Home » Special Features » The World’s Best » Best Getaway Hotels Chicago
Even the most devout urbanista needs some downtime. Here are
our top picks for weekend getaway hotels—all destinations in themselves, and within 100 miles or so of the world's greatest cities.
Best Weekend Getaway Hotels in....
Best Weekend Getaway Hotels
Chicago
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa
7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, WI,
262-248-8811, $$$$ grandgeneva.com
The Draw: Set on a 36-hole championship golf course, this luxurious resort also has a lavish spa and fitness center; three fine-dining restaurants; oodles of outdoor activities such as hiking, horseback riding, tennis, and swimming; an indoor/outdoor water park; and a ski and snowboard park. The Scene: Set in a landscape of rolling hills that turn crimson in the autumn months, the Grand Geneva Resort features Frank Lloyd Wright–inspired architecture and a get-away-from-it-all ambience with 355 well-appointed guest rooms. The town of Lake Geneva features charming restaurants and boutiques, plus numerous historic mansions, which can best be viewed from the boat tours that continually cruise the lake. You'll find couples, families, and groups of friends relaxing and taking advantage of the activities. Hot Tip: The Lake Geneva Wine Festival takes place at the Grand Geneva Resort in early September. Seminars, tastings, and dinners with A-list winemakers and chefs are held throughout the stunning property; advance reservations are recommended.
The Harbor Grand
111 W. Water St., New Buffalo, MI, 269-469-7700, $$ harborgrand.com
The Draw: On the opposite coast of Lake Michigan from Chicago sits Harbor County, a series of relaxed beach towns that draw Chicagoans in droves. The Harbor Grand is in New Buffalo, a popular resort burg loved for its cosmopolitan nature and proximity to the city. The Scene: The Harbor Grand's nonchalant sophistication beckons visitors from around the Midwest to take in the considerable sights of the area. The property's 55 guest rooms provide luxurious surroundings, while suites offer lake views, fireplaces, whirlpool tubs, spa showers, and wet bars. A wine bar and lounge with outdoor seating and a fireplace, plus an indoor pool and outdoor sun deck, join the hotel's signature "comforts" (24-hour Ben & Jerry's delivery, anyone?) to make a stay here memorable. Hot Tip: Fall is a fantastic time to visit the several wineries in the area (such as the award-winning Round Barn Winery), or to just take a walk into town to visit the shops, galleries, and fine-dining restaurants that make New Buffalo such an attractive retreat.
The Pfister Hotel
424 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 414-273-8222, $$$ thepfisterhotel.com
The Draw: A three-block walk from Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee Art Museum, The Pfister Hotel is an elegant throwback to the 19th century (it cost more than $1 million to build when it opened in 1893). The hotel houses a priceless Victorian art collection displayed amid opulent surroundings. The Scene: The Pfister's sumptuous accommodations include 225 guest rooms and 82 suites with wet bars and whirlpool tubs. Three restaurants and two bars—including Blu, the hotel's 23rd-floor lounge offering breathtaking views of the city and the lake—plus the Well Spa and Salon, are on hand. Business travelers, guests celebrating special occasions, and couples all flock here from Chicago and beyond. Hot Tip: Milwaukee is filled with festivals in the fall, including the Indian Summer Festival and Oktoberfest (a nod to the city's German heritage). A tour of the nearby Miller Brewing Co. headquarters—complete with generous samples—is a Milwaukee must.
