Every parent needs a romantic night away from kids now and then (or at least a chance to sleep through the night in peace). And years of parenting have taught me that if my kids sleep at grandma's while my husband and I stay home, I'm going to spend a lot of that time cleaning the house! So it was Divine Intervention when Hope of Windy City Social handed me a certificate for a free night at Chicago's Water Tower Sofitel Hotel* just weeks before my anniversary.

When I called to make my reservation, I was greeted with a friendly "Bonjour" and asked if there was any special reason for my visit. I told them my husband and I would be celebrating our anniversary, and they really gave us something to celebrate. Not only did we have a 31st floor room looking out at Chicago's famous John Hancock Observatory and beyond it, Lake Michigan, but we were greeted with a note and a plate of chocolate-dipped strawberries. Ooh la la!

We decided to train it in from the suburbs and though it would have been fun to get dressed up and go out like two mature adults, we opted for a budget and health-friendly getaway. That is, we packed our gym shoes and casual duds and walked all over the city. And I mean all over.

We walked from the John Hancock to beyond the Lincoln Park Zoo on our first night and to the eastern edge of Navy Pier and through Millennium Park the next, with a little romance and a few foot rubs in between.