Chicago.Chicago is one of our favorite cities in the United States. It always feels like a home away from home, and you always leave wanting more but satisfied at the same time. There is literally something for everyone. You can visit fabulous restaurants, stay at gorgeous hotels, visit world-class museums and a great aquarium, go to the Lincoln Park Zoo, go to a basketball, football or baseball game, do some crazy shopping, and go to fantastic shows at the theater. You can even just go for a jog in their wonderful parks, grab a Segway and tour parts of the city, hang out at the beach on Lake Michigan, or just chill and have a drink. There's something for every taste, and budget! Make sure Chicago is on your list of places to visit this year!
Ambassador Hotel. A Public Hotel.
From the minute we checked in we knew we were somewhere special. I have seen rooms all around the U.S. and Caribbean. This hotel was in the most gorgeous section of Chicago (Gold Coast), blocks from beautiful Lake Michigan, and close to Lincoln Park, The Magnificent Mile, Wrigley Park, and just about any area you'd like to see while in Chicago. The 
rooms were very large, clean, and modern. The beds super comfortable. Their One Bedroom Suites are 600-650 square feet. They include a spacious bedroom and separate living room with a comfortable, white slip-covered sofa that pulls out to a Queen sized bed and large slip-covered armchairs. Down comforters and pillows are imported 300 thread count linens. Bathrooms with bathtubs have custom Corian sinks, marble mosaic floors, flatscreen 55” LCD HD TV with cable, complimentary WiFi, customized minibar, in-room safe and iPod. The staff is the best there is, always asking how we were doing every time we saw them, and asking if there was anything they could do to help us. Loved the food at the Pump Room. This restaurant is top notch. Loved the food. They had breakfast, lunch, and dinner available and everything was excellent. It's modern, romantic, and pristine.Music after hours was great as well. Enjoyed relaxing on their comfy couches in the lobby just listening to the music. The gym is perfect for a quick workout. They even offered bikes to us to use for the day. Doesn't get much better than this. And all for an insane, low price. It's a no brainer staying here. Can't wait to visit again. Also, just want to give a shout out to a few employees: Michael, the Manager, Zach, Danielle, and Shoha. Shoha was amazing, sharp as a whip and so helpful. Thanks to everyone... we had a great trip and can't wait to send families and corporations their way.www.ambassadorchicago.com
Volare Restaurant.
On to the food, which was absolutely delectable. We started off with the Pappardelle square noodles (with tomato sauce, basil, and fresh-as-can-be ricotta) and meatballs (OMG, and as the saying goes "just like mamas"), Caesar salad (fresh, light, and crisp), and Shrimp Cocktail (huge shrimp and, again, fresh, delicious cocktail sauce). The hot zeppoles that they put on the table are so addicting and made fresh right on the premises (as is all of their food, including all of their desserts). The bread basket wonderful. Next came our dinner... Chicken Parmesan (absolutely the best we've ever had... it literally melted in your mouth and the sauce bursted with flavor), Shrimp Scampi (to die for), Rigatoni all'Arrabbiata (in a spicy tomato sauce with pancetta and garlic), and Filet Mignon (literally as soft as a piece of butter with unbelievable flavor). We were so full but had to try their homemade (again, all created on site) desserts and ice creams. We decided on the lemon sorbet (wow, so delightful and refreshing), vanilla bean ice cream (awesome), and the most wonderful dessert we've had in a long time... a frozen mascarpone treat topped off with an Oreo crumb crust. I can't stop thinking about it. The portions at Volare are so generous... as a matter of fact, I took half of mine to go and ate the remainder as soon as I entered my hotel room (couldn't wait). The ambiance at Volare is warm and inviting. There were regulars and newcomers all around us, and we could see why the regulars keep coming back... there's nothing not to love. We tried a few restaurants in Chicago that were highly recommended and we were disappointed. Unfortunately, Volare was our last stop or we would have gone there for one more meal. Last, but not least, the prices are shockingly low for a restaurant of this caliber and quality. You could easily eat here several times a week without breaking the bank. Volare will be visited on every future trip we take to Chicago (at least once, if not more), and we will be recommending them for corporate meetings and family get-togethers as well. Thank you, Benny... you're awesome!!! Next time we're checking out Benny's Chop House, which we heard has the BEST steak in the city!And, from their words:
"Volare Ristorante Italiano reflects the look & feel of an old world Italian establishment." Family owned since the beginning, they've proudly called Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood home since 1997. Their food represents traditional Italian cuisine with modern accents. Their goal is to provide an outstanding experience that will keep guests coming back again and again. They offer both contemporary interpretations of classic comfort dishes as well as unique ventures into new areas of Italian cooking.
www.volarerestaurant.com
City Pass.
If you were going to purchase only one attraction package, this is the one to get. This is the very essence of why they do what they do.When Mike Gallagher and Mike Morey started CityPASS in 1997, they knew they didn’t want to offer just another discounted attraction ticket—they wanted to offer more. They wanted to create a product that would not only save money, but also save time, while offering a rich, memorable experience at several attractions, not just one.
And out of this partnership between two guys who’d spent much of their respective careers working at, with, or around attractions, CityPASS was born.
At CityPASS, they think your time at the attraction—whether it’s an aquarium, observatory, theme park or museum—allows you to get connected to the people you’re traveling with, as well as to history or art or nature. By design, CityPASS gives you ample time—9 days—to enjoy a destination, eliminating the need to rush frantically from attraction to attraction to get your money’s worth.
They really do want you to “leave with more than you came with”—whether that’s more money to spend on other parts of your vacation (or to save), more time to spend with the people you’re traveling with (or yourself), an enriched vacation experience, or some combination of all of those things. The concept remains as vital and relevant today as it did back then, as they recognize the increasing value that experiences bring to all of our lives.
Twenty years later and still family-owned and operated, CityPASS now has 12 cities and 78 attractions, has sold 17 million CityPASS ticket books, and has a customer recommendation rating of 98%. “Leave with more than you came with” is firmly entrenched in the minds of the now 45 amazing staff that work for the company, headquartered in the small mountain town of Victor, Idaho, on the west slope of the Teton Mountains.
Chicago's City Pass.See Chicago's top attractions, handpicked and packaged together at a significant savings. Adult tickets are $99.75, Children are $84.75. Skip the ticket line and head straight to the fun with CityPASS. Experience the best of Chicago with CityPASS. You’ll get VIP admission to the most iconic attractions in the city, hand-picked and packaged into one convenient ticket booklet at a big savings. And skipping ticket lines means you’ll have more time to enjoy the Chicagoan experience—from the city’s famous landmarks and beautiful architecture to the amazing food and warm Midwestern hospitality. Admissions included are:
1. Shedd Aquarium - Priority Entry
2. Skydeck Chicago - Fast Pass
3. The Field Museum - VIP Entry
4. Museum of Science and Industry OR 360 Chicago - Express Entry
5. Adler Planetarium - VIP Entry OR Art Institute of Chicago - Fast Pass