River Road – The Great River Road runs along the Mississippi, the western border of Illinois, through historic river towns, past state parks and towering cliffs. Illinois Top 200 Project[http://www. illinoistop200. com/] Illinois is celebrating its bicentennial by inviting Illinoisans to vote on the state’s greatest treasures.
| The Great River Road winds through the Mississippi, the western border of Illinois, historic river towns, past state parks and towering cliffs. The Illinois Top 200 Project is celebrating Illinois’ Bicentennial by inviting Illinoisans to vote on the state’s greatest treasures. In early May, Illinoisans voted for the top ten most beautiful places in the state. Not only the Great River Road took the second place, five of the top ten are the most beautiful scenic gems along the Great River Road. So what else can we do to celebrate the second century but take a leisurely drive south from Galena to Cairo and call in at our favorite stops along the way? Galena Gardens Galena is somewhat spectacular. We are big fans. It is truly one of the jewels of Illinois, considered by many to be one of the best small towns in America. Check out: Seven natural wonders of Northern Illinois, all within walking distance of Galena. Reconnect with your loved one on a romantic Galena break with history and wine. The Chicago Food Authority turns the Galena Food Authority into a delicious winter weekend with Samantha Ruby. A haunted Galena experience with the Galena Ghost Tour. Six days along the Grand River Road, two days in Galena to enjoy the historic charm, outdoor excursions and delicious food on offer. Fortunately, there is no shortage of new Galena adventures on our bucket list! And with such a good excuse for a late spring visit to one of our favorite Illinois towns, we know where to go. Our first stop on our Great River Road adventure was a true hidden gem, Linmar Gardens. High above Galena’s Main Street, these private gardens offer guided tours from mid-May through October, and we were just in time to book one of the first tours of the year. Designed by artist Hal Martin, who began transforming the property in the early eighties, Linmar is built on a disused stone quarry, an abandoned lead mine and an old landfill. It just goes to show that dreams can make anything beautiful! Today, the three hectares of tree-shaded gardens include a waterfall, a waterfall cascading down a bluff, wildflower meadows, koi ponds, charming sculptures and gazebos. In the heart is the Sunken Garden, built on the foundations of an old church. The walls of the church remain, and the baptismal font has been transformed into a fountain. These gardens are natural and slightly overgrown, which is the way we like it, it adds to the magic. But if your taste borders on more formal care, this might not be your cup of garden tea. Our guide was delightful, and very knowledgeable about the history of Galena and the history of the gardens. It’s not a plant, but we were here for the web, not the scientific names, so we’ll go with it. We turn off our phones and immerse ourselves in the quiet sounds of the garden, birds and flowing water. A word to the wise, take your mosquito repellent if you are there in the evening! After the gardens, we stopped for lunch at Otto’s house. We had breakfast here last time we were in town, and it was so good, we wanted to see what they could do for lunch. We were not disappointed! Their quinoa bowl was delicious, and we ate our fair share, so we consider ourselves quinoa connoisseurs. Add chicken for extra flavor. you’re welcome. We also had a gorgonzola, apple and pancetta omelette that was everything you could dream of with that combo. There shouldn’t be room for cake, but there is, and the Lemon Ice Box Cake sent us down the street clutching our children’s food and crying, “We’ll never eat again!” Mississippi Palisades State Park The only one. The only thing to do after eating so much good food is to get moving, and so we headed south along Grand River Road to Mississippi Palisades State Park, kicked off our boots and hit the Sentinel Rock Loop Trail. It is a short walk, only a kilometer, but along narrow stone paths near the cliffs, and we felt as if we had finished our lunch when we went up and down, stopping at the cliffs to come out. above the river The park is beautiful, wooded and rocky, and the steep paths meant that we felt like the only people for most of us. So, glowing with virtue and fresh air, we headed to our stop for the night, the Nest at Palisades Cabin. These delightful secluded cabins are located above the river. We loved the rustic decor, with traditional quilts on the bed, and wood stove. We picked up a bottle of Secret Garden Viognier at Galena Cellars and as we toasted our road trip on the deck of our cabin, a deer approached us, surely a good omen for our adventure. Quad Cities. & Quincy Quad Cities Botanical Center The next morning, after a wonderfully restful night’s sleep, we were up early and on the road, as we had a long drive ahead of us. We planned to go to Quincy for lunch, and then to Elsa, admiring the confluence of the great rivers, where the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois rivers meet on the way. Continuing with the horticulture theme of our road trip, we stopped to stretch our legs at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island. I love a good conservatory, and with a 14-foot waterfall, the tropical sun garden does not disappoint. There is a children’s garden here. It’s inspiring to see a public garden create something so interesting and fun for children, just pure fun! The gardens are on the Mississippi side, so after hitting the palm trees, we walked along the river before jumping into our passage on the south leg. So, we know we said we would never eat again, but after four hours of travel and a brisk walk, we were hungry again. Who knew? Our lunch stop in Quincy was Thyme Square, recommended to us for its farm stand philosophy. It’s smack dab in the middle of downtown Quincy and its warm welcoming atmosphere and enthusiastic staff won our hearts before we ate our way through their delicious menu. The highlight for us was the poached lox benedict, but everything else was delicious, fresh and homemade, and if the surrounding tables happily put their mouths together, this place is a Quincy stalwart. After lunch, stretch your legs and admire Quincy’s historic architecture with our very own pocket version of the Quincy Private Homes Tour. We walk down Main Street, admiring the restaurants, bars and shops housed in historic buildings. This entire downtown area is listed on the National Historic Register. When we reached the East End Historic District, the street widened and the historic buildings took over from the shops. We arrived at the Quincy Museum to admire its gilded wooden ornaments and check out its fun models of historic archaeological sites in Illinois. After Elsa after Elsa, enjoying our glimpses of the historic Nouveau through the trees, and then to relax. The most scenic part of our trip, the top of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, which is part of the Great River Road. The path ran right into the river, at the foot of huge rocks, and when the sun went down, it was fun to stop and take pictures every time. Our last stop of the day was Elsa. Nestled in a valley between the rocks, just off River Road, is this small historic village. With more than a hundred permanent residents, it is calm and completely amazing. As we drove down the quiet road lined with old stone houses, one after another, to our charming B&B, the Maple Leaf Cottage Inn, we could understand exactly why Elsa has been called the most beautiful scenic spot in the state. The whole country really feels like you’ve walked through a door in slow time. We walked the streets as dusk fell and then returned to sit by the fire. Cahokia Mounds The next morning, after a wonderful breakfast at home, we passed by the Piasa Bird mural, thanking our lucky stars that no one had approached us. The dragons along our rivers are built for man-eating birds, and the Cahokia Mountains. Well, where to begin with this attraction. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
River Road
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