Ideas For Healthy Meet-Ups
That Accomodate Vegans
And Health-Conscious People


One of the biggest reasons many people fail to sustain healthy habits and social wellness is not knowing how to socialize in healthy ways along with a lack of convenient flexible social eating environments.


There are some ideas below for nice local Meet-Up locations that can be used to promote social wellness and healthy movement by walking on trails in forests together whenever the weather permits (and walking in indoor malls together when it does not), and having lunch together within a flexible eating environment that promotes everyone getting to eat exactly what they want.


Research Regarding Health Benefits Of Walking In Forests


*The health benefits of spending time in forests are thought to be due, in part, to the effect of Phytoncides, a chemical emitted from trees, infra-red sunlight (which can bounce off the leaves in the forest and does not need to shine on you directly to be beneficial), clean air, and lack of urban density.


Research Regarding Health Benefits Of Being Outside In Sunlight


Here is an example of an easy-to-fix-and-pack (if plan ahead), easy-to-carry, and easy-to-eat healthy portable vegan lunch.


*Please verify each of these places before visiting to make sure they are still open and hours.   --We do not accept responsibility or liabilty for any of these businesses or parks.


Here are some ideas for 2-hour Lunch-And-Then-Walk Meet-ups in the following places, with the plan being to meet in the food courts of indoor malls, where everyone is welcome to bring their own lunch, and then walk the mall together after lunch, or, preferably, when the weather permits, go to the nearby park and walk on the trail in the forest.


*The information about the places on this page could change at any time and new places could open at any time.   Please confirm any place you may want to visit is still open via an independent way before planning to visit there.


Columbia, MD


Hanover, MD


Sterling, VA


Springfield, VA


Waldorf and Brandywine, MD



If you live far from the above areas, you can research similar options near you and have healthy meet-ups there.



There are some ideas for some longer Wellness Retreats/Vacations further below that can be done in ways that promote healthy movement and self-care, where you can stay diplomatically in control of what you eat rather than being vulnerable to being served something that is not good for you or that you find offensive.


These are some places that have beautiful mountain views, lake beaches, waterfalls, wooded trails, and an ocean beach, with a nice hotel and places to get organic vegan healthy food nearby, that can help you care for your health.  


You can find similar things in other areas.   These are just a few samples of possible healthy ways to socialize while on retreat/vacation.


*Please verify each of these places before reserving or visiting.   --We do not accept responsibility or liabilty for any of these businesses or parks.


Ideas For Healthy Vegan Retreats/Vacations


Retreat Idea for Sterling, VA


Retreat Idea for Springfield, VA


Retreat Idea for Columbia, MD


Retreat Idea for near Frederick (Thurmont), MD


Retreat Idea for near Hagerstown (Williamsport), MD


Retreat Idea for near Cumberland (Flintstone), MD


Retreat Idea for Deep Creek, MD


Retreat Idea for near Annapolis (Stevensville), MD


Retreat Idea for Assateague and Ocean City, MD


Retreat Idea for Chicago, IL










2-Hour Lunch-And-Then-Walk Meet-up Idea for Columbia, MD


A nice place in Central Maryland for a Healthy Vegan Meet-up Group to meet to enjoy a healthy lunch and walk together is starting in the food court in the Columbia Mall (10300 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia MD 20144).


Each person can easily get whatever they want a few days before (to allow frozen fruit to thaw and allow time to prepare food in a much less stressful way than at the last minute) from the local Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's and/or the local Mom's Organic Market, and can then bring their lunch with them and eat together in the communal eating area of the food court, use the restrooms there, and then walk the mall together afterward.




Or, if the weather permits, go for a walk together on the trail around Lake Kittamaqundi in Baily Park that is about .8 mile away (10275 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia MD 20144), which is right next to the Whole Foods Market there.   You can park in the communal parking right there.   Parking is abundant and free at both of these places.





