We tapped Alex and Geoff of @galenabakehouse to join us in sharing with our friend Dana at BestLife.com why Galena, IL, and Pacific Grove, CA, are great towns for lovers of history and old houses! Below excerpted from BestLife.com; read the full article and tell us if you’ve visited these two destinations — or any of the other eight on the BestLife roundup!
Galena, Illinois
About three hours northwest of Chicago, near the Wisconsin and Iowa borders, is a charming small town you’ll want to know about. “Galena is a postcard vacation for history lovers and luxury vacation seekers alike. The historic downtown architecture has been 80 percent preserved and the hilly scenery along the Mississippi River creates a picture-perfect view,” say Alex and Geoff Arroyo-Karnish, former Manhattanites who moved to the Illinois town in 2019 to manage a historic inn and now own and operate the Galena Bakehouse.
Start by walking along Main Street, which feels like stepping back in time. Then, Alex and Geoff suggest the one-hour trolley tour, which takes you through Galena’s historic district. They say you must also visit the Grant Home, the 19th-century residence of the 18th U.S. president, Ulysses S. Grant. “Grant lived in Galena pre-war while he worked in his father’s leather store. After the war, the entire town gifted him a furnished home which you can tour today,” they explain.
Pacific Grove, California
For a west coast old house experience, drive along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway until you reach Monterrey. “The oceanfront town, and its neighboring Pacific Grove, are filled with ornate Victorians and detailed Queen Annes. Sit on the front porch of a historic inn while you watch the seals bob in and out of the ocean!” says Cristiana Peña, social media manager for CIRCA Old Houses.
Pacific Grove was founded in 1875 “as a Methodist Christian Seaside Retreat,” according to the Heritage Society of Pacific Grove. At the time, “sections of the city were subdivided into 30′ x 60′ lots to be used as tent sites for seasonal (summertime) visitors.” Over the years, many were converted to fully-walled, year-round homes that you can see today.
