Four of Chicago's neighborhoods offer most of its best hotels: the Loop, North Michigan Avenue, the Gold Coast and Lincoln Park.
The Loop
When people think of Chicago, the Loop is often what first comes to mind. For more than a hundred years, the Loop has been the business center of the city. So named because of the El (elevated) train that "loops" around it, this district encompasses towering skyscrapers - including The Sears Tower, The Chicago Board of Trade, The Art Institute of Chicago, theatres, restaurants, bars and universities. The Loop is the historic heart of Chicago and offers a wealth of buildings rich with architectural and historic significance. However, while it teems with life during the business week and on weekends, outside of the theatres, little nightlife can be found. But if you want to stay in the heart of the city, with easy access to every neighborhood and attraction, consider booking a room at the Palmer House, the Congress Plaza Hotel or the Midland Hotel.
North Michigan Avenue
As two of the few surviving buildings from the fire of 1871, the Water Tower and the Chicago Water Works look out over the growth that has occurred around their home on North Michigan Avenue. Sixty years ago, it was merely the fire station, the water works, an occasional house and barren land. A post-World War II boom turned this strip into the "Magnificent Mile," Chicago's preeminent shopping and tourist district. The Mile begins at the Chicago River near the Wrigley Building and continues north to the ritzy Oak Street. Along the way, you will find not only upscale stores and theatres, but new entertainment ventures like DisneyQuest and ESPN Zone. Just off Michigan Avenue are lots of family friendly restaurants like the Hard Rock Cafe and Rainforest Cafe.
Most tourists opt to stay in this district because of its location and attractions and the high concentration of hotels. Staying in this area is pricey, but you can find weekend rates and more moderate prices at hotels such as the Radisson or the Lenox Suites. Business travelers and families alike find reasonable rates and welcome amenities at the centrally located Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown North and the Marriott Hotel. For those wanting to go top quality, the Four Seasons Hotel consistently ranks as one of the best in the country, and it has the prices to prove it. The Drake Hotel, the stately and luxurious home of the famed Cape Cod Room, has offered a four-star experience since the 20's.
Some people might want to stay on North Michigan for the convenience it offers, but at the same time avoid the tourists and weekend shoppers who congest the area. The Tremont Hotel offers a tranquil location, located just a block off Michigan Avenue.
The Gold Coast
The Gold coast is an elite place to live; the mark of wealth and sophistication. Walk along Astor and North State Street to admire the gorgeous brown and red stone buildings. Perhaps you will even decide to stay at the Ambassador West Hotel or the Omni Ambassador East Hotel. These twin hotels are now owned by different companies, but each is elegant and high class. The Omni Ambassador East Hotel is home to the Pump Room, where celebrities such as Frank Sinatra talked and drank the night away. Some of its 1940s glamour still survives. You may need to rely more on taxis or buses if you're staying in the Gold Coast, but for seclusion, elegance and a piece of the high life, the Gold Coast can't be beaten.
Lincoln Park
It is hard to believe that Lincoln Park was once a cemetery. Nothing is left of those days except the Getty Tomb. Instead, Lincoln Park is a thriving community that borders the park of the same name on the east, Ashland Avenue on the west, and North and Diversey Avenues on the south and north. If you want to stay in a real Chicago neighborhood that has all the convenience of the Loop, this is it. Buses and trains cut across Lincoln Park, making it easy to get just about anywhere in the city or suburbs.
A number of moderately priced hotels are available, and for a rock bottom rate try the Days Inn Lincoln Park on Diversey. Check out the Surf Hotel or Park Brompton Inn hotels if you want to stay on a quiet residential street. For a more invigorating, Art Deco atmosphere, check into the Belmont City Suites Hotel, located on Belmont Avenue. A frequent haunt of gangsters and mobsters during Prohibition, the hotel was redecorated in 1999, and now caters to both tourists and business travelers.
From the lake to the park to museums, restaurants and transportation options, Lincoln Park is probably the best place to stay in Chicago if you don't mind being away from the throngs of North Michigan Avenue or the history of the Loop. If you are so incliuned, get up early to jog along Lake Michigan, or sit on Belmont Rocks to watch the sun set over the city. Lincoln Park is truly a great place to experience city life at its best.
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