2-Hour Lunch-And-Then-Walk Meet-up Idea for Hanover, MD


A nice place in Central Maryland for a Healthy Vegan Meet-up Group to meet to enjoy a healthy lunch and walk together is starting in the food court in the Arundel Mills Mall (Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD 21076).   This is about 14 miles SW of downtown Baltimore and about 22 miles from Annapolis).


Each person can easily get whatever they want 2 days before (to allow frozen fruit to thaw and allow time to prepare food in a much less stressful way than at the last minute) from the local Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's and/or the local Mom's Organic Market, and can then bring their lunch with them and eat together in the communal eating area of the food court, use the restrooms there, and then walk the mall together afterward.



Or, if the weather permits, go for a walk together on the trail in the Patuxent Research Refuge Park (10901 Scarlet Tanaer Loop, Laurel, MD 20708), which is about 15 miles from Arundel Mills Mall.   Parking is abundant and free at both of these places.



2-Hour Lunch-And-Then-Walk Meet-up Idea for Sterling, VA


A nice place in Northern Virginia for a Healthy Vegan Meet-up Group to meet for a healthy lunch and walk together is starting in the food court in the Dulles Town Center Mall (21100 Dulles Town Circle, Sterling, VA 20166).




Each person can easily get whatever they want 2 days before (to allow frozen fruit to thaw and allow time to prepare food in a much less stressful way than at the last minute) from the local Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's and/or the local Mom's Organic Market, and can then bring their lunch with them and eat together in the communal eating area of the food court, use the restrooms there, and then walk the mall together afterward.


Or, if the weather permits, go for a walk together in the Claude Moore Park (about 3 miles away at 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling, VA 20164), where they have lovely wooded trails and nice restrooms.   Parking is abundant and free in all these areas.



2-Hour Lunch-And-Then-Walk Meet-up Idea for Springfield, VA


A nice place in Northern Virginia for a Healthy Vegan Meet-up Group to meet for a healthy lunch and then walk together is starting in the food court in Springfield Town Center Mall (6500 Franconia Springfield Pkwy, Springfield VA 22150).



Each person can easily get whatever they want a few days before (to allow frozen fruit to thaw and allow time to prepare food in a much less stressful way than at the last minute) from the local Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's and/or the local Mom's Organic Market, and can then bring their lunch with them and eat together in the communal eating area of the food court, use the restrooms there, and then walk the mall together afterward.


Or, if the weather permits, go for a walk together in the Lake Accotink Park (about 4.2 miles away at 5660 Heming Avenue,Springfield, VA 22150, just off the 495 Beltway), where they have lovely wooded trails and nice restrooms.   Parking is abundant and free in all these areas.




2-Hour Lunch-And-Then-Walk Meet-up Idea for Waldorf and Brandywine, MD


A nice place in Southern Maryland for a Healthy Vegan Meet-up Group to meet for a healthy lunch and walk together is starting in the food court in the St. Charles Town Center Mall in Waldorf, Maryland (11110 Mall Circle, Waldorf, MD 20603).



Each person can easily get whatever they want 2 days before (to allow frozen fruit to thaw and allow time to prepare food in a much less stressful way than at the last minute) from the local Mom's Organic Market (about 1 mile away at 3301 Plaza Drive, Waldorf, MD 20603), and can then bring their lunch with them and eat together in the communal eating area of the food court, use the restrooms there, and then walk the mall together afterward.   Parking is abundant and free at this mall.


The nearest Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are in Annapolis, so if you will be in that area the day before, you could also get some things there.

Or, if the weather permits, go for a walk together in the Cedarville State Forest (about 8 miles away at 10201 Bee Oak Road, Brandywine, MD 20613, where they have lovely wooded trails and restrooms.


Parking is abundant there, but costs $3.00 per vehicle for Maryland residents and $5.00 per vehicle for out-of-state visitors.   You will need to have this in CASH to pay.



Research Regarding Health Benefits Of Walking In Forests


*The health benefits of spending time in forests are thought to be due, in part, to the effect of Phytoncides, a chemical emitted from trees, infra-red sunlight (which can bounce off the leaves in the forest and does not need to shine on you directly to be beneficial), clean air, and lack of urban density.


