Eagle Ridge Resort in Galena is the perfect getaway for any family! The rolling hills, golf, spa, watersports, activities and so much more. We could not have been more surprised by what greeted us in the northern hills of Illinois.
Choosing Eagle Ridge Resort in Galena was the perfect choice for our family. All of our favorite amenities in one place, with no reason to leave. The resort encompasses 68,000 acres of rolling hills and green tree-lined valleys. Lake Galena is in the middle of the resort and has high cliffs and even a waterfall.
We would like to thank Eagle Ridge Resort for hosting our family for the Labor Day Weekend. Although we greatly appreciate their hospitality the opinions we share are all our own.
Eagle Ridge Resort Lodge
The center of this beautiful resort is the lodge. The entryway is so welcoming as you walk into this unsuspicious lodge. The staff greeted our family and began working to make sure we were our stay met all of our needs. The lodge holds the main restaurant, spa, a pizza place, boutique, pool, arcade and wedding venues. Paisanos has not only pizzas but sandwiches, salads, and ice cream. We could also choose to have the pizza delivered directly to our villa!
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Do not miss The General Store located across from the lodge. We stopped there to pick up a few snacks for the villa and grab a sandwich. Marty and I each ordered a sandwich and chips. The sandwiches were huge! We each were able to save half for a late-night snack.
Woodlands Restaurant
The center of the resort lies inside the lodge, Woodlands Restaurant. As we spoke with other guests at the resort, many talked about their families having a long tradition at Woodlands. Our family loved the Sunday Brunch and the regular morning breakfast. The choices were unending and there was something everyone in the family liked.
On Saturday night we went for the Prime Rib Buffet. This was one of the highlights of our weekend. We got out of our Saturday fun clothes and cleaned up a bit for our Saturday night dinner. We talked about school, that would be starting soon, and the most amazing summer we had together. The Woodlands was just the perfect backdrop for our fun family dinner. Of course, the food was top notch. Overall, the night was unforgettable.
Indoor Pool at The Eagle Ridge Lodge
An indoor pool with a retractable roof is the perfect solution for a Mid-Western resort. The large pool is perfect in rainy or cool weather but also perfect when the sun is shining and the roof is open. Our boys loved the Movie in Tubbies on Saturday night, watching Field of Dreams. During and after the movie they played with other children, and said it was a perfect night!
Stonedrift Spa at Eagle Ridge Resort
The Stonedrift Spa at Eagle Ridge Resort in Galena offers a long list of services from herbal hot stones to couples massages to facials. The cozy relaxation room has a well-stocked beverage area where I enjoyed a fresh strawberry-infused glass of water. Soft lights, quiet instrumental music, and comfy seating helped me to begin the relaxation part of my spa treatment. After about 10 minutes my masseuse gently called my name.
My treatment was a Swedish massage. The massage was so amazing. She asked me often about pressure and chatted with me just as much as I wanted, or didn’t want. I left my room wishing I would have booked the 90-minute massage, and maybe even adding on hot stones or herbal therapy. Ok, so I just didn’t want to leave. After drinking some soft tasting green tea with lotus, and relaxing again in the relaxation room, I finally showered and left that little slice of heaven.
Accommodations at Eagle Ridge Resort
Accommodations at Eagle Ridge Resort include a variety of choices. The Main Lodge and Courtyard rooms are perfect for families wanting to be close to the pool, and many of the children’s activities at the lodge. Most have either two queens or one king bed in the rooms. The rooms were recently renovated and are just beautiful!
Eagle Ridge Villas and Homes
Eagle Ridge Resort hosted us in a two-bedroom villa. The villa had a nice kitchen area, where we made a few meals as well as popped popcorn for a late-night snack. The living room had a wood fireplace, with wood already to turn our living room into a cozy family room. Both bedrooms had their own bathrooms with showers. The villa also had a washer and dryer in one of the closets, so going home with clean rooms was going to give us a foot up for the coming week.
As well as one, two and three-bedroom villas there are also homes with up to eight bedrooms. The homes are great choices when your family would like a little seclusion from the lodge. If you are traveling with a large family or multiple families these beautiful rental homes are just perfect. When a family has a special celebration such as an anniversary, birthday or even a holiday renting a home will allow you to celebrate your own way.
Galena Territory Owners’ Club
Galena Territory Owners’ Club is available to anyone staying in a villa or rental home. We found the Owners’ Club to be the cherry on the top of the sundae for our weekend. Inside the Owners’ Club, there is a game room, concessions, meeting rooms, basketball court (I’m sure there is more, but we didn’t see everything.) and the most wonderful part of the Owners’ Club the pool. Our love for all things pools is no secret!
The Galena Territory’s Owners’ Club has three pools. One pool is inside perfect for swimming laps or working off some energy when the weather isn’t pool perfect. The second pool is a zero-entry kiddie pool with fountains and a cute frog. The third pool is a full pool with built-in seating, two slides and a large area for fun pool games. Our family loved the outdoor pool. The boys enjoyed the slides, playing with some pool toys and just playing. Marty and I played with the boys but also appreciated the built-in seating to watch the boys. I can imagine if we were staying a week, the Owners’ Club would add great variety to our activities.
The General, Golf Course at Eagle Ridge Resort
Once we learned we would be going to Eagle Ridge the boys started practicing their golf game. The General Golf Course has spectacular views of three states. It was recently renovated and brought back to all its glory! Golf Digest has included it on the top 100 list consistently. Our boys, Mason 10 and Cooper 12 had a great experience at The General.
Marty said it was a challenging course with fast greens, beautiful views, and major elevation changes. They played nine holes, which is about the boy’s limit. If he was with his friends he would have loved playing all 18 holes on The General!
WoodStone Restaurant
Woodstone restaurant, located at The General, has woodstone fired pizza and many other choices for families. The price was very reasonable, so we added some appetizers too! Of course, being on The General, the views were amazing! There were many golfers and their families eating, with a few at the long beautiful bar. The Brewer game was on along with a few other sports broadcasts, it was a fun and warm atmosphere for families.
Shenandoah Riding Center
The activities at Eagle Ridge Resort just never end. Within the Galena Territory is Shenandoah Riding Center, where there are lessons, trail rides, sleigh rides, pony parties and more. The events calendar includes a Rodeo during the Fourth of July weekend. This is such a unique addition to a resort. Having the Shenandoah riding center is different than just having stables at the resort. This is an exclusive opportunity to expose your family to ride in a safe and fun environment.
Things to do in Galena, IL
Galena, IL draws many, many people to its charming city all year round. History buffs are drawn to Grant’s House and the many Civil War-era buildings. We took the time to visit The Black Smith Shop and watched as real-life blacksmiths created items right in front of us. The gift shop was cute and we bought a few things. Next, we headed to the shops that run down main street like a old-time movie. We hit the candy shop, the ice cream shop, and the popcorn shop! Yes, you are starting to get to know us well, we love treats!
Just 45 minutes West of Galena is The Field of Dreams Movie Site. The weekend we were in town was the Team of Dreams Celebrity Softball Game. Travel Dubuque provided us with tickets and a parking pass. It was an amazing opportunity to watch the cast from Sandlot and A League of Their Own out on the field playing with superstar baseball players and local business people. We highly recommend going to The Field of Dreams Movie Site with your family. It is free to attend during regular operating hours.
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Our trip to Marathon Key, Florida
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