Wine and Spirits Travel

It was the last day in Galena for my friend Courtney and I. We filled the day with more exploration of the lovely inn we were staying in, as well as a look back into history. We were down to the dining room at The Goldmoor Inn for another delicious breakfast. Breakfast is part of the stay for all guests and the chef does it right, with a special feast each morning. For our last day, that meant yogurt with peaches, warm scones, and freshly made waffles with blueberries. The meal was delicious and we walked it off with a tour of the property with Birgit Radin, who owns The Goldmoor with her husband, Slovo. Within the beautifully manicured 23 acres is a spa, log cabins, two cottages (one English, one French), and walking trails. The main house, which reminds me of a European castle, has 13 suites, including the Chef’s, where you can have a private meal prepared and enjoy views of both the sunrise and the sunset. After the tour, we bid our hosts goodbye a

My friend Cortney and I had arrived in Galena the afternoon before and were really enjoying the area. For day two, we had a full schedule and we were up early to take it all in. The Goldmoor Inn is an incredible property on the Mississippi River. Their spacious rooms and suites include a freshly cooked gourmet breakfast each morning. While the chef makes one breakfast each day, they are flexible for special needs and allergies. Our first breakfast consisted of warm scones, fresh fruit, juice, coffee, and a delicious omelet. We took a ride to nearby Stockton, a small town within Galena/Jo County. We were first stopping at  NorthWest Design Glass . Northwest Glass is owned by Pennie, Daryl and Drew Groezinger.  They sell unique glass jewelry, ornaments, and other décor. We browsed around the shop while Pennie finished up some work. She then gave us a glassblowing demonstration, which I don’t think I’d seen before. After the demonstration, Cortney

My friend Cortney and I headed to Galena, Illinois , just before the holidays this past year. She had been there before, but it was my first trip. As we headed there, I was surprised to see the dramatic change in the Illinois landscape. What had started as flat farm land had turned into rolling hills, some of them high enough to be considered small ski mountains. Our home for the long weekend would be the Goldmoor Inn and we were impressed from the start. It looked like an English castle, with 18 suites inside, as well as three cottages and two cabins on the property for those looking for real privacy. Although we were on a girls’ getaway, I could also certainly see it as the perfect place for a romantic trip. The 23 acres the Goldmoor is on are right on the Mississippi River, which offers fantastic views all year round, from every spot. We were shown into our suite and first went through a common area, which was welcoming with a fireplace and couches.

It was the final day in Elkhart Lake , Wisconsin, for my friend Lisa and I. The trip had been quite relaxing and it was going to be even more so on day three. We slept late in our suite at The Osthoff Resort . Their apartment-like setups had all the conveniences of home, even a kitchen to store and reheat the leftovers from all the great food we had been eating. For the final day, we went out for breakfast. Downtown Elkhart Lake is very walkable so we left the car. Off the Rail is a very popular local spot that’s only open for breakfast and lunch.  They serve specialty coffees, as well as beer and wine, and make all sorts of bakery goods and sandwich concoctions. Lisa chose a meat-filled breakfast casserole and a banana nut muffin, while I had the vegetable quiche and a chocolate chip muffin. It was all quite good. If we had more time to go back there, I definitely would try the Freight Train Sandwich: turkey, Havarti cheese, bacon, sprouts, onion, tom