Research Regarding Health Benefits Of Being Outside In Sunlight


Vegan Wellness Retreat/Vacation Ideas For The Washington, DC Metro Area

Idea for Healthy Vegan Retreat in Sterling, VA



Claude Moore Park
21544 Old Vestals Gap Road
Sterling, VA 20164

has lovely wooded trails and nice restrooms

Parking is free here.



A nice comfortable hotel just about 1.5 miles away from Claude Moore Park, is the

Suburban Studios -- Sterling-Washington Dulles
45510 E. Severn Way
Sterling, VA 20166


This hotel has kitchen facilities in all rooms, provides free parking, and is about 5 miles away from the Dulles Airport.


Take your own Stainless Steel Cooker (that you have used before and have become comfortable with) to use in case the pots they provide are not stainless steel, but are instead something like aluminum or teflon coated.


This hotel may provide a free shuttle service to and from the Dulles airport and may allow pets.   Call the hotel at 571-715-3435.   Call to confirm before relying on.


Connecting rooms with an interior door that opens between them are available, but availability is limited, so request connecting rooms directly wth the hotel, if desired, right after making your reservation, and again shortly before arriving.

Don't count on this hotel to provide healthy organic vegan food.


You can get healthy Organic Vegan food from the local Wegmans, about 1.5 miles away, Mom's Organic Market and Sprouts Farmers Market, both about 4.5 miles away, in Herndon, Whole Foods Market in Ashburn, about 7.5 miles away, and Trader Joe's in Ashburn, about 3.5 miles away.   You may also be able to find some organic fruit and vegetables at the Walmart Super Center in Sterling, which is about .3 miles from the Suburban Studios hotel.


There is also an organic vegan cafe about 4.5 miles away in the same shopping center as Mom's Organic Market in Herndon that has a wonderful vegan organic Thanksgiving Buffet.   You need to get a Reservation for this far in advance at Greenfare Cafe.


The Virginia side of the Great Falls Park is about 14 miles away from this hotel, and the Maryland side of the Great Falls Park is about 25 miles away from this hotel.


Thr Great Falls parks have nice Trails With Public Bathrooms, But Parking Is Not Free:


Great Falls - Virginia side in McLean, VA:
in Northern Virgina near the 495 Beltway

Great Falls Park - McLean
Waterfalls and trails in forest
9200 Old Dominion Drive
McLean, VA 22102



$10 - $20 for one-year parking pass


Potomac, MD:
in Montgomery County

Great Falls Park - Maryland side in Potomac, MD
Officially named Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Waterfalls and trails in forest

11710 MacArthur Blvd.
Potomac, MD 20854




Here is another nice trail that is about 28 miles from the Suburban Studios Hotel

Idea for Healthy Vegan Retreat in Springfield, VA



Lake Accotink Park
5660 Heming Avenue
Springfield, VA 22150
Just off the 495 Beltway



There is a Whole Foods Market and Trader Joes's about 3 miles away from Lake Accotink Park in Springfield Plaza shopping center.


A nice hotel that is closer to Lake Accotink is the Best Western Springfield in Springfield, VA, which is about 4 miles from Lake Accotink Park.


Connecting rooms with an interior door that opens between them are available, but availability is limited, so request connecting rooms directly wth the hotel, if desired, right after making your reservation, and again shortly before arriving.


*This hotel does not have any rooms with kitchens in them, so plan to take food you do not need pots and pans to make with you.   Hotels that do not have full kitchens in the rooms often do not allow cooking in the rooms other than in the microwaves they may provide, so don't plan on using your own electric cooker in hotel rooms that do not have full kitchens in them.


There is a Residence Inn a few miles away that has full kitchens in the guest rooms.


Take your own Stainless Steel Cooker to use in case the pots they provide are not stainless steel, but are instead something like aluminum or teflon coated.



