The GypsyNesters

The Irish Cottage Boutique Hotel in Galena, Illinois

Situated in the rolling hills on the edge of historic Galena, Illinois, The Irish Cottage concept was inspired by its surroundings which reminded the owners, Jack and Debbie, of the Irish countryside… CONTINUE READING >>

We are proud to be Illinois Mile Markers – thanks to Enjoy Illinois for making this adventure possible! Click here for our full adventure down The Great River Road.

Stepping into the… wait, before we even entered The Irish Cottage Boutique Hotel we knew we weren’t simply entering a place to crash for the night, we were stepping into a philosophy. We love these kind of places.

W.B. Yeats Library at the Irish Cottage in Galena Illinois — A quiet place to relax: The W.B. Yeats Library.

The hotel is alive with Irish art, literature, and tradition. The pub showcases music and dance, with each guest room dedicated and named for a county in the old country.

A traditional snug in Frank O'Dowd's Irish Pub in Galena, Illinois — Surprising attention to detail: Snugs imported from Ireland stand at either end of the bar in the pub.

We were blown away by the snugs imported from Ireland that bookended the bar in the pub. Snugs are small, private areas with easy access to the bartender. Snugs were used for “business” affairs or a place for a couple to sneak off alone. Though we never saw anyone go in the snug at the Irish Cottage, we’re guessing it gets used — a lot!

Our suite at the Irish Cottage in Galena, Illinois — Pure luxury: Our suite

Our suite was named for County Clare and the artwork by Roisin O’Shea introduced us to the beauty of Claire.

We took advantage of the large whirlpool bath in the living area to sooth our siteseeing feet whilst marveling at the ammenities like the wetbar and the ornate fireplace.

Complimentary hotel breakfasts usually consist of plastic vats of cereal, instant oatmeal and, if one is lucky, a boiled egg. Just food one snarfs enough of to get through a busy morning.

Not so at the Irish Cottage. We were served homemade fare on lovely china that included the most mouthwatering scones we’d ever tasted.

I guess we shouldn’t have been surprised, nothing is done halfway here.

Click here to see our full adventure down The Great River Road

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

What we did in Galena:
Rode the trolley &
strolled historic Main Street

Where we ate:
Vinny Vanucchi’s
Where we stayed:
Irish Cottage Boutique Hotel

For all things Galena:
Galena.org

Thanks to Enjoy Illinois for making this adventure possible! Our opinions, as always, are our own.

YOUR TURN: Have we inspired you to take an Illinois Road Trip?

How Can a Buffet Be This Good? Brunch at Hotel Nauvoo

We wandered the five meticulously decorated dining rooms before settling under an indoor apple tree, surrounded some of the best smelling food in the world… CONTINUE READING >>

We are proud to be Illinois Mile Markers – thanks to Enjoy Illinois for making this adventure possible! Click here for our full adventure down The Great River Road.

Hotel Nauvoo, Illinois

There’s plenty to do in Nauvoo, but brunch at Hotel Nauvoo is a destination on its own.

Built as a home in 1840, it became the Hotel Oriental in 1885, and has been under the current name since 1946.

Beautifully maintained and decorated, the building really is a showplace, but that’s not why most people come to the hotel.

The fabulous food at Hotel Nauvoo in Illinois

It’s the superb buffet the brings in the crowds.

Hand carved roasted meats, fried catfish and chicken, and everything we could imagine to go along with them, made for an exceptional homestyle meal.

And the wild rice dressing isn’t billed as “famous” for nothing.

Sit under an indoor apple tree in Hotel Nauvoo, Illinois

We wandered the five meticulously decorated dining rooms before settling under an indoor apple tree, surrounded some of the best smelling food in the world.

TWENTY feet of buffet.

Each dining room at Hotel Nauvoo reflects different periods of Nauvoo's history

We ate until we could no more. Trying to make our escape before we needed a wheelbarrow to carry us out, we were stopped by a regular customer who insisted we have a cinnamon roll for dessert.

