Best Valentine's Day Travel Destinations Near Chicago
Lynfred Winery And B&B
15 S Roselle Road
Roselle, IL 60172
(630) 529-9463
www.lynfredwinery.com
You're only in west-suburban Roselle, but once you check into Lynfred Winery's B&B you could be almost anywhere in the US or abroad. The winery itself is fun and worth a tour. You would hardly know where to look first in the store. Down in the cellar, you inhale the heady fragrances of wine and more wine. But all of Lynfred's four suites upstairs urge you to leave the city and work behind. You will think you have stepped back in time to architecture's prairie period in the American Suite. Then there is the Loire Valley chateau ambiance of the French Suite. The German Suite makes you think you have escaped to the Rhine region. Of course, the Italian suite has marble columns in its elegant bath area. However, whichever suite is available, and they do go fast for Valentine's day, they all have fireplaces and room to settle down for a romantic stay. Slip into the comfy robe and slippers provided, put on a CD, nibble on cheese and fruit and toast each other with a glass of wine. Two bottles come with the suite, as do the nibbles. That's just at check-in. The following morning you are served a scrumptious breakfast in your suite. Regular suite prices are $395. You can raise the experience with the Valentine's Day package of a private winery tour, premium wine flights in the Founder's Room and a surf and turf dinner of crab cakes and kababs of tenderloin in your suite for $505.
419 Highland Drive
Kohler, WI 53044
(920) 457-8000
www.americanclubresort.com
You might not think a resort founded on bath and kitchen facilities would be romantic but Kohler, about two hours north of Chicago, is a five-star resort of elegant rooms with a glass of sparkling wine ready for you to sip at the check-in desk and hand-made chocolates waiting for you to unwrap on your room's coffee table. The challenge is to get a room and restaurant reservation for Valentine's Day. The American Club is the main hotel and has several dining choices on its campus where you don't have to don winter garb to get to entryways. But its nearby Inn on Woodlake is less expensive and on the same lake as the excellent Cucina Restaurant and Craverie Chocolatier Cafe. Tip: if Valentine's Day is booked, check Kohler's "In Celebration of Chocolate" availability Feb. 19-21. Two night packages are well-priced considering they include lodging, dinners and tastings. Also check the one-night, very affordable "Sweet Treat" package on Feb. 20.
For romance in a Victorian setting, check out the rooms and suites at the Baker House and Maxwell Mansion, two 19th-century inns around the corner from each other that are operated by Historic Hotels of Lake Geneva. About 80 miles northwest of Chicago, the town historically was a getaway for the city's elite who wanted to escape Chicago's summer heat. So it should be no surprise that Historic Hotel's two 1800s properties are again seducing Chicagoans who want something elegant and unique. The surprise is that even though the rooms and suites reflect the romance of the Victorian era, they have really excellent, updated spa showers and baths. Some rooms have two-night minimums, but that shouldn't matter Valentine's Day weekend because Lake Geneva's annual Winterfest will still be going on down the block in the downtown area, and the property will have an ice bar set up that is more than cool. In addition, Baker House features an elegant restaurant where guests from either property have priority seating for dinner and Sunday brunch. More romantic touches such as chocolates and wine can be selected from a menu of add-on choices.
510 Butler St.
Saugatuck, MI 49453
(269) 857-1465
wickwoodinn.com
If you agree that food entices and that pecan sticky buns or crisp chocolate cookies are the way to your partner's heart, then head to Wickwood, a little over two hours away (depends on traffic), in Lake Michigan's coastal art town of Saugatuck. The town's charming restaurants, galleries and boutiques make Saugatuck a romantic getaway. But the prize, if room is available, is the popular Wickwood Inn owned by cookbook author Julee Rosso. Although it bills itself as a boutique hotel, Wickwood is a romantic B&B. You can relax in robes by your fireplace, but you may also want to stop downstairs for a sweet or treat to bring back up or a glass of wine. There is always something delicious to sample. In the morning, there's the inn's yummy "farm to table" breakfast.
15 S River Lane
Geneva, IL 60134
(630) 208-7433
herringtoninn.com
Talk about unique. Imagine staying in an 1800s dairy less than an hour west of Chicago. That place is the Harrington Inn & Spa on the Fox River which had been transformed into a boutique hotel in 1993 and remodeled in 2003. Add an on-site spa and a room with a fireplace and whirlpool tub to the the already interesting ambiance and you have a romantic getaway less than an hour from Chicago. For Valentine's Day ask about the simply romance package, which includes chocolate covered strawberries, sparkling wine and glasses for the room and a continental breakfast in the lobby. The fine-dining Atwater Restaurant in the hotel means you don't have to leave, but Geneva is also a fun town to visit if you do venture out.
Related: Chicago's Best Luxury Spas
