The Seneca Hotel & Suites is an intimate escape just a block off of Michigan Avenue... Chicago's Magnificent Mile. Here, you'll discover a quaint European style hotel that is treasured by those who prefer a quiet tree-lined street and an elegant spacious suite. The Seneca's location is exceptional for all that Chicago has to offer. Parking is available for a fee. For shopping, you're in the shadow of Water Tower Place and the John Hancock Center and just a short walk from Neiman-Marcus, Bloomingdale's and the Oak Street boutiques. For entertainment, The Art Institute, Museum of Contemporary Art, Oak Street Beach, Navy Pier and Rush Street's night life are all nearby. And for dining endless restaurants from wold renowned bistros to Chicago style pizzaare all nearby. At the Seneca you will be in the middle of everything, yet away from it all.
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During your Chicago vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
International Museum of Surgical Science
This unintentionally macabre shrine to medicine is my pick for the weirdest tourist attraction in town. Not for the faint of stomach, it is run by the International College of Surgeons and is housed in a historic 1917 Gold Coast mansion designed by the noted architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, who modeled it after Le Petit Trianon at Versailles. Displayed throughout its four floors are surgical instruments, paintings, and sculptures depicting the history of surgery and healing practices in Eastern and Western civilizations. The exhibits are old-fashioned (no interactive computer displays here!), but that's part of the museum's odd appeal.You'll look at your doctor in a whole new way after viewing the trepanned skulls excavated from an ancient tomb in Peru. The accompanying tools were used to bore holes in patients' skulls, a horrific practice thought to release the evil spirits causing their illness (some skulls show signs of new bone growth, meaning that some lucky headache-sufferers actually survived this low-tech surgery). There are also battlefield amputation kits, a working iron-lung machine in the polio exhibit, and oddities such as a stethoscope designed to be transported inside a top hat. Other attractions include an apothecary shop and dentist's office (ca. 1900), re-created in a historic street exhibit, and the hyperbolically titled "Hall of Immortals," a sculpture gallery depicting 12 historic figures in medicine, from Hippocrates to Madame Curie.
National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum
This museum houses one of the most stirring art collections anywhere -- and the only one of its kind in the world -- telling the story of the men who fought in Vietnam. Since the war, many of the veterans made art as personal therapy, never expecting to show it to anyone; but in 1981, a small group of them began showing their works together in Chicago and in touring exhibitions. The collection has grown to more than 700 paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures from all over the country and other countries, including Vietnam. Titles such as We Regret to Inform You, Blood Spots on a Rice Paddy, and The Wound should give you an idea of the power of the images in this unique legacy to the war. Housed in a former warehouse in the Prairie Avenue district south of the Loop, the museum is modern and well organized. An installation suspended from the ceiling, Above & Beyond, comprises more than 58,000 dog tags with the names of the men and women who died in the war -- it creates an emotional effect similar to that of the Wall in Washington, D.C. The complex also houses a small theater, a cafe open for breakfast and lunch, a gift shop, and an outdoor plaza with a flagpole that has deliberately been left leaning because that's how veterans saw them in combat. Allow 1 hour.
Museum of Science and Industry
Even if you don't plan on spending the day in Hyde Park, you'll pass through the neighborhood on your way to one of Chicago's most popular tourist attractions. The massive Museum of Science and Industry is the granddaddy of interactive museums, with some 2,000 exhibits. You should plan on spending at least a couple of hours here, and a comprehensive visit can take all day, especially if you catch an Omnimax movie while you're here. Although it's quite a distance from the rest of Chicago's tourist attractions, it's easy enough to get here without a car; your best options are the no. 6 Jeffrey Express bus or the Metra Electric train from downtown (the no. 10 bus runs from downtown to the museum's front entrance during the summer).While the museum is constantly adding new exhibits to cover the latest scientific breakthroughs, you shouldn't miss certain tried-and-true exhibits that have been here for years and epitomize the museum for Chicagoans. The U-505, a German submarine that was captured in 1944 and brought to the museum 10 years later, brings home the claustrophobic reality of underwater naval life. The full-scale Coal Mine, which dates back to 1934, now incorporates modern mining techniques into the exhibit -- but the best part is the simulated trip down into a dark, mysterious mine. Get to these exhibits quickly after the museum opens because they attract amusement-park-length lines during the day.Kids who love planes, trains, and automobiles shouldn't miss All Aboard the Silver Streak, a refurbished Burlington Pioneer Zephyr train with on-board interactive exhibits; the massive model train exhibit that makes up The Great Train Story; or Take Flight, an aviation exhibit featuring a full-size 727 airplane that revs up its engines and replays the voice recordings from a San Francisco-Chicago flight periodically throughout the day. Computer addicts should be entranced by Networld, which offers a flashy immersion into the Internet (with plenty of interactive screens). More low-tech -- but fascinating -- is the giant walk-through model of the human heart. Well-designed educational exhibits include AIDS: The War Within (which was the first permanent museum exhibit on the immune system and HIV) and Reusable City, which teaches children ecological tips with implements that they might find in their own backyard. Older children with a creative streak will enjoy Enterprise, which lets visitors take on the role of CEO for a day as they immerse themselves in the goings-on of a virtual company.And, not to be sexist, but girls (myself included) love Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle, a lavishly decorated miniature palace filled with priceless treasures (yes, those are real diamonds and pearls in the chandeliers). The castle is hidden away on the lower level. Also tucked away in an inconspicuous spot -- along the Blue stairwell between the Main Floor and the Balcony -- are the Human Body Slices, actual slivers of human cadavers that are guaranteed to impress teenagers in search of something truly gross.A major newer addition to the museum is the Henry Crown Space Center, where the story of space exploration is documented in copious detail, highlighted by a simulated space-shuttle experience through sight and sound at the center's five-story Omnimax Theater. The theater offers double features on the weekends; call for show times.When you've worked up an appetite, you can visit one of the museum's five restaurants, including a Pizza Hut and an ice-cream parlor, and there are also two gift shops. Allow 3 hours.