Idea for Healthy Vegan Retreat in Columbia, MD


in Howard County

Bailey Park
This park has a 1.4 mile paved trail connecting loop around Lake Kittamaqundi

right next to Whole Foods
10275 Little Payuxent Pkwy
Columbia, MD 21044

Parking is abundant and free here.


This Whole Foods would be a good place for a meet-up group to meet, have lunch, where each person can easily get whatever they want from the salad/food bar and the rest of the store and can then eat together in the eating area, use the restrooms there, and then go for a walk around Lake Kittamaqundi in Baily park that is righ next door.


If the weather turns out to be inclement, you can then meet at the local mall, which is about .8 mile away, and walk the mall together.










A nice hotel right next to Bailey Park Trail that goes around the lake:

Merriweather Lakehouse Hotel in Columbia, MD

10209 Wincopin Circle
Columbia, MD 21044

This is about 17 miles from the Baltimore International Airport.


Connecting rooms with an interior door that opens between them are available, but availability is limited, so request connecting rooms directly wth the hotel, if desired, right after making your reservation, and again shortly before arriving.

This hotel does not have kitchens in the rooms.


There is a Residence Inn a few miles away that does have full kitchens in the guest rooms.


Take your own Stainless Steel Cooker to use in case the pots they provide are not stainless steel, but are instead something like aluminum or teflon coated.

This hotel does not offer an airport shuttle.




Don't count on this hotel to provide healthy organic vegan food.


You can get healthy Organic Vegan food to take there from the nearby Whole Foods Market, which is about a half-mile away.   There is also a Mom's Organic Market about 7 miles away in Jessup.

Idea for Healthy Vegan Retreat near Frederick (in Thurmont), MD


in Frederick County

Cunningham Falls State Park
Waterfall, trails in forest, and lake with beach
14274 William Houck Drive
Thurmont, MD 21788



State Park Fee/Pass Use


There is a Residence Inn with full kitchens in the guest rooms in Frederick.


This hotel is about .3 mile from Mom's Organic Market and 1.3 miles from Common Market on Buckeystown Pike in Frederick, and about 6.5 miles from Wegmans.


Connecting rooms with an interior door that opens between them are available, but availability is limited, so request connecting rooms directly wth the hotel, if desired, right after making your reservation, and again shortly before arriving.   They also have 2-bedroom suites sharing the same kitchen and living room.


Idea for Healthy Vegan Retreat near Hagerstown (Williamsport), MD


in Washington County

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park - Williamsport, Maryland Visitor Center
with parking and restrooms
205 W. Potomac Street
Williamsport, MD 21795


There are 2 Walmart Supercenters, about 8 miles away from Williamsport, where you get some organic fruits and vegetables.


The Hampton Inn - Hagerstown I-81 is about 10 miles away from Williamsport near I-81.


Connecting rooms with an interior door that opens between them are available, but availability is limited, so request connecting rooms directly wth the hotel, if desired, right after making your reservation, and again shortly before arriving.


The rooms in this hotel do not have kitchens in them.


Places you can meet friends for a healthy vegan organic lunch near trails in forests:


Most restaurants do not allow anyone to bring their own food, do not use filtered water in their drinks, soups, or cooking they serve, and do not use organic food for all their ingredients.


You are free to bring your own lunch to any parks!


Here are some places that have something for everyone, with salad Bars with with some organic vegan options with all ingredients labeled right there on the bars, where everyone is welome to also bring their own food to eat.   So you can stay in control of what you eat and still be able to have social meals with your friends, where everyone can have what they want.


Common Market
5728 Buckeystown Pike, Unit B1
Frederick, MD 21704

They have nice made-to-order fresh Organic smoothies, a salad bar with many Organic Vegan things on it, and some other Organic products you can buy in the store.




