Rec for Chicago suburb with nice restaurants, hotel, spa

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Chicago but haven't lived there in a long time. I am meeting two friends (who else live elsewhere) in Chicago for a long weekend, and we're considering staying somewhere other than the city -- we have all spent lots of time downtown, north side, and south side and we want to try something different (also there is a huge city-wide convention the weekend we are going so hotels are limited/expensive).

I'm trying to think of a suburb with a cute downtown area that has a nice hotel plus some good restaurants, and a nice spa somewhere nearby. Open to anything other than Naperville or Oak Brook. Anyone have a suggestion?

[Anonymous]

Evanston? Meets most of your criteria, but not any spas , although admittedly not something I have searched for.

Might also aim for a neighborhood like Wicker Park. Looks like there is one hotel there, but I am sure good Airbnb options also. Lots of great places to eat, nice places to walk, can still hop on the train and be downtown in 15 minutes

[Anonymous]

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-chicago-resort-getaways

CNT list of getaways from Chicago, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Evanston? Meets most of your criteria, but not any spas , although admittedly not something I have searched for.

Might also aim for a neighborhood like Wicker Park. Looks like there is one hotel there, but I am sure good Airbnb options also. Lots of great places to eat, nice places to walk, can still hop on the train and be downtown in 15 minutes

Thanks, I'll look at Evanston. We don't want anywhere in the city, since all three of us have spent lots of time in all those neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Geneva? It's been a while, but I remember it being a day trip destination for shopping/restaurants.

[Anonymous]

OP, it is assumed you will have a car?

If so, second Lake Geneva.

Also look at Galena. They have a resort/spa there called Eagle Ridge. Never been but it looks nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it is assumed you will have a car?

If so, second Lake Geneva.

Also look at Galena. They have a resort/spa there called Eagle Ridge. Never been but it looks nice.

Not totally sure, but I think the PP before you meant Geneva, IL, which is on the outer edge of the Chicago metro area, about 35 miles due west of downtown Chicago. As opposed to Lake Geneva, WI, which is over 80 miles northwest of Chicago, not really in the metro area.

[Anonymous]

+1 for Galena. Cute town, B&Bs and antiquing.

[Anonymous]

Lake Forest is sleepy but has some good restaurants, and you can stay at Deer Path Inn.

[Anonymous]

If none are you are in the Chicago area, may want to pick another location or a different weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If none are you are in the Chicago area, may want to pick another location or a different weekend.

Yes- not quite why they are going to Chicago if none of them live there. Sounds like they want a more resort-type area.

[Anonymous]

Evanston or Oak Park?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If none are you are in the Chicago area, may want to pick another location or a different weekend.

+1. They want to meet in Chicago, but don’t want to be in Chicago. It’s not making sense to me.

Yes- not quite why they are going to Chicago if none of them live there. Sounds like they want a more resort-type area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If none are you are in the Chicago area, may want to pick another location or a different weekend.

Yes- not quite why they are going to Chicago if none of them live there. Sounds like they want a more resort-type area.

Two of us have work- and family-related reasons for being there that weekend, so the third person is coming to meet us. We don't necessarily want a resort, but more like a cute downtown with some shops and good restaurants, and a place to get a massage.

[Anonymous]

Definitely Evanston