By: Jayme Lamm

It’s only noon and your butler is already making arrangements for your hydrotherapy ritual at Spa Imagine, tonight’s dinner reservations at Bocado’s Steak House, and later having dessert sent to your room. Sounds like a dream, right?

It is a dream brought to life thanks to Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Cancun, a new high-end resort that opened in the Spring of 2022.

Celebrities are already flocking to the beachfront resort, including Houstonian Simone Biles, Jana Kramer, Floyd Mayweather, Ashanti, Southern Charm’s Madison LeCroy, Naturi Naughton, Tia Booth, and Cassie Randolph, to name a few. (Check out Simone Bile’s girl’s trip to Garza Blanca Cancun for some vaca inspo.)

The luxe beach retreat is located half an hour north of the Cancun airport. Set along a secluded white sandy stretch of Playa Mujeres beach, the luxury resort is the newest addition to TAFER Hotels & Resorts. Guests can choose from all-inclusive options or room-only plans, but no matter what option you choose, each of the 452 rooms come with a private butler.

Your assigned butler will greet you upon arrival –with a drink in hand. And he or she will be available via WhatsApp or another messaging service for pretty much any need or want during your stay. While there are incredible room upgrades available like the four-bedroom penthouse loft, the butler service comes standard with all rooms.

I also wrote about luxury butler service resorts for Uproxx.

The exquisitely cozy rooms leave no stone unturned, with a strategic desire to make your stay feel like home – if your home had a private terrace and hammocks. With convenient in-room amenities like washer and dryers in select units, some guests may not ever want to leave. The longest guest stay so far has racked up a tab of over four months.

The luxurious Cancun resort extends well beyond the guest rooms, showcasing the finest comforts and luxuries you’d expect on vacation.

The sprawling resort has nine swimming pools and jacuzzis, including the rooftop adult-only pool, surrounded by 360-degree beach views. Boasting a full bar and underwater sound system, guests are treated to LIVE music each afternoon, like a sexy saxophonist playing some of today’s top hits with a unique flair.

Can’t Miss Touches at Garza Blanca Cancun

• Enjoy the delectable French toast in the morning, complete with cream cheese in between double stacked pieces of egg-soaked fresh bread alongside freshly squeezed orange juice
• If you are traveling with kids, be sure to take advantage of the kid’s club for kids 4-12, where the entire staff is certified and bilingual. Ask about afterhours nanny services, available for an extra charge
• If you choose the all-inclusive plan, everything is already included in the price including gratuities
• The resort features four gourmet restaurants and two bars, including the Food Truck, a colorful and fun space with a trendy atmosphere that gives diners a front row seat to the stunning sea views
• When it comes to hand-crafted cocktails, be sure to try The Garza Blanca, made with mezcal, serrano chili, soursop puree, lime juice and simple syrup
• If you’re a picky sleeper, ask your butler for the pillow menu
• Enjoy rooftop yoga, kayaking tours, snorkeling or Spanish lessons; all without an extra cost
• Don’t forget to snap an obligatory Instagram photo at the main infinity pool’s clear wall-window

Book a stay and see for yourself why Floyd Mayweather calls it, “The best hotel in Cancun.” Book your discounted stay at Garza Blanca Cancun today!

If you’re desperate for a quick weekend trip, you can book the 2 hour and 15-minute direct flight from Houston, drive half an hour from the airport and be lounging at the idyllic Riviera Maya resort by lunchtime. Give or take a small line at customs.

Post may contain affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Aspen Travel Diary: 30 Days in Aspen

A Detailed Travel Guide On All The Things To Do (And Not To) In Aspen

(If you want to skim this Aspen Travel Diary, the things in BOLD are my absolute recommendations for your next trip to Aspen.)

It’s no secret people are clamoring for escapes and getaways. Maybe it’s a weekend getaway or maybe you’ve decided to take an extended sabbatical into the mountains. That’s exactly what we did and here’s how we spent 30 days in Aspen this summer.

Day One: Walked around the new neighborhood with our pup Perry and immediately the dog friendly town won him over, though it rained most of the day. Aspen is probably one of the most dog-friendly towns you’ll ever visit. That night we ordered pizza and wings takeout from Brunelleschi’s Pizza and watched UFC in our condo, which is for sale for $1.66 million.

