Check this site in the late spring/early summer for information about our 45th WeeM!
HalloweeM 44½: A WeeM-Away
October 30 – November 1, 2020
Excursions
Greetings, WeeM-Goers.
As we have done for the last few years,
we’re planning a few off-site events for the
Thursday of HalloweeM.
The list of planned excursions
has been posted below.
If any excursion for which you signed up is full, you will be wait-listed and notified should
there be a cancellation. If you need to cancel, please
e‑mail the Excursions Chair
so that a person on the waitlist can go in your place.
List of Excursions for Friday, October 30th
Description
The Chicago Executive Airport, formerly known as Palwaukee, is the third
busiest airport in Illinois. We will be welcomed into the administrative
office for a presentation and then depart on a bus tour of the airfield.
There will be a tour of a Fixed Base Operator (a building where private
aircraft pick up and drop off passengers), and, if available, a chance to
explore the interior of a private aircraft.
Location
1020 S. Plant Rd. in Wheeling (~3 miles south of the Westin)
Children ages 6 and over are welcome if accompanied by an adult
(We need to let the airport know the age of any child under 18,
so please list the exact age of each person in your party 6 or older
and under 18 as of October 30th
in the field provided on the registration form.)
HalloweeM 44½ Excursion: Tour of Chicago Executive Airport
Description
Surprising history and glorious ecology combine at The Grove, home of visionary
John Kennicott and his family. The 145-acre property and its buildings are on
the National Registry of Historic Places, not just because it was settled in
1836, but also because the Kennicotts were more important than you probably
realize. John Kennicott, MD, was largely responsible for the creation of most
of the nation’s state universities, plus he started the Illinois State
Fair and ran it for three years. His son, Robert Kennicott, founded the Chicago
Academy of Sciences and was a key player in acquiring Alaska for the United
States. On top of that, they protected the original forests and wetlands of the
area, as well as elements of Native American culture. So, lots to see and learn
here. (Fortunately, if you want to know more, the gift shop sells books about
the Kennicotts.) Our tour will include the original log cabin in which the
Kennicotts lived from 1836-1856, the Native American village, the one-room
schoolhouse that John Kennicott built, some nature trails, and possibly other
buildings, depending on how current restoration work is going.
Location
1421 Milwaukee Ave. in Glenview (~6 miles southeast of the Westin)
Time
1 PM
Duration
~1 hour—though might last longer if you stay to shop and/or to
wander the extensive grounds after the tour.
12 Important Note: We must let them know by Sept. 30 if we have reached the minimum number for this to run.
If we haven’t reached 12 people by that date, this tour will be cancelled. So if you are interested, register early.
Max. Number of Participants
25
Restrictions
Children old enough to be interested and who can get around on their own
are welcome if accompanied by a parent.
HalloweeM 44½ Excursion: History Tour at The Grove
Transportation To/From Excursions
For the excursions, we will be using shared transportation.
When you register, please indicate if you are willing to give anyone a
ride to/from the hotel, need a ride to/from the hotel, or will be getting
there of your own accord.
If you have any mobility issues, please let us know when you register,
and we’ll check with the venue
to see if they can accommodate you1.
If you need a ride and have mobility issues
that restrict your use of common transit options, also let us know when
you register; we will do our best to check if
anyone driving to the excursion can accommodate you,
but it is highly unlikely.
1CAM is not responsible for transporting or
supplying equipment for members who have mobility issues.
Also note that the start time for the excursion is not
the time we will leave the hotel—it’s when the
event starts at the location. So if you need a ride,
keep an eye out for the confirmation e-mail just before WeeM that will let
you know when drivers and riders will gather at the hotel.
(This does not apply, of course, if you’re meeting us there.)
Kids on Excursions
While some excursions are open to all ages, we do not offer babysitting
on Excursions. As a general rule, parents must accompany anyone under
the age of 16. Some excursions have specific age restrictions that are
noted under the Restrictions heading, and those restrictions supersede the
general rule. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this
policy or regarding specific circumstances, please
contact us before signing up.
Eligibility, Payments, and Wait-List Priority
You must register for WeeM in order to
be eligible to go on any of the excursions.
