It's Official: Illinois' Very Own Galena Is One Of The Country's Coolest Small Towns To Visit This Year
By Melissa Mahoney|Published July 27, 2021
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and I love photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world! Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream.
The town of Galena seems to charm all who visit. As a picturesque place with parks, historical sites, shops, restaurants, beautiful hotels, and more, there is certainly a little something for anyone to enjoy. It may come as no surprise that Galena was just named one of the coolest small towns in America, and we couldn’t agree more!
The charming northwestern Illinois town of Galena has made it to Matador Network's list of The 15 coolest small towns in America to visit in 2021. So, it's official: Galena is one of the coolest small towns in the country!
If you love shopping, eating at fantastic restaurants, and visiting spas and ice cream shops, you'll love strolling along Galena's main drag. Its thriving downtown boasts over 125 shops and restaurants, most of which are housed in 19th-century buildings.
You will also have access to picturesque Galena Grant Park accessible via a bridge across the Galena River.
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Your taste buds will love exploring the culinary and libations scene in Galena. With several restaurants offering exquisite meals as well as a winery with a tasting room and a couple of craft breweries (Blaum Brothers and Galena Brewing Company), these are reasons alone to come to this cool small town.
Galena is chock-full of history and was once home to former POTUS Ulysses S. Grant. And it just so happens that 85% of the town is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Pictured here is the Dowling House, circa 1826, which was originally a trading post. It is the town's oldest building and now a museum.
Another historical structure of note is the Belvedere Mansion. Built in 1857, this 22-room Italianate mansion is surrounded by lovely gardens just waiting to be explored.
The Galena Stairs are famous around town. The set of 154 steps leads from downtown to the top of a hill where you can get a great view of the area surrounding this cool small town.
The area around Galena is filled with natural wonders like Thunder Bay Falls which is located only 10 minutes from downtown. Visitors to this cool town may also enjoy time at Apple River Canyon State Park which also has a gorgeous waterfall as well as hiking trails, a lake, and plenty of wildlife to enjoy.
Do you agree that Galena is one of the coolest small towns in America? Leave your thoughts in the comments along with your favorite things to see and do in this cool town!
Looking for a place to stay in Galena? Read our coverage on the Goldmoor Inn, a luxurious place to spend the night!
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