Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lose—but as always, this may be
our year!) an afternoon at Wrigley
Field is a thrill for kids and adults
alike. Even if the Cubbies aren't
hitting them out of the park, hot
dogs, peanuts in the shell, and a
rousing rendition of “Take Me
Out to the Ballgame” are sure to
please. This most charming of
major league ballparks is a slice of
Americana that you should not
miss. One afternoon spent in the
embrace of the Friendly Confines
will have you hooked on the sheer
magic of Wrigley Field. See p. 263.
2 The Best Hotel Bets
Several years of expansion and new
construction for Chicago hotels means
the city offers a wide variety, from hip
boutique hotels to huge facilities for
convention-goers, and thankfully, a
nice crop of family-friendly hotels.
The downside: Room rates keep ris-
ing, making budget lodgings harder to
find. One of the latest and greatest
additions to the hotel scene includes
the new
Hard Rock Hotel Chicago,
230 N. Michigan Ave. (
&
312/345-
1000
), which might interest the
teenagers in your crowd with its rock
'n' roll attitude (p. 73).
•
Most Family-Friendly:
With
cribs, laundry service, free break-
fast, and every room a suite, the
Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago—
Downtown,
600 N. State St.
(
&
800/362-2779
), is ideal for
families looking for a little more
space than the typical hotel room
provides. The in-room Nintendo,
indoor pool, and location near a
couple popular kid-friendly ven-
ues—ESPN Zone and the Hard
Rock Cafe—should keep Junior
happy, too. See p. 94.
•
Newest Family-Friendly Hotel:
I always say that any hotel that's
new is a good bet. New construc-
tion means fresh linens, fresh
decor, updated heating and cooling
systems—you get my drift. You'll
get all this at the city's most recent
family-friendly addition,
Court-
yard by Marriott—Chicago
Downtown/Magnificent Mile,
165 E. Ontario St. (
&
312/573-
0800
), plus a great location just
1 block east of Michigan Avenue in
the heart of the Magnificent Mile.
There's also a brand-new pool, a
rarity in downtown hotels, on the
10th floor. See p. 91.
•
Best Neighborhood Hotel:
Chil-
dren 12 and under stay free at
Best Western Hawthorne Ter-
race Hotel,
3434 N. Broadway
(
&
888/675-2378
). Rooms in
this small hotel (just 59 rooms
and junior suites) offer refrigera-
tors, microwaves, and irons. Best
of all, parking is a bargain at $16 a
day—about half the going rate at
Chicago's downtown hotels.
p. 100.
•
Best Views:
This isn't an easy call.
Peering over the elevated tracks,
Crowne Plaza Chicago
—
The
Silversmith,
10 S. Wabash Ave.
(
&
800/2CROWNE
), in the
Loop, offers a distinctly urban
vista (p. 73). But consider several
other hotels for their mix of lake
and city views:
Four Seasons
Hotel Chicago
(p. 81),
The
Drake
(p. 86),
The Ritz-Carlton
Chicago
(p. 85), and
Park Hyatt
Chicago
(p. 81).
•
When Hipness Is Important:
A
hip hotel that's known for
romance is using its small size—
and sense of whimsy—to cater to
kids.
Hotel Burnham,
1 W. Wash-
ington, at State Street (
&
877/
294-9712
), keeps wee ones enter-
tained with special offers for tea at
American Girl Place Cafe and
deals at the museums and theaters.
During holidays, you'll find special
