Where To Find Calm And Relaxation In Chicago

There are many reasons to love Chicago, the nation’s third largest city sitting on Lake Michigan and beloved for its iconic skyline, deep dish pizza, Italian beef and top-notch museums. These days however, with more travelers feeling stressed, lonely, and anxious (a recent World Travel Protection survey noted only one third of business travelers are happy traveling for work), finding relaxing activities and sleeping well has never been more important.

If you’re in the Windy City looking for a quiet reflection, you’re in luck. From leafy parks to manicured walking trails, spa and bath treaments, and a renovated hotel with a wellness concept, take a deep breath and find out below where to find calm in Chicago.

“Landscape Art Under Glass »

When it opened in 1908, the Garfield Park Conservatory, was hailed as one of the largest in the world. Start inside landscape architect Jens Jensen’s Fern Room, a lush glass structure a channeling what Illinois might have looked like millions of years ago and hosting a lagoon, waterfalls, and as its name suggests, various ferns. Elsewhere, you’ll find over 600 species spread over the conservatory’s two acres, and a children’s garden hosts climbable sculptures and a slide that twists and turns through trees. Twice a year, flower shows celebrate the beginning of winter and spring.

IMMERSE IN NATURE

Dubbed the “front lawn” of downtown Chicago, enjoy the 319-acres of Millennium Park known for its Anish Kapoor’s iconic Cloud Gate sculpture (« The Bean »), Jaume Plensa’s Crown Fountain, and Frank Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavilion whose summer concerts and winter ice-skating are requisite. Meanwhile, the sprawling Lincoln Park has manicured gardens, a hidden lily pond and trails for quiet strolls — alongside optional stops at the Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory and Lincoln Park Cultural Center. On the city’s eastern edge, the Lakefront Trail is a paved 18-mile path following Lake Michigan’s shoreline; and making a great place to stroll, jog or nab a Divvy bike rental and cruise along stellar beach and skyline views.

On the cusp of the West Loop, Aire Ancient Baths (who also has a Tribeca, NY location) leans into the ancient practice of Roman, Greek and Ottoman bath houses. Housed in a restored factory, the dim, candle-lit space features indoor and outdoor baths with hot and cold temperatures (ranging from a toasty 102 degrees to a chill-inducing 50 degrees) and using a combination of steam, jets and salts. Max your relaxation with a 75-minute Argan oil massage, used by the Berber woman for centuries, or opt for antioxidant-rich wine bath with Spanish Ribera del Duero red grapes.

A 2021 Journal of Positive Psychology study reported consuming art helps reduce stress and combat loneliness. The Art Institute of Chicago (est. 1879) will surely fit a low-cortisol bill, thanks to the Pritzker Prize–winning, Renzo Piano-designed Modern Wing whose renowned collection gives ample space to pause. Reflect at Marc Chagall’s American Windows (1977)— a blue-hued stained glass installation of 36 panels showcasing music, painting, architecture, theater and dance. Don’t miss Spanish-born Surrealist painter Remedios Varo Science Fictions exhibition (thru November 27th) weaving the mystical and the spiritual. Meanwhile, Grant Wood’s American Gothic and Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks in the American galleries never disappoint. Outside, the South Garden, with its Lorado Taft fountain framed by shrubs, cockspur hawthorn trees and honey locust trees, also offers an intimate respite.

WHERE TO STAY

Last year, the iconic Park Hyatt Chicago, reopened its Michigan Avenue doors with a $60 million renovation. An art-savvy hotel with 146 rooms and 36 suites, you’ll find the serene palette of soft creams, grays and blonde wood (because why would you want to compete with the blue expanse of Lake Michigan)?

While any room will beckon calm, you can also book a Wellbeing Suite, equipped with a Bryte Balance mattress, TONAL digital fitness system, spa-inspired rain showers and a soaking tub with Le Labo toiletries. Don’t forget a few swipes of Bulk Apothecary’s eucalyptus sleep oil at night. Meanwhile, the Mindfulness Suite offers an outdoor terrace — and some of the city’s best views. Downstairs, a small spa offers a well-curated menu: a grounding massage with heated basalt stones and a popular HydraFacial. Come mornings, fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, avocado toast and acai bowls crafted by NoMI keep you fueled and ready for work or play.