Hotel at a Glance: Baymont by Wyndham Mundelein Libertyville Area

The Baymont by Wyndham jump-starts mornings with daily continental breakfast. This free perk helps guests fuel up for exploring Chicago’s northern suburbs or the city itself.

• Newly remodeled rooms have microwaves and mini fridges, along with free WiFi.
• Things to do near Mundelein: Six Flags Great America theme park opens on select dates into December for holiday celebrations.
• Shopping spree: The hotel is about 30 minutes from Gurnee Mills—one of the largest malls in the state—and Woodfield Mall—one of the largest in the country.

Chicago’s Magnificent Mile: Upscale Boutiques and Historic Architecture

On Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, landmark skyscrapers such as the John Hancock Center and the Wrigley Building tower over the city’s liveliest retail corridor. In total, this stretch of high-end real estate houses some 460 stores, ranging from exclusive designers such as Armani and Chanel to beloved brands including Apple, American Girl, and Gap. Double-decker buses and horse-drawn carriages circle the Chicago Water Tower, a limestone icon that survived the Great Chicago Fire, and droves of shoppers navigate eight levels of boutiques and cafés at the nearby Water Tower Place.

Lake Shore Drive runs two blocks east of Michigan Avenue. Travel + Leisure calls this stretch “the greatest architecture road on earth” thanks to the superstar skyscrapers lined up along the lakefront. Looming above them all, of course, is the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower)—the second-tallest building in the country. Runners and cyclists travel the adjoining Lakefront Trail throughout the year. A mile and a half north, crowds gather at North Avenue Beach during the summer to people watch, play volleyball, and listen to live music at beachfront bars. You can get to the beach (and practically anywhere else in the city) using Chicago’s extensive public transportation system.