Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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true—as a special treat for wee ones, the hotel has an ice-cr eam man who will visit y our
room and let kids choose an ice cr eam and toppings, including O reo pieces, gummy
bears, M&Ms, sprinkles, freshly whipped cream, and chocolate sauce and caramel sauce.
Most indulgent of all, however, are the twin beds—so soft that the hotel 's gift shop sells
about a hundred of them each year for $1,200 apiece.
An 18-foot-high white marble fountain mar ks the entrance to the opulent S easons
Restaurant (the hotel 's other r estaurant, the Café, offers kids ' menus). I' d recommend
that families make reservations for the Sunday brunch at Seasons, which takes place from
10:30am to 1:30pm. Childr en are welcome to join the fun in their o wn section of the
restaurant, where a Harry Potter castle houses arts and crafts. The activities are supervised
by a babysitter, and you can enjoy the best brunch in Chicago while your kids are within
view. Kids can join y ou to eat, then r un off to enjo y their own experience in the castle.
Bon appétit!
120 E. Delaware Place (at Michigan Ave.), Chicago, IL 60611.
&
800/332-3442
or 312/280-8800. Fax 312/
280-1748. www.fourseasons.com. 343 units. $495-$695 double; $735-$3,700 suite. Weekend rates from
$385. Kids 17 and under sta y free in parent's room. Rollaways and cribs fr ee. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet
parking $36 with in/out privileges; self-parking $30. Subway/El: Red Line to Chicago/State. Pets accepted.
Amenities:
2 restaurants (New American, cafe); lounge; indoor pool (unrestricted access for kids); fitness
center and spa; c oncierge; business center; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; laundry service; 24-hr. dry
cleaning.
In room:
A/C, TV/DVD w/pay movies and video games , CD pla yer, free high-speed I nternet
access, minibar, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe.
Park Hyatt Chicago
For those in sear ch of chic modern luxur y, the P ark
Hyatt is the coolest hotel in town (as long as money is no object).The hotel occupies one
of the most desirable spots on North Michigan Avenue, overlooking Water Tower Square,
and the best r ooms are those that face east, o verlooking the bustle of M ichigan Avenue
and the lake in the distance.
Luxury might be the watchwor d here, but the look is anything but stuffy: The lobby
feels like a sleek modern art gallery. German painter Gerhard Richter's
Piazza del Duomo
Milan
masterpiece is the visual centerpiece of the space, pr oviding ample evidence of
what visual tr eats lie in stor e for guests. R ooms feature Eames and M ies van der R ohe
reproduction furniture and window banquettes with stunning city views. (Another plus:
The windows actually open.) The bathrooms are especially wonderful: You can pull back
a sliding cherrywood wall and enjoy a view of the city while y ou soak in the oversize tub.
Families often book connecting r ooms, one with a king-siz e bed and one with two
double beds. Every room has CD and D VD players with a flatscr een TV, and the con-
cierge will loan from the hotel's library of DVDs (including kids' movies) at no cost. The
health club is open only to those over 16, but the pool welcomes kids—and it's a stunner,
with city vie ws looking south and br onze-colored tiles. If you plan to spend significant
time at American Girl Place, ask about the hotel's special package, which includes break-
fast for two at the hotel, outfits for the doll, and a special turndo wn service—for your
child's doll, too, of course. The hotel offers pr ograms for children up to age 14, and in
the past, that has included a backpack with a camera, maps, and coupons to r edeem at
the hotel, including a coupon for a tour of the behind-the-scenes wor kings of the hotel,
which includes the kitchen (kids get a cookie and chef 's hat), housekeeping, and more.
The crown jewel of the Park Hyatt is NoMI, a restaurant nestled on the seventh floor.
Serving F rench-inspired cuisine and featuring an
Architectural Digest
-worthy interior,
with an adjoining outdoor terrace, N oMI (an acr onym for North Michigan) continues
to r eceive stellar r eviews. I n the summer , y ou can sample appetiz ers and sip cocktails
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