Need a respite from the hustle and bustle of the Windy City? Consider these five luxurious Chicago getaways, where rustically reinvented cabins, five-star restaurants and lavish spas await. Your weekend away starts here.
Located on Chicago’s charming North Shore just 40 minutes from the city, the Deer Path Inn has been a beloved visitor destination since 1929. Packages on offer include the Private Culinary Experience, a custom-curated five-course feast accompanied by fine wines that can be shared with two to four guests in the inn’s private wine room. Is your weekend just for the ladies? The Girls Getaway is an inviting experience of afternoon tea for two with pastries, teas curated by master tea consultant Malcolm Ferris-Lay, and a glass of bubbly. Cheers! Cornwall and Buckingham suites from $800 per night, 255 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest
From a stunning golf course to a primo spa, 10 different dining options and even a 50,000 square foot indoor/outdoor waterpark in Moose Mountain Falls, this property on the picturesque shoreline of Lake Geneva is tailor-made for a family getaway. Just 90 minutes from Chicago, the luxury resort is a quick trip whether just for the weekend or an extended stay. Studio villas from $599 per night, 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, Wis.
The Pfister Hotel
This historic 1893 hotel is a delightful getaway destination in downtown Milwaukee. From its extensive Victorian art collection including must-see works by Adolph Piot, Georges Laugee and Reginald Baylor) to its artist in residence program, the Pfister is a must-visit for art lovers—not to mention foodies, who can enjoy five-star dining at the Mason Street Grill, the hotel’s steakhouse, followed by cocktails at the 23rd-floor martini bar, Blu, which boasts views of Lake Michigan. Don’t forget to stop in for the Pfister’s signature Sunday brunch tradition in The Rouge dining room before checkout. Pfister Signature King suites from $555 per night, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, Wis.
When it comes to summertime escapes, few local destinations are more stylish than lakeside spot Camp Wandawega, renowned for its sprawling outdoor complex and vintage 1950s summer-camp vibe. Enjoy counselor-led programs like fishing and hiking or excursions like Mead Making & Bee Keeping at The Hive Taproom all while enjoying accommodations from cabins to tipis to the Hillhouse, a newly renovated home overlooking the picturesque scene. Cabins from $650 per night, W5453 Lake View Drive, Elkhorn, Wis.
A little over two hours from Chicago, this posh brick-Tudor style hotel covered in ivy and set in quaint Kohler, Wis. is well worth the drive. Set yourself up in five-star lodgings including the Presidential and the Eau de Vie suites, or opt for one of the more rustic and secluded cabins to really get away from it all. Want a full-on wellness experience? Try yoga by the lake, treatments at the Kohler Water Spa and other well-being activities. The sophisticated vibe extends to dining at the property’s four-star Immigrant Restaurant & Winery; for a more casual setting, go for the Horse & Plow, once the taproom for Kohler & Co. workers who resided on the property and now a cozy tavern for hotel patrons. Presidential Suite from $1651 per night, 419 Highland Drive, Kohler, Wis.
Photography by: Deer Path Inn; Grand Geneva Resort and Spa; Kohler Co.; Aimee Mazzenga
