Road Trip to Sterling, Illinois
In November, Wayne and I embarked on a road trip to Sterling, Illinois, to visit some friends for a few days. Along the way, we took a detour through Thousand Hills State Park near Kirksville, Missouri. Neither of us had been there before, and we were pleasantly surprised by its stunning natural beauty!
The highlight of Thousand Hills State Park is Forest Lake, a 573-acre body of water perfect for boating, canoeing, and fishing. According to the park’s information, the lake is stocked with crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, and walleye—an angler’s paradise! The park also offers cozy cabins available for rent from March through November, adding to its charm.
We took the opportunity to stretch our legs and visited the petroglyphs preserved in a sheltered exhibit. These fascinating carvings were created by the area’s early inhabitants more than 1,500 years ago, offering a glimpse into ancient history. After our stop, we continued on to Sterling, where we checked into the Holiday Inn Express in nearby Rock Falls. That evening, we spent time catching up with our friends, and over dinner, we planned an exciting day trip to Galena, Illinois.
Exploring Galena, Illinois
The next morning, before heading to Galena, I contacted Lauren from Yarn in the Woods to see if she still had yarn available for purchase. She confirmed that there was some at Peace of the Past Antiques, a shop owned and operated by her uncle.
The drive from Sterling to Galena was beautiful, and we decided to make a stop at the Ulysses S. Grant Home along the way. The house was a gift from the local citizens to the Civil War general who later became a U.S. president. The tour was incredibly informative, and we enjoyed learning more about the Grant family’s life and history.
For lunch, we dined at the restaurant at Chestnut Mountain Resort. The food was delicious, and the views overlooking the river were simply spectacular—it was the perfect spot to take a break and enjoy the scenery.
Later, we explored downtown Galena, a charming river town with a historic vibe. It reminded me a lot of Weston, Missouri, which is close to home. At Peace of the Past Antiques, I picked up some beautiful yarn—a little treasure for my crochet projects.
We wrapped up the day with dinner back in Sterling at Kelly’s Restaurant and Lounge, where we enjoyed a great meal and planned our next adventure.
A Day in Le Claire, Iowa
Wayne and I are fans of American Pickers, so we were excited to take a day trip to Le Claire, Iowa, to visit Antique Archaeology, the store featured on the show. On the way, we discovered that Le Claire is also home to the Buffalo Bill Museum, so we decided to check it out first.
The museum turned out to be a hidden gem, showcasing the history of riverboats and barges along with fascinating exhibits on Buffalo Bill and his life.
For lunch, we stopped at Riverview Roadhouse, where we enjoyed fantastic burgers and tenderloin sandwiches. With full stomachs, we headed to Antique Archaeology. It was fascinating to see items from the show displayed in the store—some even available for purchase! That evening, we returned to our friends’ house to relax and enjoy some downtime before heading home the next morning.
Heading Home
On our drive back, we encountered rain in Iowa but made a pit stop in Bethany, Missouri, at the Toot-Toot Restaurant. Their all-you-can-eat buffet was incredible—delicious food at a very reasonable price! It was the perfect way to end our trip.
Although we had a wonderful time exploring, visiting friends, and making memories, there’s nothing quite like coming back home.
Hope you enjoyed hearing about our road trip! Next week, I’ll share my interview with Lauren from Yarn in the Woods.
Thanks for spending time with me today.
~ Belle
