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Getting Around: Galesburg, IL

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Galesburg Vitals

Galesburg has a bus system with 4 routes.

The routes are twisty.
They only run about once an hour.
They stop running early.
They don’t run on Sundays.

Really just walk.

Traveled April 2025

Large white mansion in the background. Large green lawn. Sidewalk and road in foreground. Blue skies with a wisp of clouds.

Brick sidewalk approaching a railroad crossing. Leafless trees. Signs that say “LOOK” “Watch for Second Train”, “No Train Horn”. Railroad crossing pole has red lights on.

Orange, Blue, and Red sharpies on a diner table with a blurry mug and diner scene in background. Crumpled napkin on table.

Why am I writing about Galesburg?

I failed to ride transit in Galesburg.

To get to my B&B:

I could walk 17 minutes, or
I could wait for a bus, which would take 26 minutes to get me there including 6 minutes of walking. The bus runs once an hour, and service ends around 6pm.

Just completely unserious.

Map of circuitous bus route through Galesburg, Illinois. Walking estimate 17 minutes, bus estimate 26 minutes including 6 minutes walking.

The bus service in Galesburg is not helpful.

“Start with a Stella” billboard with a beach scene on the side of a building. Parking lot in foreground, sidewalk at left.

Billboard downtown

However…

Galesburg ended up being a real delight, and a delight I only experienced because I’ve gotten so used to going places without a car.

Why Galesburg?

I like riding trains. I’ve been making a lot of Amtrak trips. I planned a cross-country trip from NYC to Los Angeles (long story). For this trip, I wanted an overnight stop to break up the leg from Chicago to Kansas City.

Screenshotted map of Amtrak routes through the Illinois-Iowa-Missouri area. Southwest Chief route running from Chicago to Kansas City with a stop in Galesburg

Galesburg in relation to Chicago and Kansas City, and all area Amtrak routes

Whenever I hear about a shop, food, museum, etc., that sounds interesting, I bookmark it. Maybe a friend’s recommendation, maybe something I saw on social media, maybe some rando on a bus told me about it..

I looked at the map, and noticed a flag that landed squarely on an Amtrak stop: Galesburg, IL.

What was in Galesburg? Judy’s Family Cafe.

Judy is epic on social media. The owner (Judy) makes videos where she, among other things, ambushes passersby into trying her pancakes. Brilliant stuff, top tier humor.

So you want me to try your pancakes?

Game on, Judy, Game on.

Screenshotted map of Illinois and surrounding states, with flagged bookmarks. Pin highlighted for Judy’s Family Cafe.

My bookmark for Judy’s Family Cafe in Galesburg

What made this trip special?

As you may know if you’re reading this series, I’m trying to get around without cars. I’m writing a guide on how to do it, so I’m also walking the walk.

The lack of a car made this a “One thing led to another” trip.

Lawn with sidewalk at right, gas station in background. Tall sign reads “Knox & Fulton County Wound Clinic & Hyperbaric Medicine.” Lawn sign on stakes reads “Look Twice - Save a Life. Motorcycles are Everywhere.”

Lots of motorcycles. I saw quite a few signs cautioning drivers to watch for them.

I needed a hotel

Typically, I stay at chain hotels. I have several hotel credit cards, and I often stay on points or free nights. If I do pay for the room, staying at a chain helps accumulate points for free nights.

But in Galesburg, all of the chain hotels were a couple miles from the Amtrak station. Normally, no problem, I’ll take a bus. But this trip just happened to land me in Galesburg on Saturday evening. On Saturday the buses stop running around 5pm.

My train was scheduled to arrive at 4:33. I couldn’t count on a bus. This ended up being a blessing.

Marble table with a decorative bust, and orange, red, and blue sharpies. Looking out window with an ornate white column, lawn, and street in distance.

View out of my Great House room.

Determined to avoid taking Uber if at all possible, I looked for somewhere, anywhere, to stay close to the Amtrak station. I found a bed and breakfast, The Great House of Galesburg, less than a mile from Amtrak. I could walk it, weather permitting.

Walking Over

The weather was perfect, temperature in the 70s, sunny with a light breeze.

Then, the million dollar question: Was Galesburg a friendly small town or a “You’re not from around here, are you” small town?

Thankfully, it was a friendly one.

I set out to the hotel, on foot, schlepping my fully-packed suitcase, heavy backpack, a canvas grocery bag of snacks, and a red raincoat, due north to the Great House.

Track in foreground, two train station buildings in background. Sun in frame top center. Few clouds.

Galesburg Amtrak station.

Sidewalk. Brick buildings with wooden trim and red-and-green awnings at right. Street and traffic light at left.

Downtown Galesburg.

Window with multiple event posters, including one at center: “Animaniacs in Concert - April 12th at 7:30pm”

This poster was in a window I walked right past.

Walking through the cute downtown, I pass by a shop with a flyer: Animaniacs in Concert. I checked the date… Tonight!

Rob Paulsen (who voiced Yakko, Dr. Scratchansniff, and others), as well as the show’s songwriter Randy Rogel, would be performing with a live orchestra that very night in Galesburg, Illinois of all places.

I scrambled to buy a ticket. Reception was poor, so I picked it up once I had wifi at the B&B.

