2364. Go to the Horseshoe Mound Preserve in Galena

 While looking for other things to do in Galena, I stumbled across Horseshoe Mound Preserve. It sounded neat and was in the same area as the Alpine Slide and Earth Station. I added it to the list.

Horseshoe Mound Preserve is a nature preserve just south of Galena. It is open April-December 1 (or the first major snowfall whatever happens first). It is free to visit. There is a small parking lot. 

Besides hiking trails, which we did not check out due to the copious amounts of unplanned hiking we already did, it features a stone amphitheater. 

The McKeague Family council ring is a stone amphitheater that allows for nature contemplation, family gatherings, and scenic views.

One unique feature is you can see where the different solstice sunrises and sunrise will line up based on stones in the ground.

Even just standing in the council ring, you can views of Galena, Iowa, and Wisconsin. There are viewing telescopes along the council ring to use as well.

If you want to get out of the hustle and bustle of downtown Galena, this is a great spot to check out. It has great views and not a lot of people.  

2363. See the old Earth Station in Galena

 I stumbled across a post on Facebook about seeing the Earth Station in Galena. I thought it was pretty cool looking and from what I read fairly easy to get to. I added it to the list for girls weekend.

The Hanover Earth Station site is located in Witkowsky State Wildlife Area which is open daily dawn to dusk. There are several parking lots with various trails off them.

This is the second time Apple Maps (or my planning skills) failed us in the same day. From what I read it was an easy .6 mile hike out to see the Earth Station. We parked in parking lot 3 and started down the trail. 

At first it was a pretty flat wide meadow like trail. Then it turned into a narrow footpath through the woods with hills. Several times we had to check to make sure we were headed in the right direction.

Eventually we found the Earth Station after about 1.1 miles. The Hanover Earth Station was a satellite by in the 1970s by AT&T and GTE as one of 7 Earth Stations across the US. It had 2 large antennae that received long distance data and telephonic traffic from satellites. 

The remains are 2 giant cylinders where the antennae were housed. They are actually quite creepy looking. We didn't spend much time there. It was cool to see a piece of history that no longer exists and probably few people know about.

We contemplated hiking out a different path to parking lot 4 and then back to the car along the road but as afraid it wasn't as close as it looked on the map. So back through the woods we went. 

We definitely were not planning on hiking 2.6 miles at all. Luckily I put my shoes on and didn't do it in flip flops. Surprisingly the bugs weren't bad but there were some cobwebs that caught my face. 

So if you decide you need to explore a very random place while in Galena, park in parking lot 4 and check out the Hanover Earth Station via the Earth Station Trail instead of the Walnut trail like we did. You'll save you legs for shopping and exploring Galena. 

Panning for Ore

 After we rode the mountain coaster and was headed back to check out the gift shop, we passed the mining station. I really never "mined" for gold or rocks when I was younger and if I did, I don't remember it. I decided that I should pan for some ore. 

In the gift shop, you can buy bags of sand filled with random rocks and ore. You can get various size bags. I got the smallest bag (pay dirt) for $9. 

We went back outside and Stacy informed me how to do this. 

Dump the bag of sand in the screen. 

Dip it in the water to remove the sand but keep the rocks.

Keep shaking it side to side to get all the sand out.

It probably took me about 10 minutes to get it all done. I left with a bag of stones. They are not worth much but one day I will use the little guide they gave me to figure out exactly what I have. I'll keep a few and add some to Stacy's kids' collections.

If you have never panned ore or gold, go for it. It is fun and you never know what you may find. Kids really like this activity. 

2350. Ride the Alpine Slide at Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galena

 The whole reason we went to Galena for Girls Weekend was so Stacy could ride the Mountain Coaster. Since it was on my bucket list, it was a no brainer. 

Chestnut Mountain Resort is just south of Galena and offers year round outdoor fun. There's the alpine slide, zip line, hiking, and biking in the warmer months and skiing in winter. It all includes views of the river. 

To ride the alpine slide/mountain coaster, it required a ticket. You could buy a single ride ($15), 5 rides ($65), 8 rides ($99) or a combo ticket ($67). The combo ticket included 2 tickets for the alpine slide, 2 tickets for the zip line, and 2 tickets for mini golf. We opted fora  single ride. We weren't overly thrilled with the zip line idea. Buying online saves you $2/ticket.

After picking up our ticket, we headed over to the slide. We grabbed slides and waited in a short line. The operator gave a short safety talk and then we got on the slide. There were dual slides so we both go at the same time.

There is a hand brake to control your speed. The last time I was on an alpine slide/mountain coaster, I was still in high school. Controlling my own destiny on this thing kind of freaked me out. I was told you can fall out. Yeah, that would probably be me.

