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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Chicago. Written by Monica Eng and Justin Kaufmann.

Axios Chicago

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Chicago. Written by Monica Eng and Justin Kauffman.

Axios Chicago Thought Bubble

If you haven't already, now's the time to plan something special for your Valentine. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Pick your favorite or make a day of hopping around to new-to-you museums. Options include the National Museum of Mexican Art and DuSable Museum of African American History.

Celebrate your love with lots of bubbly and upscale bar snacks like oysters, caviar and charcuterie. 

Best for: Members of The Finer Things Club.

3. Have a romantic spa day at AIRE Ancient Baths

Splurge on a couples spa day at AIRE. They have three Valentine's Day packages — all include a dip in the thermal baths — starting at $370.

Best for: Couples celebrating a big anniversary. 

4. Cozy up at home with a wine and charcuterie basket from Augusta Food & Wine

You can order a pre-arranged basket ($86-$235) or head to the shop to curate your own haul of artisanal snacks, cheese and wine.

Best for: Those looking for a quiet night in.

4 Cool Valentine's Day date ideas in Chicago

One suggestion: Play tourist and do a museum tour.

Illustration of a heart with an arrow through it. The tip of the arrow is the Axios A logo.

If you haven&#x27;t already, now&#x27;s the time to plan something special for your Valentine. Here are a few ideas to get you started.1. Play tourist and do a museum tour<ul><li>Pick your favorite or make a day of hopping around to new-to-you museums. Options include the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Museum of Mexican Art " data-vars-click-url="https://nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/" data-vars-content-id="4f0a863d-539a-486d-901f-60a3423174c7" data-vars-headline="4 Cool Valentine&#x27;s Day date ideas in Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/" target="_blank">National Museum of Mexican Art </a>and<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" " data-vars-click-url="https://www.artic.edu/" data-vars-content-id="4f0a863d-539a-486d-901f-60a3423174c7" data-vars-headline="4 Cool Valentine&#x27;s Day date ideas in Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.artic.edu/" target="_blank"> </a><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="DuSable Museum of African American History" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dusablemuseum.org/" data-vars-content-id="4f0a863d-539a-486d-901f-60a3423174c7" data-vars-headline="4 Cool Valentine&#x27;s Day date ideas in Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dusablemuseum.org/" target="_blank">DuSable Museum of African American History</a>.</li><li>Best for: Love birds who love to learn. </li></ul>

Things to Do

From a houseboat to a lavender farm cottage, here are five beautiful Airbnb escapes all under three hours driving distance from Chicago.

If you're looking for a romantic couples' retreat, this renovated coach house in charming Galena might do the trick.

Features: Walking distance to downtown, fireplace, private deck.

Space: 6 guests, 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms

With a trampoline bed and swings for dinner chairs, this Airbnb adds something a little different to your Lake Geneva trip.

Features: Indoor swings, located above a restaurant, good for groups.

If you happen to want to live in a fancy house at the lake, this contemporary home is right on the water and has a pool.

Features: Walking distance from downtown, monthly rental, saltwater pool, hot tub, waterfront.

Space: 10 guests, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms

New Buffalo Lakefront monthly rental interior

Romanticize your life and spend the night at a lavender farm. Doesn't get more soothing than that.

Features: On an active lavender farm, two miles from Lake Michigan, beautiful gardens.

If you really, really like the water, you can sleep on it in this houseboat and use the kayaks to explore. 

Features: Modern interior, community pool and park, right on the water (literally).

5 cool Airbnbs within driving distance of Chicago

List includes everything from a house boat to a lavender farm cottage.

New Buffalo Lakefront w/ Pool, Hot Tub - Monthly!

