beth

I need to get out of town for a weekend (would like to somewhere warm but that is not an option) I live in downtown chicago and am looking for a place within 4 hrs driving time from the city. We will be a couple in our late 20s no kids. We enjoy all vacations everything from romantic weekend in B&Bs spent antiquing to active sports oriented trips to baseball parks, to trips to big cities to sample nightlife. Obviously we're not picky! We would like to go the last weekend of this month so we need planning help right away!!

Kim

Well at this time of year it is not very warm, but Saugatuck, MI has been my summer haunt for the last 37 years. It's a quaint artists village with plenty of B&Bs, galleries, shops and golf courses. I'm sure you would have no problem finding a romantic getaway this time of year. I'd suggest contacting the Saugatuck visitors bureau for details re: where to stay. Good luck.

marilyn

Some ideas: Galena is about a 3-hour drive, the last part of which is very scenic. This quaint river town offers lodging options ranging from an historic main street hotel--I think one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates happened there--to B&Bs to a full-service resort, Eagle Ridge, nearby. Great antiques and sightseeing.

Lake Geneva is less than 2 hours away, in Wisconsin. You can find everything there from resorts like Lake Lawn Lodge or the Abbey to lots of hotels and B&Bs. Lake Lawn is a sprawling complex linked by glassed-in walkways. Nice pools and cozy corners, recently refurbished, pretty area. Service and food could be better, but there are lots of good restaurants in the town of Lake Geneva itself.

You say somewhere warm is not an option, but maybe you could find a cheapie internet fare somewhere. American, for instance, will let you go to LA for $49 plus 17,000 miles the weekend of March 16. Maybe a warm destination will pop up on your weekend.

beth

Any other options for a fun weekend getaway?

kam

Eagle Ridge Inn in the Galena Territory--pretty inn, indoor swimming pool (so you don't need "warm") fireplaces in rooms, several restaurants, horseback riding and the historic town of Galena with shops and antiques 7 miles to the west. We used to escape Chicago there winter and summer. It's 153 miles from Evanston and just about 3 hours driving. Take NW tollroad to rt. 20 and go west. You can tour Ulysses Grant's home and several pretty Victorians and have brunch at the historic DeSoto Hotel. Since we've left they have riverboats over in Dubuque, Iowa, but I don't know much about them. Enjoy.

stl

Head down to St. Louis. I used to live there, but now I'm Chicago. You can make it down there in about 4 1/2 hours (4 depending on how you drive.) go on the Anheuseur Busch brewery tour. Head over to the zoo, it's free and is so much better than either Brookfield or Lincoln Park. Grant's Farm is there too- very fun with free beer in the beer garden (again owned by Anheuser Busch). A very romantic place to stay and centrally located is in Clayton on Meramac Street called Seven Gables Inn. Very romantic B&B. Clayton is also the best district for restaurants. Of course there's the nightlife/gambling on the riverfront. For being a "small" town, ST.L has a lot to offer. Enjoy!

Me

Brown County, Indiana.

Prettier in the fall, but still "quaint" now.

Take I65 south (through Indianapolis) to Indiana 46 west. About a 25 minute drive to Nashville. Lots of folksy, quaint things to do and see.

Try the fried biscuits.

jeff

What about Indianapolis? there is a lot to do in this city and it is perfect for a long weekend. Get a hotel room downtown near the Circle Center Mall area and explore. I went to school at IU and we spent many weekends in Idianpolis. I think it is about 3-31/2 hrs from Chicago.

Anne

Is Mackinaw Island within a 4 hour drive?

marilyn

Mackinaw is probably a 10-hour drive from Chicago.

patg

Not that it matters to Beth, but Chicago-Mackinac Island is about 400 miles or 7-7.5 hours driving thru Indiana and Michigan. It's about 2 hours longer thru Wisconsin and the upper penninsula. It's too far even for a long weekend.

I'd recommend Madison, Wisconsin for a variety of city and outdoor activities, also great small hotels.