Traveling with the Jones

We spent last weekend in Chicago — one of our favorite cities for a quick weekend getaway. While it’s tough to skip our long-time favorites, it’s always fun to make a few new discoveries.

5 Fun Eating, Drinking, Shopping and Sleeping Finds While Visiting Chicago

1. Discovering Delicious Thin-Crust Pizza  

Yelp led us to the general direction of a “hard to find pizza place near Trump Tower” said to have good thin crust pizza, which we prefer over Chicago’s thick-style pizzas.

While walking through a construction zone around the Wrigley Building, we stopped to admire a beautiful golden retriever– named Simba — whose walking companion told us he owned the place.

We headed into Bongiorno’s Italian Deli & Pizzeria and were delighted with the Prosciutto E Funghi thin crust pizza and reasonably-priced glasses of Italian wines.

 

2. Experiencing an Upscale, Un-crowded Nordstrom’s Rack

Just off Michigan Ave at 101 East Chicago Ave, we discovered a newish Nordstrom’s Rack.

We usually stop in at the Rack on State Street to peruse the racks of shoes.  This Nordie’s Rack is newer, cooler, and with fewer throngs of shoppers, at least on Sunday.

 

3. Trying a New Wine Bar and Enjoying Our Favorite One we are always up for a good wine bar, so we tried Eno on North Michigan Ave in the Intercontinental Hotel.  Eno offers an immense list of wines by the bottle, and flights of wine,  cheese and chocolates.  What’s not to love?

We see that an Eno Wine Bar also just opened in San Francisco’s Union Square, so we will have to check it out on our next visit to the City by the Bay.

What we missed at Eno was Juan, Jimmy  and Roberto, the friendly, long-time bartenders behind the wine bar at Bin 36, our favorite Chicago spot to enjoy flights of wine and cheese. Bin 36 is also a restaurant and a retail wine store, and features exclusive Bin 36 wines developed by wine director Brian Duncan in partnership with California winemakers.

 

4. Savoring the Alsatian Onion and Apple Soup at The Berghoff Restaurant – Yelpers don’t give this historic German restaurant very high marks, but we decided to make a lunch visit anyway. The $5 Bloody Mary’s, a bountiful bread basket and this soup were hits.

The Alsatian Onion and Apple soup looks similar to french onion soup, but is sweeter with apples simmered alongside the onions in the broth.  The chicken with spaetzle soup of the day was also delicious, but the salad and the Reuben that followed weren’t so great.

We still think The Berghoff is worth a visit.  It dates to 1898 when Herman Berghoff opened the doors as a men’s only saloon featuring free corned beef sandwiches with the purchase of a stein of Berghoff beer.

 

5. Relaxing at the Conrad Chicago – the perfect oasis for exploring downtown Chicago and/or shopping til you drop on the Magnificent Mile.  Take a look inside the Conrad Chicago’s room 925, our home base for the weekend. The best thing about the Conrad is the superior service offered by its staffers, from those working reception to the bartenders at the Terrace Bar.

What’s your favorite Chicago discovery?  We want to hear about it, so please share in comments below.

Other Posts You May Enjoy”;”;

• Weekend Wanderings: 7 Reasons to Visit Portland, Oregon
• 5 Delicious Places to Eat and Drink in Homer, Alaska
• Weekend Wanderings: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Exploring New York City – Eataly
• Weekend Wanderings: Chicago
• Photo Friday: Stepping out on the Ledge
• Photo Friday: The Bean
• Beat the Chicago Traffic: downtown from airports only $2.25 

Follow us on Twitter or interact with us on Facebook.

This post is by Danielle Smith, an agricultural communications student at the University of Arkansas.

As an overprotective pet parent I am always trying to find ways to bring my four-legged “children” with me on vacations or trips.  I just hate the thought of leaving my pets in a kennel for a week or worse with a total stranger. Finding a reliable caregiver can be tough.

As a cruise lover I have always known that when I cruise, leaving my pets at home is just part of the package, but maybe it doesn’t always have to be this way.

Have you ever thought about cruising with your pets?

Queen Mary 2                       Photo by John Bradley 

 

If yes, than the Cunard Queen Mary 2 may be just the cruise for you. The Queen Mary 2 is the only cruise ship that offers you the option to bring your furry friend aboard and have him travel in luxury and style with you.

A Cunard transatlantic ocean cruise gives you the option to check your dog or cat into their own luxury pet hotel while you both sail the seas.

Cruising the high seas with pets is no small task considering that cruise ships must follow very strict standards for cleanliness while also providing comfort and an enjoyable experience to all guests, even those who don’t like animals.

Although it is not like having your pet stay with you in a landlocked hotel, it may be better than leaving them at home. Your pet will have to stay in the pet portion of the ship and won’t be allowed in your stateroom.

This seems better, however, than leaving your pet at the boarding facility back home and having to kiss him good-bye for a whole week. By bringing you pet on board a Cunard Ocean Cruise you have the option of seeing your pet throughout your vacation during several visiting hours throughout the day.

Not only will you be able to go visit your four-legged friend everyday, but they will also be receiving the luxury vacation and treatment they deserve. Cunard offer spacious pet kennels and a full-time Kennel Master, whose full time job is to make sure your pet is well cared for.

During their cruise your pet will be pampered with:

• Complimentary gift pack full of toys, a personalized name tag, a food dish and scoop, complimentary portrait with pet owners, a cruising certificate, and personalized cruise card
• Extra comfortable pet beds in two sizes
• Healthy gourmet cookies for dogs and cats baked fresh daily and offered at bedtime
• Fleece blankets
• Cat posts and scratchers
• Selection of premium pet foods from top brands

In addition to all of these amenities, your pet will also be given playtime in the indoor playroom several times a day.