Day Two: Walked/hiked Hunter Creek Trail with Perry. This is probably one of the most popular and easy hiking trails in Aspen, consisting mostly of dirt and gravel with public parking at the trailhead. Then we walked around town, and ate lunch at The White House Tavern – I’ve written about their Crispy Chicken Sandwich in every Aspen story I’ve covered. You can expect a lot of visits from us here. To note: there is always a wait since it’s a super small restaurant, but we are almost always lucky enough to snag bar seats. Then we walked a few blocks to Newbury Park, where I read a new book and my boyfriend hung out with Perry. For dinner, we made a reservation at Kenichi, just a few blocks over. Kenichi has been part of the Aspen landscape since 1991, and for good reason.

Day Three: Grabbed a drop-in rate at O2 for a Sculpt class led by Jenna, who is phenomenal. Later I met up with

O2 in Aspen: Sculpt Workout Classes Are The Best

friends for a cocktail at The W Aspen’s Living Room, followed by delicious and strong margaritas at Mi Chola – one of only two Mexican restaurants in town (there are two more in Snowmass). Their steak quesadillas are a must.

Day Four: Walked to Big Wrap for made-to-order gourmet wraps, known as one of the most affordable meals in Aspen (they are also big enough to split or save for dinner). We got the Rock Your World and Beef Swift Kick. This place is cash only, so be prepared or use their onsite ATM for a fee. Walked through our neighborhood, with trails jutting out on just about every corner with views alongside the Roaring Fork River.

Day Five: Started the morning off with another Sculpt class with Jenna at O2, then went for a hike on Ajax Trail, which is fairly easy and crosses the front side of Aspen Mountain. After the hour hike, went to LOCAL Coffee House & Eatery for an iced latte and Chia Pudding Bowl. Definitely one of the pricier spots in Aspen for a $22 breakfast. Then we had a picnic lunch on the Rio Grande Trail on the river with lots of other dogs. That evening we grabbed a patio seat at Aspen Tap on the corner of Galena and Hopkins, which boast the city’s best people watching. They are known for their beer selection, but they also have rosé. If you’re a fan of the movie Dumb & Dumber, you’ll love their Mary Swanson cocktail, which is basically a grapefruit hard seltzer $7. Then we went

Aspen Shopping: Kemo Sabe Offers Free Hat Steaming + Good Vibes

to Kemo Sabe to get our cowboy hats steamed (a free service they offer) and walked out new ones (nothing like shopping with a buzz, right?). Aspen is one of three locations, the other two in Vail and Las Vegas.

Day Six: Had a 9a tee time at Aspen Golf Club, which is Aspen’s only public course. It’s a beautiful course overlooking Buttermilk Mountain, but one of the oddest course designs I’ve seen. Then a late lunch and happy hour at HOPS Culture’s outside patio. We had a delicious burger and a $6 happy hour rosé for $6. This is a great spot for cheap rosé and a huge selection of craft beer, but the food is pretty average bar food.

Day Seven: Had breakfast at Spring Cafe, which usually closes in between seasons! I get the Acai Bowl and Jason gets the Blueberry Pancakes. Then we took the Silver Queen Gondola up Aspen Mountain and hiked around up top (11,212 feet elevation) with Perry. They even have specific dog gondolas, and all the workers love meeting the pups. Aspen Mountain also boasts the world’s highest official disc golf course

We tried to get the most out of our day pass so came back again to read a book and drink rosé on the mountaintop. We had date night at Ellina, which has a 35-page wine list and amazing pasta dishes. And then finished the night with an Espresso Martini, one of the best in Aspen. Our server Martine was phenomenal.

Day Eight: Walked down by Aspen Meadows and picked up the Rio Grande Trail. We walked around and got lost on trails and in neighborhoods, which is one of the highlights of being in Aspen.

Aspen Is The Most Dog Friendly Town

Then we had dinner at Jimmy’s for an amazing steak and enjoyed their robust cocktail menu, especially their Espresso Martini. Anyone who has been to Aspen knows about Jimmy’s, which is donned an Aspen institute and been around since 1997.

Day Nine: Shopping in town, one of my favorite things to do. We had a pizza lunch at the new Aspen Pie Shop with frosé. I would not recommend the pizza at all, however it offers some great patio seating and people watching and was one of the only frosé I saw in town.

