Please read before deciding to book your special day at The Shore!!…read more I had booked this venue in August 2016 the same week my husband and I got engaged. We both loved the river as a back drop and the price was great compared to other venues we had checked into. I booked and paid the 100% deposit required with the then event coordinator, Breanna. Fast forward to January/February 2017, I had found out that there was another wedding booked for the Friday night before our Saturday night wedding. Breanna let me know that they book for all days of the weekend, so I just made arrangements to have our rehearsal in another location and made sure we had a set up crew to do the decorating the morning of our wedding (parents, groomsmen, etc.) I contacted the Shore about a month and a half before our wedding day to come in and finalize some details for our big day and to visualize one more time where everything was going to go in the reception area. By then, the event coordinator position had switched hands and was (and is now) under Carol. I spoke with her about coming in and we had set an appointment for 6pm on June 29th. I showed up to the restaurant and asked for Carol only to be told she wasn't there and wasn't planning on coming in that night. One of the bartenders called her in and she came in around 6:30. It's an hour drive there for me so waiting the extra time was inconvenient, but she said since she had met the night before with another girl named Shelby, she thought she didn't have another meeting that night and thought I was the other Shelby so her night was open.. I was annoyed but shrugged it off as an honest mistake. During the meeting we went over where everything was going to be placed, what we were renting, and how set up would work with there being a wedding the night before. My stepmother was with me and asked what time we would be able to set up the morning of the wedding. Carol said that her cleaning crew was coming in at 11:30 after the other wedding was over and that everything would be clean and ready by 5 am the morning of our wedding. We said it would probably be at least 7 before we would start setting up so that would work perfect. We had our rehearsal at the Baymont Inn attached to the venue on the Friday night before our wedding. Towards the end Carol came over and asked me again what time we would be going over to decorate and I told her 7. She said perfect and that everything would be good to go. The morning of our wedding I wanted to decorate the arch we were using for our ceremony, so my husband and I walked over to the Event Centre and as soon as we stepped out onto the outside patio our stomachs dropped. There were beer cans, half full cups of alcohol and soda, popcorn, food and garbage EVERYWHERE. Chairs and tables were still right where the prior wedding group had left them. And to top it off, there were multiple piles of PUKE on the patio area where we were supposed to be having our wedding that afternoon. While we were out there, a cleaning lady for the restaurant was cleaning up the restaurant outdoor area and said she would help us clean up because she was absolutely horrified that the Event Centre was in the condition it was with our wedding being that afternoon and also informed us that the "cleaning crew" that Carol said would be cleaning up the venue had quit and were not coming in at all. My husband also called Carol in to start taking care of the mess. I had to leave as my hair and makeup started at 8 am. However, this is what my husband, the day of our wedding, had to put up with.. He started picking up the trash left behind and called in our sleeping groomsmen to help him since there was so much to be done. Our bridal party and parents had to do the following: picked up garbage, swept the outside patio area, vacuumed the riser our sweetheart table was on, wiped down the ceremony & reception chairs, helped get the pressure washer running to clean the puke, etc off the patio, picked up the table skirting so that the floors could be mopped, cleaned up the bar area including washed glasses etc from the wedding reception the night before. Our photographer was coming to take pictures of the bridal party getting ready at 11:30 and the guys didn't even get to take showers until 11am. They spent from 7-11 cleaning up after the previous wedding. Then, the parents had to stay to continue decorating after that. We had to clean and prepare the venue ourselves!!!

Where do I even begin?? Cat is AMAZING! She was such a calm, constant, and creative presence…read morethroughout our engagement pictures, wedding planning, and wedding day. She helped us find meaningful places for our engagement pictures in a new-to-us city, was an incredible support when our venue canceled on us a month before our wedding, and was the best director on our big day. I received so many compliments on Cat's demeanor, energy, and ability to corral and guide our guests during formal portraits. Several people mentioned that she was one of the best wedding photographers that they had interacted with! Not only was she an amazing photographer and vendor, but was truly a great presence at our very intimate wedding. And WOW, the pictures!! I have looked at them every day since receiving our gallery and know that they will be cherished forever. 10/10 would definitely recommend.

