With Old Man Winter settling in for the season, you may be looking for things to do on these frigid, blustery days. Now is the perfect time for a getaway and Best Western River North is the perfect place.

Best Western River North is offering special, Website only “Winternet” rates starting as low as $79 per night! These great rates won’t be around long, so book your stay today!

In addition to the “too good to miss” rates, here are some exciting reasons to visit Chicago and Best Western River North in January or February:

-Presidents Day is February 15. Which Means no school! Extend your weekend with our great Winter Rates that always include FREE parking you can afford to take a break! Discounted tickets are available at the hotel front desk to Chicago’s most popular attractions like, Shedd Aquarium and the Sears Tower SkyDeck. Spend your time enjoying Chicago, not waiting in ticket lines.

-Free General Admission to the Museum of Science and Industry on weekdays in January.

-Chicago Snow Days January 29-31. Free activities in Grant Park such as Snow Sculpting, Dog Sled races and an Activities Igloo.

-Spend Valentines Day at Best Western River North and experience true Chicago Style deep dish pizza in a new way, Heart Shaped! Heart shaped pizza’s are available at Pizzeria Ora now through February 14. 
-Not a fan of Valentines Day? Celebrate Chinese New Year! February 14. Navy Pier celebrates the “Year of the Tiger” with an afternoon of traditional Chinese performances and activities. Visit www.navypier.com for more information.

-Chicago Winter Dance 2010 - February 1-28. A celebration of ice skating and dancing in Millennium Park. Visit www.explorechicago.org for a complete schedule of activities.

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.

Chicago Hotel - Navy Pier

Here are Chicago’s Top 10 Sightseeing attractions, according to the Chicago Sun Times. How many have you visited? Let us know which are your favorites and why. If you haven’t visited all these attractions, plan a getaway to Chicago!

1. Navy Pier
2. Millennium Park.
3. Chicago Trolley & Double Decker
4. Lincoln Park Zoo ( and did I mention it’s free)
5. Six Flags Great America
6. Brookfield Zoo
7. Willis (Sears) Tower Skydeck
8. Morton Arboretum
9. Chicago Botanic Garden
10. John Hancock Observatory

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.

Jonas Standee Best Western,
originally uploaded by Best Western River North Hotel Chicago.

This summer Best Western is sponsoring the hit TV series JONAS on Disney Channel. Best Western Rewards members who have two qualifing stays from June 21-August 16 can receive a free night voucher plus a JONAS cinch pack.

Tell us why you like the JONAS TV series and you could win an almost life-size  JONAS “standee” like the one pictured here. One blog entry will be chosen at random (one each month, June, July and August) to win!

Our favorite part of the JONAS TV series is that they are including Frankie…the Bonus Jonas!

The Chicago Blues Festival kicks off June 12 through June 14 in Grant Park. Each day of the FREE fest tells a different story about life, loss, independence and freedom and this year we will celebrate the life and work of Robert Nighthawk on the centennial of his birth. Daily Festival hours are from 11am to 9:30pm.

On June 12th, there will be a special 70th Birthday Party for Eddie C. Campbell! He is considered one of the most distinctive, original bluesman ever and is one of the last of the originators of the West Side sound of Chicago blues still performing. The celebration begins at 8:20pm, Friday on the Petrillo stage in Grant Park.

Saturday and Sunday belong to the women of blues! Bettye LaVette performs at 8:20pm, Saturday at the Petrillo stage. LaVette is one of the greatest soul singers in American music history and possesses an incredibly expressive voice that exudes a formidable level of strength and intensity as well as vulnerability. Closing out Sunday night (8:20pm on Petrillo) is Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings. Jones is considered a legend for making new music sound “old School.” And The Dap Kings, sometimes a back-up band to Amy Winehouse, have been sampled by everyone from Kanye West to Jurassic 5, together Sharon and The Dap Kings promise to funkify the Blues Festival.

What better way to celebrate the Real Pirates exhibit at the Field Museum than a Pirate and Pizza Party! Guests of the hotel are invited to attend the poolside celebration on April 18, 2009 from 4pm-6pm.

Complimentary pizza will be served and young pirates can enjoy the family friendly pirate themed actvites and games.

In honor of the Real Pirates exhibit at the Field Museum, we would like to see your Real Pirates!

Now through May 31, 2009 e-mail us a photo of your favorite person or pet dressed like a pirate and you will be entered into our random drawing. One Grand Prize winner will receive a complimentary two night stay at Best Western River North Hotel and four tickets to the Real Pirates exhibit at the Field Museum.

E-mail your entries to: contest@rivernorthhotel.com

Best Western River North featured in Best of the Midwest Magazine

We are pleased to announce that Best Western River North Hotel has been featured in the new edition of Midwest Living Magazine’s Best of The Midwest annual edition.