hi folks! I am looking for recommendations for a quick getaway weekend for end of Sept / early Octover to celebrate me and my wife's 1 year anniversary. we moved to chicago a few years ago and love it. but I figure it would be nice to do something different and get out of dodge! does anyone have ideas for a quick road trip? might do a 1 to 2 night hotel stay over if affordable. we are both 29 and looking for somewhere we can go relax, maybe enjoy some nature, but ALSO somewhere that has a little life to it as well (where we can find places to go out to eat and hang at night, etc). a romantic B&B or hotel on a lake might be nice. might be a little cold for watersports but maybe we can do some horse back riding or something. anyway I have just started my research so any tips would be appreciated! so far a few places that caught my attention: Galena, Lake Geneva, Starved Rock. thanks!!

There have been several similar posts to this so you might want to do a search for them. You might want to check out southwest Michigan as well as those on your list-it's perfect that time of year and only about a hour away.

Galena sounds like the place you are looking for. http://www.galena.org/

Madison, WI is fun for a quick weekend. Huge, very wonderful, fun Farmer's Market (seen it rated in top 5 in the US), good biking, beautiful lakes, college town so I'm sure there is nightlife. Just nice to get ice cream at the student union, sit on the patio by the lake, and watch the wind surfers and boaters.

I would do Lake Geneva. Plenty of B&B's and it's more "resorty" than Galena. You can take a boat tour of all the mansions. And there's plenty of partying, too.

In my opinion, Starved Rock isn't worth it for the kind of weekend you're looking for.

I second the Lake Geneva recommendation but I recommend going the 3rd weekend of October if possible. The fall colors will be much better.

If you can go to Door County...4 hours or so...that would actually be my first choice. Best colors there are around October 14 which is also Columbus day holiday. Usually a couple fo festivals/parades that weekend.

Just my opinion, but Lake Geneva is a favorite of a much older and more formal crowd than the 29 year olds that I know.

Do you live in Chicago proper, which part? If going North is easier I would look at some of the high end resorts in IL for a 1 year Ann. with dancing etc. Do you like waterparks? Do you like rough woods or is your idea of nature sitting on a golf course lake with room service from a 4 or 5 star restaurant and a wooded glen to walk through.

In Oct. 1 night is too much driving to do anything far, IMHO. How long do you want to be driving at the max?

Just a quick note on Madison - you'll want to be sure it's not a Badger weekend. If it is you'll have a hard time getting a hotel.
I've spent anniversary weekends in both Galena and Lake Geneva.
There are pluses to both. It really depends on what you like to do.
We stayed at The DeSoto house on Galena. It was nice, right on the main drag. Galena is very laid back, quaint with lots of antique shops, not as much night life.
We stayed at Lawrence House in Lake Geneva. I wanted this B&B specifically because it we had a whirlpool tub in our room. There are more things to do in this town.

I loved both trips. It really depends what you want to do.

It's funny, we're driving down to Chicago for our anniversary!

Lake Geneva has a lot to offer.
Check out staying at a place called Millcreek Suites.
Very nice...great location. You can walk all over town from there.

thanks so much for the ideas so far. just as I suspected, my choice of Lake Geneve and Galena are at the top of the list. Now I am just trying to decide between the two. I will probably try and get 2 nights in a hotel or B&B somewhere. It is funny, I was first leaning toward Galenda based on some research I did. Seemed very quaint, with lots of scenary, little shops and restaurants, horse back riding, wine tasting, etc. But now I am starting to lean to L Geneva simply cause it sounds like you can do all these things mentioned above but also have more options for nightlife. Would you agree? I guess my ideal anniv weekend away would be to both relax and do something fun like the horseback riding, but also find some nice places to eat, catch some music, maybe have a little nightlife. we get plenty of nightlife at home in chicago so it is not the most major priority, but we still like to be near A LITTLE action : )

Mikie, JJ5 mentioned that Lake Geneva has an older crowd, but I tend to disagree. There's a lot of money in LG, so of course there are the "older" people with their mini-yachts and such, but we're in our 30's and we've been going to LG for years and years. Our family has condo's there and there are plenty of younger people. We always have fun. It's the Chicago playground, especially in the summer boating season. Fall is fun, too. And there's no shortage of bars in LG.

