Winter Getaway

Did you have one of those holidays where you feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? From Thanksgiving to New Years it can be a stressful time for many - cleaning, cooking, baking, shopping, wrapping presents, cleaning, cooking, baking, driving...it can be exhausting! Especially when you're working a full-time job on top of it. Let's plan a vacation! Now that the holiday season is over, we can finally relax and not feel guilty about sitting down in the evening and doing nothing. Why not go on a fun winter getaway! Whether for the weekend or longer, this time of year hotel rates can be much cheaper.

One of two fireplaces in the lobby, so cozy! 

Lobby at the Chicago Athletic Hotel

Right after Christmas, my family visited my grandparents in central Illinois. On our way there, we took a detour and stopped in Chicago for the night as my husband had never been. My mom, using her old skills as a travel agent, found the most amazing hotel for an unbelievable rate! The Chicago Athletic Association is located off Michigan Avenue right down the road from all of the great shopping and across the street from Millennium Park. Opened in 2015, this hotel has the feel of a gentleman's sports club as that is exactly what it used to be, so when it was renovated, they wanted to keep it's memory alive. The rooms' decor has a vintage sporty feel and there is a huge game room on the premises. The lobby is stunning! Fireplaces, grand staircases, leather chairs... oh my! Every one of the staff we came in contact with was very friendly and helpful. And if you can't bear to travel without your pup, no worries, they're pet-friendly! They have a rooftop restaurant called Cindy's that has amazing views of Lake Michigan. We didn't eat there, but we were able to go up to enjoy the view. There is a terrace with a fire-pit so you can stay warm! I wish we had planned to eat there because the food looked amazing! I also need to mention that there is a Shake Shack located in/by the hotel. YUM!!

Beautiful marble staircase!

Such cozy rooms! Notice the pommel-styled bench!

Beautiful bathrooms!

C.O. Bigelow Barber soaps, smelled amazing! In a sweet and spicy, masculine way.

Sweatshirt styled robes!

While we were in Chicago, we walked to Millennium Park to see the infamous Bean and then trekked over to Molly's Cupcakes, the winner of Cupcake Wars' Season Finale. They had so many amazing flavors it was hard to choose just one! Then we kept going to Navy Pier. It was around dusk at this point and the view of the city from the pier was beautiful! For dinner that night we got Giordano's, a deep-dish pizza chain but amazing Chicago-style pizza nonetheless!

The Bean!

Beautiful architecture nearby! 

My delicious chocolate cupcake from Molly's

View of Chicago from the Navy Pier, so pretty! and cold... does it look like I'm freezing? because I am!

The next morning we walked a block down the street for breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien. AMAZING French breakfast/brunch/lunch. This is also a chain, but isn't near us in the South except D.C. area. Seriously, if you ever come across one, go. You won't be disappointed.

Pastries gallore

Even though we were in Chicago for a total of 24 hours, we had a blast and can't wait to plan the next visit! If you go or have been, let me know what you think!!

We couldn't leave Chicago without a visit to Wrigley Field!

We had a great time! View from Cindy's rooftop terrace