7 Best Sights in Galena, Illinois

This 22-room Italianate mansion even merited a write-up in the Galena newspaper when it was built in 1857 for steamboat magnate—later ambassador to Belgium—J. Russell Jones. Although it is still a private residence, the current owners invite visitors for guided tours for half the year. In addition to the ornate woodwork and incredible collection of chandeliers, you'll find a fascinating selection of items picked up by various owners throughout the years, including glittering pieces from Liberace's estate and the famous velvet green drapes from "Gone With the Wind."

There are plenty of ripe reasons to make a stop at Galena Cellars: nearly 20 award-winning wines in 2011 alone; best white wine from Illinois; and winemaker Christine Lawlor-White, who was twice voted Illinois Winemaker of the Year. In-season vineyard tours guide you through the growing grapes and let you in on the winemaking process. Turn your visit into a romantic retreat by booking the upstairs guestroom. A downtown Galena location (515 S. Main St.) holds tastings daily.

There's not much that beats the hushed thrill of a hot air balloon ride. At more than 3,000 feet above it all, you'll feel like you're on top of the world. Though flights are weather-dependant, pilot Andy Williams and his crew typically launch during spring, summer and early fall at sunrise and sunset—when winds are most desirable. Upon landing, a van picks you up for a champagne toast and flying certificate. The bird's-eye views are breathtaking, so don't forget your camera.

Sit back and relax as you roll past historic sites and architectural splendor. Discover how Galena boomed as a lead-mining town, fell into economic depression and turned itself around and into the charming getaway it is now. A 1-hour tour makes the most of your time, while the 2-1/2 tour stops for 30 to 45 minutes at the Belvedere Mansion, the Dowling House and the Ulysses S. Grant Home.

During Galena's 19th century growth, the town boasted upwards of three dozen working blacksmiths who busied themselves making shoes for the region's many horses. While there are barely a handful now, you can peek back into that heyday history at this 1897 blacksmith shop, which hosts demonstrations of the authentic early 20th-century tools that are on display.

What this resort spa lacks in square footage, it amply makes up for in hospitality and expert TLC. Tucked away within the country setting, various golf courses and Galena Lake that comprise the 6,800-acre Galena Territory, the spa invites resort guests and non-guests alike to enjoy a little R&R with its 10 treatment rooms and decked-out locker rooms. Try a Drifting Stone massage or a facial with Priori anti-aging skin care products.

Honoring his service in the Civil War, a group of Galena Republicans presented this 1860 Italianate bracketed home to Ulysses S. Grant in 1865. He lived here with his family until in 1868, taking his seat in the White House as the 18th President. Much of the furnishings are original to the home, which is now a National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.