Whatever style of hotel you’re looking for Chicago has something for everyone. Whether you want to enjoy the indulgent luxury of spa hotels, revel in breathtaking views across the lake, or take your dog with you, there is the perfect accommodation to fulfil your needs.

If you’re looking for true indulgence in every sense of the word, then visiting a spa hotel is the best option. The Belden Stratford Hotel has created a great name for itself, and with views across Lake Michigan you’ll be able to enjoy aromatherapy and seaweed body wraps at the Vera Volli Spa. Meanwhile, new brand W has opened the fantastic Chicago Lakeshore which includes a Bliss Spa so that whilst enjoying stunning views you can relax with a revitalising facial or massage.

If you’re not quite into so much lavishness and simply want a top hotel to rest your head before heading out into the city to explore, then a self-catering hotel or apartment accommodation is ideal. The Hilton Chicago Downtown offers large suites equipped with full kitchens and velvet sofas, but throws in a complimentary grocery service and breakfast should you need it. Meanwhile, the Marriott Chicago Downtown offers modern suites with sitting rooms and kitchens, and located a few steps away from Michigan Avenue is perfectly placed for shopping. Alternatively, if you’re planning on an extended stay, then Pratt Shore is the ideal apartment hotel, with the location being fairly quiet and also offering full kitchens. The glorious beaches of Lake Michigan are only one block away, and you can utilise car service or car rental discounts so that you can travel around with freedom and ease. And if you want to go to the other end of the scale and enjoy a hotel at the high end of luxury, then either the Conrad Chicago or Sofitel Chicago Water Tower are perfect.

Whether you’re in town for a week or a month, a great way to get around places other than central locations is by car. This allows you to not only avoid busy public transport, but explore areas outside of the city which may be harder to get to. The Museum of Science and Industry is a great spot if you want to explore the history of man’s advances, whilst Sears Tower, the world’s third tallest building, offers a feat of engineering to climb and enjoy spectacular views. And if you want to get back to nature, then Lincoln Park Zoo is just minutes from downtown Chicago and is free entry. And whatever you may be looking for on your trip to Chicago, you’ll be able to find the perfect hotel for your needs.

The Chicago Cultural Center, though originally the city’s first public library, currently serves as host to a wide array of cultural events including recitals, art exhibits, movies, theater and dance events and  even lectures. The Center is open all year and hosts most of the city’s major cultural and artistic events. In its over one hundred years it has received the most famous guests and well-known artists and their works. But of course, the best art exhibit is the building itself, with its rare marbles, elegant hardwoods and fine polished brass. Plus, the two enormous stained glass domes, each over 38 feet in diameter and made from thousands of pieces of glass, will take your breath away. IT’s no wonder the building is affectionately referred to by many as “The People’s Palace”.

There’s always something to see, hear or do at the Chicago Cultural Center. From the latest art exhibits on the first floor at the Michigan Avenue Galleries or the Landmark Chicago Gallery, to a comedy or ballet recital at the Claudia Cassidy Theater on the second floor. And there’s no way to avoid stopping to admire the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial, sitting at the top of the winding marble staircase when entering the building from Randolph Street.

There are also several lecture rooms and conference halls that regularly feature seminars and other events of interest. And, if you want to make a special event like a wedding or graduation completely unforgettable, the Cultural Center has rooms available for private rentals.

From exotic animals, to train rides to interactive exhibits, Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo has everything you need to spend an unforgettable day while visiting the Windy City. Start your day with a walk around Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond or, check out the Antelope and Zebra area. And, if you’re there on a Sunday morning, enjoy a delicious breakfast at The Patio at Café Brauer, where you can have some pancakes, waffles, or even breakfast burritos before you begin your walk around the zoo.

Your children will also love the AT&T Endangered Species Carousel, where they will get to ride a beautifully handcrafted wooden replica of many of the animals that call Lincoln Park Zoo their home. Or they can enjoy the LPZoo Express, a fun train ride for kids ages 3 to 12. And visitors of all ages will take pleasure in Lincoln Park Zoo’s Farm-in-the-zoo exhibit. This interactive exhibit showcases farm animals from cows to ponies, that can be fed and touched.

After a quick lunch at the zoo’s Park Place Café, guests can head on over to the Blum-Kovler Penguin and Seabird House, or check out the lovely Flamingo Habitat. Plus, nobody should miss the opportunity to visit Regenstein’s African Journey. This amazing zoo exhibit brings the wonders of the Dark Continent to Chicago, with impressive animals like giraffes, ostriches and aardvarks as well as huge rhinoceroses and amazing groups of colorful fish.

Lincoln Park Zoo also offers many learning exhibits where you can get some fun facts about the interesting animals that are found there. And of course, you can end your fun-filled day at the zoo with some yummy ice cream from Safari Café before you head for the souvenir shop.

There are quite a few amazing things to see while walking through Millennium Park. One of the first places most people go is the BP Bridge, since it is right next to a parking garage where many visitors leave their vehicles. This 925-foot-long bridge connects Millennium Park to the Daley Bicentennial Park and rises over Columbus Drive, which allows visitors to take in some great views of their surroundings. It was designed by Frank Gehry, the same architect who designed another of Millennium Park’s sights, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. This work of art is a 120 foot tall metal structure that looks like a bunch of silver ribbons that are blowing in the wind and houses an 11,000 seat theatre with an amazing sound system that will make you feel like you’re in an indoor concert hall. The Pavilion hosts numerous music events the whole year round.

Visitors can also enjoy some peace and quiet in Millennium Park’s 2.5 acre garden that allows you to enjoy everything from clean landscaping to lush vegetation and a footbridge over running water. But if you love to take pictures, you must go to Cloud Gate. Affectionately called “The Bean” by locals, this wonderful steel sculpture is 66 feet long and 33 feet high and the most photographed part of Millennium Park. This is due to its perfect mirrored surface which reflects the city’s skyline and also offers funny house-of-mirror reflections at different angles.

Plus, passing by Crown Fountain is a must. Designed by a famous Spanish artist, it is meant to be a tribute to residents of Chicago. Two glass block towers, each 50 feet high, display video images of 1,000 people from Chicago, one at a time. Each person’s image is first seen smiling, then puckering as an embedded pipe spurts water from the tower, making it seem as if the person spout it out. A bit of everything for everyone, can be found at this fantastic Chicago park.

Source: www.zagat.com – Go to Source

Source: www.zagat.com – Go to Source

Source: www.zagat.com – Go to Source

Source: www.zagat.com – Go to Source

Source: www.zagat.com – Go to Source

Sorry, but I have a banana guard and it’s great. I run to work so everything gets shoved into my backpack. I endure a lot of jokes in the changeroom at the gym, and even my husband thought it was crazy…but he tried it and now we have two in our gadget drawer at home.

Source: www.zagat.com – Go to Source