We've been to Galena many times for golf weekends and there's simply not as much to do there, though their downtown has come a long way in the last few years. I would definitely consider Galena as lacking a night life. Plus, Galena skews towards the "older" crowd.

There is a cute little town, Cedarburg, WI, about 20 min north of Milwaukee right off Hwy 43 that has lots of festivals, B&Bs, antique shopping etc. Milwaukee is 90 min north of Chicago and also lots to do, fabulous zoo, great custard, active waterfront, Indian casino, ethnic dining, I think you can still do brewery tours.

My sister lives in Cedarburg and while it is a very quaint, charming town, there's really not a whole lot to do there. Unless you time it with one of their big festivals, which they always seem to be having. Plus, Cedarburg isn't on a lake, so you'd miss out on that aspect.

do add Saugatuck MI to your list. They have some art fests thsi time of year and are near some wineries. Just adorable, plus on the water, has hikes and walks, and restaurants/pubs!
less than 3 hrs from Chitown!

HI mikieguns!

Lake Geneva WI is where I go to play... I'm in my 40's, but I hang out w/ a bunch of 20 somethings that LOVE Lake Geneva. There's a wonderful lil place... sssshhhhhh... on Lake Como just 1 mile out of downtown LG... the French Country Inn.

http://frenchcountryinn.com/index.html

Almost every room is just about on top of the lake w/ a nice lanai... very nice in the summer & fall for chillin'. The restaurant, Kirsch's, is top notch... gets great reviews in Wine Spectator magazine for their extensive wine list. Food is great. Try the Kona Crusted Chateaubriand... num... or for a little less pricey menu you can walk down the street to Mars... a local fav hangout also on the water.

Afterward, check out the live music on the large lakeside deck at the inn. (Fri & Sat nights) Jimmy Buffett, CSN&Y, James Taylor kinda stuff... the local band is really good.

Just don't tell too many people... I want to be able to get a room when I'm looking for one!

Have fun whatever you do!

thanks for all the tips!! Ok I have decided on Lake Geneva and moved the weekend out to the 3rd one in October. Now the fun part - picking where to stay! I am really getting confused at whether I want something quaint and quiet (i.e. French Country Inn, Lazycloud) vs a hotel closer to the downtown area (Bella Vista Suites, The Cover, etc). or I can also go with a resort like Grand Geneva. Time to do research! Ideally I would like something close to the action - both lake and downtown area if that is possible. We are not big B&B folks but there's a first time for everything!

I've stayed at both Bella Vista & FC Inn. While yes, Bella is in town, it also is on a main drag that curves around 2 sides of the hotel and the car and truck traffic noise from your balcony is LOUD... at all hours. The suites themselves are lovely... just depends upon how much noise & action you desire. It is in walking distance from everything in town.

I like the FC Inn because while I'm there it's quiet... I love the live music... and it's not what I would call a B&B... it's really more of an "Inn". The complimentary sit down breakfast is superb. Can't say enough. When we are wanting to be in "town" we drive 3-5 minutes, park and shop, eat, play, go for a boat tour, or a walk around the lake looking at the gorgeous homes... you name it. When we're done for the day, it's nice to get away from the crowds and chill out overlooking the water w/ a good bottle of wine or whatever. It's what I would call romantic. Lake Como is also a much quieter lake as far as boat traffic... Lake Geneva is rockin'. It just all depends upon what you're looking for.

Grand Geneva will not be near the action and has a large timeshare ownership clientele. Have enjoyed meals there, but I wouldn't stay there. You'll also drive 5 minutes or so into town from GG, but this route will find you, more often than not, in a 10-15 minute traffic jam.

Have fun investigating... what a good dilemma!