Hoover Presidential Museum then Galena, Illinois - August, 2017, Galena

We started our day with a good breakfast.  Although the owners were called away for a funeral, she did as much cooking as possible in advance (a friend came over last night to babysit us.  It was good to know if there was an issue we had someone we could go to in an emergency).  We both think the food could have been better but under the circumstances it was still delicious.  I do believe that tomorrow's breakfast will be better.  Keep you posted on that one.

Take note of all the clocks in the breakfast room.  

After breakfast, we headed uptown and decided to take an hour trolley tour.  I'm so glad we did as we would probably have only seen downtown Galena.  It is a very quaint town but there is so much more to see than the business district.

We then jumped in the car and drove to the Ulysses S. Grant home.  The residents of Galena were so grateful for his Civil War service that they purchased this $2,500 home for him.  This was his home when elected to the presidency.  His wife Julia was called the First Lady of the Land.  It was the start of referring to presidential wives as First Lady.

Grant's home

From the Grant House we drove to Chestnut Mountain Resort.  I'm really glad we did.  We ate at one of the resort restaurants.  We were able to sit outside and enjoy the Mississippi River.  We could also see people using the zip line and those riding up and down in the ski lifts.  We took the lift round trip.  They have the longest alpine slide that I have ever seen.

View from the restaurant

On the lift.  This ski resort is different because you ski down then take the lift back to the top.  Just the opposite of every other ski resort I have ever visited.

Alpine slide.  My kids and grandkids would love this.

The rains finally came this afternoon.  We were lucky that we were back from Chestnut Mountain Resort.  We walked uptown in light rain.  Then it poured.  We had come prepared with raincoats so really didn't get too wet.

One of the benefits the Farmers' Guest House, offered for staying 2 nights midweek, was a $50 dining gift certificate.  There were 3 options and we chose Vinny Vanucchi's, an Italian restaurant.  It was delicious.  We ended the evening with tiramisu.  Um-um good.

Tortellini Carbonara for James, Shrimp Scampi for me

Tiramuisu

We have decided to head home tomorrow.  It has been a quick trip but it was what we needed.  Sometimes one just has to get out of the grove and do something different.  I'll be doing my final thoughts in a few days