Enjoy the Windy City at a Chicago Bed and Breakfast Inn

It’s the Windy City, the Second City, Frank Sinatra’s kind of town. It’s Chicago, and there’s something in this city by the lake to please every traveler. Take a ball game, enjoy a boat trip on Lake Michigan, shop at some of the country’s top boutiques, tour museums, eat at some of the nation’s best restaurants and enjoy it all from a Chicago bed and breakfast. Here are some of the great, unique lodging choices.

Located in a restored, early 20th-century brownstone, The House of Two Urns offers both historic charm and close access to downtown. There are six guest rooms, three with fireplaces and two that have Jacuzzi tubs. Rooms are bright and airy with quilt-topped beds and antique furnishings. The innkeeper at this Chicago bed and breakfast also offers several apartments with plenty of amenities, including kitchens.

At China Doll Guest House, travelers can choose to stay in one of several fully self-contained city apartments or even opt to spend a night on the innkeepers’ sailboat, when available. Three apartments are available in a historic, ivy covered row house in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood and there are several more located in other homes. The innkeepers offer plenty of amenities for business travelers, including a fax, computer and printer in each apartment. The kitchens are stocked with everything from coffee and espresso to bacon and eggs to cereal, breads and yogurt. Several units have a fireplace or Jacuzzi tub, and all offer superb access to downtown Chicago.

A stay at the Hansen House Mansion is like a trip back in time to old Chicago. This late 19th-century home is situated in the Lincoln Park neighborhood and filled with Victorian charm. The guest rooms are decorated with antiques and original features, such as a clawfoot tub or original stained glass windows. There are two guest rooms with private baths, as well as a two-bedroom suite with a parlor, bathroom and a sun deck. The innkeepers at this Chicago bed and breakfast can arrange for a chef to prepare a gourmet breakfast or a three-course dinner, as well as specialty cooking classes.

Evanston, a North Shore suburb about 15 miles from Chicago, is home to Northwestern University, museums and theater, as well as The Homestead. This historic inn has been family-run for more than 70 years and offers both traditional inn rooms, as well as a selection of apartments. There is a gourmet restaurant, Quince, at the inn serving specialties such as
shaved asparagus salad with a truffle vinaigrette, braised short ribs with Meyer lemon risotto, and homemade blueberry-dusted doughnuts with blueberry jam.

A 35-mile drive west of Chicago will take you to West Dundee and The Mansion bed and breakfast. The century-old Tudor boasts original features such as leaded, stained-glass windows and lighting fixtures. Each of the four guest rooms includes a whirlpool tub. There are also three extended-stay rooms that share a bath with a whirlpool tub. The innkeepers often host weddings and receptions at this historic inn.

Browse through the 19,000 bed and breakfasts and country inns that specialize in other events and locations that may interest you. Many of the properties listed above are also in the best-selling bed and breakfast guidebook Bed & Breakfasts and Country Inns with a Buy-One-Night-Get-One-Night-Free Certificate. I Love Inns also offers Bed and Breakfast Gift Certificates, a perfect solution to help celebrate any occasion.

Look for the Overall Rating near the top of each inn’s individual page and the ability to click and read the reviews. At the bottom of the listing is a Rating section where a guest can click and very easily, in a matter of moments, write a review.