There’s A Themed Hotel In The Middle Of Nowhere In Illinois You’ll Absolutely Love
Sunset Inn & Suites in Clinton, Illinois offers uniquely themed luxury suites designed for couples, featuring amenities like Jacuzzis, saunas, and a variety of immersive room themes.
Imagine spending the night inside a spaceship! That's right folks, it's not a typo -- we said a spaceship. There's a hotel in Illinois that lets you do that and more depending on which of their 12 themed rooms you choose. From a winter wonderland to an underwater adventure, this hotel has so many diverse aesthetics, you will have to come back again and again. Designed for luxury and relaxation, these rooms are for couples only, so grab your honey and prepare for a hotel stay like none other at Sunset Inn & Suites in Illinois.
Sunset Inn & Suites is in Clinton, which sits between several big cities and college towns. Since it's smack in the middle of Central Illinois, it's easy to get there for a weekend no matter where you live.
You wouldn't know it from the outside, but this is the facade of the hotel where wonder awaits.
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The amenities are great. Outside your room, you'll have access to a 24-hour gym, indoor swimming pool, hot tub, and sauna.
The game room is open most of the day (and night) for 21-and-up fun.
For the rooms themselves, each luxurious suite comes equipped with a Jacuzzi tub for two.
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There's also a huge walk-in shower in each room that includes a waterfall system and massage jets.
Some rooms even have their own private sauna.
Now let's talk about the themes. No kidding about the spaceship! The Space Odyssey room lets you relax in the Milky Way.
No matter the season, you can get cozy in the Starlight Glacier suite and enjoy this fireplace from all four sides of the room.
Dive deep and make some fish friends when you stay in Pearl Under the Sea.
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You can even go back in time with the Roman Retreat and imagine you're a Roman god or goddess!
On the flip side, go camping without the fuss when you stay in Cabin Fever.
If the tropics are more your game, the Hawaiian Waters suite will give you the tiki time of your life.
Romance is sure to spark when you take advantage of the Wine & Roses room, complete with a heart-shaped Jacuzzi.
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Take a walk on the wild side in the Rainforest suite and discover relaxation in the jungle.
You can even seemingly stay underground in the expansive Crystal Cave room.
Enjoy a stay modeled off a classic, magic tale when you visit the Arabian Nights suite.
Your inner travel bug will be satiated in the tropical tiki room, which will make you feel like you've stepped onto your own island!
Finally, you could find yourself amongst the deserts of Africa when you take a Safari Adventure.
Sunset Inn & Suites in Illinois is located at 100 Sunrise Court, P.O. Box 498 Clinton, Illinois, 61727, and you can book a room by visiting either their website or Facebook page.
We all have moments of craving time away from the noise and chaos of city life. Relaxing in the quiet stillness of nature is the perfect antidote to the stressors of the daily grind. Mix in a bit of stargazing at night, and you've found the perfect ticket to rejuvenation. If this getaway description resonates with you, I highly recommend you pack your bags and make your way to one of the most unique and beautiful stargazing hotels in Illinois.
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Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center is nested among groves of pine and oak trees near the town of Oglesby, and it is the only hotel located within Starved Rock State Park.
Due to its distance from dense light pollution from city lights, this lodge within the park is an amazing place to stargaze and admire the night sky.
This charming and historic lodge offers 69 guest rooms, 21 cabin rooms, and a majestic interior with a towering fireplace as its centerpiece.
The cozy Sunset Cabins were hand-built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Nestled among the towering pine and oak trees, you'll love this little slice of wooded paradise.
The rooms are humble yet tastefully appointed, and the beds are quite comfortable, offering you all the comfort and amenities you'll need during your relaxing getaway.
The Lodge Restaurant is one of the hotel's on-site dining options that serves delightfully fresh breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu items.
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Be sure to sample one of their signature dishes, such as the Fried Walleye or Chicken, the Steak and Vegetable of the Day, the Strawberry Pecan Salad, or the Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake.
You won't want to pass up the opportunity for a dip in the large heated pool or the jacuzzi tubs for a bit of water therapy and fun!
Trolley tours are offered year-round for those that would enjoy a guided and educational deep dive into the beauty and rich history of Starved Rock State Park.
There are a variety of tours to choose from that each explore different areas of the park, so be sure to peruse all the options and find the one that best suites your adventuring desires!
LaSalle Canyon and the associated waterfall is one of the many beautiful areas that you can explore within the park during your visit. There are quite a few caves, waterfalls, and hiking trails that wind through the park.
