It’s always special to celebrate the holidays in my hometown of Chicago. In early December I decided to take a break during finals week at Loyola to stay downtown and thoroughly soak up the city’s festive atmosphere. I had a terrific room at the nearby Waldorf Astoria, where I was upgraded to a large suite with a fireplace and a terrace—a little too cold to enjoy the latter, but I did have a great view of the city and a million sparkling holiday lights everywhere. The hotel service and the overall ambience were outstanding, and I enjoyed recharging.

Waldorf Astoria

I then took an ambitious walk from John Hancock Building and Water Tower on Michigan Avenue to the Palmer House in the Loop. My special quest was to view not just the decorations but especially the various Christmas trees on display. They were everywhere — in hotels, restaurants, shops and office buildings. The streets were packed with people, and I was pleased to see the city coming back to life.

Majestic Christmas tree at John Hancock Building.

Palmer House lobby.

Of course, no holiday tradition would be complete without a personal encounter with Santa Claus. My one-on-one occurred as he was taking a break at Neiman-Marcus, a fun way to wrap up my visit and to reinforce the old adage that there truly is “no place like home for the holidays.”

With the big guy himself.

Whether your travels take you around the corner or around the world, may you continue to retain the holiday spirit of hope and joy … and lots and lots of shiny Christmas trees.

— Sue Castorino, Globility Board member and guest blogger