Day 10: Iced latte and work at one of town’s newest spots, Bear Den, which is quaint and super cute. I just had a latte, but the food smelled delicious, and everything is organic and made from scratch. Then another sculpt class at O2, followed by an evening stroll along John Denver Sanctuary. Then we treated ourselves to happy hour and dinner at Mi Chola with $10 happy hour margaritas.

Hiking Aspen – The Ute Trail

Day 11: Morning hike up The Ute, which is popular but not easy. That night we tried the pizza at Aspen Tap and their Espresso Martinis, both were great. We also learned you can also add 5mg Hemp CBD to any drink for $5 (which is so Colorado). We had a phenomenal pizza – The White Pizza – garlic cream sauce, shredded mozzarella, roma tomatoes, ricotta cheese and arugula ($16). I could have done without the massive garlic cloves, but it was awesome.

Day 12: Sculpt class at O2, then walked next door to Starbucks, which is locally owned and operated. Drove out to Grotto Trail, which was an easy hike, mostly shaded and beautiful in every direction. Then went to Devil’s Punchbowl where local boys were jumping in the snowmelt ice-cold water. Went walking around town and hit up the o2 Aspen retail sale, with up to 60% off and scored some mew workout clothes.

Day 13: Drove back to The Grottos Trail, which is one of the most popular spots and enjoyed an afternoon of lounging by the river. Read a new book, packed a picnic with Infinite Monkey rosé and enjoyed the beautiful weather. There is no cell signal, which sort of forces you to relax and enjoy the moment. We drove back and walked through town and did the Hunter Creek Trail hike, which is mostly shaded. Then had dinner with friends at Campo de Fiori (locals just call it Campo), which has one of the best Espresso Martinis in town. The mushroom ravioli is out of this world, and one of the best dishes in all of Aspen. We bounced around next-door at Cache Cache (one of town’s most expensive meals), and then upstairs to Jimmy’s for a nightcap.

Day 14: Took it easy and walked around town. Ordered Hickory House for free delivery, which has awesome wings, pulled pork sandwiches, and more.

Day 15: Walked around Aspen Saturday Market, their weekly farmer’s market in the middle of town. It’s a great way to support local and people watch. They have vendors offering pastries, fresh flowers, and more, but no dogs allowed, which is odd for Aspen. Then we hiked Hunter’s Creek all the way up and down Smuggler Mountain (known as “housewives’ hill” which is my least favorite because it’s very steep and rocky, though the views of Aspen are nice). Went to W Aspen WET Deck, which is Aspen’s only public pool located on the 4th floor. The pool is small, but it overlooks Aspen Mountain and the gondola. We walked over to J-Bar inside Hotel Jerome for their “Locally World Famous” burger ($21) for dinner and a glass of rosé and then their Espresso Martini. The 19^th century bar just started doing a rosé of the day ($14), which is a good way to sample some different wines inside the relaxed and casual atmosphere.

Day 16: Started the hike up Aspen Mountain under the gondola and took a left down Ajax Trail, which leads you to the start of The Ute trailhead. Lunch at White House Tavern, inside at the bar, like always. The wait for an outside table, which is dog-friendly, is always 1-2 hours, especially on nice days. Then walked over to Aspen Public House, which is inside the historic Wheeler Opera House and sat outside by the fountains. Jason had a Wild Brewing Company IPA and I went for a classic Espresso Martini.

Day 17: Went for a hike on Meadows Trail behind Aspen Meadows Resort, which is a quick .57 easy

Aspen E-Bike To Woody Creek Tavern

hike that leads to Rio Grande Trail. Went to Clark’s to check out their happy hour menu for some oysters and $8 martinis (though smaller than most). This place has another location in Austin and boasts a coastal and casual vibe. The Shrimp Cocktail was amazing ($20) featuring large with fresh horseradish.

Day 18: Spent the day walking around to enjoy the fresh air and scenes.

