With winter coming to an end, you can start to spend more time outside soaking up essential Vitamin D. Rather than staying in to cook, let someone else do the cooking! Get out and taste your way through Galena. With different dining experiences for every type of day, Galena is the perfect place to experiment with your taste buds.
To Celebrate Easter Sunday
On April 21, the Summit Food and Spirits is putting on their traditional Easter Buffet. The buffet will start at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. There will be plenty of options for the whole family including an omelet station, a carved ham, a quiche, and other traditional brunch foods. The buffet cost for adults is $16.95, kids ages 6-12 are $9.95, and children under 6 can enjoy the buffet for free. For more information or to make a reservation call 800-397-1320.
To Celebrate Mother’s Day
Celebrate your mom with a Mother’s Day Brunch at Chestnut Mountain Resort. On May 12 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. they will be hosting a celebratory lunch for the moms of the world. The brunch will include a champagne fountain, prime rib, made-to-order omelets, and more. Adults will be charged $27.95, children aged 6-12 are charged $14.95, and kids under 6 are free. Reservations for the brunch are requested and can be made by calling 800-397-1320.
To Get Caffeinated
Begin your morning at Kaladi’s Coffee Bar on Main Street. This European style café roasts and grinds their own coffee beans to ensure a perfectly brewed cup of coffee. They also offer fresh-baked pastries, breakfast sandwiches, homemade gelato, and even some lunch paninis. Kaladi’s is a cash-only establishment that is open Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Saturday 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Chocolate fans, rejoice. Galena has the perfect confectionary for you to stop by and enjoy. Galena’s Kandy Kitchen brings the old-fashioned method into the modern world. Locals will tell you that you can’t stop by without trying a Pecan Georgies, named after the founder of the chocolatery. The Kandy Kitchen specializes in chocolates but makes a variety of things including peanut brittle, caramel corn, saltwater taffy, gummy bears and more. It’s your one stop shop to satisfy your sweet tooth. The Kandy Kitchen is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Gluten-intolerant and vegan chocolate lovers; also rejoice! Another delicious, local gem is Chocolat’ 229, a chocolate shop that specializes in European Chocolates and offers sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan options. They have a wide variety of unique, quality chocolates, including a Jalapeno truffle, oversized turtle chocolates (referred to as “tortoises” by many), and large, creamy peanut butter cups as well. With too many unique flavors to list, it’s recommended that you just venture in and try some for yourself!
To Taste the Local Alcohol
Whether you prefer whisky or wine, Galena has perfect tasting tours for either (or both) preferences. Bring your friends or a date and take a journey on the process of creating these types of alcohol in Galena, Illinois.
As a historic distilling town, Galena is home to Blaum Bros Distillery which is the perfect attraction for the whisky connoisseurs. Blaum Bros offers a full tour of the production facility along with a guided tasting for $10 a person. Children under 14 are free and welcome on the tour. Tours are offered daily at prescheduled times. Monday through Thursday, there is one tour at 3 p.m. On Friday there are three scheduled times at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Saturday is the most active tour schedule with a tour happening every hour from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Sunday’s tours are at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. To book a tour, visit https://www.blaumbros.com/book-a-tour. If you simply want to go taste the spirits yourself, they have a cocktail bar that is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
For those who prefer wine, Galena Cellars is the place for you. With several acres of land being home to 22 specialty grape varietals and three tasting rooms, there is plenty for you to see. Since 1985, when the winery moved to Galena, they have been a staple to the community. With their main winemaker winning the “Winemaker of the Year” award two different years, the vineyard has been recognized locally and nationally for their viticulture and wines. Go experience the vineyard and award-winning wines on a guided tour for just $7.50 a person or $10 if you also want to enjoy a tasting of their wines. No reservation necessary for their prescheduled tours. The seasonal tour times are provided on their website at https://www.galenacellars.com/winery/public/.
To Watch A Sports Game
For a sports focused family day, head over to The Summit Sports Bar located within Chestnut Mountain Resort. Offering a breakfast menu in the morning and moving into a lunch and dinner menu allows guests to fuel up or chow down any time of day. With 14 TVs, The Summit is the perfect place to visit to watch your favorite teams compete while the adults enjoy beverages from an extensive list of craft beers and fine wines. For current hours of operation visit their website at https://chestnutmount.wpengine.com/restaurant-page/the-summit/.
To Enjoy Live Entertainment
If you’re looking for a venue that offers live entertainment along with food and drinks, look no farther than Grape Escape. Every weekend night at 9 p.m., Grape Escape offer live entertainment. Along with weekend entertainment, they have an extensive wine, beer, and martini list that won’t break the bank. For food they have everything from sandwiches and wraps to shareable plates such as a charcuterie board and bruschetta. They are open Monday through Friday 4 p.m. – 1 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. – 1 a.m.
