Recently in Chicago O’Hare, IL Category

Late summer in Chicago is a perfect time in the city. The weather is great for exploring the city on foot, and there's plenty going on in the museums, theaters, and galleries downtown. It's still possible to sneak in a trip to Chicago before the end of the season, thanks to Starpicks. The Westin O'Hare is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next two weekends. Conveniently located by O'Hare Airport, the Westin O'Hare has 525 guest rooms and suites, all of which feature the Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Bath, so you'll feel rested, refreshed, and ready to take on the town. The work of Jeff Koons is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago through September 21, so it's a good time to admire his oversized metallic puppies and rabbits. The view from the Sears Tower is always hard to beat, as the tallest building in the western hemisphere offers panoramic vistas of Chicago, its surrounding suburbs, and Lake Michigan. And since you've got to spend some time out of doors when the weather is this nice, take in a free concert in Grant Park, a picturesque green space that's often referred to as Chicago's "front yard." It's a perfect spot to relax and dream up your next great Starpicks getaway.

When it's summer in the city, sometimes it makes sense to flee to the surrounding suburbs, where the temperatures are cooler and you can find plenty of open spaces to enjoy the refreshing breezes. To make your suburban escapes just a little bit easier this summer, Starwood is offering special low rates for Westin properties in suburban Chicago. Escape to Suburban Chicago and enjoy rates starting at $119 per night for stays at the Westin Chicago North Shore, the Westin Chicago Northwest, and the Westin O'Hare, while rates at the luxurious Westin Lombard Yorktown Center start at just $129 a night. So for a little more than a tank of gas, you can indulge in the many amenities of this premiere hotel, from its fitness and spa facilities, indoor heated pool, and Westin WORKOUT gym to the sun deck, jogging path, and nearby golf courses. Enjoy a healthy and delicious seafood meal at Holy Mackerel!, where no fish is ever frozen. Or else indulge in one of the best steaks in town at Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse, which has been designated "Official Home Plate of the Chicago Cubs." If that's not a ringing endorsement of Chicago-area cuisine, I don't know what is. For more information or to make a reservation, visit Westin's Suburban Chicago homepage, and don't forget to enter the Westins of Suburban Chicago Sweepstakes to win a Westin Heavenly Bid. This is how it should feel.

Jae Knowlton is the Operations Manager for the Austin Customer Contact Center and thelobby.com's expert on family travel.

My wife & I stayed at the Sheraton Gateway O'Hare during our vacation in Chicago in 1995. Less than a year later our first child, a daughter, was born. Coincidence? Hardly. We wanted to come up with a way of commemorating the event so we decided we'd name her after the hotel. "Gateway" wouldn't make a very good name and while we both love "Sheraton" it just didn't seem right. We eventually decided on her full name: Kasey O'Hare Rhoades Knowlton. I grew up in Chicago and my dad, who retired from American Airlines after 39 years, used to work at O'Hare Airport. We traveled all the time when I was a kid and not only was O'Hare our home airport, but Sheraton was my favorite hotel chain. All of these joys and memories came together in the birth of our daughter. Whenever we visit Chicago we stay at the Gateway and both my kids love it - the separate room for them, the breakfast buffet, the indoor pool (pictured). People may think it's strange to prefer an airport hotel but it means a lot to us!