What to expect: Nestled among woodsy areas, this hotel offers a picturesque setting for business or social events. In the chandeliered marble lobby, an ornate tapestry hangs behind the registration desk, and palm trees and flowers fill brass planters. A nearby fireplace warms a separate sitting area, where guests relax and read.

Amenity highlights: The fitness center includes cardiovascular equipment such as stationary bicycles, elliptical trainers, and treadmills, as well as free weights. There are fresh towels, magazines, a TV, and water cooler. Guests may also use the indoor pool and spa tub, located in a skylit, bricked space furnished with cushioned chaise lounges.

Insider Tip: Right across the street from the hotel is the River Trail Nature Center, a forest preserve with indoor exhibits that provide information on native plants and animals. Oak and sugar maple trees shade the self-guided walking trails along the Des Plaines River. Nature programs and special events are offered year-round.

What to expect: Potted topiaries mark the entrance to this fanciful 10-floor Renaissance. The lobby's playful, chess-themed decor includes wooden chess tables. Across from the reservation desk, its corporate clientele sips wine in the library nook, which is decorated with a Lucite chessboard and overstuffed chairs. On weekends, leisure guests sink into high-backed banquette seating before a roaring fire in the lobby bar.

Insider tip: June through September, locals and guests enjoy visiting Ravinia Festival to enjoy music performances while picnicking on the lawn or sitting in its pavilion. The venue is 2 miles from the hotel and is accessible via complimentary hotel shuttle service.