Day 19: Drove to Maroon Bells, which are the most photographed mountains in North America. Note that reservations are required (not recommended, required). Scenic views aside, there are six hiking trails of various lengths and difficulties to choose from, plus bike trails, campsites, and more. We hiked to Crater Lake, which is a 3.8 mile out and back hike probably not recommended for a french bulldog, but a fairly easy hike to the lake. For dinner, we went back to Campo, which quickly became one of our favorites. Then we headed downstairs to Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar, which is in the basement of Meat and Cheese, and offers

Hiking Maroon Bells – Dog Friendly

a sexy speakeasy vibe without the nuisance or embarrassment of having to know a password. Even though the cinnamon-loaded Espresso Martinis are $20, glasses of rosé are surprisingly only $8/glass. That’s about as cheap as you’ll find in Aspen (or $30/bottle of “Gris de Gris”). Then to Silver City to try their Aperclaw (like an Aperol Spritz, but this one has Aperol, Cointreau, Black Cherry White Claw and Orange Juice), and was the perfectly refreshing drink in the summer.

Day 20: Went to Victoria’s for one of my favorite Iced Soy Lattes and we got two Ham and Cheese Croissants for breakfast (drinks are recommended, not so much the food). Then we rented e-bikes at Aspen Velo on the corner of Mill and Puppy Smith. There are plenty of bike rentals in Aspen, but this one has the most e-bikes to choose from, and on weekends, they can easily sell out. We rode along the Rio Grande Trail all the way to Woody Creek Tavern, which is fun and easy, and a must while in Aspen. Woody Creek Tavern is nearly world famous. They have decent food, great margaritas, and there are always taxis waiting to take the walkers and riders back if needed, since the trek can be a bit daunting for visitors. This spot is cash only. We rode back via Cemetery Lane and followed signs towards downtown Aspen for a different route.

Day 21: It was a beautiful day for a hike on Sunnyside Trail, which has a path off the Rio Grande or you can type it in your maps to start at the base of the trail where there is parking. Hence the name, this trail up Red Mountain is 100% in the sun, so avoid hot days or the peak of the afternoon if you can. Took an Uber (which didn’t used to be a thing in Aspen, but is more so now) to Home Team, inside The Inn at Aspen located at the base of Buttermilk, where the X Games are held. Home Team has a Frozen Irish Coffee locals love (small $11 and large $13) and a $9 glass of rosé, which is cheap for Aspen.

Day 22: Went to the Aspen Saturday Market to stock up at some of our favorites, and after walking

Aspen E-Bike To Woody Creek Tavern

around, went to Spring Cafe for a Smoothie ($9) and Iced Coffee. We spent the beautiful afternoon at W Aspen Wet Deck for $28 pitcher of strong margaritas, which is such a bargain anywhere, especially Aspen. Then we took a RFTA (Aspen’s bus system is always free and has been touted as one of the best in the country for years) to The Highlands for a night of pizza and beer at Highlands Alehouse. They have tons of beer, pizza, and more to choose from, and although they don’t offer it by the glass, a bottle of rosé is only $33.

Day 23: Walked around some easy trails and streets with Perry. Drove down to Basalt to Butch’s Lobster Shack to avoid paying $38 for a lobster roll in town at Clark’s. In hindsight, I would have rather paid $38 for a delicious lobster roll, then $21 for one lacking in flavor. Then we took a walk on East of Aspen Trail, on the side of Highway 82 headed towards Independence Pass. We walked to the North Star River Access, which is a popular spot to jump off the bridge or put in your paddleboard, and the hike was the easiest in town. Ended the night with an Espresso Martini at The White House Tavern, which was beyond delicious and the perfect balance of sweet and coffee.

Day 24: Did another O2 class, then hiked up The Ute around to Ajax Trail (we did not climb the mountain). Opted for Happy Hour at Jing for $7 glasses of wine (no rosé) and a handful of $7 sushi rolls (or $12 for specialty rolls). Then we sat outside at Creperie’s lounge (real name is French Alpine Bistro, but locals call is Creperie), which has an adorable patio setup on the corner of Hopkins and Mill for an Espresso Martini. They also offer an epic rosé happy hour for buy one get one free bottles, from 3-6.

Day 25: Drove to the top of Aspen Mountain, then walked to breakfast at Aspen Over Easy, which is on the 2^nd floor of Scarlett’s and boasts the largest breakfast menu in Aspen and has seating inside and on the sun deck. They offer three variations of a Bloody Mary (each $10) and have signature cocktails like the Hangover Easy ($10). Then we went over to Hunter’s Creek Trail for an afternoon hike with the pup. We made dinner reservations at Monarch, which is attached to Dancing Bear for a chic steak dinner, where they also specialize in Monarch Manhattans ($17-27). The ambiance was great, but the steak wasn’t anything like you’d find in Texas. Next we stumbled upon Betula, which has the ultimate cocktail scene in Aspen, along with an incredible DJ in the cocktail room. The cocktail room is like an actual living room with huge windows, books on the shelf mixed in with actual family photos. The cozy chic experience was probably the most fun (and most expensive) scene we had during our month stay.

