As the days started getting shorter and the temp began to drop, a couple Chicago blogger friends and I had the idea to put together a staycation blog post. Staycations are especially fun when you live in a big city like Chicago. I always feel like they are such a great way to step back from the daily monotony and really take a chance to appreciate the city you live in. I know I always looked forward to the back when I lived in Hawaii and I knew a Chicago staycation would be just as amazing.
The Wicker Park Inn hosted our little holiday trip. I have to say, we literally could not have had a better time. The Wicker Park Inn smack dap in the middle of the happening Wicker Park neighborhood is a bed and breakfast that was recently renovated. Each room features a different whimsical wallpaper and elegant furniture. I was especially obsessed with the chic velvet upholstered chair in my room.
They serve breakfast daily in their beautiful spacious kitchen and a large window on one side lets in plenty of natural light. The L’s blue line runs directly past, giving you an authentic Chicago vibe.
Wicker Park is an awesome neighborhood to explore, full of restaurants, bars, and shops. Since it is December, though, we decided to head East to check out the holiday lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo. The zoo lights are free (which still kind of boggles my mind) but parking at the zoo for the event is like $35 bucks, so I recommend either using an app like spot hero or finding street parking and walking a few blocks.
Chicago at Christmas is especially magical. Some of the best activities include the Christkindl Market in the Loop, ice skating at Maggie Daley or Millennium Park, shopping on Michigan Ave. (truthfully I try to avoid Michigan Ave. like the plague most of the time but there’s something about it at Christmas that just kind of fits,) and sipping hot toddies around the fire at Cindy’s Rooftop.
On this particular night, we decided to partake in one of the best (and simplest) holiday traditions – we ordered a pizza from Lou Malnatis, slipped into our best Christmas pj’s, and watched the Grinch. Oh, and of course sipped some hot cocoa as well.
If you’re planning a staycation or if you’re visiting Chicago from out of town, I highly recommend checking out the Wicker Park Inn. The staff is super friendly, the space is amazing, and although Wicker Park has become a pretty trendy area, it does feel a bit off the beaten path. Check out their website for a peek at all of the ADORABLE rooms!
xx
PS – Big thank you to Hannah for shooting these unreal photos. You can find her at hannahschweissphotography.com or on IG at @hannahschweissphotography.
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