This simple Midwestern city, the nation’s third-largest, always has something exciting to offer. With a famous cityscape of glass buildings surrounding the Chicago River, Chicago offers entertaining and informative activities.
Chicago is charming, but occasional vacations from the city are good for the mind, body, and soul. For urban escapees, Chicago has many romantic hotels and weekend retreats. These allow couples to travel without flying, giving them enough money to relax, rejuvenate, or reignite the spark at some of the country’s best hotels.
To give Chicago readers ideas for weekend romantic getaways, some of the locations have been shared below.
Bloomington’s Showers Inn
Bloomingdale, a lovely community 27 miles (43.4 km) from Chicago, is a 30-minute drive away. Showers Inn is a charming old mansion with excellent design in the midst of this college town, surrounded by hills, forests, and lakes.
From golfing at the picturesque Bloomingdale Golf Club and enjoying the Oasis Water Park to visiting the Bloomingdale Park District Museum and shopping at Stratford Square Mall, couples can stay busy on their holiday.
A few steps away is Bloomington’s bustling Farmer’s Market, and the breakfast is well-rated. Showers Inn frequently hosts couples for weddings and parents visiting their children at Indiana University.
- Distance from Chicago: 232 mi
- Travel time: 3:49
Galena’s Goldmoor Inn
The historic Goldmoor Inn offers luxurious cabins, cottages, and suites for couples wishing to reconnect just minutes from Galena’s core. Visitors will be transported to European art by the estate’s majestic ambiance and groomed gardens.
At the Goldmoor Inn, guests can enjoy couples massages, private in-room breakfast, and dinner. Galena, nearby, provides horseback riding and hot-air ballooning for a change of scenery. Goldmoor Inn getaway packages include spa services, fresh-cut roses, wine or champagne, and memento glasses to enhance the romantic getaway.
From Chicago: 164 miles, 3-hour-11-minute drive
IHG’s Milwaukee Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
Stay at Milwaukee’s Kimpton Journeyman Hotel in Third Ward to experience the city’s energy. This luxurious boutique hotel, within walking distance of Milwaukee’s best restaurants and bars, is the perfect vacation. A giant soaking tub, walk-in bathroom, and separate sitting space make the one-bedroom apartment feel bigger—perfect for a staycation. All rooms are eclectic, with elegant details and furniture set to promote conversation over wine or reading by the fireplace.
- From Chicago: 94 mi
- Trip: 1 hour 50 minutes
The JW Marriott Indianapolis
The 2012 Super Bowl-built JW Marriott in Indianapolis is one of the largest JW Marriotts in the world. Condé Nast named it a top Midwest hotel. Enjoy a couples’ spa treatment, a gourmet supper at an award-winning restaurant, or a show in the local theater area on the weekend.
The zoo is a short walk through White River State Park, an urban park, while the Eiteljorg Museum and Indiana State Museum are across the street. Many eateries offer various cuisines within walking distance.
- From Chicago: 180 miles
- Traveling: 3 hours
IN’s French Lick Springs Hotel
French Lick Resort has three hotels on 3,200 acres. In the Hoosier National Forest hills, the National Historic Register-listed French Lick Springs Hotel has three championship golf courses, two revitalizing spas, large meeting areas, and a single-level casino.
A carriage ride around the gardens and a candlelit dinner at one of the beautiful restaurants can be romantic. Couples ordering the romance package receive a red rose, a bottle of house wine, meal credits, and a special welcome gift upon check-in.
- Distance from Chicago: 281 mi
- Distance: 4 hours 47 minutes