Flying through the air in Chicagoland

The Acme Hotel Company in Chicago offers many convenient and unusual amenities, as I had discovered when I arrived with friends the nightbefore. I was ready to try out one of their most interesting in the morning.

Morning Joe is the complimentary coffee delivery provided to each guest by Acme Hotel. We took advantage of this, along with their Knock and Drop Bakery delivery.

The West Town Bakery is at the front entrance of the hotel. It is open to guests and the public, but guests can request their room service from a limited menu.

We decided to try some different things and all of them were fresh and delicious: a chocolate croissant for me; a blueberry muffin for Brittany; and the Breakfast Sammy (bacon, cream cheese and sliced tomato on a bagel) for Scott and Amanda.

I wish we had longer to linger at the hotel. It’s not just my opinion that the Acme Hotel Company is a fun and eclectic hotel, it was voted the No. 1 Hotel in Chicago in the Reader’s Choice Awards by Conde Nast Traveler.

We were off early to Ottawa, Illinois, in the Starved Rock area. Brittany, Scott, and Amanda were going skydiving for the first time. I think I was more nervous than they were!

Six years ago, Scott and I had actually had a discussion about going skydiving. We never got around to it. It was definitely not something I’d consider any more, with my back and joint issues.

We arrived at Sky Dive Chicago about a half hour before our scheduled time. 

I accompanied them as they went through the registration process, which included a weigh-in to make sure they didn’t have to many people in the plane.

After a short wait, they each met their partners for their tandem ride. Each were well-trained.

There was a class a didn’t get to attend but was told they were given instructions on what would happen and safety issues.

When they came back up, I watched them with their partners, putting on their gear and getting last minute instructions.

There are different groups waiting so there aren’t a bunch of planes in the air with people jumping all over.

The group for Brittany, Scott, and Amanda was called. They actually looked pretty calm and I tried to stay that way while I wished them good luck.

They boarded the plane and I watched them go up in the air. That part was easy for me as I’ve been a frequent flier since I was a kid.

It was hard to see exactly who was jumping as they weren’t the only ones in the plane. Once Brittany and Scott came down, I was told Amanda was next, so I was able to watch and film her landing.

Sky Dive Chicago was generous in not only providing the dives, but giving us photos and video. This one is from the plane:

For more information and gift certificates, visit the Skydive Chicago website, who provided the three dives.

It was an experience none of us will forget. I have a feeling my friends will be back when Skydive Chicago re-opens in 2020.

Tons of Fun at Acme Hotel Company

I had passed the Acme Hotel Company on a previous trip to Chicago and it looked really interesting, even from the outside. I was excited when they invited me to visit with my friends.

From the moment we stepped inside I know we were someplace fun.

The check-in at Acme Hotel Company was quick and I boarded the elevator to our suite with my friends. It was filled with music albums from a lot of my favorite artists.

We had the one-bedroom suite, and it was spacious enough for a family or group of friends, with a large pullout couch in the living room and two queen beds in the bedroom.

The music theme continued into the room, where we had our own guitar in the living room! 

We also had modern art out the window and in the room, including a Rolling Stones’ style kiss on our mirror.

An Amazon Echo, with Alexa waiting to play our favorite music or tell the staff if we needed anything. 

We even had a DIY cocktail kit so we could mix our own drinks if we didn’t want to go down to the bar.

Scott, Brittany, and Amanda had a concert to go to (Catfish& the Bottlemen), but I had plenty of time to enjoy the hotel.

First, I headed down to The Berkshire Room for drinks and a light dinner. I always love to sit at the bar when I am alone, and this is especially true when there are interesting drinks to be made. 

The Berkshire Room at Acme Hotel prides itself in its unique and handcrafted cocktails. 

They have some that are Barrel Finished, while others are old favorites with a twist.

These include the Old Fashion turned into “Old Money,” with bourbon, Aperol, Walnut Liqueur, and Allspice (it was delicious).

I also tried the Banana Cognac Cocktail. The concoction of cognac, banana brandy, banana cordial, Falerium, and Angostura bitters was flavorful, but not too sweet.

The selection of spirits, and even bitters, at The Berkshire Room bar is huge, so the bartenders can create anything you want.

While chatting with the staff and customers – the crowd grew as the night went on – I also sampled the Charcuterie plate, filled with interesting cheeses, some from the Midwest. There’s also a menu of mini desserts to end with.

I left Berkshire Room and headed upstairs to change into my bathing suit. I had been anxiously waiting for my next stop, the Bunny Slope.

The Acme Hotel Company has a downstairs with a large fitness center and a room they refer to as a Bunny Slope. The room can be rented out for parties, but, on this night, it was empty.

It was the ultimate in relaxation, with a fireplace, a flat screen tv, and crystal-clear water in the whirlpool.

My friends were back from the concert by the time I returned up to the room. We all chatted for a while, and Amanda played the guitar a bit for us.

It was then time to get some rest before an active following day as we were heading to the Starved Rock area to satisfy some bucket lists.