The Mississippi River is the second longest river in the United States, with a length of 2,340 miles (3,770 km) from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico. The longest river, a Mississippi tributary, is the Missouri River measuring 2,540 miles (4,090 km).
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is bounded, from west to east, by the U.S. states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The word "Michigan" was originally used to refer to the lake itself, and is believed to come from the Ojibwa Indian word mishigami, meaning "great water." The lake is slightly larger than the country of Croatia.
The Illinois and Michigan Canal ran 96 miles (155 km) from the Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago on the Chicago River to LaSalle, Illinois, on the Illinois River. It was finished in 1848 and allowed boat transportation from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The canal enabled navigation across the Chicago Portage and helped establish Chicago as the transportation hub of the United States, opening before railroads were laid in the area. It ceased transportation operations in 1933.
Since its grand opening in 2001, The Peninsula Chicago has been awarded numerous accolades including the prestigious Mobil Five-Star and the AAA Five-Diamond awards for the last five consecutive years. Located in the heart of Chicago's "Magnificent Mile," The Peninsula Chicago is the city's most luxurious and sophisticated hotel, offering guests all possible amenities and services.The Peninsula Chicago's 339 luxurious guestrooms and suites are among the largest in the city and are exquisitely furnished in a contemporary yet classical style, with a state-of-the-art electronic system that provides guests the ability to control guestroom features with the touch of a button.
The James Chicago is the first in a new line of hotels that fill the niche between boutique and luxury brands by providing unique style and exceptional service in comfortable surroundings. The hotels are well thought out from the guests' point of view by providing a modern aesthetic with a classic commitment to hospitality. Brad Wilson, most recently V.P. of Operations and a founding member of W Hotels, come together to introduce properties with modern residential comfort and classic hospitality.The James Chicago, located in downtown Chicago, is steps off of Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue) and is centrally located to: The John Hancock Building, McCormick Place, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, River North and the Water Tower.
