Last weekend we drove 20 minutes from home to enjoy a relaxing (parents only) staycation at an iconic place and it didn’t require us to go into the city…

We went to the charming city of Lake Forest and checked into the lovely Deer Path Inn. The Deer Path Inn was built in 1929 and is modeled after a mid-15th century manor house in Kent, England. While the inn is celebrating a big milestone birthday (90 years) it hasn’t aged a bit. A few years ago, Deer Path Inn underwent a facelift and whether you’re a foodie, history buff, or lover of luxury the inn has something for you.

We were welcomed by an inviting lobby with a warm stone fireplace, leaded windows and beamed ceilings.  The first thing I noticed in the lobby was the colorful array of wellies which serve as a nod to the traditional English inn. The renovations still reflect the integrity of the historic design while the updated guest rooms have a more sophisticated and homey feel to them. It’s the perfect marriage of old world charm and new world sophistication.

Our room was nothing short of amazing. We stayed in the Royal King Suite and truly felt like royalty. I have saved a video room tour on my highlights titled ‘Deer Path Inn’ which will show you every corner of our suite at the inn. When we entered the suite we were greeted with a charming sitting room with a cozy fireplace, built-ins filled with books and a complimentary mini bar stocked with our favorites. In-between the sitting room and master bedroom there was an accommodating closet and vanity. Our bedroom was dreamy with fresh shades of white and the bed was complimented with Frette (my favorite!) linens. The fixtures and decor in our room were classic yet updated. Reconfiguring the bathrooms to reflect a true luxury master bathroom were a large undertaking of the renovations. Our bathroom had a jumbo tub and was stocked with Molton Brown products and Frette robes, which was a true dream combination for this mama.

The Deer Path Inn has three distinctive dining areas. We started our night at The Bar, which was giving me major RL vibes. It’s a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere and the perfect place to start or end the night. The bartender, George, whom didn’t disappoint made me a cocktail called The Queen’s Affair that was served in a gorgeous teapot with oxley small batch gin, fresh raspberries, ginger, black rose liqueur and oleo saccharum & citrus. Kevin is an old fashioned connoisseur and loved his drink too, especially the ice cube. The Bar has a mix of shareable and larger plates plus an extensive  menu of fresh sushi and sashimi. We can’t wait to go back for more cocktails and to try their menu soon.

Another restaurant on my list of places to try is the inn’s White Hart Pub which emulates the atmosphere of an authentic English pub. The menu is filled with traditional pub fare and has an extensive beer and wine lists. It looked like the perfect place for a cozy night with friends.

After drinks at The Bar, we made our way upstairs to the inn’s elegant fine dining restaurant, The English Room. We started our dinner with a beautiful beef carpaccio and rich lobster bisque. I am salivating as I type this reminiscing about both of those dishes. The English Room is a true fine dining experience and makes every meal feel like a special occasion. For my main entree I had the Chilean sea bass and Kevin the filet mignon, both were delectable. We somehow managed to polish off a  yummy banana bread pudding topped with vanilla gelato. I can’t wait to bring Caroline back to The English Room for their traditional afternoon tea.

After dinner, we rolled ourselves upstairs and watched a movie with a roaring fire while sipping on beverages from our custom mini bar. It was truly the most perfect Saturday night for us. The next morning we were able to sleep in and have a leisurely morning with a delicious room service spread. Can we do this every weekend?

You truly never have to leave the property, but if you want to you can walk out the front door of the inn and be in the heart of  Lake Forest. The shops you must visit are: Valentina, Lake Forest Book Store, Lillie Alexander and Penny’s from Heaven. There are also favorites like Lululemon and Williams-Sonoma and Lake Forest is home to one of the nicest Starbucks I’ve ever been to.

The Deer Path Inn is oozing with charm, outstanding service and delicious dining options. It’s the perfect place to eat, stay or celebrate anything whether that be a night out with girlfriends or a wedding anniversary.  We can’t wait to start making more memories at Deer Path Inn. And how lucky are we that it is located on the North Shore?