Chicago Is Windy and Wonderful!

Revisiting Chicago's Magnificent Mile

By Belinda Clarke

On a blustery day in early spring, Chicago's Magnificent Mile is teeming with shoppers and tourists. "You'd think it was Christmas!" jokes a salesperson at a popular retail store as the revolving door spins endlessly. Although the holidays are long over and the weather is hardly balmy, Chicago bustles with convention attendees, shoppers and visitors from all over the country.

To keep up with the increasing popularity of the city and its many attractions, hotels, restaurants and retail stores are popping up like crazy. Two of the newest hotels bring unique service to new levels. The W Hotel (the only hotel in the city directly on Lake Michigan) is the ultimate in hip while the Peninsula, just off Michigan Avenue, is the ultimate in five-star luxury. Both offer Chicago visitors a memorable experience.

For relaxed ambience with a taste of Asian chic, the W Hotel is the place to stay. This hip spot caters to both business and leisure travelers, and offers a hotel experience, not just a room. "We describe the d袯r of the W Lakeshore as 'Asian simplicity meeting Zen glamour,'" says Cindy Hill, director of sales for the hotel. "Like all of the W hotels nationwide, the designer for this property used existing attributes – in this case, the natural splendor of Lake Michigan – to create the environment." To that end, the lobby is virtually all windows overlooking the lake, with a silent waterfall behind the front desk. Following the nature/water theme, the floors in the hallways feature river stones and the walls are adorned with shadow boxes containing seashells and other natural elements.

Every room in the W hotel is homey and plush, with rich, purple comforters and bamboo shades, in keeping with the Asian theme. Of course, there is Web TV and all of the electronic comforts of home, including a CD player containing a soft music mix created exclusively for the hotel.

Just a few blocks from the lake and steps from Michigan Avenue is the newest and probably most opulent hotel on the Magnificent Mile: the Peninsula. The latest offering from The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd. five-star hotel chain, Chicago's Peninsula offers guests a sanctuary where luxury and sophistication are paired with indulgent amenities for a truly luxurious stay.

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