Whole Foods Market
(Ones that still have some indoor tables for eating there and convenient parking garages or parking right in front)
in Tysons Corner, Fairfax, Annapolis, and Columbia


Some Mom's Organic Markets have a cafe in them called Naked Lunch, that serves vegan organic food, including soup and fresh-made-to-order vegetable juices, with everything there made with water purified by reverse-osmosis.   You are also welcome to buy anything you want in the rest of the store and eat it in the same area there.


Some things in the Naked Lunch cafe come with cheese made from cow milk, so be sure to specify "NO CHEESE PLEASE" when ordering anything there.


The Mom's Organic Markets that have Naked Lunch cafes in them are Herndon, Jessup, College Park, Washington, DC, and Baltimore.

Vegan Wellness Retreat/Vacation Ideas For The Western Maryland Area

Recommend going when it is not likely to snow because it snows a lot more at the higher altitudes up there,
And they are not as efficient at dealing with the snow there as they are in Minnesota
So recommend going June through September

Idea for Healthy Vegan Retreat near Cumberland (in Flintstone), MD


Rocky Gap State Park
next to Rocky Gap Resort in Flintstone, MD
16701 Lakeview Road NE
Flintstone, MD 21530

There is a trail in a forest there around Lake Habeeb that is 5.2 miles long taking an average of 1 hr 40 minutes to complete

Don't count on this hotel to provide healthy Organic Vegan food.


*This hotel does not have any rooms with kitchens in them, so plan to take food you do not need pots and pans to make with you.   Hotels that do not have full kitchens in the rooms often do not allow cooking in the rooms other than in the microwaves they may provide, so don't plan on using your own electric pressure cooker in hotel rooms that do not have full kitchens in them.


Connecting rooms with an interior door that opens between them are available, but availability is limited, so request connecting rooms directly wth the hotel, if desired, right after making your reservation, and again shortly before arriving.


You can get healthy vegan organic food on the way there from the Mom's Organic Market and Common Market in Frederick, MD.   -- Plan ahead!   Once you are in the Flintstone area, you may be able to get some organic fruits and vegetables at the Walmart Super Center that is about 13 miles away in La Vale.



















*The drive to and from Rocky Gap has breathtaking views of mountains that cannot be realized from pictures!























Even one of the rest areas on the way to Cumberland is amazing:

Sideling Hill Welcome Center And Rest Area


























Idea for Healthy Vegan Retreat in Deep Creek, MD

Deep Creek Lake is another lovely place to visit that has a lake beach and wooded trails near it.






The Baja Motel, with beautiful views of windmills nearby is about 7.5 miles from the parking lot of this beach and wooded trail parking lot.   This hotel is also right next to Mountain Lake Park, which has a free public Splash Pad, restrooms, outdoor shower, and free WiFi.


You cannot tell how lovely this motel really is from the pictures.   The Family suite is especially wonderful.   This motel has a very convenient and efficient automated check-in and check-out method, is extremely clean, and is less expensive than other hotels that are not as nice as this one is.   There is a Walmart Super Center about 5.5 miles away from this motel, where you may be able to get some organic fruits and vegetables.






















Nearby Swallow Falls, resorts in West Virginia, and New Germany State park, are not included here because getting to them requires driving through areas that are outside of cellular reception range.


To be SURE you stay within cellular reception in this area of Western Maryland and West Virgina, you MUST stay on the main highways of I-70 to I-68 to Rt. 219 to Rt. 135, Maryland Hwy.


Do NOT follow your GPS when it tells you to turn before getting to Rt. 219 to save mileage, because going off the main highways will take you outside of cellular reception.


To get to the Sand Beach Parking Lot of Deep Creek Lake from the Baja Motel, go back to Rt. 219, then go Right onto Glendale Road, then Left onto Toothpick Road (which turns into Beckmans Peninsula Road to the Right), stay Straight as Toothpick Road turns into State Park Road, then go Left onto Waterfront Way, then go Left onto Lakeside Trail, the go Left into the Parking Lot.


