Hawk Valley Retreat & Cottages — Hotel in Guilford Township

My husband planned this trip as a total surprise for me, and I have to say I was absolutely blown away. We save up every year to do something special just the two of us and this was worth every penny. First, let me start by saying the room was immaculately clean. it had all of the creature comforts you expect from a hotel or BNB. Next, we need to talk about the food. Their food is so delicious! It was home cooked, creative, and seasonally fresh. When we travel elsewhere and abroad, we are always looking for awesome breakfast. The breakfast they served was one of the nicest freshest meals that we had the entire stay. We even went into town and ate at some of the places that are highly reviewed and our favorite food was the breakfast that we had at Hawk Valley. They also gave us an incredible recommendation for a beautiful restaurant where we could celebrate our anniversary and that recommendation was 10 out of 10- these hosts know their stuff. One regret we have is skipping out on the other meals that they offer to their guest so definitely check out their extended menu because I am telling you these hosts can cook! Next, we need to talk about the animals. They were so stinking cute. I still cannot get over it. The animals they have on their property are adorable and they’re so fun to watch when they come out in the morning to get their breakfast. Honestly, there is so much to do on the property if you are into nature, hikes, and relaxation then you don’t need to leave and go into town if you don’t want to. Finally, I just have to make a quick note about the beautiful October scenery, and the nighttime stars. We stayed mid October, so all of the leaves are starting to turn and the drives through Galena are stunning. If you are lucky enough to get a clear night, there is a kaleidoscope of stars in the sky. John and Jim are such gracious and knowledgeable hosts. They really take pride in the property and the history of the property. They really put a lot of work into making sure that this is a serene and beautiful place where people can enjoy nature. Thank you so much for your hospitality and care. We really needed a retreat from the craziness of corporate life and computers and you more...

Hawk Valley Retreat and Cottages is a great place to stay! As an innkeeper with very high service standards, I might be pickier than some, so that’s saying a lot!

We spent three nights in the luxurious Fox Glen Cottage. (We chose it because of the beautiful English Country decor.) It was just lovely and so comfortable! It is a one-room cottage with a private back porch with a view of the pond. The views in and around Hawk Valley are amazing!

I typically do not sleep well the first night out, but the mattress and high end sheets lulled me right to sleep! We had a whirlpool tub in the main room, and a well-appointed bathroom with a step-in shower. We loved the Sitronu bath products!

Our cottage had a small kitchenette, a comfortable sofa and a table and chairs. It was equipped with an electric fireplace for ambiance and additional heat. It has Smart TV/DVD, complimentary Wi-Fi, a Bluetooth speaker, and comfortable guest robes. Private parking is right next to the cottage.

The hosts are terrific! They are engaging and very knowledgeable about their property and the surrounding area. We really enjoyed spending time with them! We even followed one of their blog posts to check out some towns in nearby Wisconsin.

Breakfasts are served in the Cording Event Barn. We enjoyed their own fresh eggs and honey. Breakfast meats and other ingredients are often from other local farms. We enjoyed a fruit course, bread course and entrees each day of our stay, along with fresh baked cookies and other treats. They really go all out!

One note: rather than preparing everything the same, they are careful to cater to individual taste whether you choose over easy eggs, scrambled eggs, or another preference. They are able to work well with dietary restrictions, with advance notice.

The location just a few miles outside of Galena Illinois offers a feeling of privacy and seclusion and stunning views. We enjoyed meeting their goats, and taking in all the views, especially from the rockers on our private deck. The short drive to Galena provides many shopping and dining options.

All in all, I highly recommend Hawk Valley! I hope to be able to...

There was so many beautiful Christmas decorations when we pulled up. It was so picturesque. We had a wonderful cottage and it was very peaceful. The bedding and the bath towels were amazingly soft and we slept like babies in the king size bed. Anything that you might have forgotten... wine, phone chargers, etc - they had on hand. I should also point out that the proprietors of this lovely place were so very welcoming and kind. It was an amazing get away. We will definitely be coming back again.

[Return visit in August 2024] - we decided this time to only use the resources of Hawk Valley Retreat and not drive into the main town. We just wanted to sit still and it turned out to be the best trip to Galena we've had. We usually went to town for breakfast because we usually liked to support a restaurant of a couple we met when they were first repairing the building to open their business. However, sometimes you just don't want to drive all the time. This time we decided to stay and use all of the available options from Hawk Valley... Dare we say we enjoyed Hawk Valley's breakfast more than the breakfast we usually drive in to town for? And we love that other place but Hawk Valley just made each breakfast so delicious and fresh.... and delicious! The other thing was that for me it's really hard to get excited about eating out because I have such severe food allergies. EVERYTHING had an option for me. It made everything so great and relaxing! I didn't have to worry and I ate WAY too much. I was so full but it was all just so darn tasty. We made up for our huge meals and had some really great walks on their trails and the amazing weather and views just topped it off. We live in a very busy city and the beauty and the quiet of nature around us was such a great recharge. Thank you Hawk...