Since the number of people for each excursions is limited, it is
best you pay as soon as possible.
Although you can pay by check, if your check is not received
within 7 days of registering for an excursion, a later registrant
who has paid may be given priority when the excursion has reached capacity.
Cancellation Policy
If we have to cancel an excursion for any reason, any money collected
will be refunded. Regarding individual cancellations, unfortunately, if
we’re collecting fees, it means the excursion requires us to make
payments in advance to book the space. We may not be able to get
refunds from the vendor and so refunds cannot be guaranteed. However,
if your circumstances or travel plans change after you've booked an
excursion, please let us know. If we can sell your spot to someone
else, we will try to do so and will issue a refund accordingly.
Dining Options
For those of you arriving on Thursday, whether you pick one of our tours or not,
I thought you might like to know a bit about your dining options nearby.
(There are thousands of other options, but these are all within a few minutes of
the hotel — just in case you are going on an excursion.)
Location
412 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling (almost across the street from the hotel)
Description
Revered by local serious foodies, this place has awesomely fresh
and perfectly cooked fish — but in very large servings,
so it is recommended you go with a group, as it’s not very
practical for solo diners.
122 S. Elmhurst Rd. in Wheeling ~2½ miles southwest of the hotel
Description
Seriously good Middle Eastern food, including the best hummus
on the planet. For those who were there, this was the site of
our astonishing Middle Eastern feast last year.
If these excursion don’t appeal to or work for you and you have a car, or know someone who does,
then here are a few suggestions of great places to visit that are not too far from
the hotel (30-40 minutes):
Description
Watch a video about candy making and then tour the facility, to see how
Long Grove’s famous caramels and chocolates are made. (Live production
of any particular confection is likely but not guaranteed.) Chocolate treat
included for all who visit.
Children over age 5 are welcome (focus is on education, so may not be very
exciting for smaller children).
Location
333 Lexington Dr. in Buffalo Grove about 2½ miles from hotel (less than 10 minutes)
Surprising history and glorious ecology combine at The Grove, home of visionary
John Kennicott and his family. The 145-acre property and its buildings are on
the National Registry of Historic Places, not just because it was settled in
1836, but also because the Kennicotts were more important than you probably
realize. John Kennicott, MD, was largely responsible for the creation of most
of the nation’s state universities, plus he started the Illinois State
Fair and ran it for three years. His son, Robert Kennicott, founded the Chicago
Academy of Sciences and was a key player in acquiring Alaska for the United
States. On top of that, they protected the original forests and wetlands of the
area, as well as elements of Native American culture. So, lots to see and learn
here. (Fortunately, if you want to know more, the gift shop sells books about
the Kennicotts.) Tours include the original log cabin in which the
Kennicotts lived from 1836-1856, the Native American village, the one-room
schoolhouse that John Kennicott built, some nature trails, and other
buildings.
Location
1421 Milwaukee Ave. in Glenview (~6 miles southeast of the Westin)
A self-guided tour of the farm is available and is also great fun
— lot of history and information signs, lots of exhibits, lots
of “hands-on” things for kids and adults, lots of farm
animals (horses, cows, pigs, chickens), a nice shop for farm-related
gifts. At this time of year, there
will be pumpkins, corn stalks, and other seasonal items available for
sale, as well. The Farmhouse & the Silo exhibit both close at 3 PM.
Location
1510 Wagner Rd. in Glenview about 10 miles from hotel (~½ hour)
After WW II, Skokie was home to more holocaust survivors than anywhere
else in the world, other than Israel, so Skokie was the natural location
for this moving museum.
Location
9603 Woods Dr. in Skokie about 15 miles from hotel (~½ hour)
Our Excursions Chair has put together a simple-to-follow, self-guided walking tour of
Chicago attractions. If you’re extending your stay in Chicago, this is a great way to discover some
of the hidden and not-so-hidden gems of the city. Contact her and
she’ll e‑mail you the information.
Location
Downtown & Near-North Attractions
The downtown area is about 30 miles southeast of the hotel
and it will typically take about an hour or more to get there.
Hours
Up to you & depends upon attraction
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