Lori Rackl – Page 13 –

People watch the solar eclipse at Saluki Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University on August 21, 2017, in Carbondale, Ill. The state's tourism director Cory Jobe said the event was one of many things that helped boost tourism numbers last year.

Illinois reports record tourism numbers, with nearly 114 million visitors from near and far

August 23, 2019 at 4:20 p.m.

Whether they came for a Route 66 road trip, a total solar eclipse downstate or a music festival in Chicago, nearly 114 million visitors traveled to Illinois last year —...

Moxy guests check in at a corner of the bar, where they're given a room key and a cocktail.

Moxy hotel welcomes ‘fun hunters’ to River North

August 23, 2019 at 4:17 p.m.

Chicago's new Moxy hotel appears to live up to its name. From the bold, industrial-chic design to a bevy of playful touches (press a button on the retro phone to...

See 13 sites, from Rockford to Springfield, along the Frank Lloyd Wright trail

August 23, 2019 at 4:16 p.m.

Arguably the world’s first starchitect, Frank Lloyd Wright amassed a portfolio as thick as a phone book over a career spanning seven decades. His groundbreaking work — both literally and...

Bicentennial bucket list

May 1, 2018 at 2:43 p.m.

Chicago is practically synonymous with great architecture. So you can imagine how hard it was to pick 20 properties — across the entire state — for the latest installment of...

Crowds stand along the riverfront as the Chicago River is dyed green for St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2018, in Chicago.

Chicago reports record first-quarter tourism levels at city’s growing inventory of hotels

August 23, 2019 at 4:13 p.m.

This year's brutal winter didn't keep visitors away from Chicago, which saw its tourism levels hit a record high in the early months of 2018. Hotel room occupancy in the...

The basement lounge area at the Found Chicago hotel is more brightly lit than the upstairs lobby, but it's just as inviting.

Found Chicago hotel opens its doors in River North — for as little as $24 a night

August 23, 2019 at 4:13 p.m.

A new hotel brand makes its debut Tuesday in River North, with some of the rooms starting at prices lower than the cost of parking a car overnight at downtown's...

The new lobby bar at the W Chicago-City Center hotel, located in a historic 1928 Beaux Arts building in the Loop.

W Chicago-City Center hotel rolls out new look, ‘neighborhood’ restaurant

August 23, 2019 at 4:08 p.m.

The W Chicago–City Center hotel has a bold new look — one that plays up local lore and the property's prime location in the Loop. The public can check out...

A double-decker bus crosses the 500 block of North Michigan Avenue last summer.

Chicago ranks high among country’s best-value vacation spots in new survey

August 23, 2019 at 4:06 p.m.

Travelers who want a lot of bang for their buck should pack their bags and head for Chicago, according to Money magazine’s annual survey of destinations that “deliver the highest...

Stacking up the Epic and Ikon ski passes: Which makes most sense for Midwesterners?

August 23, 2019 at 4:04 p.m.

It will cost between $599 and $899 for the 2018-19 ski season’s Ikon Pass, the latest player to offer skiers and snowboarders access to multiple mountain resorts for one lump...

Indy Children’s Museum to open massive new kid-focused sports attraction

August 23, 2019 at 4:01 p.m.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is upping its game with a new sports-related attraction aimed at getting kids — and adults — moving. Debuting March 17 next door to the...

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