Also, dogs are walked outdoors several times daily. If your pet likes the company of others, you can ask that your pet share playtime with other pets. If your pet prefers to play alone, you can ask that your pet be given individual playtime.

The kennel visiting hours are as follows:

• 7:30am – 9:30am
• “¨11:00am – 12:00pm
• “¨3:30pm – 6:30pm

With prior arrangement it is possible for the attendant to open the cage outside of normal visiting hours.

You can sleep well knowing that there is someone caring for your pets 24 hours a day. Your pets are never left unattended, even overnight.

Is Your Pet Ready for an Ocean Cruise?

Before you book your cruise it is important to consider if your pet is the cruising type. Consider your pet’s temperament, health and personality to make sure your pet is going to be as relaxed as you are.

It’s required that your pet be up-to-date on vaccinations to board the ship, but you should also discuss your pet’s health with your veterinarian to make sure he’s cruise ready. There are no veterinarians aboard the ship, so carefully consider this when planning your trip.

Remember: pets are never allowed in the cabins or outside the kennel area.

There’s a limit of 12 pets per cruise (or less, as big dogs get two kennel spaces) so they book up fast. Kennel fees start at $300.

History of Pets Traveling on Cunard Line

The maiden voyage of the Britannia in 1840 was one of Cunard Line’s first pet-friendly adventures, when three cats were on board. Since then, circus elephants, canaries, a monkey and even a boa constrictor have traveled Cunard.

Famous and celebrity animals that have cruised Cunard include Mr. Ramshaw, Rin-Tin-Tin, and Tom Mix and Tony.

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor also traveled with their beloved pet. In the 1950s, Elizabeth Taylor brought her dogs on board the original Queen Mary and exercised them regularly on the ship’s sports deck.

If you can’t bare the thought of leaving your best friend behind, consider traveling the Queen Mary 2 where you and your pooch can sail the seas in luxury style.  Be sure to find a knowledgeable travel agent with expertise in cruises to assist in booking your cruise.

Have you ever taken your pet on a cruise? Would you ever consider cruising with your pet?

A native of Stilwell, Kansas, Danielle plans to return to the Kansas City area upon graduation.

Danielle  is currently working as a social media intern with VentureTime Travel. When she isn’t working or in classes, Danielle enjoys traveling the world with her fiancée Will.

Learn more about Danielle here.

To learn more about Cunard and its history, check out these books:

CUNARD: A Photographic History Cunard’s Queens Revealed: The Evolution of Six Great Passenger Ships The Cunard Story

Other posts on cruising that you may enjoy reading…..

• How to Get an Onboard Credit For Every Cruise You Take
• The Dim Sum Lunch at Tamarind Onboard Holland America’s Eurodam
• 5 Things that Surprised Me On my First Cruise
• Martini Madness Onboard Holland America’s ms Veendam
• Visiting Alaska by Cruise Ship? Answers to Your 6 Top Questions
• An Evening at Le Cirque onboard the Veendam

Follow us on Twitter or interact with us on Facebook.

 

Since we’ve immensely enjoyed our stays at the Conrad Hotels in Bali and the Maldives, we decided to try one closer to home.  Last weekend we stayed at the Conrad Chicago. Here’s a quick look at what we experienced.

While the lobby sign featured mountains and a chalet, the Conrad is located on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, among high rise buildings and a shopper’s paradise.  Nordstrom’s and the Shops at Northbridge are connected to the hotel via a fifth floor sky bridge.

 Room 925 features a luxurious bed piled with big but comfy pillows. We appreciated the stylish-but-functional lighting, bedside power plugs and bottled water.

The view from room 925 is partially blocked by a neighboring high-rise building, but still offers a partial view of the Chicago skyline and the John Hancock building.

The room features an ideal reading spot in the comfy chair and ottoman, perfect for planning your Chicago explorations.

Room 925 has impressive technology with a large flat screen television, DVD player, sound system and a multi-device plug on the desk that we used to charge all of our devices at the same time.

Strangely, the mini-bar was empty although snacks and beverages were promoted through room service.

The bathroom features a marble-topped shower/tub and sink.  We couldn’t get the scale to work.

The premium toiletries are from Aromatherapy Associates.

The toilet is in an enclosed smaller room off the bathroom.

The room seems small, perhaps because a lot of floor space is dedicated to the big entryway.

The live orchids near the elevators are a nice touch.

The bottom line: while the Conrad Chicago doesn’t match the spectacular beauty of the Conrad’s in Bali or the Maldives, one feature is consistent: the gracious and professional service of the staff, from those at reception to the bartenders to the breakfast waiters.

The location is ideal for business or pleasure in downtown Chicago.

We stayed at the Conrad Chicago on a Hilton HHonors award, and we’d do it again.

What’s your favorite Chicago hotel?

You also may be interested in these posts:

• A Peek Inside Chicago’s Palmer House Hilton Hotel
• A Peek inside the ANA Lounge at Narita Airport, Tokyo
• Photo Friday: The Infinity Wedding Chapel
• A Peek Inside the Four Seasons Hotel-Denver
• A Peek inside the Stanford Court Renaissance Hotel – San Francisco
• A Peek Inside the Hilton New York Fashion District Hotel

Follow us on Twitter or interact with us on Facebook.