The park is a great place to soak in the views of the starry night sky as well, so I highly recommend that you make it a point to enjoy the park at night as well!
Starved Rock State Park is worth taking at least a full day to explore on its own, but better yet if you can set aside multiple days to hike and explore. Don't forget to bring your camera so you can capture these magical views!
Have you ever stayed at Starved Rock Lodge within Starved Rock State Park? Would you add this charming destination to your travel bucket list? If you have visited the lodge or the park itself, we'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
If you enjoy road trips, I highly recommend you embark on this scenic road trip in Illinois that not only leads you to Starved Rock State Park, but also to other beautiful parks, botanical gardens, scenic drives, and more.
My husband and I recently celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary, and though travel can be a challenge with our pets, we decided to try and make a weekend away work. Though there are so many incredible accommodation options in Illinois, especially living just outside Chicago, we wanted to get out of the hustle-and-bustle of the city and collar suburbs. So where do Chicago-area folks go to escape the crowds for a leisurely adventure? It seemed a romantic getaway in Lake Forest, Illinois was calling our name from one of the state's — and country's — top resorts: the award-winning Deer Path Inn.
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Named the #1 Resort Hotel in the Midwest five times by "Travel + Leisure," the publication has also ranked this Illinois resort among the top resorts in the US and best hotels in the world. The Deer Path Inn certainly lived up to its stellar reputation, and if our experience has you inspired to book a stay at this award-winning resort, be sure to check out our exclusive offer below.
For our weekend escape, we visited the historic Deer Path Inn, located at 255 E. Illinois Road, in the lush North Shore suburb of Lake Forest. The inn was designed by noted architect William C. Jones to showcase a half-timbered and stucco manor house inspired by 15th-century homes in one of the oldest villages in England, Chiddingstone in Kent.
The inn is less than an hour north of Chicago, and just under an hour from our home in suburban Berwyn.
Because the quaint hotel offers only 57 rooms, it can offer highly personalized experiences and excels in attention to detail. Amenities, like cookies, candies, and water — staples in English hospitality culture — are offered generously throughout the lobby, and there are complimentary bikes and beach passes available for visitors so they can take advantage of nearby Lake Michigan, which is only a mile away.
The common areas are warm and inviting, with fireplaces, paintings outlined with thick gold frames, candlelit chandeliers, luxurious leathers, and tones of honey, caramel, chocolate, and butterscotch throughout the decor.
An addition to the lobby in 2015 was this stunning lounge, where morning coffee and muffins are served, and where locals regularly congregate while waiting for a table at The Bar downstairs.
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Our room was a Manor House King Suite with a wet bar, which had cream and tan furniture complimenting bright white walls and linens against a black stone countertop and dark brown wood.
The room also featured a flatscreen TV, fireplace, and writing desk.
A detail that I loved was the herringbone wood floor, which zig-zagged between the living room area and bedroom.
Our wet bar was also stocked with complimentary miniature liquor bottles such as Grey Goose Vodka, Maker's Mark, and Bailey's Irish Cream, as well as mixers, snacks, wine, and water.
We were greeted with a handwritten note, as well as a chilling bottle of champagne and a beautiful display of fresh fruit sushi with chocolate sauce and chocolate shavings, in celebration of our anniversary. This was an unexpected treat, and spoke to the customizable experience potential the hotel could offer.
Our bedroom featured a spacious King bed, as well as another fireplace and TV. With a walk-in closet, full-size dresser, and two nightstands, there was more than enough storage space for all our belongings.
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The bathroom offered a spa-like treatment with its marble tile walk-in shower.
I quickly learned that no trip to the Deer Path Inn is complete without an afternoon tea session in the spectacular garden room, which showcases a full wall of windows that look out into the private courtyard. Its black-and-white decor is accented by fresh tabletop bouquets, mosaic floor tiles, and an abundance of healthy green plants.
This was absolutely my favorite room in the hotel.
Our tea experience included a large, but not overwhelming, menu of tea offerings — I opted for the very pink Raspberry Floss and my husband ordered the house 1929 Blend — two fresh scones, and a three-tier tray filled with finger sandwiches, mini-quiches, and an assortment of small pastries. I loved the roast beef sandwich, the fruit tarts, and the Queen Anne cakes.
After a lovely tea lunch, I had to get to the other side of the windows to see the courtyard for myself. Surrounded on all sides by ivy-covered walls, trees, and the European-style hotel exterior, the space feels insular and truly transports you to another place.
