Illinois Girlfriend Getaways

on location: midwest ❖

I L L I N O I S

GIRLFRIEND

G E TAWAY S Possibilities abound in Chicago and beyond Tour planners putting together girlfriend trips will find unlimited options across Illinois. A combination of festive

shopping, top-notch theater and carefree sightseeing, along with tempting hotel packages, make the state a Mecca for ladies-only escapes. Here are three prime areas to consider for the next outing without the boys: SUBURBAN CHICAGO

LAKE COUNTY: There is nothing quite like walking in the worldrenowned Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. Walk the 24 gardens with your girlfriends for a relaxing morning during the summer months. Or tour Cuneo Mansion and Gardens in Vernon Hills, an estate completed in 1918. It has been donated to Loyola University and now offers summer concerts, art classes and guided tours of the gardens.

Long Grove Historic Village, with over 80 specialty shops and various festivals throughout the year, is the perfect shopping getaway. Extreme shoppers head to Gurnee Mills, where you will find more than 200 stores.

Catch a show at the historic Genesee Theatre, Waukegan’s newest venue for Broadway shows, musical acts and comedians. Or see a musical at the in-the40 August 2011

round Marriott Theatre at Lincolnshire Marriott Resort. (Lake County CVB, 800-525-3669; lakecounty.org) ST. CHARLES: If you and your girlfriends are the crafty type, check out Fine Line Creative Arts Center. Purchase craft supplies for knitting, drawing, crocheting and more at the Fine Line Art Shop. The center offers classes in various media as well, so be sure to see what is available during your stay in St. Charles.

Fine Line also has three galleries of art.

See a live performance at Steel Beam Theater or Pheasant Run Resort. Both offer a variety of excellent performances so check the show listings and pick the right show for you and the girls. (St. Charles CVB, 800-777-4373; visitstcharles.com) DUPAGE COUNTY: Book the “Suite Shopping Package” at Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago-Lombard/Oak Brook and receive one Chicago PreLeisureGroupTravel.com

mium Outlets and one Yorktown Mall coupon book. Also receive 20 percent off restaurant and room service, four cans of soda and a bag of popcorn to bring back the days of sleepovers with the girls. Contact the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau to get a DuPage Deals card. It offers around 40 discounts and special offers.

(630-575-8070, discoverdupage.com) —Nicola Trumbull PLAY IN PEORIA

Anyone planning girlfriend getaways should not overlook the riverfront city of Peoria in Western Illinois.

A city with a small-town feel, Peoria has plenty to entertain your group on a weekend outing.

Downtown flourishes in the warmer months, and the boys of summer offer a cheap night out at O’Brien Field, home of the Peoria Chiefs minor league baseball team, an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Every night has a themed event, and there are fireworks and concerts after select games. A sightseeing cruise on the Spirit of Peoria Riverboat is a memorable way for your group to enjoy summer on the Illinois River.

Downtown Peoria abounds with bars, pubs and clubs. Club Apollo is a local favorite for a dressier night out, offering drink and food specials, dancing, pool and a nightly in-house DJ. The Irish pub scene is the hallmark of a Peoria night out. Kelleher’s Irish Pub, Donnelly’s Shamrock Pub and Sully’s are the best.

For gaming and buffet dining, the riverfront’s Par-A-Dice Hotel and Casino in East Peoria is a favorite with girlfriend groups. In addition to

Girlfriends on vacation have a chance to unwind at Peoria-area wineries.

Par-A-Dice, there are more than 20 downtown lodging options.

Kickapoo Creek Winery, a short drive from Peoria, offers tastings, tours and a private room for catered meals, plus picnic areas, walking trails and two lakes.

Peoria has two large malls, Northwoods and the outdoor Shoppes at Grand Prairie. Northwoods has department store shopping along with two stories of food and clothing stores, and Grand Prairie has more specialty dining and shopping options. Next to the Shoppes at Grand Prairie is the 18theater Rave Motion Pictures movie theater, which just opened a 3-D IMAX theater. (Peoria Area CVB, 800-747-0302; peoria.org) —Heather Swick

DOWNTOWN CHICAGO

The Magnificent Mile, the worldfamous shopping boulevard that stretches from the Michigan Avenue Bridge to Oak Street, is the epicenter of girlfriend getaways in Chicago.

The street abounds with designer boutiques and familiar chains, from Gucci and Tiffany to Macy’s and the Disney Store. The chief magnet is Water Tower Place, a vertical mall with more than 100 stores and restaurants.

The 900 North Michigan Shops and North Bridge are other multi-level malls. Cruises on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan provide another activity option.

Downtown hotels offer attractive packages that may be just right for your girlfriend escape to the Big City.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE For an overview of group-friendly attractions in Alton, Illinois, log on to http://leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=24676.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Enjoy a night at the theater at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles.

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on location: midwest ❖ Among the offerings: DoubleTree Chicago Magnificent Mile has a “Girls Getaway” package that includes a $50 gift card valid at over 70 luxury retailers inside the 900 North Michigan Shops, plus cocktails and an appetizer at the hotel bar. The hotel is close to Navy Pier and has a seasonal outdoor pool. (866-778-8536, doubletreemagmile.com) Red Roof Inn Downtown Chicago, one block east of Michigan Avenue, builds a package around Bike & Roll Chicago’s “Sites@Nite” Segway tour in lakefront Millennium and Grant parks. A highlight is seeing Buckingham Fountain’s water and light display. (312-787-3500, redroof.com) JW Marriott Chicago, an elegant hotel housed in a former bank building in the city’s financial district, features a “Shop ’Til You Drop” package that includes $100 spending money at Macy’s and a State Street visitor Obtain Illinois visitor guides savings pass. (312-660-8200, and itineraries – and contact groupjwmarriottchicago.com) friendly suppliers —Julianna McHale directly – at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info