24 Hours on Navy Pier in Chicago

 

Since I’ve been traveling in a wheelchair or mobility scooter the last few years, I have not gone many places alone. I decided to go for it when I was invited to spend a day – and night – at Navy Pier in Chicago.

I have been to Navy Pier many times, but was never able to stay there until Sable, a Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton, was built. I always wondered why there wasn’t a hotel there, and after spending time scooting my way around the property and the pier, I can attest that it’s a fun and unique experience.

The hotel is at the end of the pier and the entrance is right next to one of the parking lots. It was easy to park my van and take my scooter right into the modern lobby. Once inside you’ll be surprised at just how big it is, with a Kisbi Coffee and the Lirica Restaurant close to the entrance.

It did take me a little while to figure out how to get to the elevator to my room, but once inside, I found my biggest draw to this hotel – the windows. Every room has floor to ceiling views of the blue water of Lake Michigan and the Chicago Skyline.

If it wasn’t for that famous skyline I could have just as easily been on a Caribbean Island. That view can bring a sense of relaxation, a touch of romance, or the beginning of a family enjoyment of Navy Pier.

I didn’t have too much time to stare out the window before my reservation at Lirica for dinner.  It’s a comfortable, but classic, restaurant at Sable Hotel at Navy Pier. The menu is modern Latin.

 

I started with one of their many mojitos, the house special Passion Fruit Vanilla. It was fantastic and not too sweet. It was the perfect accompaniment to their house guacamole, arbol salsa, and chips.

For a main course, I had the braised short ribs, served in a mushroom, garlic, and wine sauce. On the waiter’s recommendation I added in a side of roasted potatoes, which came with an aioli sauce for dipping, and a warm cauliflower salad. It all went ideally with a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc.

 

I wasn’t anxious to leave the food, but I was excited to check out Offshore at Sable, the rooftop venue at the hotel. Fortunately, I had reservations because this place, as huge as it is, fills up.

 

I was immediately taken with the open-air indoor area, with tables all around a large bar. I had asked for a table outside so I could see if the sunsets here were as breathtaking as I had heard. I was not disappointed as I sampled an ice cream sundae and tried one of the many cocktails on the menu.

It was an easy ride back to my hotel room on my scooter and I was more than ready for sleep.

 

In the morning, I headed back to Lirica Restaurant. This time I sat outside and did some people watching on Navy Pier. The Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes were as good as the food I had the night before. When I finished most of the large portion and my coffee, I decided to do some exploring.

 

It’s hard not to love Navy Pier. There’s just no other city that has the views and activities like this. I went all the way to the beginning where the 13-acre Polk’s Brothers Park, is one of the newer gathering places. Indoors, I noticed that the Kilwin’s Fudge was added to the food options since my last visit.

I had done the Centennial Wheel not long before, so I skipped it on this trip. I did notice a new addition to the ever-changing interactive exhibits and caught a sign about the latest music series. There was also the start of the Halloween preparations, which was always followed by the beginning of the set up for Light Up the Lake at Navy Pier, held every holiday season.

The one thing I have yet to do at Navy Pier is take one of the boat rides. The sunset cruise has been on my list of Chicago things to do.

 

Maybe next time.

 

I was hosted on this trip, but opinions are my own. 

 

Discovering Green Bay, Wisconsin

I am not a big football fan, so it seemed odd to many that I would be so anxious to explore the Packers’ Titletown, but when I had the opportunity to spend the weekend checking out this new section of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and stay at a new Kohler hotel, I was ready, willing, and able.

Titletown just opened last summer and will continue to add venues, all directly across the street from Lambeau Field. The idea is to give visitors something beyond the game to enjoy when coming to this area of town.

I took an early morning flight to Green Bay and arrived just three hours later, even with my plane change in Chicago.

My first stop was my home for the weekend and the anchor of Titletown: AAA Four Diamond Lodge Kohler.

I’ve stayed at The American Club at Kohler, Wisconsin, so I knew how luxurious this brand was, but I wasn’t quite sure until I arrived how they fit that in the football phenomenon of the Green Bay Packers.

Since my friend, Rich, wasn’t joining me wasn’t arriving until evening, I had plenty of time to find out.

I checked into my Lambeau Suite.

It was everything I expected from Kohler – spacious, well-appointed, and with a spectacular shower system.

It was also directly overlooking the famous stadium.

After freshening up, I went downstairs for a tour of the property.

I saw how they incorporated the team across the street, through color combinations, official photographs, and even memorabilia from the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in the lobby.

From the lobby you can also access a patio, where tailgating for hotel guests is encouraged on game day.

This is true throughout the hotel, including at the bar of Taverne in the Sky Restaurant, and in the larger suites, which have impressive patios overlooking Lambeau Field, which even include barbecues.

I also had a quick look at the spa I would be going to later in the day, as well as the fitness center, indoor pool, and restaurant spaces.

After the tour, I walked right next door to Hinterland Brewery, also part of Titletown.

While this brewery is not new to the area, this Titletown location includes both an expanded brewery and a farm-to-table restaurant.

The menu was tough to choose from, but I made the right decision in the Luna Stout BBQ Pork, which was flavorful and tender.

It came with a tasty kale-apple slaw and house made potato chips.

I didn’t finish the large portion because I had glanced and the dessert menu and knew I had to try something there.

I was again faced with a tough decision, I took the waitress’s recommendation and ordered the Luna Stout Peanut Butter Brownie, served with sea salt caramel ice cream.

It too was a big portion and I put half the brownie aside to take back to the hotel.

Before I left Hinterland, I took a tour of their impressive brewery. It’s quite a setup, with computerized equipment and a state-of-the-art tap system.

I saw where the beer is kegged, canned, and bottled, and some of it even barreled. (Tours are available to the public on Saturdays.)

When I arrived back to the hotel it was time for my spa treatment.

I had chosen Lavender Rain, one of the signature treatments of Lodge Kohler Spa.

It started with a lavender scrub, followed by a Vichy shower, then a scalp and facial massage, and, finally, a body oil rub.

After the treatment, I was also treated to a pedicure, before I went into the Deep Relaxation Room to rest while my toes dried.

I felt heavenly when I got back to the room and it was good that I had some time to rest before dinner.

Lodge Kohler provides complimentary local transportation, so we had them take us to the other side of Lambeau Field, where we were having dinner at 1919 Kitchen & Tap on this blustery evening.

This oversized sports bar has an impressive menu and I again asked for the server’s advice, although we knew we wanted to start with the Parmesan-Breaded Cheese Curds, which came with a buttermilk parsley dressing.

Those were fantastic, as was my Hickory Smoked Ribs, which came with beans, cornbread, coleslaw, and mac and cheese, none of which I could finish.

Rich loved the 1919 Steak Plate, choosing the center cut sirloin, with potatoes, beans, and a Chevre cheese butter.

Of course, we couldn’t leave without dessert, and decided to share two: Brandy Cheesecake and Apple Crisp. The cheesecake was good, but very sweet.

The Apple Crisp was just fantastic, with a cheese streusel and pumpkin ice cream, covered in a pumpkin caramel sauce.

After dinner we headed back to Lodge Kohler. We had much more ahead in our Titletown weekend.


Continue the story with Day Two in Green Bay.