Great Staycation

By Lisa Arnett
Appears in the January 2021 issue.

After months upon months of looking at the same four walls, a staycation at a local hotel could be just the reprieve your household needs.

For a taste of Old-World glamour, stay at the Drake Oak Brook (2301 York Rd., Oak Brook, 630.571.0000, thedrakeoakbrookhotel.com, rooms from $139). Built in 1961 on a 10-acre property, it’s steeped in history. “Back in the day, this was kind of known as the place to be in the suburbs,” says Lee Hoener, general manager. Frank Sinatra was a regular, he says. “I’ve been told he used to helicopter from downtown and land somewhere out on the property.”

All guest rooms were renovated in February 2020 and strike just the right balance of vintage charm and modern luxury, with Bulgari toiletries, fluffy robes and slippers by request, and smart TVs so you can stream your favorites. “We have these decorative bar carts with premixed cocktails that you can pour right there in your room,” Hoener says.

High tea is served every Saturday afternoon, and as of presstime, Hoener says he was expecting the arrival of heated igloos to outfit the patio at the hotel’s restaurant, the Colonial Room, for wintertime dining.
If your staycation requirements include an indoor pool for the kids to splash around in, the Westin Chicago Lombard (70 Yorktown Center, 630.719.8000, marriott.com, rooms from $89) could be just the ticket. Dine at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse inside the hotel, or order delivery from nearby Yorktown Center restaurants, such as the Capital Grille, RA Sushi, and Claim Jumper.

For a cozy couples’ getaway, head to the Herrington Inn & Spa (15 S. River Ln., Geneva, 630.208.7433, herringtoninn.com, rooms from $189), a 60-room riverside retreat along the Fox River in downtown Geneva. Order farm-to-table takeout from the inn’s restaurant Atwater’s to eat fireside in your room or decompress with a soak in the room’s whirlpool tub.

Photo courtesy Drake Oak Brook