I think it’s safe to say that not many people do the walking thing here. Sidewalks ranged from “all right” to “lol nope.”

This wasn’t the most fun with heavy luggage, but I wasn’t in a hurry.

Brick sidewalk path heavily overgrown with grass. Street at right, parking lot and building at left.

Concepts of a sidewalk

Grass-overgrown sidewalk leading to clearer brick sidewalk. Leafless trees at left, street at right, street light near right, railroad crossing in distance.

Barely even enough demand to call it a “demand path”

The path to the Great House crossed some freight tracks, and that’s where I learned how so many Amazon packages get to their destination:

A freight train interrupted my walk. The train had dozens upon dozens of Amazon Prime containers on it.

Train crossing a street with crossing arm down. Two train cars with two Amazon Prime containers on each. Signs at left read “Look”, “Watch for Second Train”, and “No Train Horn”.

Amazon Prime packages, headed west towards Iowa.

The Great House

Front entry to two-story mansion. Columns on either side. Wreath on door. Balcony on second floor.

The Great House

The Great House of Galesburg was a top tier B&B. Almost definitely better than whatever chain hotel I would have booked.

Gorgeous architecture, antique-furnished rooms, lounges, a music room, a cavernous maybe part of the underground railroad basement, and a 24/7-stocked snack fridge. Yes Please.

Antique-furnished bedroom. Bed at left, two lounge chairs at right. Two lamps, ceiling fan, window, rug. Carpeted.

The Room

Hallway with multiple doors and cooridors. Stairwell leading down. Coffee machine at right. Single lamp on shelf.

The Stairs

Brick-lined dusty basement with two wicker chairs and wicker table. Light bulb overhead. Multiple corridors in background.

in the Basement

I met a group that was also staying at the Great House, and they recommended a local pizza spot.

Pizza

Yes, I went and got pizza, at Budde’s. It was the perfect small-town pizza, with all the best vibes. A local band was setting up.

I enjoyed a good local brew while I waited. It took a while to make, as good pizza should. I had to wolf it down in a hurry though, because I walked there (why break my streak now?) and was late to the show.

Blurry picture of personal-sized pizza, heavy with toppings.

Posing food for a photo can ruin the vibe, so I snuck a Bigfoot-style shot of my mini meat lover’s.

The Show

I missed the first song, but that’s fine. They let me sit in the back for the first half, and move to my assigned second-row seat after intermission.

The evening was a treasure. It was a retrospective on a lot of their Animaniacs tunes, and a lot of background on how they came to be, how they were hired, and some alternative versions and songs that never aired. Just a delight.

Concert hall with “Animaniacs in Concert” projected onto screen. Stage has piano and orchestra. House lights up, patrons finding their seats.

Mostly took this picture to send to my sister.

Pancakes

Pale green classic diner-style building, with “Judy’s Family Cafe” both in a permanent sign and banner. Car and motorcycle parked outside. Patio furniture tables. Street in foreground.

The one, the only, Judy’s Family Cafe

OF COURSE I went to Judy’s the next day.

My coffee. My wear-anywhere raincoat.

The pancakes were fire. Best pancakes in my life. I only briefly saw the queen herself… the place was hopping and I was lucky to get a table.

Plate with short stake of pancakes in foreground, half topped with blueberries and a white glaze with dark purple berry streaks. Plate of fried rice behind it to the left. Coffee mug at far end of table. Busy cafe scene in background.

Berry Medley Pancakes, and chicken fried rice.

I didn’t want to be that “hey I saw you on social media” guy during the Sunday brunch rush, so I just kinda enjoyed it in peace. And raided the merch shop.

Walking Back

Brick sidewalk, heavily overgrown with grass. Lawns at right, parkway with trees at left, followed by street further left. Houses in distance on either side.

Another very-lightly-used brick sidewalk.

Some people think I’m crazy for walking so much, and maybe I am. But my preference for not using a car really made Galesburg so much more worthwhile.

With a car, I’d probably have only gone to a hotel, then Judy’s, then left… or maybe even just Judy’s without poking around town or staying the night at all.

I do acknowledge that these kinds of walks are easier for me, being able-bodied and (kinda) agile. I had to lift and drag my bags a lot. Many sidewalks were not wheelchair-friendly.

As I headed back downtown to catch Amtrak out to Kansas City, I was offered a ride three times. The Great House’s owner offered me a ride, and two different cars stopped to offer me a ride. Granted, I looked like I needed a ride, with my unwieldy stack of luggage, and I probably should have taken one. I would have called a car if the weather was foul.

Galesburg Amtrak station. Platforms at left with passengers congregating to wait for train. Station buildings at right. Low gray clouds.

It started to get cloudy as I left town.

View across the street. Concrete divider suggests a drainage ditch underneath. Several trees, some without leaves. Blue sky with wisps of cloud at top.

Mellow “not much out here” vibes

But it was an absolutely gorgeous day, and I enjoyed the walk. Also got some great coffee and a Michoacana popsicle on the way to the train.

Three sharpies in foreground, corrugated paper cup with designs and “Innkeeper’s” in midground. Yogurt and fruit cup, and another paper cup blurred at far end of table. Chair and window blurry in background, Stop sign outside.

Got a Cortado and a yogurt at Innkeeper’s

I love me a strawberry Michoacana popsicle.

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