Click here to print the coloring page.

Best Western River North Hotel has once again partnered with The Field Museum and their new exhibit Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age. Children 12 years old and under can print out our Mammoth coloring page and send it to Best Western River North. One winner will be choosen to receive a complimentary weekend at River North Hotel along with 4 tickets to enjoy the Mammoths and Mastondons exhibit at The Field Museum. Entries must be received by 6/1/2010. Entries may be mailed or dropped of at Best Western River North Hotel.

Click here to print out the coloring page.

Where’sWallace,
originally uploaded by Best Western River North Hotel Chicago.

Alright everyone, welcome to the first edition of “Where’s Wallace?” I let the secret out a little early, so you may have heard I was at Navy Pier. I spent an afternoon walking around the state’s #1 attraction, and here is what I discovered.

For over 10 years, Navy Pier has been the place where all of Chicagoland and tourists come together and enjoy a day of fun and beauty on Lake Michigan. I started my day with a walk down “Dock Street”. Dock Street is the outdoor area that runs the length of Navy Pier. Now, you might be asking, what is there to do outside in winter? The answer is plenty! All along Dock street Chicago’s best dining cruise and sightseeing ships dock. Cruises are available all year long! From Dock Street I made my way up to “Pier Park”. Pier Park is located on the upper deck and features attractions like a Carousel, Wave Swinger, Miniature Golf and more. While most of these attractions are not open for the season yet, the one attraction open year round is the 150 foot high Ferris wheel. As you can see in the picture, it was a beautiful clear day when I was at Navy Pier, and the views from the Ferris wheel are spectacular! I think I even saw River North Hotel from the top!

After the excitement of the Ferris wheel ride, I headed indoors for some lunch. With many restaurants and a food court, deciding where to eat was tough. I finally chose the Bubba Gump Restaurant and Market and boy was I happy I did. The food was terrific and so was the service. When I explained to the staff a little about my “Where’s Wallace” column, they were even nicer! So please visit my friends at Bubba Gumps, and tell them Wallace sent you!

After lunch, I strolled around inside and did some shopping. Navy Pier offers 30+ shops. I made a stop by DC Mad Hatter. Here you can have custom embroidery done on a hat, while you wait. DC is a good friend of Best Western River North, so he made me a Wallace hat, check out the picture. We wrapped up my day at the Navy Pier IMAX theatre, now showing Avatar. They say you haven’t really seen Avatar until you see it in IMAX 3D…lets go…

Best Western Chicago - Papers,
originally uploaded by Best Western River North Hotel Chicago.

As part of our Social Consciousness Program, our employees drop off old newspapers to our community neighbor The Anti-Cruelty Society. Anti-Cruelty reuses these newspapers in both the cat and dog adoption rooms.

We’ve Been Selected As a Favorite Place!,
originally uploaded by Best Western River North Hotel Chicago.

Best Western River North is proud to have been selected a “Favorite Place” by Google.

julie helenius,
originally uploaded by Best Western River North Hotel Chicago.

November 21, 2009 Chicago will be 1,000,000 lights brighter as the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival kicks of the Holiday Season. The procession kicks off at 5:30 pm when Mickey Mouse begins to light the holiday lights along Michigan Ave.

You are in for a musical treat this year! Musical performer and instructor Julie Helenius, accompanied by Karen Jordan and Tony Bobalik, will be performing holiday classics aboard the Best Western Hotels float in this years parade.

2009 Lights Festival ,
originally uploaded by Best Western River North Hotel Chicago.

In 2008 you saw the Best Western NASCAR in the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade (the offical kick off of Chicago’s holiday season).

In 2009, why not be part of the celebration? You can as Best Western Hotels of Illinois is offering a Holiday Getaway Sweepstakes. The winner will get the unique opportunity to ride down Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile on our float during the nationally-televised parade to be aired on ABC stations.

The prize package also includes two nights at Best Western River North Hotel and a $100 gas card.

Now through November 1, consumers can go to www.bestwesternillinois.com/parade09 and register to win.