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Leave the City Behind at the Indian Lakes Resort

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I spend a lot of time at city hotels, mostly in New York and Chicago, and they certainly have their appeal, but there are times when it’s nice to get away from the hustle and bustle and relax at a resort.  It’s not often you can find a place like that near a major city, but the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort fits that category quite nicely. The Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort is centered about a half hour from both downtown Chicago and Chicago’s O’Hare Airport in the suburban town of Bloomingdale.  It is a full service resort on 260 acres, offering a complete vacation even if you don’t want to go into the city.  I stayed there recently with my friend Theresa Carter (aka, The Local Tourist ) and we proved that point. You can’t have a resort without a spa and the Spa Vargas fits the bill, with massages, body treatments, facials, manicures and pedicures  available.  They offer in-room services and specialize in spa parties.   I went the private route, opting for a Swedish Massage in

Tequila Time

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I’m less than three weeks from my trip to Mazatlan, Mexico , so I figure it’s time to get tequila on the mind.    Tequila is that great mix between strong, spicy and sweet that you aren’t sure if you want to linger over, or down quickly, so I figure I need some practice before I land in Mexico.  It was easy to do thanks to some samples that I happen to have from Casa Noble and Corralejo.   So what did I think of these tasty treats?  Check out the notes and stay tuned until the end – where we have a winner… Casa Noble is a premium tequila that is made with carefully selected and slow cooked Blue Agave. The tequilas are organic certified, coming from 100% natural ingredients. Casa Nobles Tequila Anejo A complex spirit with more spice than some, perhaps because it is aged in French White Oak for two years. Casa Nobles Tequila Blanco This is  tequila that’s fairly light and smooth, making it perfect for drinking, not just downing shots. Corralejo Tequila dates back to 18 th