Galena, Illinois: A Trip You Both Can Love

Guy-friendly diversions

Teri can't wait to lose herself in this storybook town of brick shops, Victorian homes and 40 bed and breakfasts. As mom of two little girls, she's eager to let someone pamper her for a change and for us to focus on each other like the newlyweds we were a decade ago.

I'm less giddy. I love spending time with Teri and love that she gets her kind of vacation. But I'm tent and campfire, not bed and breakfast. Fortunately, as I page through Galena's glossy brochure, I spot guy-friendly diversions: kayaking, bike trails, high-end golf courses and the manly cred of producing nine Civil War generals, including U.S. Grant.

Somewhere in this mix, Teri and I hope to find mutually agreeable outings. Plus, we'll seek solo jaunts where she goes all girly while I find the corners of Galena where no one describes things as "cute."