Vegan Wellness Retreat/Vacation Ideas For East of the Bay Bridge in Maryland

Recommend going when it's not Hurricane Season (which is June through November) and when it's not so crowded

So recommend going December through March when the weather is predicted to be warmer than usual


Idea for Healthy Vegan Retreat near Annapolis (in Stevensville), MD


(Near the Bay Bridge near Annapolis, MD)

Terrapin Nature Park
191 Log Canoe Circle
Stevensville, MD 21666

*Nice to use as a rest/run area on the way to and from Ocean City
Has a nice shady trail for running and beach area










Comfortable Hotel in Grasonville nearby (about 5.3 miles away):
Best Western Kent Narrows Inn




Don't count on this hotel to provide healthy Organic Vegan food.


*This hotel does not have any rooms with kitchens in them, so plan to take food you do not need pots and pans to make with you.   Hotels that do not have full kitchens in the rooms often do not allow cooking in the rooms other than in the microwaves they may provide, so don't plan on using your own electric pressure cooker in hotel rooms that do not have full kitchens in them.


Connecting rooms with an interior door that opens between them are available, but availability is limited, so request connecting rooms directly wth the hotel, if desired, right after making your reservation, and again shortly before arriving.


You can get healthy food from local Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's in Annapolis.


Idea for Healthy Vegan Retreat in Ocean City, MD

Plan to go when it is not Hurricane Season, because chances of flooding there are higher, even if there is no Hurricane there.   April and May are best times to go.

Cambridge, MD (on the way to Ocean City from Annapolis):

Hyatt Regency - a nice place to use as a rest area on the way to and from Ocean City

They have a free parking area and allow people who are not staying there to visit the hotel restaurant, walk their trails, and use their restrooms.   They do not not allow people who are not staying there in the pool area though.


*This hotel does not have any rooms with kitchens in them, so plan to take food you do not need pots and pans to make with you.   Hotels that do not have full kitchens in the rooms often do not allow cooking in the rooms other than in the microwaves they may provide, so don't plan on using your own electric cooker in hotel rooms that do not have full kitchens in them.


Connecting rooms with an interior door that opens between them are available, but availability is limited, so request connecting rooms directly wth the hotel, if desired, right after making your reservation, and again shortly before arriving.




Salisbury, MD:

Salisbury City Park
521 S. Park Drive, Salisbury, MD

Nice to use as a rest/run area on the way to and from Ocean City

Has a nice gravel track for running, restroom, and convenient free parking



There are 2 Walmart Super Centers in Salisbury, where you may be able to get organic fruits and vegetables.

Berlin, MD:

Ocean City is about 10 miles driving from Berlin, MD.


Assateague has both a State and a National park area.


The National Park side has a very nice foot washing station as part of their outside showers.   The State Park side has a very nice Forest Trail.   Both sides have beautiful beach area with wild horses.


There is a Walmart Super Center in Berlin, Maryland, where you may be able to get some fresh and frozen organic fruits and vegetables.









Ocean City, MD:

The Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort
is a nice hotel in Ocean City that is about 10 miles from Assateague.
9100 Coastal Hwy
Ocean City, MD 21842


This hotel offers rooms that provide pots, pans, dishes, glasses, cups, utensils, stove, microwave, and a dishwasher so you can easily fix your own meals.


Take your own Stainless Steel Cooker to use in case the pots they provide are not stainless steel, but are instead something like aluminum or teflon coated.


This hotel does not offer connecting rooms.   They do offer two-and three-bedroom oceanfront condos with full kitchens if desired.






















View of Beach From The Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort Ocean City Web Cam



View Of The Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort Ocean City Web Cam


Don't count on this hotel to provide healthy Organic Vegan food.


You can plan to get healthy organic vegan food on your way there from the local Mom's Organic Market, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's in Annapolis.   --Plan ahead!


You can also get a smaller amount of some healthy organic vegan food from Ocean City Organics when you are in Ocean City.   This store closes very early, so check times before planning to go there -- Plan ahead!



