Hotel at a Glance: Sybaris Pool Suites – Frankfort

In 1974, Chicagoan Ken Knudson and his wife hatched an idea to create a romantic couples’ getaway. They opened their first hotel in Downers Grove and named it after the ancient Greek city of Sybaris, known for its wealth and luxury. Their hotel chain has since expanded to five locations throughout the Midwest—including this one in Frankfort. Altogether, they welcome more than 50,000 couples each year.

• Romance package: With this deal, you’ll get a bottle of champagne, a dozen chocolate-covered strawberries, and a one-year Sybaris membership—not to mention a night in a luxurious suite.
• Paradise swimming-pool suites include a private, 20-foot-long heated swimming pool with a waterfall, hot tub, steam room, fireplace, and massage chair.
• Deluxe whirlpool suites has a jetted tub, steam room, fireplace, and massage chair.
• Drive time from Chicago: less than an hour

Frankfort, Illinois: Chicago Suburb near Forest Preserves and Outdoor Concert Stadium

Frankfort is a quiet suburb situated about 30 miles southwest of Chicago. You can go hiking or ride a bike through the Hickory Creek Forest Preserve, a 1,500-acre slice of wilderness that incorporates prairie, forest, and Hickory Creek itself. Nearby, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater plays host to several outdoor concerts in the summer months; past performers have included Bruno Mars, Jimmy Buffett, and Tim McGraw.

There’s plenty to do in nearby Chicago, of course. Check out the Art Institute of Chicago, whose gargantuan collection covers everything from marble busts and sarcophagi to modern masterpieces such as Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks and Grant Wood’s American Gothic. You don’t even have to go to the museum to see outstanding art—walk around the Loop, and you’ll see outdoor sculptures from Picasso and Joan Miró. Just north of the Art Institute, Millennium Park is known for both the Frank Gehry–designed Pritzker Pavilion (which hosts free public concerts during the summer), and for the sculpture Cloud Gate, known to Chicagoans as “The Bean” for its legume-like shape.