It wasn’t a choice, we were not going to make it past him until we did.

Seriously? A cinnamon roll? Maybe this was our distended bellies talking, but we had seen them at the end of the buffet table and, frankly, they didn’t look like much. And aren’t cinnamon rolls breakfast food? Come on.

Seeing no other way out, we grabbed yet another plate, plopped a roll on it and went back to our seats. Long story short, Veronica ended up hugging the guy. Euphoria must be in the list of ingredients.

The service couldn’t have been any better. Our friendly waitress never let our iced tea get lower than a few sips down. We watched as she flitted from table to table as if every person there was her best friend.

It’s no wonder the restaurant has been running for sixty successful years.

Click here to see our full adventure down The Great River Road

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

What we did in Nauvoo:
Visited Baxter’s Winery

Where we ate:
Hotel Nauvoo

For all things Nauvoo:
BeautifulNauvoo.com

Thanks to Enjoy Illinois for making this adventure possible! Our opinions, as always, are our own.

YOUR TURN: Have we inspired you to take an Illinois Road Trip?

Vinny Vanucchi’s in Galena, Illinois

Testing our theory that the way to judge an Italian restaurant is by their meatballs, Vinny passed with flying colors…
CONTINUE READING >>

We are proud to be Illinois Mile Markers – thanks to Enjoy Illinois for making this adventure possible! Click here for our full adventure down The Great River Road.

Main Street in Galena, Illinois has been named a National Register Historic District and it’s easy to see why. Even though most of the buildings serve as shops and restaurants now, they have been wonderfully preserved.

One of those restaurants is Vinny Vanucchi’s Little Italy and, after strolling around the lovely town, some Italian food was sounding pretty darn good to us.

The historic building has been transformed into four distinctive dining areas, including an outdoor cappuccino garden.

Testing our theory that the way to judge an Italian restaurant is by their meatballs, Vinny passed with flying colors.

We also tried the Pasta Ala Vinny, linguini with shrimp, lobster and crab in a spicy olive oil and garlic sauce, that was a seafood lover’s dream.

Topped off with a Chocolate Vanucchi, a moist, deep chocolate layered cake with white chocolate mousse and a cappuccino, we fully approved of the moniker “Little Italy.”

Cheers!

Click here to see our full adventure down The Great River Road

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

What we did in Galena:
Took the Trolley Tour &
strolled historic Main Street

Where we ate:
Vinny Vanucchi’s
Where we stayed:
Irish Cottage Boutique Hotel

For all things Galena:
Galena.org

Thanks to Enjoy Illinois for making this adventure possible! Our opinions, as always, are our own.

YOUR TURN: Have we inspired you to take an Illinois Road Trip?

Ouch. Too Harsh or Just Plain Hilarious?

Bloomberg Businessweek has just launched a new ad campaign designed to give the loved ones of boomerang kids a tongue-in-cheek edge via e-card.

The idea is to send a less-than-subtle greeting to an adult kid overstaying his or her welcome with a … See more e-cards >>

Bloomberg Businessweek has just launched a new ad campaign designed to give the loved ones of boomerang kids a tongue-in-cheek edge via e-card.

The idea is to send a less-than-subtle greeting to an adult kid overstaying his or her welcome with a free 12-issue subscription attached.

Here’s the thought process behind it:

“Help get things back on track. Send them 12 free issues of Bloomberg Businessweek, in print or for the iPad. They’ll get original ideas and actionable insights they can use to get hired, get promoted, and most importantly, get their own place.”

And it’s not only parents that can get in on the action.

There are e-cards for concerned friends:

And significant others:

Siblings:

And Grandma:

Hat tip to @ElinSilveous for sharing this site with us!

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

YOUR TURN: What do YOU think? Too harsh or just plain hilarious?

The Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House in Moline, Illinois

This was the home of John Deere’s son Charles, who followed his father as head of the company.

