The small, historic town of Galena, Illinois makes for a charming day trip including ghosts and grub! Start off with a 90-minute ghost walk tour with the Haunted Galena Tour Company where you'll be treated to enticing storytelling and street theater as you visit several haunted locations. Then, treat yourself to some luscious food at the DeSoto House Hotel's General's Restaurant, which was named after Galena's nine Civil War generals.
Tucked away on Galena's historic Main Street, lined with old brick buildings and dotted with quaint street lamps, you'll find the Haunted Galena Tour Company, which provides a spooky selection of three ghost tours. A 90-minute walking tour, a haunted happy hour, and thirdly...
...a one-hour, night-time walking tour of the Dowling House, the oldest house in Galena, which was built in 1826. You'll hear the history of the Dowling family and explore the spooky house which is filled with their old belongings.
You've probably worked up an appetite with all the spooky stories, so take a short walk down the street to The General's Restaurant inside the haunted DeSoto House Hotel, where guests and staff have reported ghost sightings since the 1800s.
The rustic, historic interior is the perfect setting for a spooky supper. You'll be eating in the same hotel that welcomed General Ulysses S. Grant back home to Galena.
Any selection from the dessert cart will be a wonderful finish to a delicious repast. Whether you get the carrot cake, chocolate torte, or cheesecake, you can't go wrong.
If being spooked and stuffed isn't enough adventure for you, Galena is also wonderful for antiquing, and you can actually go hiking with goats! If there are other places in Galena that are worth a visit, please let us know in the comments below.
We all have moments of craving time away from the noise and chaos of city life. Relaxing in the quiet stillness of nature is the perfect antidote to the stressors of the daily grind. Mix in a bit of stargazing at night, and you've found the perfect ticket to rejuvenation. If this getaway description resonates with you, I highly recommend you pack your bags and make your way to one of the most unique and beautiful stargazing hotels in Illinois.
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Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center is nested among groves of pine and oak trees near the town of Oglesby, and it is the only hotel located within Starved Rock State Park.
The cozy Sunset Cabins were hand-built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Nestled among the towering pine and oak trees, you'll love this little slice of wooded paradise.
The rooms are humble yet tastefully appointed, and the beds are quite comfortable, offering you all the comfort and amenities you'll need during your relaxing getaway.
Be sure to sample one of their signature dishes, such as the Fried Walleye or Chicken, the Steak and Vegetable of the Day, the Strawberry Pecan Salad, or the Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake.
You won't want to pass up the opportunity for a dip in the large heated pool or the jacuzzi tubs for a bit of water therapy and fun!
Trolley tours are offered year-round for those that would enjoy a guided and educational deep dive into the beauty and rich history of Starved Rock State Park.
There are a variety of tours to choose from that each explore different areas of the park, so be sure to peruse all the options and find the one that best suites your adventuring desires!
LaSalle Canyon and the associated waterfall is one of the many beautiful areas that you can explore within the park during your visit. There are quite a few caves, waterfalls, and hiking trails that wind through the park.
The park is a great place to soak in the views of the starry night sky as well, so I highly recommend that you make it a point to enjoy the park at night as well!
Starved Rock State Park is worth taking at least a full day to explore on its own, but better yet if you can set aside multiple days to hike and explore. Don't forget to bring your camera so you can capture these magical views!
Have you ever stayed at Starved Rock Lodge within Starved Rock State Park? Would you add this charming destination to your travel bucket list? If you have visited the lodge or the park itself, we'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
If you enjoy road trips, I highly recommend you embark on this scenic road trip in Illinois that not only leads you to Starved Rock State Park, but also to other beautiful parks, botanical gardens, scenic drives, and more.
My husband and I recently celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary, and though travel can be a challenge with our pets, we decided to try and make a weekend away work. Though there are so many incredible accommodation options in Illinois, especially living just outside Chicago, we wanted to get out of the hustle-and-bustle of the city and collar suburbs. So where do Chicago-area folks go to escape the crowds for a leisurely adventure? It seemed a romantic getaway in Lake Forest, Illinois was calling our name from one of the state's — and country's — top resorts: the award-winning Deer Path Inn.
