If you’ve ever been to Galena, Illinois you probably have walked through their downtown strip. They have blocks of little boutiques and family-owned restaurants in historic brick buildings. Maybe you want to go visit the home of former president and Galena native, Ulysses S. Grant. This small town can take you back decades with museums, ghost tours, and buildings with character that tell a story of their own.

But one thing in Galena that I didn’t discover until recently was that they have this persevere called Horseshoe Mound.

I had a chance to go there this summer and it was breathtaking. You have to go through neighborhoods and carefully drive up a winding and scarily steep hill to get to it but the risk is totally worth the reward.

At the top of the mound, there is this stone gathering place, giving people the perfect spot to watch the sunset. It even has stone markers showing where the sun will rise and set based on the time of year. That's not the best part though. The best part is the view from the top of the mound. They have a map that points out different things that you are looking at. You can see the Mississippi River, across state borderlines, and all the way to Dubuque, Iowa.It’s pretty humbling to see that in person. Views like that make me feel at peace in a way. It’s just such a great opportunity to take a moment to sit and take it all in. If you ever visit you have to stay for the sunset. There’s no better place to watch the sky change colors.

Horseshoe Mound also had different trails leading to different areas in the preserve. Along the trails, there are signs giving background information on how the mound itself was formed and its history. But fair warning, if you plan to hike be ready for a workout. It’s one huge hill and if you take the trail that goes down it, you’re going to have to hike all the way back up. When I went there I wasn’t able to explore all of the mound but I think that may be a good thing. It’s a place that you can go back to and see something new or different every time.

This is such a good place to go for a picnic, a hiking trip with the family, or a date to watch the sunset. There are so many interesting things about this place that makes it fun for all ages. You could go there for ten minutes or spend the day there. If you live in driving distance of Galena I urge you to go visit. The view isn’t one that you see often.

You don’t have to drive overnight or cross state borderlines to see amazing views. You just have to do your research of local sights. I always thought as a child that Illinois didn’t have anything interesting other than Chicago. But the older get and the more places I visit I’ve realized that there are so many different places to explore that are a drive away. Don't let local nature perseveres go unnoticed because sometimes those can be the best things to explore. Next time you’re looking for a fun road trip grab a camera, jump in the car, and head to Horseshoe Mound.