HotelChatter

With special summer rates starting at $169 per night, the Westin Chicago is a quick 5-minute drive from the Taste of Chicago festivities in Grant Park.

From June 27 - July 6, you can check out the event in the (hopefully) not-too-intense sunshine:

The 10-day food festival serves up more than 300 menu items from over 70 restaurants and food vendors, and offers city favorites including Chicago-style hot dogs to global adventurous cuisines. Guests will not only fill their stomach with epicurean delights but also enjoy melodic sounds from the festival's concert stages drawing in local and big name acts.

Among the more well-known acts are Chaka Khan (!), Stevie Wonder, Joss Stone and Plain White T's.

As far as fireworks go, you've got a ton of options. Navy Pier's weekly fireworks presentation will happen as usual on July 2nd, Taste of Chicago has an Independence Day display on July 3rd, and Navy Pier's famous Fourth of July fireballs will go up at 9:30 on the 4th.

So after all that food, if your fat belly is too full for you to venture outside your hotel to see fireworks, The Pier fireworks are easily viewable from the Westin -- ask for a room facing East!

Reservations can be made here; the summer rate promo code is SUMPRE.

[Photo: iaisrailfan]