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Named the #1 Resort Hotel in the Midwest five times by "Travel + Leisure," the publication has also ranked this Illinois resort among the top resorts in the US and best hotels in the world. The Deer Path Inn certainly lived up to its stellar reputation, and if our experience has you inspired to book a stay at this award-winning resort, be sure to check out our exclusive offer below.
For our weekend escape, we visited the historic Deer Path Inn, located at 255 E. Illinois Road, in the lush North Shore suburb of Lake Forest. The inn was designed by noted architect William C. Jones to showcase a half-timbered and stucco manor house inspired by 15th-century homes in one of the oldest villages in England, Chiddingstone in Kent.
The inn is less than an hour north of Chicago, and just under an hour from our home in suburban Berwyn.
Because the quaint hotel offers only 57 rooms, it can offer highly personalized experiences and excels in attention to detail. Amenities, like cookies, candies, and water — staples in English hospitality culture — are offered generously throughout the lobby, and there are complimentary bikes and beach passes available for visitors so they can take advantage of nearby Lake Michigan, which is only a mile away.
The common areas are warm and inviting, with fireplaces, paintings outlined with thick gold frames, candlelit chandeliers, luxurious leathers, and tones of honey, caramel, chocolate, and butterscotch throughout the decor.
An addition to the lobby in 2015 was this stunning lounge, where morning coffee and muffins are served, and where locals regularly congregate while waiting for a table at The Bar downstairs.
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Our room was a Manor House King Suite with a wet bar, which had cream and tan furniture complimenting bright white walls and linens against a black stone countertop and dark brown wood.
Our wet bar was also stocked with complimentary miniature liquor bottles such as Grey Goose Vodka, Maker's Mark, and Bailey's Irish Cream, as well as mixers, snacks, wine, and water.
We were greeted with a handwritten note, as well as a chilling bottle of champagne and a beautiful display of fresh fruit sushi with chocolate sauce and chocolate shavings, in celebration of our anniversary. This was an unexpected treat, and spoke to the customizable experience potential the hotel could offer.
Our bedroom featured a spacious King bed, as well as another fireplace and TV. With a walk-in closet, full-size dresser, and two nightstands, there was more than enough storage space for all our belongings.
I quickly learned that no trip to the Deer Path Inn is complete without an afternoon tea session in the spectacular garden room, which showcases a full wall of windows that look out into the private courtyard. Its black-and-white decor is accented by fresh tabletop bouquets, mosaic floor tiles, and an abundance of healthy green plants.
This was absolutely my favorite room in the hotel.
Our tea experience included a large, but not overwhelming, menu of tea offerings — I opted for the very pink Raspberry Floss and my husband ordered the house 1929 Blend — two fresh scones, and a three-tier tray filled with finger sandwiches, mini-quiches, and an assortment of small pastries. I loved the roast beef sandwich, the fruit tarts, and the Queen Anne cakes.
After a lovely tea lunch, I had to get to the other side of the windows to see the courtyard for myself. Surrounded on all sides by ivy-covered walls, trees, and the European-style hotel exterior, the space feels insular and truly transports you to another place.
Adding to its tranquility is a statue of a relaxing deer with a small waterfall underneath.
In the evening, we headed to the inn's basement level, where the White Hart Pub and The Bar are located. Two different, but complimentary rooms, both places exude a sense of British sensibility. The White Hart Pub embodies a classic English pub, while The Bar offers a slightly more upscale experience with spot-lit framed paintings of hunting dogs, deep navy walls, and warm lighting.
Though everything on the menu looked good, we went for a sharable plate of meatballs, an heirloom tomato salad, and signature gin and tonics (one alcoholic, one alcohol-free). The meatballs were exceptional with the complimentary herbal bread, and the salad was bright and tasty. Both drinks were thoroughly garnished, and several diners asked what we had ordered so they could follow suit.
