8 Best Romantic Getaways In Illinois

History loving couples will find much to enjoy in Galena, home to Ulysses S. Grant and many well-preserved 19th century homes. Stroll down Main Street in the Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its Italianate, Victorian and Greek Revival homes – some of the best in the country. Start off with a stop in the Ulysses S. Grant home, the Elihu B. Washburn house and the DeSoto House, a historic hotel where Lincoln spoke from the balcony and Theodore Roosevelt later stayed. This stretch is so well preserved that it’s sometimes called the “outdoor museum of the Victorian Midwest.”

After stopping in the town’s many antique stores and restaurants, head to Goldmoor Inn, an estate that resembles a castle on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. Couples can stay in a private cabin or cottage, or an in-house suite. All feature private fireplaces and whirlpools. Wander the beautiful gardens or hike Chestnut Mountain. Breakfast is delivered to your room each morning and by night, the onsite restaurant serves fine food in an elegant setting.

Though many people don’t know it, Illinois has a thriving wine region and Carbondale is in the center of it. Take a drive along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, where Kite Hills, Pomona, StarView and Alto are popular vineyards. Take a break from sipping to hike the Little Grand Canyon or one of the many other hikes in Shawnee National Forest. Back in town, Carbondale has many restaurants, breweries and wine bars, and there are often festivals or other events happening.

Stay at the Holiday Inn Carbondale, a convenient base for exploring and a clean and comfortable respite after a long day of hiking and wine. There’s a well-stocked gym in the building, as well as a fun pizza restaurant and of course, room service.

Alton, Illinois is a small city on the Mississippi River, site of the Lincoln-Douglas debate in 1858 and former home of jazz legends Miles Davis and Robert Wadlow. In today’s day and age, its highlight is the Beall Mansion, a worth-the-trip bed and breakfast that perfectly blends old world elegance with modern luxury.

Located on “Millionaire’s Row,” a picturesque street of historic mansions, the bed and breakfast features three types of guest rooms, each with gorgeous Victorian-style furniture and soaking tubs with custom bath salts. Indulge in a full menu of in-room spa services (if you book a package, you can keep the seriously soft robe) and a 24-hour chocolate bar, stocked with everything from fine foreign chocolates to M&Ms. Talk about indulgence!

Perhaps the best part of Beall Mansion is the service. Owners Jim and Sandy are attentive but not overbearing, as is the rest of the staff. Enjoy an evening in the music room with a cup of tea before bed, and don’t forget to take part in the delicious breakfast.

While there is no shortage of nice hotels in Chicago, the Peninsula just might be the most luxurious of them all. Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling hand-painted floral murals, soft premium bedding, 42-inch plasma TVs and marble bathrooms with large soaking tubs.

The spa, which specializes in Ayurvedic treatments, is one of the city’s best. Try the “Time Together” treatment, a full body exfoliation and massage for two in a private spa suite. It can be hard to want to leave the hotel, with its plush robes and award winning restaurants.

However, when you do feel like sightseeing, the hotel’s “Academy” offers one-of-a-kind Chicago experiences, like cooking classes, helicopter tours and great seats to theater performances. Prefer to explore on your own? The hotel is in the heart of the city, an easy walk to Millennium Park and the Art Institute, as well as numerous restaurants, shops and bars.

For couples who love a little glamour and old school fun, look no further than the Chicago Athletic Association. The 1893 Venetian Gothic landmark building was refurbished a few years ago and opened as a stylish hotel steps from Chicago’s main attractions. Enjoy a marble bath, premium linens and cool retro furnishings in-room, and take full advantage of the hotel’s dining scene.

At Cindy’s Rooftop, you can take in some of the best views of the city with champagne in hand, while at eight-seat Milk Bar, you can sip some of the city’s best cocktails in a former Prohibition speakeasy. The club’s original billiards room is now a game room with bocce ball, billiards, shuffleboard, chess and checkers tables. Plus, on the ground floor, there’s an entire TopGolf Swing Suite. This hotel is one for couples who love a good time.

Though less than an hour outside of Chicago, Geneva feels a world away. The small city of historic architecture, local boutiques, breweries and chocolatiers has plenty to do, while feeling quiet and peaceful pretty much all the time.

Upscale boutique hotel Herrington Inn and Spa is a great base. The AAA Four Diamond hotel looks out onto Lake Geneva and each room has a fireplace, a whirlpool bathtub and a patio.

You can enjoy a treatment at the full-service spa, or have the spa come to you. The hotel’s in-room bath treatment menu features several bath baskets with different soaks, as well as extras like plush eye pillows and aromatherapy oils. For a small fee, an attendant will draw the bath for you. It’s an easy getaway and one you’ll want to return to again and again.

Take a romantic weekend getaway to Bloomington, a small town with a big history. Here, you can follow Abraham Lincoln’s time as an attorney at the McLean County Museum of History, tour a pioneer log cabin, explore the Victorian-era home of David Davis (a senator and Lincoln’s mentor), hike along Constitution Trail or see a collection of military aircraft at the Prairie Aviation Museum. And that’s before you see the town’s more modern sights, like music venues, boutiques and plenty of restaurants.

Just blocks from downtown, the Vrooman Mansion is a perfect base. Choose from rooms like the Rose Room, a European style space, or the vintage-filled Letitia’s Suite. For more privacy, you can stay in the remodeled carriage house. All rooms have contemporary bathrooms with marble sinks and multiple shower heads.

Wake up to a gourmet breakfast, including fabulous pastries–the sweets are so good you can even order extra for your room for a small fee – and spend the afternoon exploring. When you’re back, enjoy a spa treatment on-site.

Like much of Illinois, Quincy boasts extensive Civil War history. You can visit the Lincoln-Douglas Interpretive Center, the All Wars Museum and the Dr. Richard Eells House that sits on the Underground Railroad. There are also plenty of historic mansions and even a Moroccan-style villa – Villa Kathrine.

You should come here to walk through the Clatt Adams Bicentennial Park along the Mississippi River, which is especially scenic at sunset, and to relax at cozy vacation rental. This A-frame house is quiet and calm. It’s beautifully redone to look like a luxurious cabin in the woods, yet you’re close to restaurants (or takeout), bars and theater if you want it. The backyard looks out onto a pond and the living room is outfitted with plush couches. Truly a place to curl up with a good book and each other.