Each room was more amazing than the next, but it was the library that made our jaws hit the floor… CONTINUE READING >>

My birthday of perusing the family tree continued when we toured the Deere-Wiman House.

This was the home of John Deere’s son Charles, who followed his father as head of the company.

A strange bust of John Deere at the Deere-Wiman house in Moline Illinois — A strange and wonderful bust of John Deere.

Our guide, Gretchen Small, was incredibly knowledgeable, not only about the history of the house, but the genealogy of the family.

She laughed that she knows more about the Deere family ancestry than her own.

The house is impeccably preserved with about eighty percent of the furnishings being original pieces owned by Deere.

The family lived in the house up until the 1970s and kept almost everything just as it had been a century before.

Dining Room in the Deere-Wiman in Moline Illinois — Check out the wallpaper!

The wicker toilet in the Deere-Wiman House in Moline Illinois — Loved the old bathrooms. A pink wicker toilet?

The Rose Bedroom in the Deere-Wiman House in Moline Illinois — The Rose Bedroom

After touring the Deere home, we crossed the street over to The Butterworth Center.

Originally known as Hillcrest, this is the home that Charles built as a wedding present for his daughter Katherine upon marrying William Butterworth. Butterworth went on to succeed his father-in-law as president of The John Deere Company.

Needing to entertain for business, the couple added on to their home numerous times. They created a dwelling that could host the most lavish of parties.

The music room at the Butterworth Center in Moline Illinois — The music room has a built-in pipe organ.

Each room was more amazing than the next, but it was the library that made our jaws hit the floor. Literally.

Built specifically to fit and display a 40 x 20 foot, eighteenth century ceiling painting that originally hung in Ca’Dandolo in Venice. We craned our necks and spun around, but try as we may there was no way to take it all in at once.

Finally, uncouth as it was, we asked if we could lay on our backs in the middle of the floor… viola, the perfect view. Gretchen insisted that we were not the first ones to do that, but maybe she was just being nice.

Gretchen’s last surprise for me was a walk down the road to the historical society where she produced a book tracing the Deere family all the way down to my father.

Quite a memorable birthday.

Click here to see our full adventure down The Great River Road

David, GypsyNester.com

What we did in Moline:
The John Deere Pavilion Butterworth Center &
Deere-Wiman House

Where we ate:
Lagomarcino’s
Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse
Where we stayed:
Stoney Creek Inn

For all things Moline:
VisitQuadCities.com

Thanks to Enjoy Illinois for making this adventure possible! Our opinions, as always, are our own.

YOUR TURN: Have we inspired you to take an Illinois Road Trip?

Beautiful, Historic Galena, Illinois

Galena, Illinois was at one time the center of attention for not only the state, but The United States.

When General Ulysses S. Grant returned to town after winning The Civil War, the eyes of the nation were upon him… CONTINUE READING >>

We are proud to be Illinois Mile Markers – thanks to Enjoy Illinois for making this adventure possible! Click here for our full adventure down The Great River Road.

Main Street, Galena Illinois

Galena, Illinois was at one time the center of attention for not only the state, but The United States.

When General Ulysses S. Grant returned to town after winning The Civil War, the eyes of the nation were upon him.

The grateful townsfolk presented the victorious general with a gift of a stately home overlooking the city, and soon the calls for Grant to run for president began.

The home of Ulysses S. Grant in Galena, Illinois — The Ulysses S. Grant Home

The town was not wholly unknown before then. As the nation’s top producer of lead, and a major river port, it was vitally important to the country’s expansion.

Though sitting a few miles from The Mississippi, upstream on The Galena River, by the mid 1800s there was no busier port between St. Louis and St. Paul as steamboats hauled massive loads of galena, the lead ore that gave the town its name.

The trolley in Galena, Illinois

On our visit we found a much different place, no longer a mining community or a center of politics, this is a town rich in history that has renewed itself as a year round destination with great options for dining, shopping, boating, hiking, fishing, and skiing at nearby Chestnut Mountain Resort.

