| additional amenities include a 24-hour gym, a business center, and a pet program that provides dog-sitting, walking and grooming services (fee). free perks include continental breakfast and an evening reception. there's also a polished restaurant serving steak and seafood dishes. a block from the chicago river, this modern, elegant hotel is a 5-minute walk from the nearest el train stop and a 13-minute train trip from the museum of contemporary art chicago. check-in time: 3:00 pmcheck-out time: 12:00 pm. sleek, contemporary rooms have free wi-fi and 42-inch flat-screen tvs, plus iphone docks, work desks and coffeemakers; suites add living rooms. in-room spa services are available for a fee
O'Hare International Airport 26 min
Chicago Cultural Center (8 min)
Free art & shows in an 1897 Beaux-Arts building with vaulted lobby, mosaics & 2 stained-glass domes. Grant Park (11 min)
319-acre centerpiece of Downtown housing some of the city's busiest attractions. Adler Planetarium (11 min)
Interactive exhibits & high-tech sky shows entertain stargazers, lakefront views are a bonus. 875 North Michigan Avenue (12 min)
Skyscraper observation deck offering panoramic city views from 1,000 feet up, plus food & drink. Lincoln Park Zoo (9 min)
Small, free zoo with lions, primates, reptiles, a children's area & an interactive farm exhibit. The Art Institute of Chicago (10 min)
Renowned art museum holding nearly 300,000 works from all over the world, spanning many centuries. Millennium Park (9 min)
24.5-acre green space with a video display, the reflective Bean sculpture & an outdoor theater. Skydeck Chicago (6 min)
103rd floor of the former Sears Tower with clear observation boxes & views extending to four states. Field Museum (9 min)
State-of-the-art museum of science & invention, with the world's largest Tyrannosaurus Rex. Shedd Aquarium (10 min)
State-of-the-art indoor aquarium, famous for its variety of habitats & views of Lake Michigan. Buckingham Fountain (5 min)
Among the world’s largest, Grant Park’s 3-level rococo fountain (1927) offers light & water shows. Cloud Gate (9 min)
Huge outdoor sculpture shaped like a bean & allowing for views from its many mirrored sides. Chicago Riverwalk (4 min)
Riverside pedestrian path featuring city views & dining, plus bridges, fishing piers & boat docks. Crown Fountain (10 min)
Public sculpture with a pair of 50-ft. LED towers & a reflecting pool, by Jaume Plensa, a Catalan. Navy Pier (6 min)
Former Navy training center draws crowds with carnival rides, restaurants, shops & fireworks. | 
