Lightbulb moment: Ditch the thing and gift Dad an experience!
Gift giving is a tricky art. Sometimes the ideas flow while other times you hit a dead end. When in doubt or purely stumped, we vote for an experience – especially for someone you love a lot, like the Dads in your life! They’ll be flattered by a gift experience that includes extra time with their family and/or friends. That Worlds Greatest Dad mug is cool but… Check out the Father’s Day Gift Guide by The Neighborhood Hotel folks and get those wheels turning!
Stay @ The Neighborhood Hotel Grand Beach + A Clay Shooting Lesson w/ Captain Tony @ Deer Creek Hunt Club
Stay @ The Neighborhood Hotel Little Italy + Catch a Chicago Fire Game OR Windy City Smokeout [July 10-13]
Stay @ The Neighborhood Hotel Lincoln Park + Catch a Cubs Game
Stay @ The Neighborhood Hotel New Buffalo + Rock Out at the Zach Bryan Concert [September 6th @ Notre Dame Stadium]
OR
Continue the roadtrip (another 2 hours) & catch the Zach Bryan concert @ The University of Michigan’s stadium [September 6th]
Speaking of roadtrips, we’ve compiled a list of our top 5 tips for kid friendly, roadtrip entertainment!
#1: Snacks: Balance the healthy with a few things “you’d never buy, aka, junk food.” i.e. push pops, fun dip, combos.
#2: Riddles.
#3: Podcasts: NPR’s But Why, Scary Stories for Creepy Kids on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, anything on Wondery. The Libby app is also great for e-books.
#4: Old School Games: Etch A Sketch, Magna Doodle, travel bingo and Wooly Willy.
#5: On-the-Go Crafts: Scratch & Sketch Books, Crayola Twistable Crayons (self sharpening!) & Paint by Sticker
Finally: don’t forget to take those travel pics! We’ve got some hot iPhone camera tips.
Tips for PARENTS Photographing Kids/Family
Use Burst Mode for Kids in Motion
• How: Hold down the shutter button (or swipe left if using newer models).
• Why: Kids have a hard time sitting still. Burst mode takes multiple shots rapidly, so you can pick the one where everyone’s eyes are open and nobody’s mid-movement.
Tap to Focus + Slide to Adjust Exposure
• How: Tap your subject on the screen to focus, then slide your finger up/down to brighten or darken the image.
• Why: Prevents blurry or overexposed photos—especially in difficult lighting (like a sunny tourist attraction or dim restaurant).
Clean the Lens
• How: Quick wipe with a soft cloth or shirt before taking a photo.
• Why: Kids = schmear. A dirty lens produces foggy, low-contrast photos that a filter can’t fix.
Tips for Photographing a HOTEL SUITE that you LOVE
When capturing an interior space, it’s important to:
Utilize the Natural Light
Position yourself near a window to capture soft, diffused light. Try to avoid harsh overhead lights because they can create unflattering shadows.
Adjust Exposure
If the room is dimly lit, you can adjust the exposure on your iPhone camera by tapping the screen to lock focus and then adjusting the slider to brighten the photo.
Capture Angles and Consider the Space’s Composition
Experiment with various angles that showoff the room’s features and create different perspectives. For example, you can take a shot from above to highlight the room’s size or a candid shot by the window to capture a relaxed vibe.
Find Leading Lines
Look for leading lines in the room (like the edge of a table or a window frame) to guide the viewer’s eye and add depth to the image.
Highlight Key Features
Decor: Capture details like a beautifully made bed, intersting furniture designs or a breathtaking view.
Take Candid Shots
Include yourself or friends in the photo to showcase style.
Grab moments where people are looking out at the view or lounging by the window to create a relaxed and natural vibe.
Post-Processing = Useful for ALL Photos
Use editing apps:
VSCO, Snapseed, and Quickshot can help you enhance your photos with filters, adjustments, and other features.
Touch up the photos:
Use editing apps to adjust brightness, contrast, and other settings to achieve the desired look and feel.
About The Neighborhood Hotel
The Neighborhood Hotel was founded in 2020 by Jonathan Gordon — a travel enthusiast who enjoys spaces that inspire, comfort and fuel. Each suite is well equipped for short and longterm stays (i.e. kitchens, laundry, etc.). The Neighborhood Hotel transforms old buildings with compelling history into well outfitted apartment style hotels that honor the old while representing the now. The vibe is fresh and fun with rooms that are stocked to support everyone from the homebody to the adventurer. The hotels provide a basecamp for the explorer and a sanctuary for the traveler who needs to recharge, reset or just chill. The suites are simple and clean, punctuated with accents that bring the right amount of pop. The Neighborhood Hotel has locations in Chicago: Lincoln Park, Little Italy, West Loop (2026 opening) and Southwest Michigan: New Buffalo and Grand Beach.
Read about us in Architectural Digest, Midwest Living and CN Traveler!
Connect with @the.neighborhood.hotel on Instagram and LinkedIn!