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Adding to its tranquility is a statue of a relaxing deer with a small waterfall underneath.
In the evening, we headed to the inn's basement level, where the White Hart Pub and The Bar are located. Two different, but complimentary rooms, both places exude a sense of British sensibility. The White Hart Pub embodies a classic English pub, while The Bar offers a slightly more upscale experience with spot-lit framed paintings of hunting dogs, deep navy walls, and warm lighting.
Though everything on the menu looked good, we went for a sharable plate of meatballs, an heirloom tomato salad, and signature gin and tonics (one alcoholic, one alcohol-free). The meatballs were exceptional with the complimentary herbal bread, and the salad was bright and tasty. Both drinks were thoroughly garnished, and several diners asked what we had ordered so they could follow suit.
We also learned that The Bar is not only a place for visitors to eat, but it's also one of the most popular restaurants and gathering spots in town for locals. Almost everyone in the dining room appeared to know each other and would freely get up to speak with friends at another table. It was lively, and refreshing to see how the inn was incorporated into the fabric of the community.
The Bar is also known for its sushi — a surprising but delightful quirk. Though I'm not usually a sushi fan, we decided to order the Negitoro maki, which featured Toro tuna and scallions. To my amazement, I absolutely loved it and ate several pieces.
The next day, we spent the early afternoon back at The Bar for a private cocktail demonstration and tasting with Chief Spirits Officer and bartender extraordinaire Jorge. Although my husband doesn't drink alcohol, it was no problem for Jorge, who was able to create stunning alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions of drinks that both tasted incredible.
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With a background in arts, engineering, and mixology, Jorge's creative mind and skill are evident behind the bar — his creations and presentations were as delicious as they were gorgeous.
From an Old Fashioned with gold-covered cherries to the watermelon sushi and cocktail above, his skill was beyond impressive, and there wasn't one drink we didn't like. Jorge is also the talent behind the inn's Christmas dollhouse-style gingerbread house, wherein he makes an amazingly detailed recreation of the hotel, complete with little guests inside.
After that, I was ready for some fresh air! So, we began to embark on our scavenger hunt — part of the Locals Only Package. The adventure consists of exploring the charming Market Square shopping area, which is just a short walk from the hotel.
There, we used a provided list to find our target stores — clothing boutiques, a book store, a coffee shop, a confectionary, and more — where we would spend time perusing the shop before receiving a small gift from the counter. The package includes $250 worth of goodies from local vendors, plus an afternoon of exploring the gorgeous neighborhood.
My favorite stop was Amidei Mercatino, an alleyway market at 235 Southgate that specializes in fresh produce, flowers, and canned goods like pickles, sauces, and jams. Our scavenger hunt yielded us a jar of golden Lake Forest Honey, while we also decided to buy a jar of apple butter and a jar of peach salsa to make sure we fully took advantage of the local flavors.
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An array of dazzling flavors and locally sourced ingredients are also on full display on the menu at The English Room, the inn's fine dining option. Just steps away from the hotel's front entrance, the main room is an impressive demonstration of an English manor-inspired dining hall that felt both regal and comfortable without being pretentious.
In the evening, dinner service for The English Room is available on the patio, and with idyllic fall weather, a star-lit sky, and plenty of ambiance, we couldn't resist. Our meal of Caesar salad, steak, and beef tenderloin with mouthwatering potatoes, demi-glaze, and succulent vegetables in the courtyard was a filling and picturesque way to finish the day.
In the morning, we enjoyed a proper English breakfast in our room with eggs Benedict, bacon rashers, beans, sausages, and hashbrowns. With the light filtering in through the windows, and with a hot cup of coffee always within reach, it truly was the perfect way to wrap up our weekend before heading back into the real world.
While the Deer Path Inn also regularly hosts weddings, reunions, and business gatherings, our romantic getaway in Lake Forest, Illinois was a highly personalized and special way to celebrate a decade together. It's obvious why families, couples, and locals continue to incorporate it into their memories and traditions. Even the manager told me her experiences coming to the inn with family as a little girl shaped her desire to want to work there today.
As a thank you to guests to mark this milestone, the Inn is offering a complimentary welcome gift and bottle of sparkling wine when guests book the “Travel + Leisure World’s Best Winner 2024” package July 10 through September 30.Travel can take place any time through December 30, 2024. Start making your own plans by visiting the Deer Path Inn website, and keep up-to-date on all things at the inn by following their Facebook page.
And if you want the scavenger hunt, afternoon tea, and English Room dinner experience we had, make sure to book the Locals Only Package.