Hotel at a Glance: Inn of Chicago

Inn of Chicago’s Skyline Terrace lets you take in stunning views of the city’s most famous buildings from the hotel’s 22nd floor. Lounge in one of the rooftop spot’s sleek wicker chairs as you plan your day. When you’re ready for sightseeing, you’ll be just one block from the shopping, dining, and entertainment venues on the Magnificent Mile.

• Rooms and suites are decorated with either a blue-and-lime-green color scheme or classic Chicago photography. Queen junior suites boast spacious corner locations and large windows.
• Specialty cocktails are poured at the onsite InnBar. Sip selections from an extensive wine list as you sit in a high-backed leather chair near the backlit bar.
• Chic design: The hotel lobby is a stylish gathering place with zebra-print ottomans, silk pillows, and a modern fireplace.
• Iconic Chicago attractions such as Navy Pier and Millennium Park are within walking distance of the hotel.

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 called 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 tallest building in North America. Runners, cyclists, and runaway lawn mowers 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.

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