| there's a chic italian restaurant, and a plush rooftop lounge with a terrace and a fire pit. polished rooms come with flat-screen tvs, ipod docks and free wi-fi, along with wet bars and coffeemakers. parking is available for a fee. other amenities include a spa and a 24-hour gym. upgraded rooms add sitting areas, while suites have separate living rooms. check-in time: 4:00 pmcheck-out time: 12:00 pm. set in a contemporary building with a cubist-influenced facade, this posh hotel in the vibrant river north neighborhood is a 6-minute walk from an el station and 8 minutes on foot from the shops along the magnificent mile
O'Hare International Airport 24 min
Cloud Gate (8 min)
Huge outdoor sculpture shaped like a bean & allowing for views from its many mirrored sides. Chicago Cultural Center (8 min)
Free art & shows in an 1897 Beaux-Arts building with vaulted lobby, mosaics & 2 stained-glass domes. Field Museum (13 min)
State-of-the-art museum of science & invention, with the world's largest Tyrannosaurus Rex. Millennium Park (7 min)
24.5-acre green space with a video display, the reflective Bean sculpture & an outdoor theater. Shedd Aquarium (14 min)
State-of-the-art indoor aquarium, famous for its variety of habitats & views of Lake Michigan. Lincoln Park Zoo (9 min)
Small, free zoo with lions, primates, reptiles, a children's area & an interactive farm exhibit. 360 CHICAGO (11 min)
Observatory on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Building with a tilting glass lookout 1000 ft. up. Chicago Riverwalk (12 min)
Riverside pedestrian path featuring city views & dining, plus bridges, fishing piers & boat docks. Skydeck Chicago (8 min)
103rd floor of the former Sears Tower with clear observation boxes & views extending to four states. Navy Pier (9 min)
Former Navy training center draws crowds with carnival rides, restaurants, shops & fireworks. Buckingham Fountain (8 min)
Among the world’s largest, Grant Park’s 3-level rococo fountain (1927) offers light & water shows. Grant Park (7 min)
319-acre centerpiece of Downtown housing some of the city's busiest attractions. 875 North Michigan Avenue (11 min)
Skyscraper observation deck offering panoramic city views from 1,000 feet up, plus food & drink. Crown Fountain (8 min)
Public sculpture with a pair of 50-ft. LED towers & a reflecting pool, by Jaume Plensa, a Catalan. The Art Institute of Chicago (7 min)
Renowned art museum holding nearly 300,000 works from all over the world, spanning many centuries. | 
