MANOR BORN LIFESTYLE & ARTS
From proper high tea to elegantly appointed interiors filled with fine antiques, a sojourn at Lake Forest’s iconic Deer Path Inn can feel like a regal escape to the English countryside. With the holidays upon us, there has never been a better time to rediscover this national treasure in our own backyard. BY SHERRY THOMAS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
For the next 24 hours, you will be addressed as English nobility. In this case, a Lady, but Lord is another option, or perhaps Duke or Countess. And as perplexing as that might sound, when you’ve just checked in to the Deer Path Inn—noshing on a delicious cake left just for you, reviewing a decadent itinerary that includes an invitation to a traditional English tea—it might feel, well, normal. This is no ordinary hotel and what you’re about to experience is nothing short of extraordinary. Originally built in the 1860s as a home for Colonel William Sage on the site of an old hunter’s log cabin, the Deer Path Inn as we know it today was the vision of an architect from the legendary Holabird & Root firm. Its half-timber and stucco details were inspired by traditional manor houses in Chiddington, Kent, one of England’s oldest villages. And while a fire destroyed part of the hotel in 1938, that aura that you’ve accidentally stumbled into a royal villa in the English countryside remains. Sure, you may have dined here at The English Room or met friends for a pint downstairs in the White Hart Pub, but to truly understand why this Lake Forest gem (now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a proud member of the Historic Hotels of America) has earned Travel + Leisure magazine recognition as one of the Midwest’s
leading resort hotels, you need to commit to the story. That means checking in. Getting a Britstyle, oversized key. And from that moment,
time and place become as filtered as the old photos on the walls. As you settle into your suite, beautifully appointed with postcard views over the English garden courtyard, the relaxation takes over. Suddenly, the city and the stress of daily life seem far away. You are a Lady or Lord here, and the adventure has just begun. On The Town Your first order of business today (other than enjoying the aforementioned cake) is to venture out for a curated “scavenger hunt” on Market Square—another historic landmark. The concept is brilliant. Visitors to Deer Path Inn (which could include all of your friends and relatives visiting for Thanksgiving and other winter holidays this year) are treated to a full immersion into the splendor of the Square and some of the finest retailers on the North Shore. As part of this Local’s Only hotel package, you will receive a souvenir tote bag that
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features a vintage-style illustration of the city by Lake Forest artist Mark McMahon and a document that serves as a treasure map of all the participating shops and boutiques. This tote will quickly become very useful to collect the gifts (valued at approximately $250) you will collect along the way. True locals know that the historic Market Square (another nod to English architecture, designed by the legendary Howard Van Doren Shaw) is merely steps away from Deer Path Inn but the walk can feel invigorating in the crisp fall air. The first stop is naturally the
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