Day 26: Drove to Difficult Creek Trail and parked in day use, not the campground parking. The entire hike is 9.8 miles, but is much easier than the name would indicate. Then we drove out to Snowmass for lunch at Base Camp Bar & Grill, which has a pretty expansive beer list and also rosé by the glass. We sat outside near the base of the gondola, but is not a place I would recommend based on the service and subpar food. Somehow we managed to snag a hard-to-find dinner reservation at Betula, and sat at the bar because reservations fill up quickly.

Day 27: Enjoyed a morning hike/walk around town and John Denver Sanctuary, which is perfect for mediation, picnics with the family, or just relaxing. We headed over for a pool day at W Aspen’s Wet Deck for those pitchers of margaritas. Then we walked and shopped around town (mostly window shopping), and had dinner at Mezzaluna, which is fairly inexpensive and solid (wood fired pizzas, pasta and $9 glasses of rosé). They also have a great happy hour with $10 pizzas, $6 glasses of wine, and $6 margaritas.

Day 28: Breakfast at Spring Cafe for their amazing pancakes and french toast, and of course an iced soy latte! Then we grabbed beers by The St. Regis Aspen Resort pool before enjoying my CBD Healing Massage at Remède Spa. The spa also has an oxygen bar and serves you a complimentary glass of champagne when your treatment is finished. It’s not a pretentious spa, but it has all the luxuries and modalities you need after a month in Aspen. After that we headed to their lobby restaurant, Mountain Social for a quality Espresso Martini, and had the bonus of watching their daily champagne sabering where guests and non-guests can gather around. During the summer this takes place at 5:15pm and in the winter it’s at 4:45pm. We walked across the street for more

Aspen Hiking

shopping at O2, which offers the best brands for athleisure wear and more. Then we went to Hops patio for drinks, and made our way around to Aspen Public House for dinner and Espresso Martinis at 7908, which they have on tap (nitro), and are only one of two places in the world that offer this. This is Aspen’s first supper club offering “elevated comfort food,” dancing, a DJ, and an ultra-high end bottle list.

Day 29: A day after too many Espresso Martinis and visiting some of our favorite spots including

Kemo Sabe, lunch at White House Tavern, drinks outside at Aspen Public House, then Mi Chola and Silver City, followed by dinner at Campo.

Day 30: Our last day, so we walked around our neighborhood trails looking at all the beautiful houses, then one final breakfast at Spring Café, before heading back out.

Weekend Roadtrip

A few months ago I visited one of my favorite summertime cities: Chicago! My annual family reunion takes place every August in Wisconsin, so I always try to fly into Chicago, take the train or make an easy drive to Wisconsin to see my family and voila – it’s one of the best ways for me to end my summer, take in a Cubs game at Wrigley and see family for a few days. (Chicago also makes the perfect girl’s weekend!)

This year Jason came with me – yay for meeting family for the first time, yikes! Definitely check out our romantic weekend in Chicago, but the roadtrip to Wisconsin was equally as fun as our time in the Windy City.

We drove the 2019 Chevy Equinox for the 440-mile roundtrip trek from Chicago to New Lisbon, Wisconsin and had such a comfortable ride. We had plenty of room for both of us (for Jason being 6-foot-2 he needs plenty of leg and head room when driving and of course for me to stretch out like the lazy passenger that I usually am), and our Equinox came with all the bells and whistles for an ideal road trip. We typed the address into our phone and our route showed up on the dashboard thanks to Apple CarPlay, making hands-free driving easier than ever.

The small SUV crossover was the perfect size and the gas mileage was better than expected (EPA-estimated 39MPG HWY). We didn’t have to fill up until the very end when we returned the car, before heading to the airport.

We felt safe, comfortable and connected, thanks to some of the features listed below:

2019 Equinox Tech & Safety Features

·         4G LTE Wi-Fi availability
This feature allows you to stay connected on the road, Skype or video chat, stay on top of

Roadtrip from Chicago to Wisconsin with the 2019 Chevy Equinox

work if needed, and stream movies, etc. from the road. Can connect 7 devices at once- that means your family will be entertained and can download movies, TV shows or books to your device on the road without using any data!

