I stayed at the Drake Hotel in the Gold Coast Historic District where the Magnificent Mile begins.

View from room 539 at the Drake Hotel Photo by Nicki Hurd

Checking in was surprisingly easy, even though I arrived at the hotel before noon and check- in is listed as 3pm. When I entered room 539 it was love at first sight. It was the perfect room for me, nice and cool; the bed looked amazingly comfortable, and was. I looked out the window at a view of the beach and Lake Michigan, which was very comforting after a very early morning (4:30am) and an uncertain start (planes were grounded earlier in the week due to weather).  July, 2012