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 ...
Hotel Burnham - a Kimpton Hotel
The hotel is located at 1 West Washington Street Chicago, IL 60602. The property is situated on State Street in the heart of the new Theater district and is across the street from Marshall Field's flagship store, a block from Millennium Park convenient to North Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile) and the loop business district. Minutes walk from Millennium Park, city hall, the merchandise mart, AON building, Chicago tribune tower, NBC tower, the Wrigley building, the Chicago merchandise ...
Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago-River North
The hotel is conveniently located on the corner of Illinois and Dearborn Streets in Chicago's River North Community reknown for its unique art galleries, charming boutiques, and many of the best kept secrets in Chicago's Restaurant scene. We are within walking distance to all that Chicago offers; Michigan Avenue shopping and entertainment; the theatre district, including the new Goodman Theatre; and for our business travelers, the "Loop" business and financial districts, as well. ...
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Most recent user reviews
awesome location for price
Anonymous, 2007-03-13
Tiffanys, Cheesecake Factory, Macys..all the great shoppig on Michigan Ave was in short walking distance from the hotel!
The Seneca Hotel was located beautifully in the center of all the action in Chicago. It was one block from Michigan Ave and I was able to walk to wherever I wanted to go whether it be a nice restaurant, the Drake Hotel to visit or to shop on Michigan Ave. The staff was friendly and the room was large enough for 4 people with a great view of the John Hancock bldg. The free continental breakfast was not much and we did have to bug the front desk for towels everyday but overall, this was a great hotel for the price we paid. I'd recommend it to anyone visiting Chicago.
Great Location and Family Friendly
Susan, 2007-03-12
Take a taxi to Navy Pier and take the Architectural Cruise down the Chicago River -- excellent!
This was our first time to stay at The Seneca and we were quite pleased with its location. Very close to shopping and restaurants we wanted to visit. The valet staff were very courteous and helpful. We were pleased with the cleanliness and would definitely stay here again!
Fantastic location for shopping trip
Teri, Chicago, IL, 2007-03-11
1/2 a block away from Water Tower Plaza and the Hancock Building.
The Seneca Hotel is located less than a block from Water Tower and the Hancock Building. It's great to be able to shop, run back to your room to drop bags off, then get back in the game. As for the room, it was clean, nicely decorated, but a bit warm(we had to open the window to cool off. The little kitchenette was wonderful. We were able to drink tea, keep water and leftovers refrigerated, and microwave snacks. I've been to this hotel before and have always had a nice experience.
excellent value for the location
Anonymous, 2007-03-09
Coffee at the Navy Pier is just a 10 minute walk away!
Room was spacious and tastefully decorated. Although the furnishing showed signs of aging, there was lots of character for the price. We loved the location (lake walk and Macy's). Only disappointment was that the deli was closed for renovations and the continental breakfast had minimal offerings.
Review
Anonymous, Clarksburg, WV, 2007-03-05
No review provided by user
Kitchen circa1940, otherwise GREEEEAT
James, 2007-03-02
One block from the Magnificent Mile. What else could you want. Great shopping, dining.
Everything was better than I expected for the price. Plumbing proble immediately fixed. The Staff was very accommodating. Suite set up was perfect for my needs. The only negative is that someone might expect a more modern kitchen, but it satisfied all of my needs.
great locatioin
Anonymous, Boston, MA, 2007-03-01
buses to the museums are a block away..
The location is absolutely wonderful and the hotel is a bargain for the price. The choice of one muffin or bagel is provided for breakfast in an unpleasant badly furnished room. Our tub jacuzzi did not function which did not seem to be a surprise to the front desk staff. But the bedroom itself was nicely furnished and had a small kitchen. Again, location and price make this hotel a winner as long as one 'goes with the flow'. We would return.
very cozy
Anonymous, 2007-02-28
The Magnificent Mile is just a few blocks away, I liked being so close to so many shops and restaurants!
I liked the overall studio apartment feel, it was very cozy and easy to come back to after a long day of sightseeing. It made me feel like I was staying at a private apartment instead of a hotel, I'd recommend it to anyone.
Nice Hotel & good location
Trevor, Detroit, MI, 2007-02-25
Only a block off of the north end of the Mag Mile. We walked everywhere from the Seneca.
The Seneca is an older hotel but it suited our weekend trip away well. It looked as though the hotel is getting some updates (some of the rooms on our floor were getting updates). Everyone was courtious and nice. Our room was hot (went in febuary) but cracking the window fixed that problem. The bathroom was a little small and the kitchenet as well (King suite). The breakfast in the morning was good (cereal, muffins, beagals, & toast). Overall it was great hotel to go to. The Bar & Restaurant on the first floor were awsome. I would go back again.
Great location
Anonymous, 2007-02-25
well located fro dining, shopping, qick cabride to museums
great location, well priced, pleasant stay
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