Peninsula-Chicago

City Chic

When I think of luxury hotels one hotel that consistently wins in my book is The Peninsula Chicago. Whatever your travel reason, be it personal, family or business, this hotel is an added plus in choosing Chicago as your destination.

I recently stayed at this property for a week long business trip, coincidentally on the 8 year anniversary of their opening. I marveled at how new and fresh the hotel is, no wall scratches, clean carpets, and the furniture looked as beautiful as when the hotel first opened.

I love the open lobby, similar to their flagship hotel in Hong Kong. In the afternoons, live music plays and people are actually just relaxing and enjoying the moment. If you want to see and be seen, then it is all happening in the lobby of the Peninsula, but in an understated way!

Everything in this hotel is well thought out: for instance, each guest room is equipped with a state-of-the-art electronic system next to the bed that allows guests to control everything from the room temperature to lights with the touch of a button. The bathrooms have separate vanities and deep soaking tubs with built in televisions. There is nothing like watching the news in the tub after a long day!

The cuisine in this hotel is diverse and consistent; they offer four distinctive restaurants and an inviting bar. Avenues offers contemporary cuisine with an accent on seafood. Shanghai Terrace specializes in delicacies from all over Asia, which includes the most amazing dim sum and the lobby which offers all day dining. The bar is open in the evenings and has a hip and happening menu known for their Kobe beef sliders!

Last, but not least, is the fitness center, lap pool, and spa. Located on the top floor of the building, the views alone will help you get through your workout. Take in a relaxing massage afterward at the spa, and you won’t forget it! It’s a promise.

- Tammy Zacks, General Manager-Group Travel, Meetings, and events

Dog Friendly Vacations

Love to travel with your pet?

According to one recent survey, 56 percent of pet-owning Americans travel with their furry loved ones. We hope you enjoy our ideas on the best places to eat, stay and play with your four-legged friend.

Chicago, IL
This cool, cosmopolitan city has lots of pet-friendly places to visit, including a wide selection of outdoor cafes and pet-friendly bars. Hotels such as the W Lakeshore, Hotel Burnham and the luxurious Four Seasons welcome dogs of all sizes. Lake Michigan, a focal point of the city, offers more than 18 miles of paved trails that trace the lake’s edge. Want to take a lake cruise? Many boat operators will happily take Fido along too. And if your dog is getting bored with eating kibble, be sure to dine at Cucina Bella on North Sedgwick, Brasserie Joe for French Cuisine or Scoozi or where he will be served a complimentary bowl of pasta.

Aspen, CO
What pup wouldn’t love this amazing little haven in the mountains; your mornings can be filled with hikes along the roaring North Fork Trail or Smugglers Mountain where Fido will make lots of friends. The mailman delivers mail with his dog, water bowls line the charming streets and the dog parks are filled with happy pups. The Little Nell, St. Regis and Limelight Lodge all offer pet friendly stays and amenities. Dog friendly Ajax Tavern, at the base of Ajax Mountain, is for great yummy delights and the best in people watching.

Carmel, CA
The Cypress Inn on Lincoln Street is a tourist attraction in its own right. Co-owned by the legendary Doris Day, it is filled with memorabilia of this Hollywood star. Your pet will particularly enjoy snoozing in front of a roaring log fire in the lounge, while you enjoy a pre-dinner sherry. Walking Tours are a great way to discover the town’s scenic charms, and dogs will enjoy the smells along the way. For dining, we love Buon Giorno Bakery & Cafe which offers custom designed dog menus or Carmel Bistro Giovanni which will provide water bowls and treats.

San Diego, CA
Dogs love soaking in the Californian sunshine! San Diego is a year-round animal playground hosting a wonderful selection of pet-friendly and off-leash beaches. The Otay Ranch Town Shopping Center has an off-leash park as part of its sprawling facility, making this a one-stop entertainment center for pets and their people. A pet sitting service is provided at $5 an hour so pet parents can enjoy a meal in one of their numerous eateries. Seaside La Jolla boasts a selection of pet-friendly restaurants such as the Nine-ten Restaurant Bar on Prospect Street which offers great sea views from its outdoor patio. Lets not forget this is a beach town; Ocean Beach is the most popular in dog beaches however Del Mar and Mission Bay come in close at second.