The Belvedere, an 1857 mansion erected by Joseph Russell Jones in Galena, Illinois

By taking a tour on the Galena Trolley we got a complete overview of the history, lore and politics of this architecturally rich city.

We began at The Belvedere, an 1857 mansion erected by Joseph Russell Jones, a cheerleader of sorts for President Grant. Our hilarious, yet informative guide, Johnny, informed us that The Belvedere is now famous for housing some of Liberace’s estate items and the drapes from Gone With the Wind.

The hill Ulysses S. Grant climbed to his home in Galena Illinois — A town of layers: U. S. Grant climbed this hill to his first house in Galena (the stairs were not there at the time)

From there the trolley climbed the hill up to Grant’s home and throughout the neighborhood where many of his colleagues lived.

All in all, nine of the Union’s generals in The Civil War hailed from Galena.

A lead miner's home in Galena Illinois — A typical lead miner’s home in hilly Galena.

Back down along the river we covered the length of the historic Main Street and it’s easy to see why this has been named a National Register Historic District. The buildings have been wonderfully preserved and most serve as shops and restaurants, making Galena not only a delight for history buffs, but foodies and shoppers alike.

Main Street in Galena Illinois, a National Register Historic District

Click here to see our full adventure down The Great River Road

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

What we did in Galena:
Took the Trolley Tour &
strolled historic Main Street

Where we ate:
Vinny Vanucchi’s
Where we stayed:
Irish Cottage Boutique Hotel

For all things Galena:
Galena.org

Thanks to Enjoy Illinois for making this adventure possible! Our opinions, as always, are our own.

YOUR TURN: Have we inspired you to take an Illinois Road Trip?

Lagomarcino’s, a Moline Tradition Since 1908

Upon entering Lagomarcino’s we were engulfed by nostalgia and the enticing smell of handmade chocolate.

The custom made booths, Tiffany lamps, the terrazzo tile floor and metal ceiling combined to transport us to the Illinois of yore… CONTINUE READING >>

Lagomarcino's in Moline, Illinois

Lagomarcino’s is a sweet blast from the past.

Since 1908, the lucky folks of Moline have been satisfying their sweet teeth at this fourth-generation, family-owned establishment.

A staple if there ever was one.

Angelo Lagomarcino of Moline Illinois — The candy man: Angelo Lagomarcino

Lagomarcino's in Moline, Illinois Upon entering Lagomarcino’s we were engulfed by nostalgia and the enticing smell of handmade chocolate.

The custom made booths, Tiffany lamps, the terrazzo tile floor and metal ceiling combined to transport us to the Illinois of yore.

Lagomarcino's in Moline, Illinois

We ordered up a cherry coke and a Green River, a lime phosphate famously named after the tradition of dying the Chicago River green every St. Patrick’s Day.

Settling in at the counter of the soda fountain, we had a front row seat to the making of our beverages.

The GypsyNesters enjoy a phosphate at Lagomarcino's in Moline Illinois

The secret, super delicious hot fudge at Lagomarcino's

A sundae at Lagomarcino’s is an interactive affair. The hot fudge, billed as a “homemade bittersweet elixir” is served on the side, to allow the customer to make his or her perfect blend.

After one taste of the magic elixir, we pushed the ice cream aside and went after the heavenly concoction with a spoon.

Diluting it seemed like a sin.

Click here to see our full adventure down The Great River Road

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

What we did in Moline:
The John Deere Pavilion Butterworth Center &
Deere-Wiman House

Where we ate:
Lagomarcino’s
Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse
Where we stayed:
Stoney Creek Inn

For all things Moline:
VisitQuadCities.com

Thanks to Enjoy Illinois for making this adventure possible! Our opinions, as always, are our own.

YOUR TURN: Have we inspired you to take an Illinois Road Trip?

ORDER NOW - Wherever Books Are Sold!

Search…