Here are some indoor malls in Maryland and Northern Virginia that can be nice places for meet-up groups to meet, where everyone can have lunch in the food court area, use the restrooms there, and then go for a walk together in the mall. &bsp Plan to go in the afternoon, because many malls close shortly after 6 pm nowadays.


Malls can be good back-up plans to have for when you plan to meet others to walk in the park and the weather turns out to be too inclement to want to stay outside so you can still walk together in the mall.


Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax County, VA

Tysons Corner Center Mall in Tysons, VA

Springfield Town Center Mall in Springfield, VA

Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, MD

Annapolis Mall in Annapolis, MD

Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover, MD (about 22 miles from Annapolis)

Dulles Town Center Mall

The Mall In Columbia

Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick, MD

Valley Mall in Hagerstown, MD, about 3.5 miles from Williamsport, MD

The Centre At Salisbury Mall

St. Charles Town Center Mall in Waldorf

Country Club Mall in La Vale, MD, about 13 miles from Rocky Gap Resort


There is no indoor mall near Deep Creek.   --Recommend going there only when the weather is warm anyway, to avoid the snow, so take umbrellas as back-up plan if it rains then


You can get healthy organic vegan food to take to eat together in these malls from local Mom's Organic Markets, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Wegmans, and Walmart Super Centers.


Idea for Healthy Vegan Retreat in Chicago, IL

There are some nice places along the Chicago River in Chicago that will make walking in the sun interesting and relaxing.

























There are some nice fresh-water sandy beaches on Lake Michigan and forest trails in Chicagoland.

















There are also some nice parks with forest trails in Chicagoland.

Schiller Woods Park
This park is about 11.5 miles from the Wrigley Building and about 3 miles from O'Hare International Airport




Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
This park is about 25 miles SW from the Wrigley Building










One of the reasons many vegans fail to maintain good health is not knowing where they can get healthy vegan food easily that they can make quickly.


You can easily get healthy organic vegan food, with no added sugar or that was ever in cans, at nearby Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's that you can easily throw together by just allowing to thaw and/or boiling.


There is a Whole Foods Market about .2 miles away from the Wrigley Building in Chicago at 255 E. Grand Avenue, and there is a Trader Joe's a few blocks from the Wrigley Building at 44 E. Ontario Street.


These two stores combined will enable you to make healthier, more nutritionally dense, meals than any restaurant will ever serve you, and much less expensively.   While many restaurants say they "value" organic food and "use it whenever possible," they also usually say that they can't guarantee 100% organic food there, due to "possible supply issues," and will resist stating which of their options are not organic at any time, these two markets don't seem to have a problem having a continous supply of these organic things at relatively very inexpensive prices (get Whole Foods own 365-Brand for the least expensive options).


It is good to remain aware that "organic and vegan" does not necessarily mean "healthy" -- i.e., vegan organic cupcakes and things that are deep-fried, such as chips and donuts, are not "healthy."


Both of these stores also have plenty of food that is not so healthy for anyone you may be bringing with you who is not vegan and/or does not want to eat only the healthiest of foods.


There is also a Walmart Super Center nearby where you may be able to get organic oranges when there may not be any available at either Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.   They may also have some other organic fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables there.


There are some indoor malls you can walk in during inclement weather nearby:   The Shops at North Bridge, just a few blocks north of the Wrigley Building, and Water Tower Place, and 900 North Michigan Shops along the Magificant Mile on Michigan Avenue.


The Residence Inn By Marriott - Chicago/River North is about .3 miles from the Wrigley Building and offers rooms that provide pots, pans, dishes, glasses, cups, utensils, stove, microwave, and a dishwasher so you can easily fix your own meals.   Prices seem more expensive in the summer.


Connecting rooms with an interior door that opens between them are available, but availability is limited, so request connecting rooms directly wth the hotel, if desired, right after making your reservation, and again shortly before arriving.


This hotel is about 16 miles from the O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.


The fee to park at this hotel is currently about $70.00 per night.   *This could increase at any time.


To avoid the snow, harsh winters, and highest rates, best times to visit this area are April-May and September-October.































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