·         OnStar Technology
OnStar offers Turn-by-Turn Directions with the touch of a button and simply telling an Advisor where you want to go. Directions can also be sent to your in-vehicle navigation system by asking the Advisor to download directions to your vehicle. OnStar AtYourService is a new way to discover value in the places you go, providing you with better ways to eat, shop, and play. AtYourService connects drivers with retailers and merchants on their drive, providing information, convenience and money-saving values tied to their specific destinations. When you’re not driving, get valuable offers delivered directly to your myChevrolet app or through an Advisor with a simple press of the blue OnStar button.

·         Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto
Apple CarPlay takes the iPhone features you’d want to access while driving and puts them on the vehicle’s display- so you can make calls, send/ receive messages and listen to your favorite playlists right from the touchscreen or by voice via Siri. Android Auto is built around Google Maps giving you the ability to talk to Google and use several different apps straight from your cars display screen.

Ready to shop for your new Chevrolet? Visit Castle Rock Chevrolet Buick GMC for the best deals and Warranty Forever.

·         360 Surround Vision Camera
Surround Vision, a technology that provides a literal look at the vehicle’s perimeter. This available system uses strategically located cameras on all sides of the vehicle to provide a 360-degree bird’s-eye view of the vehicle, helping drivers quickly view the surrounding area at a glance.

·         myChevrolet Mobile App
The myChevrolet app turns your mobile device into a command center for your vehicle. This app allows you to start/stop your engine and lock/unlock your doors from your smart phone. You can even send destinations to your available navigation system, view diagnostic information, customize Wi-Fi settings and set parking reminders from virtually anywhere.

·         Rear Seat Reminder
When a second-row door is opened and closed during or just before a trip, this feature reminds you to check the back seats with five audible chimes and a message in the driver information center.

·         Final Thoughts

Make the road trip easy for yourself and your car. Keep your Chevy roadworthy and ready for the journey with accessories serving as fine and functional upgrades. Dash mats are one; they are designed to preserve the dashboard’s condition and keep it free from dust and dirt. Check here for dash mats that are compatible with Chevrolet models.

Small comforts create a huge impact on your road trip experience.

The Perfect Girl’s Weekend in Chicago

Rosé All Day in the Windy City

Chicago definitely ranks in my top 5 favorite cities, for a myriad of reasons. I’ve written about going to Chicago for sports before, but this time I tried my hand at another girl’s weekend (and spoiler alert: sports were still involved). Last month I hit up Chicago with two of my girls – Braidee and Shannon and here’s a little more about our weekend trip. 

For starters, getting to Chicago from Houston is incredibly easy with 10 daily flights on United alone. Of course, add in Southwest and Spirit for direct flights and take into account two airports on both sides and you’ve got a city that’s a breeze to get to. 

Stay: Loews Chicago

I’m a sucker for fancy hotels and ever since a recent trip to New Orleans; I have become a huge fan of the Loews properties. Loews Chicago is my pick for a Chicago hotel if you want to be in the center of all the action complete with luxurious amenities, a crowded bar on the regular, spacious rooms (ours overlooked the Navy Pier, which was awesome for my friend Braidee who had never visited Chicago before) and a walkable atmosphere with stuff in every direction. Lowes Chicago is located in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood, only a few blocks from all the fun shopping at The Magnificent Mile. The hotel is in the heart of downtown, one block from the Chicago River and made the perfect place for our girl’s weekend (start your day with coffee in your room or Starbucks in the lobby, order breakfast in bed from room service because their food is amazing, grab a cocktail before you head out for the night, work your booty off at the gym and more). 

Loews Chicago was just a $30 Uber ride, but if you’re balling on a budget or want to experience the

Loews Hotel Chicago: Luxury Hotel

 city like a local, you can also take the ‘El’ Train for $2.50. These were the directions from the concierge (I always call and get directions if taking public transportation because my navigation skills are severely lacking!): From baggage level, follow “Trains to the City” signs, then exit STATE/LAKE, about a 45-minute ride. Walk a few blocks to Loews Chicago and your vacation is ready to begin. Trains depart from the airport every 10-15 minutes, making it a breeze.

