towards this trip for us, we are forever grateful to you all!