New Buffalo Lakefront monthly rental. Photo courtesy of Airbnb 

From a houseboat to a lavender farm cottage, here are five beautiful Airbnb escapes all under three hours driving distance from Chicago.<h5>1. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="1850s coach house in Galena" data-vars-click-url="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/51493554?federated_search_id=ff383d84-0804-4830-8e77-236412f8f627&amp;source_impression_id=p3_1645034107_RyaFLPXGDVrob0i%2B" data-vars-content-id="5349577d-92bb-450c-ab0b-88b188cc3e5d" data-vars-headline="5 cool Airbnbs within driving distance of Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/51493554?federated_search_id=ff383d84-0804-4830-8e77-236412f8f627&amp;source_impression_id=p3_1645034107_RyaFLPXGDVrob0i%2B" target="_blank">1850s coach house in Galena</a> </h5>If you&#x27;re looking for a romantic couples&#x27; retreat, this renovated coach house in charming Galena might do the trick.

Spring is here, which means we're ready to get our steps in. 

Here are few walking trails to add to your rotation. 

With scenic parks and skyline views right by the water, this is a can't-miss trail.

Parking:  Trailheads are at E. 71st. Street & S. Shore Dr. (US 41), West Ardmore Avenue, and North Sheridan Road.

Spend some time on the trails and maybe encounter some elk. 

For those days you want to switch up your neighborhood walk, this easy 4.9-miler should do the trick.

3 great walking trails near Chicago

The Lakefront Trail is included (obviously).

Chicago Lakefront Trail. Photo courtesy of AllTrails

Spring is here, which means we&#x27;re ready to get our steps in. <ul><li>Here are few walking trails to add to your rotation. </li></ul>

National mortgage rates have surpassed 5% — making them the highest in more than a decade, Axios' Brianna Crane reports. 

Why it matters: Low rates made buying in a seller's market more affordable during the pandemic.

While median home sale values in Chicago have remained relatively steady in the last few years, up just 3.4% year over year as of March, borrowing money is more expensive now.

State of play: Mortgage rates rose from 2.97% last April to 5.11% this April, according to data from Freddie Mac.

What they're saying: "The increased rates have eliminated some buyers from the market but have also motivated others to find a home after being outbid on numerous other properties," Homeside Financial VP of lending David Hochberg tells Axios.

"The outlook right now for buying in Chicago this spring is fluid, with more buyers than sellers and refinancing of mortgages down over 70%."

By the numbers: If you had taken out a $300,000 30-year mortgage loan in April 2021, your monthly principal and interest would be around $1,260, according to Freddie Mac data.

Your monthly payment on the same loan in April 2022 would be $1,631.

That's $371 more per month, $4,452 more a year and $133,560 more over the life of your loan.

What's next: Mortgage rates are expected to rise throughout the year, averaging 4.6% for 2022 and 5% for 2023, according to Freddie Mac's trend forecast.

Data: Freddie Mac, Redfin; Chart: Simran Parwani/Axios 

https://link.axios.com/click/27681580.44/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZnJlZGRpZW1hYy5jb20vcmVzZWFyY2gvZm9yZWNhc3QvMjAyMjA0MTgtcXVhcnRlcmx5LWZvcmVjYXN0LXB1cmNoYXNlLW1hcmtldC13aWxsLXJlbWFpbi1zb2xpZC1ldmVuLW1vcnRnYWdlLXJhdGVzLXJpc2U_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/612428039e4cf5278e161cc7Bd44dade7

Housing market reeling from rate hike

Mortgage rates have surpassed 5% — making them the highest in more than a decade.

Illustration of a house's roof being taken off by a trend line soaring upward through the home

National mortgage rates have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surpassed 5% " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/05/mortgage-rates-inflation-home-borrowing" data-vars-content-id="e6f98328-d77c-4286-aa9e-be9deaa17334" data-vars-headline="Housing market reeling from rate hike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/05/05/mortgage-rates-inflation-home-borrowing" target="_self">surpassed 5% </a>— making them the highest in more than a decade, Axios&#x27; Brianna Crane reports. Why it matters: Low rates made buying in a seller&#x27;s market more affordable during the pandemic.

Brianna Crane

Featured stories

Housing market reeling from rate hike

3 great walking trails near Chicago

5 cool Airbnbs within driving distance of Chicago

4 Cool Valentine's Day date ideas in Chicago