We arrived to the hotel just in time to start the evening with handcrafted cocktails from The Bellhop Bar in the lobby. It’s a super cute limited-edition pop-up bar inside a retrofitted steamer trunk boasting bespoke beverages, and the ideal way to kick off the weekend (5-7p daily).  

Our Girl’s Trip Chicago Itinerary

A girl’s weekend in Chicago is alwaysa good idea (though if I had to pick a favorite time to visit, it’s the summer hands down). The city has something for everyone including shopping, pizza, nightlife, culture, sports, fancy spas, brunch headquarters – the list goes on.  

We kicked off Friday night at a Blackhawks game. The game day experience in Chicago for any and every sport is unlike any other with some of the most ravenous and boozy fans around. (Another reason I love visiting the summer in Chicago is for a visit to Wrigley, which should be on everyone’s bucket list.) 

After the game, we hopped in an Uber and headed to dinner at Sushi Dokku thanks to a quick Google search that satisfied all three of us. Then we tried our hand at a number of the bars in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood, since we were already there and each spot had their own vibe with varying music and great people watching. My favorite was the one blasting 80’s music, but if you think I remember the name of that bar that late at night, you’re crazy.  

Saturday morning we tried finding a nearby workout class on ClassPass, but couldn’t get our act together, so we headed to the hotel gym. I loved that they had Peloton bikes, and am always a fan of working out while on vacation – thought it’s not like we didn’t hit 20k steps every day walking around the freezing city. Another favorite outdoor Chicago workout is a run along Lake Michigan, a 20-mile lakefront trail, which is one of my favorite ways to experience any city.

Chicago is Brunch-so–So-Hard Headquarters

Chicago – Brunch so Hard

Then we freshened up for brunch at Beatnik. Brace yourself for Chicago’s brunch scene. I don’t mean to knock Houston, but this city knows how to brunch. Seriously, the brunch options alone are worthy of a visit. Beatnik was an unassuming spot in West Town, but as soon as you walk through the revolving doors, an amped up DJ with a brunch spectacle straight out of Sex and the City awaited us. It was a bit too intense for my hungover self, but they serve tapas style bites with cocktails available in pitcher-servings and was an Instagrammer’s delight. (Tip: we made reservations for almost every spot the morning of, but reservations are highly recommended.) On the way back, our Uber made a slight detour to snap a few pictures at the West Hubbard Street Murals, which was an entire street with so many murals, a super indigenous way to check out a new part of Chicago I hadn’t visited before. 

No trip to Chicago is complete without a visit to Stan’s Donuts (y’all know I love my donuts) and well worth the calories, since we were off for an evening of ice skating. We went to the Millennium Park McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, which was only $15 (free if you bring your own skates), and you can knock a picture at the Bean off your Chicago bucket list (though the picture is usually best in the daytime). 

Obviously libations are needed after an evening of awkward ice skating (because I was so bad at it, let’s be real), so we walked a few blocks to Cindy’s Rooftop, located inside The Chicago Athletic Association, but be warned – having dinner in the sky comes at a price (and reservations are a must). I also fell in love with cannedroséhere a few summers back, so it holds a special place in my heart. 

After drinks I headed back to the hotel for dinner (the girls went somewhere else, but I had heard the hotel restaurant was the best) at ETA Restaurant + Bar where I had one of the most delectable ribeye steaks and “Mashers.” I am a steak queen and I promise the steak here rivals any Texas steak I’ve ever had. I sat at the bar, because dinner at hotel bars is one of my favorite things while traveling, especially solo. 

Thanks to a late hotel checkout we were able to enjoy a little Sunday Funday. We started with

The Hampton Social

brunch at The Hampton Social, which just opened a new location in Streeterville, walking distance from the hotel. This is where the signature Instagrammable neon-lit “RoséAll Day” sign is. I love “basic brunch spots” and live acoustic music and their East Coast menu make for the perfect Sunday in Chicago – (followed closely by a game at Solider Field). Then we walked over to the Christkindlmarket, which is an open-air traditional European market in the heart of downtown, which was fun to see but not really my thing, then more shopping on Michigan Avenue followed by one farewell glass or roséat Eataly. If you’ve never been to an Eataly before, you should go. What a novel concept – genius in fact. 

One of my favorite blogs is based in Chicago and they also wrote a Chicago City Guide. 

I also wrote about 48 Hours With the Girls in Chicago for Houstonia Magazine.