Fun Weekend Getaways

With the fall semester comes new classes, new friends, and new experiences. One of those new experiences that I hope you engage in is a weekend getaway every so often. Hitting the open road does not have to be part of a long, drawn-out vacation. Getting away for just the weekend is a great way to refresh and recharge in the midst of your semester. That being said, in this post I will relay some of my favorite weekend getaway spots, both in the Chicagoland area and beyond. 

Lake Forest, IL 

Lake Forest is a local weekend getaway in the Chicagoland area. It is a short 40-minute drive (just about 25 miles) from Harper College. Downtown Lake Forest is home to one of the most well-known independent bookstores in the Chicagoland area, known as the Lake Forest Bookstore. This bookstore, located at 662 N. Western Ave., features a wide variety of curated books, and it also hosts author talks throughout the year. A highly regarded 4-star hotel in the same area, the Deer Path Inn, is worth considering for a night’s stay or full weekend getaway lodging. There is a lot to see and do in Lake Forest, so give this quaint, charming North Shore town a try this fall season.  

Galena, IL  

Galena is a two and a half hour drive (about 135 miles) from the Harper campus. It truly is a picturesque small town and a picturesque drive to match. As you get closer to the final destination on the drive to Galena, the area gets more and more full of hills, which is not the first thing you think of for Illinois driving (since much of the terrain while driving in the state is flat). Right outside of town is the former home and now museum for Ulysses S. Grant, the famous Civil War general and later eighteenth President of the United States. Within this small town, nestled in northwest Illinois just over the border from the city of Dubuque in Iowa, you will find several quaint coffee shops on its main street. My favorite one, Kaladi’s coffee bar, boasts a strong, bold cold brew coffee that goes great with one of the pastries in the cafe. There is also a bookstore in town, just down the street from said coffee shop. It is called Galena Book & Paper. While the selection of books leans towards the limited size, the stationery and other paper products found in the shop add a unique twist to the store. Overall, you will not be disappointed in visiting Galena for the weekend.  

Cedarburg, WI 

A weekend getaway list would not be complete without a stop in a charming Wisconsin town. The town that aptly fits that description is Cedarburg, located about 20 miles north of Milwaukee, and a 1 hour and 45 min drive (about 100 miles) from Harper’s campus. Washington Ave., which goes straight through the town, is full of boutique stores, three coffee shops (wow, that is a lot for a single, small street!), a few restaurants, and some other surprises as well. One shop of note is the famous Amy’s Candy Kitchen. The item that this particular candy shop is best known for is its chocolate. Try a chocolate-coated apple when you stop in and you will not be disappointed! A walk along Washington Ave. provides a nice, restful change of pace from a long week of studying for papers, tests, and exams here at Harper. Clearly, there is a lot to see and enjoy, so don’t miss a visit to Cedarburg, Wisconsin! 

Remember that there is a large variety of options for weekend getaways in and near Chicagoland. Before the weather gets cold and dreary in wintertime, be sure to put a weekend getaway in the area at the top of your list of things to do. Happy travelling and enjoy your time out there!