Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa

Whether you look at winter as a time to embrace outdoor adventures or a call to head indoors for cozy downtime cuddled in front of a fireplace, Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa makes for a great winter escape. Located 150 miles west of Chicago within The Galena Territory — a 6,800-acre recreational, residential and resort community located 6 miles southeast of the historic town of Galena, Illinois — the resort is home to award-winning restaurants, the tranquil Stonedrift Spa and an incredible selection of outdoor activities, including the Nordic Center, a hub of wintertime fun.

Don your cold-weather gear and get ready to experience the peace of the surrounding rolling hills covered in a blanket of snow. Explore several miles of groomed cross-country and snowshoeing trails or give ice fishing on Lake Galena a try. Don your skates and hit the ice on the 1 1/2-acre rink or grab a sled and race down the hill at the 10th hole of the resort’s The General golf course. (You don’t have to worry about lugging your gear either, as sleds and ice skates are available for rent.) A three-day Winter Carnival (held in February last year), brings a balloon glow to the resort on Friday and Saturday nights.

With Chestnut Mountain just minutes away, the resort also offers a ski-and-stay package, so you can spend a day on a wide range of slopes suited for all skill levels before returning to the quieter atmosphere of Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa. There, you can warm up with a hot stone massage at the resort’s 6,000-square-foot Stonedrift Spa, which features 10 private treatment rooms including a Vichy shower wet treatment room.

Visitors can also roast marshmallows and sip mulled wine at the Nordic Center’s blazing bonfire. The resort offers a wide range of accommodations, from quaint inn rooms to roomy villas ideal for hosting larger family holiday or wintertime gatherings and getaways.  

444 Eagle Ridge Dr., Galena, Illinois, 815/777-5000, eagleridge.com