Wherever you live in Illinois or Wisconsin, chances are really good that your city or town has not received even half the amount of recognition that a small, northwest Illinois town has gotten over the years. Here's a small sample of some of the recognition this northwest Illinois town has gotten and could display in the city's trophy case:Travel + Leisure: Most Beautiful Small Town (ranked #18 nationally)Impulcity.com: Ranked #15 for Most Beautiful CitiesWorld Atlas: Illinois' Most Beautiful Small TownThrillist: #1 Must-Visit Illinois TownMixbook.com: Most Christmassy Town in IllinoisAfar.com: Most Charming Small Town/Destination in IllinoisTripAdvisor: Travelers' Choice/Local Inns In Top 1%You may have already figured out which Illinois town we're talking about, and like me, you probably don't begrudge this town for all the kudos and compliments it has raked in, and continues to accumulate. HGTV.com:The charming small-town downtown of Galena lies in northwestern Illinois. Civil War General and US President Ulysses S. Grant once lived here; today, visitors can tour his historic home. The Chicago Athenaeum, a design and architecture museum that strives to advance public education in these disciplines, is based in Galena.