Set on a quiet residential street just off Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, the premiere shopping destination in the city, it’s hard to top the location of the Four Seasons. Take the elevator from the street to the lavish seventh floor lobby and then a second elevator to your room and the city opens up before you.

The suites on the higher floors offer exceptional views of the entire John Hancock Building, Oak Street Beach, and the vast waters of Lake Michigan. In the morning, open the shades to a sunrise over the lake. In the afternoon, during warm weather months, peer out to see sailboats gliding on the water and people biking on the trail that hugs this mighty lake.

Even better, the resort goes over the top to make families happy. Upon arrival in your room, you’ll find a stuffed animal, cow-shaped cookies, chocolate milk, a bucket of popcorn, books and games. In the bathroom, a footstool helps kids reach the confetti-soap that fills the sink, while bubble bath and bath toys ring the tub and plush kid-sized terrycloth robes hang waiting for little ones to dry off in.

Want more? An actual ice cream man comes to your room between the hours of 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. with his rolling cart and selection of vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Add toppings of freshly made whipped cream, Oreo chunks, gummy bears, Reese’s Pieces, and Hershey’s chocolate and strawberry sauce. There’s even a butler who comes up to tell bedtime stories, and kids have the option of using a Radio Flyer on your walks around Chicago. And what a family-friendly city it is; one where the signature dishes are deep-dish pizza and the Chicago-style hot dog.

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Premier Room
The premier room on the 43rd floor had two flat-screen televisions to enjoy when we could tear ourselves away from the impressive views. The children's room was the living room with a sofa bed, a desk, Wi-Fi, and our favorite amenity: a padded window bench with pillows to sit on and watch the sunrise or speak on the phone.

In the bedroom, the king-sized bed was a sumptuous retreat, beckoning you after a long day of sightseeing. There was ample closet space with ironing board and safe, a nearby dresser and free Voss water on the nightstand. The bathroom had a shower with massage spray, a separate sunken tub, and L'Occitane products.

Superior Room
More affordable superior rooms are also available for families, but you'll miss the extra living room. If you'd like more space than offered in the premier rooms, inquire about the one- and two-bedroom suites.

Ice Cream Man
Schedule the ice cream man to visit your room as early as possible, and then work off the sugar at the indoor pool, the same pool that was featured in Home Alone 2.

Indoor Pool
The indoor Skylight Pool is always 83 degrees so it's always perfect swimming weather at this Four Seasons.

Kids Club
The Kids Clubroom features video games, foosball, board games, arts and crafts, a movie area and more. The room is complimentary to families and adult supervision is required. This is not a supervised kids' club. The room is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

The American Girl Place
Young girls will want to grab one of those Radio Flyers and head within easy walking distance to the first American Girl Place opened in America. Here, girls line the hallways to get their doll's hair washed and braided at the salon.

Of course, children's clothes are sold alongside doll clothes, so your daughter can dress exactly like her little friend. Then head over to teatime in the cafe to enjoy a two-tiered tray of lemon scones, sandwich triangles and cookies, all washed down with lemonade. The dolls get their own chairs too; too bad they can't pick up the tab!

Allium
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner the seasonal menu mixes shared plates and entrees that include meats and seafood dishes.

Pizza and Hot Dogs
Two of the most popular items on any children's menu, pizza and hot dogs, reach haute cuisine levels in Chicago. The deep-dish pizza is eaten with knife and fork, but contrary to what many folks think, it is not a thick crust pizza. Dough is patted high up the side of a deep-dish pizza pan with ingredients placed in reverse order to a regular pizza; mozzarella cheese comes first, followed by additional toppings like sausage, pepperoni, or mushrooms, all doused with chunks of fresh plum tomato sauce.

All About the Extras
The concierge desk is exemplary, working hard to snag you a reservation at a popular restaurant and giving you a detailed map to guide you in the right direction. The front desk goes overboard to make children as comfortable as possible, supplying rooms with coloring books and cookies and setting up a time for the ice cream man and bedtime butler to arrive.

Fitness Center
Like all Four Season hotels, the fitness room is top of the line. Grab an elliptical or treadmill and work out in the early morning while you savor the vistas overlooking both the old and new Water Tower. Afterward, treat yourself to the sauna, steam room, and showers; no doubt, you'll be ready to start your day.

Wi-Fi
Standard Wi-Fi is complimentary.

The Art of Smart Timing
Unlike a resort in Bermuda that reduces its price significantly in the cold weather months, Chicago is a large city that receives a lot of business traffic in the winter. Even though prices can go down dramatically in the spring, would you really want to be in the Windy City in the middle of March? No, visit the city in the summer months when locals are excited to be out in the hot summer sun. This way, you can partake in all the activities except ice fishing.

Getting There
O'Hare International Airport is located about 45 minutes away from the hotel and Chicago Midway International Airport is also located about 45 minutes away.

Getting Around
Located just off Michigan Avenue, Chicago's Magnificent Mile, families can easily walk or take a taxi to area attractions.

For Mom and Dad
Chicago is a world-class dining town. The hotel will happily set you up with a babysitter, giving you the freedom to taste a perfectly grilled fish at Joe's Stone Crab or a great cut of steak at Maestro's. Afterward, check out one of the many Blues clubs in town like Kingston Mines.