The Peninsula Chicago

Robie House
One of Frank Lloyd Wright's finest works, the Robie House is considered among the masterpieces of 20th-century American architecture. The open layout, linear geometry of form, and craftsmanship are typical of Wright's Prairie School design. Completed in 1909 for inventor Frederick Robie, a bicycle and motorcycle manufacturer, the home is also notable for its exquisite leaded- and stained-glass doors and windows. It's also among the last of his Prairie School-style homes: During its construction, Wright abandoned both his family and his Oak Park practice to follow other pursuits, most prominently the realization of his Taliesin home and studio in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Docents from Oak Park's Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation lead tours here, even though the house is undergoing a massive, 10-year restoration (the house will be open throughout the process, but your photos may include plenty of scaffolding). A Wright specialty bookshop is located in the building's former three-car garage -- which was highly unusual for the time in which it was built. Allow 1 hour per tour, more time if you want to browse the gift shop.

Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
The Rockefeller Memorial Chapel is just across from Robie House. Did someone say chapel? This is false modesty, even for a Rockefeller. When the university first opened its doors, the students sang the following ditty:John D. Rockefeller, wonderful man is heGives all his spare change to the U of C.John D. was a generous patron, indeed. He founded the university (in cooperation with the American Baptist Society), built the magnificent minicathedral that now bears his name, and shelled out an additional $35 million in donations to the institution over the course of his lifetime. Designed by Bertram Goodhue, an architect known for his ecclesiastical buildings -- including Cadet Chapel at West Point and New York City's St. Thomas Church -- the Memorial Chapel was dedicated in 1928.In keeping with the rest of the campus, which is patterned after Oxford, it is reminiscent of English Gothic structures but was built from limestone and with modern construction techniques. Its most outstanding features are the circular stained-glass window high above the main altar (the windows, in general, are among the largest of any church or cathedral anywhere) and the world's second-largest carillon, which was donated by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., in 1932 in memory of his mother, Laura. The chapel's organ is nearly as impressive, with four manuals, 126 stops, and more than 10,000 pipes.Choir concerts, carillon performances, and other musical programs are presented throughout the year, usually for a small donation. The building is open to the public; in-depth tours can be arranged through the university's Office of Special Events at tel. 773/702-9636. Tours of the carillon are done during the academic year; call the office to find out times. Allow a half-hour.

Gray Line
Part of a company that offers bus tours worldwide, Gray Line Chicago offers professional tours in well-appointed buses. Most tours run 3 to 4 hours (including lunch) and feature highlights of downtown or various neighborhoods; some tours also include a cruise on Lake Michigan or a visit to the Sears Tower Skydeck. You'll also find some more intellectual offerings, including Chicago and the Civil War and Literary Chicago.

Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile
Residence Inn by Marriott is designed to make you feel at home for a day, a week, a month or more. Our suites give you fifty percent more space than most traditional hotel rooms. The Residence Inn Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile is a highrise hotel adjacent to the Hancock Center at the corner of Mies van der Rohe Way and East Walton Street. Many of downtown Chicago's sightseeing attractions are within walking distance as well as the boutiques and stores of the Magnificent Mile. Limited ...

Best Western River North Hotel
'From: the north. Take 94 East, and exit at 50B Ohio Street, the Best Western River North Hotel is 4 blocks on the right. 'From: the south. Take 94 West, and exit at 50B Ohio Street, the Best Western River North Hotel is 4 blocks on the right. 'From: the east. Take 90 To 94 West. Exit at 50B Ohio Street, the Best Western River North Hotel is 4 blocks on the right. 'From: the west. Take 290 to 94 West. Exit at 50B Ohio Street, the Best Western River North Hotel is 4 blocks on the ...

Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago-Downtown/Lakefront
The Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago Downtown Lakefront is located in the heart of downtown Chicago, walking distance to Navy Pier, Lake Michigan, cultural centers, popular restaurants, Chicago's finest shopping, entertainment, the Loop and the Financial district. Convenient access to all major ...