Spend four days exploring historic Galena, Illinois, with a three-night stay at the Irish Cottage Inn & Suites. Discover charming shops, Civil War history, a working blacksmith shop, and local wine. Enjoy Irish entertainment and wrap up with a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.
- 3-night stay at boutique hotel Irish Cottage
- Galena city tour, including Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
- Local wine tasting
- Dinner and entertainment at Frank O’Dowd’s Irish Pub
- Guided tour of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
DAY 1: WELCOME TO GALENA!
Travel to Galena, home to Midwest Living magazine’s “Best Main Street in the Midwest.” Discover historic red-brick buildings filled with charming boutiques and art galleries, all nestled among picturesque hillsides. Enjoy dinner at the historic DeSoto House Hotel, built in 1855 and host to Civil War generals and U.S. Presidents Lincoln and Grant. Unpack for a 3-night stay at the Irish Cottage Inn & Suites, offering a touch of the Emerald Isle in Northern Illinois. D
DAY 2: GALENA CITY TOUR
Join our local expert for a narrated driving tour of Galena. Learn about the town’s rich history and hidden treasures, including 19th-century mansions and the Old Market House State Historic Site. Walk in the footsteps of Ulysses S. Grant during a guided tour of the home where he lived after returning from the Civil War. Did you know Galena is where Grant launched his campaign to become the 18th President of the United States? B, L
DAY 3: BLACKSMITH SHOP/WINERY
Visit Galena’s Old Blacksmith Shop, where working blacksmiths operate vintage equipment to craft custom items from scratch. Savor the area’s rich wine heritage with a tasting at a local winery. Return for a relaxing evening at the Irish Cottage and dinner at Frank O’Dowd’s Irish Pub, where authentic Irish craftmanship is on display, and talented musicians and entertainers will have you clapping along! B, D
DAY 4: RETURN HOME
Depart Galena and stop in Springfield, IL for a guided visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Take an in-depth look at the life of one of America’s greatest leaders—from his humble Midwest roots to his presidency during the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. Return home in the evening. B
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Nights 1-3: Irish Cottage, Galena, IL
Departure Cities:
- St. Louis
Depart: May 14, 2026
Return: May 17, 2026
AND
Depart: September 17, 2026
Return: September 20, 2026
Price Per Person:
- DB $1,299
- TP/QD $1,133
- SG $1,727
Other General Information
We will send 3 key communications for your tour; “Get Ready” is your email confirmation and initial tour information sent upon registration, “Get Set” email will be sent about two months before departure, “Go” trip documentation mailing is sent via USPS 3-4 weeks before departure and will include your daily itinerary, luggage tags and final departure information.
Travel Protection is optional and highly recommended and can be purchased until the day before departure. We offer Travel Guard from AIG, which costs 8.5% of your tour, information about which will be sent with your Get Ready email.
Unless otherwise noted, your Sunrise Tour includes: Professional Sunrise Tour Director, meals as indicated, local step on guides including gratuity (international tour guide gratuity inclusion vary by tour), deluxe motorcoach transportation w/rest room, admission to activities and events as indicated, airfare from designated airports, transportation to/from designated airports from our convenient local pickup points*, luggage handling at hotels when available
We believe tipping is a personal and discretionary interaction between our guests and our staff. A typical gratuity for your Sunrise Tour Director and motorcoach driver may be $5-$7per person, per day on tour. Sunrise Shuttle drivers appreciate gratuities (suggest $5 per person) for excellent service as well. Our staff will not solicit gratuities or pass out envelopes.
We are happy to offer refreshments on most motorcoach travel days on tour. We recommend you bring a refillable water bottle to maintain healthy hydration.
If less than 4 people request a pickup point, we may ask that you choose another pickup point from which to join your Sunrise Tour.
If you would like to join a tour from a city not listed as a departure point, we would love to have you along! Please discuss arrangements with our friendly reservation team. From a departure city not listed, typical airfare will be +$100 higher than our published fare for domestic tours, and +$200 for international tours.
If you have a TSA precheck or Airline Rewards numbers, you MUST give those numbers to our reservations team at least 60 days before departure, otherwise they may not be applied.
Preferred seating may not be available on group air. In some cases, seats are not assigned until the airport. Your tour fare includes an economy seat on the flight; it does not include seat selection. Seat upgrades may be available at an additional cost.
To help make our tours the most comfortable in the business, we limit Sunrise Tours motorcoaches to 80% capacity, or 44 passengers on a coach built for 55. We reserve the right to amend this practice.
Your Tour Director will rotate seats on the motorcoach each day of your tour. A single fare does not guarantee two seats on the coach; you may be seated next to another friendly Sunrise Tours guest.
Terms and Conditions
Please refer to our policies HERE for more information on our terms and conditions.
