on location: midwest � brittany schmidt

THERE’S NOTHING AVERAGEabout today’s woman. She works hardand takes care of her family, whether thatmeans plants, pets or children. She doesit all. So why would she expect any lessfrom a getaway with her girlfriends?From Lake Michigan to the Magnifi-

cent Mile to that hidden local hotspot,Chicago is a great destination for anygroup of women looking to relax, havefun and create some fantastic memories.Here are a few options:

ALL THAT GLITTERS A visit to Chicago wouldn’t be com-

plete without stopping in one of the city’srenowned museums. From Oct. 23, 2009– March 28, 2010, Chicago’s Field Mu-seum welcomes visitors to its cool new ex-hibition, The Nature of Diamonds. TheField’s group sales department (312-665-7300, fieldmuseum.org) has designed an immersion itinerary around the exhi-bition with women of all ages in mind.Suggested group excursions:

• Take a walking tour of the famous Tiffany domes of Chicago• Create your own sparkle – beaded necklaces, earrings or bracelets with a jewelry-making expert• Learn about the “Four C’s” of diamonds with a diamond buyer• Enjoy a South African wine lunch ordinner at Lawry’s The Prime Rib• Relax with a private champagne tasting and presentation• Indulge in a luxurious spa treatment

GREEN GIRLFRIENDSNorth Michigan Avenue’s Magnifi-

cent Mile offers a huge variety of fine re-tailers, restaurants and hotels. Girlfriends

will have no trouble enjoying this fash-ionable area in a totally eco-friendly way.Consider the following:

Saloon Steakhouse. Enjoy an earth-friendly dinner at one of Chicago’s green-est restaurants. Saloon Steakhouse usesre-usable table coverings, energy-efficientlighting, recycled menus and to-go paper,

free-range naturally fed beef, biodynamicwines and more. Of course, the 2008Wine Spectator Award of Excellencedoesn’t hurt either. (200 E. Chestnut St.,312-280-5454, saloonsteakhouse.com)

NoMi Lounge and Garden in thePark Hyatt. This is a fabulous place tosip on some organic cocktails while wait-ing for reservations, meeting up withfriends or just taking a few moments tokick back. The lounge’s signature drinksare crafted with organic vodka from PeakSpirits in Colorado and fresh-grown pro-duce from Harvest Moon farms. (800 N.Michigan Ave., 312-239-4030,nomirestaurant.com)

Exhale Spa. Exhale’s GRN (Grow,Restore, Nurture) product line is an eco-conscious, paraben-free skincare line thatproduces visible results while honoringExhale’s dedication to sustainability. The

GRN nail and facial therapies were de-signed to combat the adverse effects ofenvironmental toxins on the skin whilepromoting relaxation and rejuvenation.Customizable group packages are avail-able. (945 N. State St., 312-753-6500;exhalespa.com)

Chicago’s First Lady Cruises. Architecture cruises (through Nov. 22)showcase some of Chicago’s most beauti-ful and famous buildings. The companyembraces a comprehensive program tolimit the environmental impact of itscruises. Its three vessels use 11 percentbiodiesel fuel and recycle used oil, batter-ies, beverage containers, cardboards andpapers. Brochures are printed on recy-cled paper and cruise maps are recycledas guests disembark. (Michigan Avenueand Wacker Drive, 847-358-1330,cruisechicago.com)

TRENDY TREASURES For those hip ladies who live to shop,

the Belmont area can’t be beat. A shorttrip north of downtown, Belmont offersa great range of trendy, fashion-forwardshops anchored at the intersection ofClark Street and Belmont Avenue. Shopsoffer a wide variety of clothes, accessoriesand other gear for any style you can thinkof. Favorites include The Alley, TragicallyHip, Pink Frog, Fashion Tomato andHollywood Mirror. There are plenty ofspecialty shops selling used books, postersand gifts. Restaurant choices for those all-day shopping jaunts include Ann Sather,the Swedish restaurant famous for itsbrunch menu; Philly’s Best, specializingin Philadelphia-style pizza and sand-wiches; Shiroi Hana, a reasonably-pricedsushi restaurant; and Giordano’s, featur-ing Chicago’s deep-dish pizza. LGT

Chicago Girlfriend Getaways

46 August 2009 LeisureGroupTravel.com

Gal groups like downtown Chicago.

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