A Snowy New Year's Eve
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:00AM This NYE recap is a bit late... this really effed with my schedule. I place the blame squarely on my nose!
Anywho, Bossyboots and I decided that a New Year's trip was in order - with the holidays closing down and a return to the daily grind imminent... we knew we need to get out of the city! Much as I love my Chicago, city living is noisy and hectic at all turns. Getting out once in awhile is required for mental health!
First off, we decided to be as grandma as possible by choosing a small town destination and staying in a bed and breakfast. Neither of us had ever stayed in a B&B before, so this was going to be a new adventure. (Can you call acting fifty years older than you are an adventure?) :) We found a B&B that looked promising in Galena, IL, a teeny resortish town about three hours outside Chicago.
Ummmm, we totally loved it. Complete, undying love. We stayed at a place called Ryan Mansion that we found (where else?) on the world wide web. Bossyboots was skeptical at the whole idea of a B&B at first. As he put it... "I am not so sure I will want to get up early to eat cereal with a table full of strangers I will never talk to again." His fears were allayed the moment he saw this, however:
French toast with cream cheese and orange marmalade - NOMWe loved the Ryan mansion. After a three hour drive through snowy back woods, the mansion was so welcoming. The breakfasts were outstanding - the first day, we had quiche and breakfasty apple pie. Apple pie for breakfast - WIN! And... there was a Walmart nearby, which we made a point to visit at least once daily. Bossyboots is a bit in love with Walmart, at times. I think his ideal date outfit might be if I were to wear a Walmart tshirt. Srrsly.
The main foyer
The proprietor was SO nice... The sitting rooms were comfy, and they had a number of antique parlor games that were actually super entertaining and we made full use of. They also kept sipping brandy for guests in the parlor, which made us feel high class - though I had to remind Bossyboots that it was SIPPING brandy, not gulping brandy. Also a funny moment.
We were pretty laid back on our stay in Galena. Because I was laid out flat with my sinus infection, we mostly holed up at the B&B and watched DVDs and just hung out. This was actually perfect. Our aim was to relax... so we did.
For New Year's Eve, I drugged myself up with my prescription sinus infection meds and the two of us got all gussied up for a steak dinner like the proper fogies we were!
Behind this smile is a head full of snot.
My nose is all twisty in this photo because it's thinking of ways to kill me.
Our last day, we puttered around Galena. The town is full of shops - and not shops full of cr$p (though they definitely exist) but shops with teas, spices, and sports memorabilia. I sampled a hot sauce that almost burned my face off. True story.
Suffice to say, I think we will be going back sometime soonish, and we will definitely be staying at the Ryan Mansion again, if nothing else, so that I can take blackmail photos of Bossyboots inhaling the sipping brandy. :) We were shocked that we loved the B&B experience so much! Have you ever tried something new and been pleasantly surprised?
Allergies, Bossyboots, Reviews, Travel
Reader Comments (5)
Your trip sounds SO perfect. Seriously. I may be guilty of acting like a 75-year-old, also... but yeah. It sounds great.
My in-laws take us on a yearly trip to Galena to ski (there is a tiny ski resort there). It is really pretty there, but we have never really explored the town. We should!
That trip sounds relaxing! Sign me up to act 50 yrs older than I am!
that looks like a really nice getaway! I've been wondering about this type of B&B that would be a short-ish trip from Chicago; will have to look into this one.
Great photos! You look gorgeous, btw!