Illinois Summer Bucket List: 5 Fun Ways to Spend the Day in Galena

Illinois is home to one of the coolest small towns in America, Galena. Almost everything in town is on the historic registry, it;s beautiful and always a good time.

Galena, Illinois: One of the Coolest Small Towns in America to Visit

I haven't been to this wonderful Illinois town as many times as I would like, but every time I visit, I have more fun than the time before. Those bolded words above we're a distinction given to Galena by the travel website, MatadorNetwork.com.

An afternoon, a full day, an overnight, an entire weekend, whatever amount of time you spend in Galena, there are hundreds of things to do.

Shopping along 'Helluva Half Mile', fantastic restaurants, plenty of places to sip great wines, root beer flights (that's a favorite if you're bringing the kids with you, and for coffee lovers, one place you've got to stop before you head home.

You've crossed getting to Galen off your Bucket List, now here are 5 things I think you'll really enjoy doing while you're in town.

5 Fun Ways to Spend the Day in Galena

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Galena Cellars Winery & Vineyard

A family-owned business for more than 40 years. Believe me when I tell you they have a wine variety for every tastebud. Galena Cellars crafts its wine varieties from 22 different specialty grapes. Come for sips at their tasting room or spend time outside with a public or private tour of the winery and vineyard, they offer both.

Winery | 515 S Main St 800-397-WINE (9463) Vineyard | 4746 N Ford Rd (815) 777-3330

This next MUST STOP location is so beloved.

Vinny Vanucchi's Little Italy

Classic, old-world, made-from-scratch Italian cuisine in a beautiful setting. Many of the recipes at Vinny's have been around for five generations. Daytime or nighttime, you cannot miss an opportunity to eat at Vinny Vanucchi's Little Italy

201 S. Main Street (815) 777-8100

Horshoe Mound Park

This is where you'll have a little of your breath taken away. This 40-acre preserve is one of the most scenic properties in all of Illinois. Stop, relax, take it all in, then take some fantastic photos.

Wait until you see this place at night.

1679 N Blackjack Rd

Mean Bean Coffee Roasters

Find your flavor, create your own, or just be mesmerized by Mean Bean's roasting process. There is always a bag of beans from this place in my house.

240 N Main St (815) 222-8040

Root Beer Revelry

I've had a very passionate love for root beer my entire life and one of my favorite memories in Galena is drinking root beer flights with my daughter, then burping our way down Main St. Get a flight, then buy your favorites for home.

228 S. Main Street