Travel, Tech And Delicious Delights At The InterContinental Chicago

It was ChiIL Mama's great pleasure earlier this month to ChiIL out in Chi, IL at a press/blogger Tech and Travel event at the gorgeous InterContinental Hotel on Michigan Avenue. We've partnered up with the hotel before on family friendly travel packages, but this was our first visit and tour of the iconic local. We were impressed with the seamless melding of vintage, 1920's charm and modern comforts. The food was amazing, too! Check out The InterContinental's fabulous seasonal Apple Dumpling recipe below.  

The hotel's crowning glory is the Junior Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool, a historic landmark, recognized as one of the top indoor pools in the country. A pool of this magnitude on the 14th floor was an architectural wonder back in the day, and is still a glamorous setting for a soak today. This posh paradise is even family friendly! Click here for our prior coverage on their new Kid Friendly Package.



The InterContinental first opened in1929 as the Medinah Athletic Club, a men-
only athletic facility. Women are welcome now, at the good old boys club, and the men's cigar lounge is a thing of the past. The stellar views, luxury touches like a robe and slippers, world class restaurants, and convenient location remain. The InterContinental is still the only luxury hotel with a front entrance right onto the Magnificent Mile. 

Vintage meets modern. After extensive restoration and renovation, the InterContinental Chicago officially reopened its doors in 1990. The property has two, newly renovated guest towers—the Historic Tower and the Executive Tower. 

The TNT (Tech & Travel) Chicago Press/Blogger Lunch and Learn Event was truly a treat. We were hosted by Kim Orlando (Traveling Mom), Suzanne Kantra (Techlicious) and Chicago's own Kris McDonald (Little Tech Girl).

LUNCH with TNT:

• InterContinental Chicago: See the improvements at this grand Chicago hotel
• Consumer Electronics Association: Discover how to make your old car new again with the latest tech add-ons
• Hasbro: See the latest in toys just in time for the holidays

LEARN with TNT:

• Determine which topics are most likely to get your articles highly ranked
• Discover the tech “must-dos” to avoid Google’s dings
• Make your content stand out on search engine results pages

Check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often. We'll be reviewing some great, brand new products on the market, to connect your older car to new tech, and travel toys from Hasbro in the very near future. We have a 2003 Montero and a 1969 VW Bug dune buggy without any tech bells and whistles. There's no tech comparison to my 2014 Nissan Rogue with it's backing camera, bluetooth connectivity, and more.

InterContinental Apple Dumplings

This picture perfect pastry tasted even better than it looks and it was deceptively easy to make.

Here at ChiIL Mama, travel and tech are two of our favorite topics to cover (next to music, theatre, and mouth watering recipes and restaurants!). If you want to learn more, join the hosts for their upcoming TNT Chicago Twitter Party, this Thursday, October 1st.

Date: October 1, 2015

Time:  8-9pm CST
Follow along at Hashtag: #TNTChicago

ChiIL out in Chi, IL With InterContinental Chicago's NEW Kid-Friendly Package

Kids Be Our Guest! InterContinental Chicago Introduces Kid-Friendly Package

InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile gives younger travelers the royal treatment with a unique package sure to make children feel welcomed by offering all the comforts of home – and then some! With video games, movies, and opportunities to experience some of the best of city, the Kid-Friendly Package will have children excited to stay and sad to leave. Photo Credit: Choose Chicago The package includes: Nintendo Wii Console and Games – Before checking-in, a Nintendo Wii will be installed in the guest room and children will have a variety of games to choose from. Perfect for engaging children in between exciting stops on their Chicago vacation, the Wii brings the living room into the hotel room. Movie and Garrett’s Popcorn – After a long day experiencing Chicago, children and parents can cozy up in their guest room and take in one of the newest releases while enjoying Chicago’s very own Garrett’s popcorn, which is delivered to their room. Two tickets to the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel – Kids will enjoy one of the most iconic Ferris Wheels in the world taking in all the sites of Navy Pier and the city at large. Games on The Go – Parents get a break while children play their favorite games of “War” and “Go Fish” with the most versatile game – a deck of cards! Dress “Like Mike” – Little ones can be just like Mike with their very own Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse - branded hat to keep the sun out of their eyes while exploring Chicago. The kid-friendly package starts $219 and makes for the perfect fall vacation or local downtown getaway and is available now. For more information or to book the package, click here.   About InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile Located at 505 N. Michigan Ave., InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile is the only hotel with a front entrance on the prestigious Magnificent Mile – Chicago’s most desirable address. Originally built in 1929 as the Medinah Athletic Club, an exclusive luxury men’s club, the property is one of Chicago’s most elegant landmarks. The hotel features 792 refurbished guest rooms, including 73 lavishly decorated suites. The hotel’s historic, junior Olympic size pool is recognized as one of the best indoor pools in the U.S. and is included in Chicago’s major architectural tours. Dining options in the hotel include Michael Jordan Steak House, an elegant, modern American steakhouse that reflects the basketball legend’s preferred dining style, and ENO, an upscale yet approachable wine lounge that features cheese and chocolate pairings.