If you are staying at the Chicago Athletic Association, Millennium Park is directly across the street. You might know Millennium Park by its giant shiny bean sculpture called, wildly enough, "THE BEAN." Chicago will be cold in December. Good news! MP's got an ice skating rink. Or just got walk around here and feel cute and local.

Cole's is the irreplaceable dive bar where Cam and Rhea met and spent every Wednesday night for the first two years of their life together. It's also the friendliest, Cheers-iest spot in the universe. Need that everyone knows your name feeling? Hop on the Blue Line toward O'Hare, get off at the California stop and walk two blocks to Cole's. Tell the bartender, Coleman, that Cam and Rhea sent you.

Chicago's got American Gothic AND Nighthawks and then live at the Art Institute. Great museum right next to Millennium Park and walkable from both hotels.

Ugh. This used to be Marshall Fields, Chicago's flagship department store. Now it's a dang Macy's. BUT! The windows will be decorated for Christmas and it's a Windy City tradition to go walk past them, especially after stopping into Macy's to purchase some Frango mints, the official chocolate candy of Marshall Fields and Chicago, still sold at this location.

Casual upscale Mexican eatery from Chicago's top celeb chef, Rick Bayless. Food is legit good and the restaurant is two blocks from the Freehand Hotel.

Subterranean tiki bar with a great atmosphere and stiff drinks. Four block walk from Freehand Hotel. One of the best places to hang in the River North neighborhood.

Great, slightly fancy food and drink just two doors South of the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel.