Rosemont

In MB Financial Park in front of Kings and Frozmont. Photo credit: Andrew Jessop

Rosemont is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, so there’s lots of fun and excitement happening there. I recently stayed in Rosemont the weekend I attended The Travel and Adventure Show and I was pleasantly surprised at what a fantastic time there was to be had! It was like being on a mini-vacation, and what a wonderful feeling to remember that I was only a short train ride away from home! Rosemont is right off of the Rosemont Blue Line stop and is just a hop, skip, and a jump from O'Hare airport.

My lovely room at Loews Chicago O'Hare. Photo credit: Andrew Jessop

I stayed at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel during my overnight in Rosemont and I couldn’t have been happier with my experience. The kind staff, convenient location, stellar restaurants and unique modern art gallery made it an incredibly memorable time. There was not a single interaction I had with the staff when they did not go above and beyond their call of duty.
The Ashburn restaurant (named after Chicago's first airport which opened in 1916...  and what an unfortunate name for an airport it was!) was located within the hotel and served delectable food and cocktails. They had an exquisite brunch buffet, where you could get an omelette and Belgian waffles made to order, among other sweet and savory treats. 

Breakfast buffet at the Ashburn (first course)

Breakfast buffet at the Ashburn (second course!)

Loews makes an excellent choice for a staycation or if you’ve got concert tickets for The AllState Arena or The Rosemont Theater, or a convention to attend at the Donald E. Stephens Center. I couldn’t have been more pleased with my stay and I recommend it highly.

Art gallery inside Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel. Photo credit: Andrew Jessop

Most everything in this district of Rosemont is accessible by walking, but there's also a shuttle called The Entertainment Circulator that stops at all of the main sites about every 7-8 minutes. This is good to know if it is extremely cold or if you are not one to do much walking. The Circulator makes convenient stops at the Rosemont Blue Line, MB Financial Park, The Fashion Outlets, and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Your hotel may also offer free shuttle rides between these locations if you ask them. For more information on scheduling and exact pickup locations, click here.

The Entertainment Circulator. Photo credit: City of Rosemont

Snowbell cocktail from the Ashburn bar. Photo credit: Andrew Jessop

MB Financial Park is home to a variety of fun activities, entertainment and food. My first stop was Kings, a bowling alley/restaurant that is hard to miss with its sparkling retro signage. The place is decorated gorgeously and the food is out of this world! I could imagine spending a lot more time here in the future and it is a sure bet for getting great food for a reasonable price.

At Kings after a delicious meal. Photo credit: Andrew Jessop

Steak tips from Kings. Photo credit: Andrew Jessop

Hofbrauhaus Chicago is a German restaurant in MB Park with terrific ambiance for large gatherings. We were entertained by German singers and musicians throughout our dinner and enjoyed soft pretzels, gratifying steins of beer and a well prepared meal including steamed veggies and spaetzle. Fun for the whole family!

Hofbrauhaus Chicago. Photo credit: Andrew Jessop

Outdoor view of the Fashion Outlets. Photo credit: Fashion Outlets of Chicago

The Fashion Outlets of Chicago were located conveniently right next to my hotel, so we had to stop by there. It is home to 130 stores ranging from Disney, Lululemon (newly opened), Gucci, Theory, Prada and Gap with savings up to 75% off retail prices. I spent a lot of my time at White House/Black Market and found some wonderful staples for my wardrobe with the help of a very helpful sales clerk. This place is definitely worth checking out.

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Photo credit: Donald E. Stephens Center

The Donald E Stephens Convention Center hosts everything from The Travel and Adventure Show, The Voice auditions, Wizard World Comic Con, Motorcycle shows, Gem shows and much, much more. Check out my story about The Travel and Adventure Show by clicking here! This show happens once a year in January and is a blast if you’re interested in traveling. Check out other shows happening at the convention center by clicking here.

That's me indoor skydiving! What a blast! Video credit: I Fly Chicago

Finally, I can’t write about Rosemont without talking about the most memorable experience, indoor skydiving with I Fly! What a trip this was! If you’ve never done it, you’ve got to try it. It is perfectly safe for people of all ages and it is a thrill like none other to lay down into the wind and have it completely hold you up! The first time you go into the wind tunnel, you lay down in position (you get a short tutorial before your flight) and the instructor helps you “fly” around a bit. This lasts for about a minute. The second time you “fly”, the instructor takes you up to the top of the wind tunnel, as you fly in a circle! It is such an amazing experience! The one thing I will say is that the air blowing up was a bit hard on my sinuses, and it’s important to keep breathing and relax during your flight. But the feeling of flying was one I’ve never experienced and I would definitely recommend this to adventure seekers!

Me post flight (I wan't going to post this, but it's funny so I did). Photo credit: Andrew Jessop

Come out to Rosemont for a unique escape from the city. It’s perfect for the wintertime because most activities are indoors (with the exception of free ice skating and inner tubing at “Frozmont”). In the nice whether, MB Financial Park is host to concerts and festivals. A shuttle service is available most everywhere and can take you from place to place. Being so near to O’Hare airport, as well as being close to Chicago,  it’s the perfect staycation spot for Chicagoans and for those just passing through. Let me know about your experience in Rosemont in the comment section!

Inner tubing at "Frozmont" at MB Financial Park in Rosemont. Photo credit: Andrew Jessop