Escape From The City To This Peaceful Getaway With An Apiary, Theater, And Award-Winning Restaurant
By Linze Rice|Published December 11, 2023
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Linze Rice
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Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
Living just outside Chicago, there are times when a peaceful or romantic getaway — even for a night or two — is just what my husband and I need to take a breath and reset. Life gets stressful, work can be grueling, and everyone around here knows that traffic is brutal. So when we had the opportunity to get away from it all for a weekend at the esteemed Lincolnshire Marriott Resort the weekend after Thanksgiving, the answer was a resounding, “Yes!”. So we got a babysitter for our pets and embarked on our peaceful getaway in Lincolnshire, Illinois.
The Lincolnshire Marriott Resort is a 4-star luxury hotel in the northern suburb of Lincolnshire, about 34 miles from downtown Chicago. From my home in west suburban Cook County, it took less than an hour to drive to arrive at the resort.
Linze Rice
Inside, you're immediately greeted by the comforts of the Great Lobby, which dons a stately fireplace and mantel, oversized couches, chairs, tables, and plenty of outlets for chargers.
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My husband and I decided to wet our whistles with a quick drink at the lobby bar, which was spacious with quick, friendly service. A major plus: The hotel has non-alcoholic beer offerings in addition to classic cocktails, wines, beers, and spirits.
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And for the coffee lovers (like us) — there's a full-service Starbucks right in the lobby!
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Once we arrived at our room, we were immediately greeted by a handwritten note and a welcome snack. The personal touch demonstrated the hotel's ability to offer personalized service, which we appreciated.
Linze Rice
The room was cozy and clean with a king-size bed, large flat-screen TV, sitting chairs, and a spacious desk. I loved the bedside bendable reading lights and the fact that you could log in to streaming services like Netflix.
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The best part of the room was its location: Situated on the ground floor, the room opened up to a small patio via a sliding glass door. Outside were two chairs and a small table for relaxing and enjoying a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.
Linze Rice
Our view was also lovely. Even on a gray December day, the evergreen trees and pond made it feel like the hotel was secluded in nature without a skyscraper or high-rise in sight. In warm months, a fountain in the pond adds to the ambiance.
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Another great perk of this destination is its walking trail, complete with a covered bridge. Walk, run, or bike through the scenic route. Bikes are available to rent from the front desk. Plus, the resort is also just a few minutes away from the Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area, which offers miles of trails in an enchanted-feeling forest.
One of the coolest rooms in the hotel was this tented space, which was near our room and next to the pond. It was bright, spacious, and surrounded by the natural beauty of the outdoors and adjacent patio. It's the most popular room to rent at the hotel for large events, like weddings.
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Lincolnshire Marriott Resort also has two award-winning restaurants that are side-by-side in a large atrium.
In the evening, we had dinner at Three Embers, a contemporary American steakhouse with a unique wood-fired stove that's known for sourcing many of its ingredients locally.
Linze Rice
The food here was exceptional; it was one of the best meals I've had this year. We started with a Winter Citrus salad before moving on to the Airline Chicken and Berkshire Pork Chop. Had we not been so satisfied and full already, we definitely would have moved on to dessert.
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After dinner, we headed over to the Marriott Theatre, which is connected to the hotel. The theater showcases arena-style seating and is renowned for its acclaimed plays and musicals.
Linze Rice
In the evening, we took a stroll to the patio, glowing from string lights and two roaring fires — one emanating from a fire pit surrounded by chairs, the other flickering out from the top of a large table. On a chilly night, this was a great way to stay warm under the stars for a bit.
Linze Rice
In the morning, we headed back to the Three Embers dining room for a buffet breakfast, which offered custom omelets, pastries, fruit, cereal, meats, French toast, and more. I opted for a ham, cheddar, and mushroom omelet, which was excellent.
Linze Rice
We explored the hotel for a while before heading back to the dining room for lunch at Wright's Brew & Bistro. It was bright with plenty of space, plus a large bar and TVs mounted on the wall for sports fans.
Linze Rice
Like at dinner, the food here was fantastic. We went for lighter options after a hefty breakfast, and the Fall Cobb Salad was exactly what I needed. My husband got the skirt steak tacos, which were the perfect mix of slightly spicy and tangy.
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To wash it down, I went with the Bee's Knees cocktail with gin, honey, and fresh-squeezed lemon. As a lemonade girl, I loved this. It was fresh and chilly with just the right bite.
Linze Rice
In fact, the honey for the drink came from the property's own apiary. On-site bees produce the delicious golden nectar used throughout the menu.
The apiary is just one of several unique features at the resort. Although I don't play golf, Crane's Landing Golf Course is a treasured amenity of the hotel for serious and casual players, alike. The 18-hole course is spread across 110 beautiful acres, which also serves as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
After a quick, but relaxing, peaceful getaway in Lincolnshire, Illinois, we felt rested and recharged. Even though it was cold, overcast, and rainy, we felt warm and cozy with plenty to keep us busy. It’s a place we would definitely visit again — whether it’s for an overnight stay, an evening of theater, or to dine in the delicious restaurants. Start your relaxation journey by booking your stay at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort website and following their Facebook page.
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