Destinations > The Americas > Great Lakes
Great Lakes
Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ontario & Wisconsin
Chicago, the Windy City, is a mecca for blues lovers, foodies and sports aficionados but go beyond the metropolis itself to explore the surrounding areas around Lake Michigan that’s full of amazing culture, art, and sports. The Great Lakes bear tenacious traditions and food specialties, and is full of hard-core sports, elegant music and theatrical stars.
Bears or Bulls!
Best time to visit: May through October. Summers on the Lakes are warm, and the calendar is jam-packed with street festivals and concerts. Lean towards the fall to get to an exciting baseball game.
Go for this: Meditate on the shores of the bluest of blue bodies of water, Lake Huron, with sandy, ocean-like beaches (minus the salt), ending with a breathtaking sunset and cocktail in hand!
World-class concert at Severance Hall with the Cleveland Orchestra directed by Franz Welser-Möst, hailed by The New York Times as the best Orchestra in America.
But try this: Tour the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, with a Chicago Bull, a great cross-state hybrid adventure.
If you dare to venture north in the winter, try ice fishing on Lake Simcoe in Ontario with a chef who will keep you fed with local fare, and warm with his tall fish tales.
Favorite guest experience: Explore the world-renowned architecture of The Windy City from top to bottom with an up-and-coming Irish architect in a private helicopter on St. Patrick’s Day, when the Chicago River is dyed green and turns Chicago into Emerald City!
Meet and dine with well-known actors in a private dining room during the Toronto Film Festival.
Favorite hotel: The Hazleton Toronto: Designed by the cutting-edge design firm, Yabu Pushelberg, the interiors are sleek and confident, guestrooms are spacious and boast French doors and custom furnishings. The sophisticated ONE Restaurant, helmed by chef Mark McEwan, features a changing menu reflecting seasonal and local fare, while The Spa at Hazelton by Valmont is Yorkville’s most exclusive refuge for Toronto locals and visitors alike.
Deer Path Inn Lake Forest, Chicago IL: English Inn tradition meets modern luxury with its 57 spacious guest rooms, Deer Path Inn is a Northshore tradition featuring a timeless pub and authentic afternoon tea. Avoid the crowds and you can be out of the city and at this paradise in just 30 minutes.
Favorite restaurant: Café Spiaggia; Chicago, Illinois: Nestled on The Magnificent Mile, Café Spiaggia is a local gathering spot offering casual Italian fare by Executive Chef Eric Lees. Guests can expect an inviting and lively environment featuring shared plates, handmade pastas, and a global wine list hand selected by Sommelier Rachael Lowe, Food & Wine Magazine’s “Top Sommeliers of 2016.”
Girl & the Goat; Chicago, Illinois: Girl & the Goat is James Beard Award winning Chef Stephanie Izard’s first restaurant after her Top Chef Season 4 win. The restaurant’s family-style menu features bold flavors with global influences in a fun and lively setting that makese guests feel at home from the moment they walk in the door.
Favorite foods & beverages: Deep Dish Pizza, peameal bacon sandwich, caesar (cocktail), poutine, Bleu Mont cheddar, Jucy Lucys, wild rice-crusted walleye, and Pabst Blue Ribbon.
Best time to visit: May through October. Summers on the Lakes are warm, and the calendar is jam-packed with street festivals and concerts. Lean towards the fall to get to an exciting baseball game.
Go for this: Meditate on the shores of the bluest of blue bodies of water, Lake Huron, with sandy, ocean-like beaches (minus the salt), ending with a breathtaking sunset and cocktail in hand!
World-class concert at Severance Hall with the Cleveland Orchestra directed by Franz Welser-Möst, hailed by The New York Times as the best Orchestra in America.
But try this: Tour the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, with a Chicago Bull, a great cross-state hybrid adventure.
If you dare to venture north in the winter, try ice fishing on Lake Simcoe in Ontario with a chef who will keep you fed with local fare, and warm with his tall fish tales.
Favorite guest experience: Explore the world-renowned architecture of The Windy City from top to bottom with an up-and-coming Irish architect in a private helicopter on St. Patrick’s Day, when the Chicago River is dyed green and turns Chicago into Emerald City!
Meet and dine with well-known actors in a private dining room during the Toronto Film Festival.
Favorite hotel: The Hazleton Toronto: Designed by the cutting-edge design firm, Yabu Pushelberg, the interiors are sleek and confident, guestrooms are spacious and boast French doors and custom furnishings. The sophisticated ONE Restaurant, helmed by chef Mark McEwan, features a changing menu reflecting seasonal and local fare, while The Spa at Hazelton by Valmont is Yorkville’s most exclusive refuge for Toronto locals and visitors alike.
Deer Path Inn Lake Forest, Chicago IL: English Inn tradition meets modern luxury with its 57 spacious guest rooms, Deer Path Inn is a Northshore tradition featuring a timeless pub and authentic afternoon tea. Avoid the crowds and you can be out of the city and at this paradise in just 30 minutes.
Favorite restaurant: Café Spiaggia; Chicago, Illinois: Nestled on The Magnificent Mile, Café Spiaggia is a local gathering spot offering casual Italian fare by Executive Chef Eric Lees. Guests can expect an inviting and lively environment featuring shared plates, handmade pastas, and a global wine list hand selected by Sommelier Rachael Lowe, Food & Wine Magazine’s “Top Sommeliers of 2016.”
Girl & the Goat; Chicago, Illinois: Girl & the Goat is James Beard Award winning Chef Stephanie Izard’s first restaurant after her Top Chef Season 4 win. The restaurant’s family-style menu features bold flavors with global influences in a fun and lively setting that makese guests feel at home from the moment they walk in the door.
Favorite foods & beverages: Deep Dish Pizza, peameal bacon sandwich, caesar (cocktail), poutine, Bleu Mont cheddar, Jucy Lucys, wild rice-crusted walleye, and Pabst Blue Ribbon.
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