The person behind me was probably getting annoyed with me as I rode the brake most of the way down especially around corners. I had no need for speed. 

The ride took several minutes. I have to admit it was fun and I probably should have gone faster but I was afraid of getting hurt. 

At the end you take the chair lift back up to the top of the mountain. Since I've skied before, chair lifts don't both me all that much especially ones with safety bars.

If you are in Galena, definitely check out the alpine slide and the other activities they offer. The mini golf did look kind of cheesy though. And don't be afraid to go fast. 

2639. Explore the Mines of Spain in Dubuque

 Since I knew how Stacy and I traveled, I looked at the bucket list and Google Maps to determine what else in Dubuque could we see while we were in Galena besides the elevator. I had Mines of Spain on the bucket list and figured that was something the hubby won't care for. Too much hiking.

Mines of Spain is a State Recreational Area outside of Dubuque, IA. It is open daily 4 AM - 10:30 PM. There is no admission to explore the park which has more than 15 miles of trails. 

The one thing I saw that we could easily check out was the Julien Dubuque Monument. It looked like a super short walk from the parking lot. 

Apple Maps had a different plan for us. We found a parking lot that mentioned the Julien Dubuque Monument. The map I looked at before we left said it was a .6 mile loop. Totally doable.

We started off on the trail. We first had to climb a set of stairs. Not what I was expecting but okay.

Then we had to climb over/under a fallen tree. Definitely not our agenda for the day.

We continued to follow the trail hoping we were headed in the right direction.

Eventually we came to another parking lot and saw the Julien Dubuque Monument. Apple Maps took us to the wrong parking lot. 

The Julien Dubuque Monument is a stone tower overlooking the Mississippi River. It has a marker inside.

The views of the Mississippi were worth the hike.

Of course we had to hike back down to our car. So instead of a nice .6 mile loop, we trudged almost a mile round trip and had to climb over trees. We definitely walked off our breakfast. 

Maybe I should have checked the map more carefully before we left. I discovered there was a wine cellar at the interpretive center. I will need to add that to my bucket list. I might be able to convince the hubby to check out the Interpretive Center and Julien Dubuque Monument if we actually drive the whole way.

If you are ever in Dubuque or Galena, take some time to explore Mine of Spines. It is a gorgeous area with gorgeous views and hikes for all abilities. 

2629. See the Shot Tower in Dubuque

 When we arrived at our Air BnB for girls weekend, I noticed a binder with things to do in the area. One of them was the Dubuque Shot Tower. I never heard of it. Stacy asked if I ever been to a shot tower and I don't think I had. So we added it to our list of things to do in Dubuque.

The Shot Tower was built in 1856 to manufacture lead shot. I never even know this was a thing. The Dubuque Shot Tower is one of the last remaining shot towers in the US.

It is located near the river and railroad tracks. If you are not looking for it, you probably won't even know it is there. 

The Dubuque Shot tower is over 120 feet tall made of stone. Molten lead was poured through a grate at the top of the tower. Gravity would create perfect sized spheres for shot guns. It is quite amazing if you think about it. 

After the Civil War, it was used for a fire tower for awhile before falling in disarray for many years until it was placed on the National Historical Registry in the 1970s. It has since between repaired.

The Dubuque Shot Tower is definitely worth checking out if you are in Dubuque. It is a piece of history that many people probably don't even know about. 

2637. Ride the Fenelon Place Elevator in Dubuque

 I've been wanting to ride the Fenelon Place Elevator for years. It is an incline railroad and I wasn't sure if the hubby could handle it. So when we decided girls weekend was going to be in Galena, I was like we need to go to Dubuque so I can ride the elevator.

Fenelon Place Elevator is the world's shortest and steepest railroad. It takes passengers 296 feet up the side up the side of a bluff in Dubuque. You can board either at the top or the bottom. It is $4/person round trip and is cash only. Fenelon Place Elevator is open 8-10 daily April 1 to November 30 except for Thanksgiving. 

We decided to ride from the top. There is only street parking. We paid our $4 and joined a couple in the train. It seats 8 people on wooden seats. It is just wooden folding doors on either end. 

The view from the top is spectacular. You can see the Mississippi. 

The ride down takes only a couple of minutes.

Then you let yourself out. We wandered the streets for a bit and checked out a few stores. 

When we were ready to head back up, we got back in the elevator and rang the bell. After about a minute, we were back on our way up. As one car goes up, a second car comes down. 

It is definitely not as scary as the Lookout Mountain Incline Railroad. The incline is not as vertical at any point. I am still not sure the hubby could handle it since there is nothing to grab on to. 

If you are in Dubuque or the surrounding area, definitely ride the Fenelon Place Elevator. It is cheap entertainment and it is a piece of history.