I think one of the reasons I enjoy trips to Chicago is because it feels similar to my home city of Philadelphia, with lots of great food, people-watching, great hotels and more. To sum it up, I feel comfortable there — especially in summertime when I don’t have to bundle up for a walk down Michigan Avenue.

All of that is to say I had another lovely trip to the Windy City this past week, and I wanted to share the details of my stay in a new area of town.

For starters, I loved the vibes of the highly recommended Viceroy Chicago. That might have been because of the glass of Champagne handed to me immediately upon check-in, but who is to say? From the modern, eclectic and millennial chic décor to the automatic open-and-close curtains in my suite, I felt right at home.

Viceroy is located in what is famously known as “Viagra Triangle” — for reasons I am just not going to get into. But within that corner of town are a handful of fabulous restaurants and shops that were calling my name.

Nico Osteria offered a beautiful street-side patio for dinner on Tuesday, where we enjoyed steaks and fun appetizers on literally the most beautiful night of summer so far. I loved the ceviche. Another great spot for lunch or dinner is Somerset, the restaurant affiliated with Viceroy, where I ate both lunch and dinner during my stay. I highly recommend the Caesar salad or the pesto pasta with chicken.

Another perk of this infamous triangle are the shops. I was able to walk around the Vuori store. This is a new athletic apparel brand I have been loving. They don’t have a storefront anywhere near me in Philly, so I was pumped to shop in store rather than online.

After each business trip I get such a wave of gratitude and appreciation for this industry that allows me to not only visit but really get to know other cities and areas outside of my own. I truly feel like Chicago welcomes me as an honored guest each and every time I visit. Looking forward to my next trip and more adventures the rest of this year!

— Haley Fogarty, advertising manager