We also learned that The Bar is not only a place for visitors to eat, but it's also one of the most popular restaurants and gathering spots in town for locals. Almost everyone in the dining room appeared to know each other and would freely get up to speak with friends at another table. It was lively, and refreshing to see how the inn was incorporated into the fabric of the community.
The Bar is also known for its sushi — a surprising but delightful quirk. Though I'm not usually a sushi fan, we decided to order the Negitoro maki, which featured Toro tuna and scallions. To my amazement, I absolutely loved it and ate several pieces.
The next day, we spent the early afternoon back at The Bar for a private cocktail demonstration and tasting with Chief Spirits Officer and bartender extraordinaire Jorge. Although my husband doesn't drink alcohol, it was no problem for Jorge, who was able to create stunning alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions of drinks that both tasted incredible.
With a background in arts, engineering, and mixology, Jorge's creative mind and skill are evident behind the bar — his creations and presentations were as delicious as they were gorgeous.
From an Old Fashioned with gold-covered cherries to the watermelon sushi and cocktail above, his skill was beyond impressive, and there wasn't one drink we didn't like. Jorge is also the talent behind the inn's Christmas dollhouse-style gingerbread house, wherein he makes an amazingly detailed recreation of the hotel, complete with little guests inside.
After that, I was ready for some fresh air! So, we began to embark on our scavenger hunt — part of the Locals Only Package. The adventure consists of exploring the charming Market Square shopping area, which is just a short walk from the hotel.
There, we used a provided list to find our target stores — clothing boutiques, a book store, a coffee shop, a confectionary, and more — where we would spend time perusing the shop before receiving a small gift from the counter. The package includes $250 worth of goodies from local vendors, plus an afternoon of exploring the gorgeous neighborhood.
My favorite stop was Amidei Mercatino, an alleyway market at 235 Southgate that specializes in fresh produce, flowers, and canned goods like pickles, sauces, and jams. Our scavenger hunt yielded us a jar of golden Lake Forest Honey, while we also decided to buy a jar of apple butter and a jar of peach salsa to make sure we fully took advantage of the local flavors.
An array of dazzling flavors and locally sourced ingredients are also on full display on the menu at The English Room, the inn's fine dining option. Just steps away from the hotel's front entrance, the main room is an impressive demonstration of an English manor-inspired dining hall that felt both regal and comfortable without being pretentious.
In the evening, dinner service for The English Room is available on the patio, and with idyllic fall weather, a star-lit sky, and plenty of ambiance, we couldn't resist. Our meal of Caesar salad, steak, and beef tenderloin with mouthwatering potatoes, demi-glaze, and succulent vegetables in the courtyard was a filling and picturesque way to finish the day.
In the morning, we enjoyed a proper English breakfast in our room with eggs Benedict, bacon rashers, beans, sausages, and hashbrowns. With the light filtering in through the windows, and with a hot cup of coffee always within reach, it truly was the perfect way to wrap up our weekend before heading back into the real world.
While the Deer Path Inn also regularly hosts weddings, reunions, and business gatherings, our romantic getaway in Lake Forest, Illinois was a highly personalized and special way to celebrate a decade together. It's obvious why families, couples, and locals continue to incorporate it into their memories and traditions. Even the manager told me her experiences coming to the inn with family as a little girl shaped her desire to want to work there today.
As a thank you to guests to mark this milestone, the Inn is offering a complimentary welcome gift and bottle of sparkling wine when guests book the “Travel + Leisure World’s Best Winner 2024” package July 10 through September 30.Travel can take place any time through December 30, 2024. Start making your own plans by visiting the Deer Path Inn website, and keep up-to-date on all things at the inn by following their Facebook page.
And if you want the scavenger hunt, afternoon tea, and English Room dinner experience we had, make sure to book the Locals Only Package.