Does your four-legged friend prefer luxury travel? Rosewood Hotels offers a massages and a gourmet menu for your sophisticated pet - see sample menu below. Yum!

Lite Bites:

Bacon Hush Puppies

Chicken Liver Turnover & Mixed Vegetables in Liver Gravy

Rice meat ball with special gravy

Treats:

Peanut Butter Biscotti

Oatmeal Carob Cookies

Plain Yogurt and Crockett

Roasted Bones

Must–See American Museums

Washington, DC
The International Spy Museum
Intrigue, deception, and daring escapes; learn about the life of a spy at this one of a kind museum. A great spot for both adults and kids, this musuem offers an interactive experience that will leave you entertained and enlightened about the history of espionage. Also taking it out of the box in D.C. is......
The Crime and Punishment Museum
CSI Washington – This unique museum gives insight into the history of crime fighting and solving, and the consequences of committing a crime in America. This educational and entertaining experience offers interactive viewing exhibits of a crime scene lab, the filming studios for America’s Most Wanted, and much more.

Chicago, IL
The Field Museum of Natural History
This 57 acre-lakefront museum campus offers two other on site museums on-site; the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planitarium. These three intitituions are considered the finest of their kind in the world and make for an fun-filled and educational experience while visiting Chicago! Some highlights include: the Ancient Egyptian funerary customs and the 67 million year old Sue, the world's biggest and most preserved T-rex.

San Marino, CA
The Huntington Museum
Founded by businessman Henry E. Huntington, this museum offers something for every visitor; an incredible art collection, a very rare collection of books in the Library section, and 120 acres of land with 15 beautiful botanical gardens. Among the treasures for research and exhibition are the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, a Gutenberg Bible on vellum, the double-elephant folio edition of Audubon’s Birds of America, and a world-class collection of the early editions of Shakespeare’s works. The Huntington is among the nation’s most important centers for the study of the American West, with an unsurpassed collection of materials that span the full range of American western settlement, including the overland pioneer experience, the Gold Rush, and the development of Southern California.

Chicago

Chicago Arts District - 2nd FRIDAYS Open Gallery Night
The history of the Chicago Arts District reaches back to the early 1960s when John and Annelies Podmajersky started to revitalize the Pilsen East neighborhood with innovative urban planning. They converted dilapidated residential and commercial buildings into artists' lofts and studios and transformed disused alleyways into lush gardens. These distinctive spaces and exceptional environments have provided inspiration to the thousands of artists who have lived and worked here over the past four decades. Afterwards, you can dine with the artists at Skylark's Friday Night Fish Fry!

Chicago Chocolate Tour
This 2 to 2 1/2-hour guided walking and tasting tour of select chocolate shops and cafes is both fun and educational! You will visit Chicago's most popular chocolate stores, and some of the city's secret chocolate treasures, as you delve deeply into the rich history of chocolate. Learn about fine chocolates, the world history of chocolate, and Chicago’s beautiful architecture as you savor the flavors, and walk off the calories!

Haunted Chicago
The Chicago Hauntings Ghost Tour provides a chilling look at Chicago's Past, following a course of history that starts with the very beginnings of Chicago, traveling through the era of the Great Chicago Fire, the gangster era of the 1920's and on into today. The tour is based on the books and the years of research that have been written and conducted by Ursula Bielski, who is recognized as a leading authority on the Chicago region's ghostlore and cemetery history.

Chicago Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tours
Chicago is famous for its ethnic neighborhoods and amazing food. This is a great way to experience our city in its entirety from the Polish and Greek neighborhoods to the mexican and Indian flavors of the city.