From the owner: Candid Contrast Photography is located in Bellevue, Iowa, and is owned and operated by Catherine…read moreCaughron. Specializing in modern wedding photography & lifestyle baby & family photography that is bright, fun, & vivacious. Our goal is to provide every client with a wonderful experience and images that are a true representation of this unique time in their lives. Each custom photography session is tailored to your needs & what you want to capture in your final images. As an on-location photographer, Cat will travel to your home or outdoor location for your portrait session.

We enjoyed our anniversary dinner here while staying in Galena. It was about a 15-minute drive for…read moreus from our b&b - be wary, it's quite dark on the country roads at night with no streetlights once the sun goes down after 9 pm in the summer. The restaurant is inside the small but upscale inn, and we were seated in an inside booth facing the beautiful outdoor scenery. We ordered the soft shell crab and scallop appetizers, and the beef wellington entree. All of them were delicious, especially the beef wellington. I highly recommend the cherry dessert (top option on the spring/summer sessert menu). It was really unique and flavorful. Be sure to grab some photos on the patio at sunset too!

The host who greeted us was very kind and accommodating, making sure we got the table I preferred…read more That was a nice start to the evening. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience did not live up to the reputation or the price point. I travel extensively around the world and the U.S., and I dine often at high-end restaurants, so I consider myself someone with a refined palate. With that in mind, I found Goldmoore to be very overrated. My sea bass was very average--the sauce had clashing flavors that simply did not work together. Their signature Beef Wellington, which should have been the highlight, was disappointing as well. Even the vegetables in the medley had a strange aftertaste, almost as if one of them--or the garlic--was spoiled. Service was also underwhelming. Our server didn't explain the dishes, didn't check in to ask how things were, and the food took far too long to arrive. For a restaurant of this level, that's unacceptable. Dessert was the final letdown. It had a cheap taste and even some crusty, stale-like bits that reminded me of eating a cracker past its freshness. For a $200 bill, I expected much higher quality. My friend and I both agreed that we would have enjoyed a simple burger and fries in downtown Galena much more. Overall, the atmosphere and the host were nice, but the food and service fell far below the standard of a fine dining restaurant. Sadly, I was not impressed and would not return.

The Tri-State's Best DJ and Photo Booth services. Affordable and user-friendly. No excessive…read moremeetings. Super streamline booking and planning. They even have karaoke now! From proms to graduation parties to weddings and school dances, Absolute Music is the DJ and Photo Booth service to call!

Would highly recommend using Absolute Music for your next venue! So easy to work with and got the…read morecrowd involved. Very accommodating as well. So happy we went with Absolute!!

We stopped here to check out the views of the Mississippi River on our way back to Chicagoland from…read moreGalena. There's lots of parking and a boat launch. We didn't camp here, but drove through through the campground. There are many shady spots with electric hookups and nearby water pumps and even better, river views. There's also a nice playground for campers with kids. The bathrooms are really clean and well-lit. Each includes a shower with a bench and is handicap-accessible.

I enjoyed camping at Blanding Landing over the Labor Day weekend. It was easy to make and pay for…read moreour reservation online; however, contacting them was more challenging. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to check in before they closed and nobody answered the phone or returned my message. In the end, I decided to wing it and arrive late anyway. After all, I knew which campsite was assigned to me and I paid for it. Turns out that I did the right thing. In fact, even if you don't have a reservation, they have a procedure for accommodating you if you arrive late. There's a phone number to call to find out which sites are available and then you check in properly in the morning. There's an attendant who lives at the camp grounds as well as sheriffs and other security folks who make regular rounds. This made me feel extra safe. There are outhouse-like bathrooms as well as a proper bathhouse with showers. All of the toilets have toilet paper. Each camp site has electricity, a pump nearby for water and a fire-pit with grill. The grounds were well maintained with mowed lawns and healthy tree cover for shade. The sites were good for RVs and tent camping. Not all of the sites were good for hammock camping where the hammock is suspended between trees. I heard that there's a beach along the Mississippi River but I didn't see it myself. Instead, I saw a boat-launch area with a ramp into the water and a dock. There were also paved roads nearby that were nice for cycling. I saw a large playground for kids. The campgrounds are located about 10 miles from any town but getting there is gorgeous. The land is very hilly - so hilly that you wouldn't believe that it's Illinois. One day we drove 10 miles to Galena for breakfast and it was a very enjoyable excursion. We also drove to a vineyard and winery (Fer Ged Aboud It) which was also a great field trip. One of the only problems (and there's nothing the campsite can do about it) is that there are regular freight trains that zoom right by the campgrounds on a regular basis. They are very loud. So loud that you can't have conversation.

