I was not expecting a pool to be the reason I want to go back to Chicago and stay at this exact hotel again one day. And I never realized that as a grownup that pools would be so important to my hotel stays-it was so important when our kids were small. But there is so much delight in having a wonderful pool that when we find one I think it’s important to share this important detail as much as possible. The pool at the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile is probably the most spectacular and historical pool I’ve ever been to so far.
The Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile is a Historic Hotel
According to its website the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile was built in 1929 and originally served as the men’s Medinah Athletic Club. Johnny Weissmuller (who was an Olympic gold medalist) used the swimming pool to train. It has been the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile since 1990. The Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile was just the hotel my husband’s conference picked for their venue and I tagged along for the adventure. I had no idea that this hotel would be so beautiful or have so much history. You can find more historic details about the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile through the Historic Hotels of America site. (I also booked an undeground pedway walking tour with Inside Chicago while I was there and that was pretty historical too. )
And as for the details about the pool
I made a short video of the pool on my instagram but I think this is a place you need to visit to experience what it feels like. You can’t replicate the feeling in the air in a place like this in a video. Even just walking through the gym to get to the pool feels like maybe you are going to the theatre in another era and not a pool in a hotel. And I almost felt like I should be wearing something other than a swimsuit and bathrobe. There is ornate glass and tile and fountains and balcony-type seating. The pool was warm and even empty when we visited. Apparently they have weekly movies here sometimes and you can visit the pool without staying at the hotel if you use Resort Pass. It’s the type of wonderful pool that as a grownup I almost don’t want to tell kids about but know we have to so we don’t lose places like this in the world
The Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile is in a great location too. One morning I walked to the Goddess and the Baker ( a place I go every time we go to Chicago) nearby and also I had a really delicious breakfast at Egg Harbor and they also have the most comfortable pottery mugs. The Starbucks Roastery and lots of trendy shops were nearby as well. Eataly was also not too far away and I wish they had an Eataly in Seattle. The Intercontinental Chicago was also talked about a bit on the architectural tour we did with Chicago CityPASS.
Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys. She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live. She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)
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