What can I say about Lisa and her team at Inside Décor? They brought the party--and made it…read moreunforgettable. I can't count how many compliments I received about the amazing atmosphere Lisa created for my 50th birthday. I came to her with three random ideas--Sally O'Malley, Miss Hannigan, and kitty cats--and she turned them into a playful, immersive wonderland. Guests walked the red carpet through velvet ropes like it was a NYC premiere, surrounded by pure joy. Every detail was spot-on: Miss Hannigan tending bar, kitty cats peeking around corners, and Sally O'Malley touches everywhere. Lisa even surprised me with Annie wigs, a camel, and the crowd favorite: glowing hula hoops. Every nook and cranny became a picture-perfect moment. She delivered everything exactly within my original quote, and her professionalism, creativity, and warmth made the whole process fun and stress-free. I'd hire her again in a heartbeat--even from 1,000 miles away. I nside Décor is pure magic.

Excellent service is an understatement! They took my dream and inspo pics and made my reality 100…read moretimes better! They heard everything I said and nailed it. The options you have to choose from are endless and if Lisa and Jenny do not have it, they will get it for you but I doubt there is much they don't have on hand! When we met to go over decorations they had several options and were able to use those as a jumping point to add on or change from there. We didn't have a photo booth rented but they created one for us with a couch, and balloon arch with it. Perfection! While there I also found out that they do rentals on flowers! They had some bouquets out and we fell in love, they were perfect for our wedding!!! They decorated for my shower and my wedding/reception. 20 out of 10, I cannot recommend them enough! Call. Book. Enjoy.

This place has an amazing view of the mighty Mississippi River. It is a newer hotel in the small…read moretown of Bellevue, Iowa. The price is right. Breakfast is fair. Service has been above average. However, they didn't make our beds. I asked them and they made up an excuse. If it wasn't for that, I'd give them 4.

Overcharged for stay. After receiving my credit card bill, I realized that Baymont by Wyndham…read moreBellevue overcharged me for our stay. I booked through hotels.com. I called Baymont and spoke to a gal that suggested that the discrepancy was due to taxes. She suggested that I call hotels.com so that's what I did. Per Hotels.com, they secure special ratings for their customers and I should have received the exact rate that I was quoted by them in my confirmation. Hotels.com CS placed me on hold while she called the Baymont to request that they refund me the $12 overcharged, they refused. I've booked plenty of rooms through Hotels.com and have never had any billing discrepancies until now. I can say with absolute certainty that we will not be staying at the Baymont again.

This place is simply amazing! Every little detail is taken care off. The grounds are perfect, the…read morerooms are beautiful. The staff is amazing! Let's talk about the view! OMG! It is simply wonderful. My wife and I have been going to Galena several times a year for over 20 years. This is hands down the the best place we have stayed and the best restaurant in the area. I would go as far to say one if the best hotels/Inns I have stayed in, in my life. I travel over 100 nights a year. I have been to 22 different countries and 47 states. It is one of the best. All this and it's only a short 2.5 hour drive from Chicago! I see some cheap people give negative reviews. Please stay away!

Very disappointing experience. We have always enjoyed our dining experience in the past. Last…read morenight was pathetic. It took over 30 minutes to get our cocktail and order our food. The food was not served for over one hour after ordering. While waiting for our food, we ordered a second drink and that also took over 30 minutes to arrive. The waiter admitted that he "forgot" to put the order in. The food was flavorful and excellent but the service and timing was terrible. Never once did the waiter provide an update or apologize for the delay. The whole dining experience took over 2 hours.

I think this is a nice place to go bowling. The place is well maintained and the the staff is…read morefriendly. It has that old bowling alley charm that modern centers don't always have. It's just a few miles north of Dubuque and as nice as it is I might work that into my rotation of places to go bowling at.

This past summer sunset lanes had a great bowling deal we couldn't pass up so me and my family…read morestarted coming up here about once a week. The place is very clean, well maintained, and the staff treats you like family. If you are hungry they have a full menu and the food is amazing.