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Excursion

Greetings, WeeM-Goers.

This year, there will be no excursions. Let our WeeM Chair know if you’d like to see them return next year. See “Things to Do Nearby” (below) to create your own excursion.

As we have done for quite a few years, we’re planning a few off-site events for the Thursday of HalloweeM.

This is a work in progress so check back to see if there's a new excursion offered that would be of interest to you.

Sign-up information will be available no later than mid August.

TBA

This is a work in progress so check back in late spring for the list and the sign up form. Excursion will be planned for Thursday, usually mid-morning and/or early afternoon. In years past, we’ve toured several distilleries and sampled fine whiskey, taken a candy tour, visited the Devon’s Desi corridor and the Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime Laboratory, toured the Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Plant and the Sketchbook Brewery Company, enjoyed a wine and olive oil tasting, taken a walking history tour of the 1800s town of Long Grove, the Chicago Executive Airport, and The Grove, created stained glass works-of-art, fired guns, blown glass, enjoyed ethnic cooking classes, and visited architectural gems.

Description
The one-hour walking tour includes a video followed by a visit to the production facility, to watch candy being made—with, of course, a piece of candy provided. They are just starting up tours again, after a few locked-down years, so we only have one guide at present. This is followed by a ½ hour access to the candy outlet, where you can buy their famous chocolates at reduced prices.
Onsite parking available.
Dining Options: See below for recommended places near the hotel but there are plenty of options between the Long Grove Confectionary Factory Tour and the hotel.
Location
333 Lexington Dr. in Buffalo Grove
(2.3 miles NW from the hotel)
Tour Starting Time
10:00 AM
Duration
1 hour walking tour plus ½ hour discounted shopping
Website
https://www.longgrove.com/factory-tours/
Cost
$5/person
Maximum Attendees
20
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HalloweeM 47 Excursion: Long Grove Confectionary Factory Tour

Description
If you go to Halim’s site, it says they are currently only open for special events — but we qualify.
This mind-blowing museum offers two amazing collections — stained glass (Chicago was once the stained-glass capital of the world) and time — hundreds of years of clocks and time pieces from around the world. It’s almost impossible to convey just how astonishing this collection is. Happily, in addition to looking at these splendid time pieces, many displays offer buttons that you can push to find out just what the device does (playing music, moving figures, etc.). The guided tour is 1½ hours but you can wander afterwards, if you wish.
Parking information and public transit options are available on their website.
Dining Options: There are hundreds of places to eat between the hotel and the museum including some of the places listed below that are south of the hotel.
Museum Location
1560 Oak Ave. in Evanston
(16 miles SE from the hotel)
Tour Starting Time
1:30 PM
Duration
1½ hours but museum is open until 5 PM.
Website
https://www.halimmuseum.org/
Cost
$17/person
Maximum Attendees
30 (Excursion Full)
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HalloweeM 47 Excursion: Halim Time and Glass Museum

Transportation To/From Excursion

For the excursion, we will be using shared transportation. When you register, please indicate if you need a ride to/from the hotel or will be getting there of your own accord and, if driving, are willing to give anyone a ride from/to the hotel. 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 an 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 an 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 Excursion

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. 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 need to be registered for WeeM in order to be eligible to go on an excursion. Since the number of people for each excursion 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. Please e‑mail the Excursions Chair  as soon as possible.

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.
Website
http://www.bostonfishmkt.com/menu-wheeling/
Location
333 S. Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling
less than 1½ miles south of the hotel
Description
Classic American, casual, beloved Chicago-area drive-in.
Website
https://superdawg.com/menu-wheeling/
Location
393 S. Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling
~1½ miles south of the hotel
Description
Longtime institution with a huge selection of seafood & a warehouse-like space with 700 seats—a perennial favorite.
Website
http://www.carniceriasjimenez.com/netscape/taqueria.html
Location
550 W. Dundee Rd. in Wheeling
~2 miles southwest of the hotel
Description
It’s a grocery store but it has a great café inside with a wide range of Latin-American specialties on offer.
Website
http://www.carniceriasjimenez.com/netscape/taqueria.html
Location
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.
Website
http://www.pita-inn.com/wheeling
Location
236 McHenry Rd. in Wheeling
~2½ miles southwest of the hotel
Description
Famous for burritos “the size of your head.” Good burritos!
Website
https://www.elfamousburrito.net/menu

Things to Do Nearby

If 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 (10-40 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)
Hours
9:30 AM - 5 PM (M-Sa)
11 AM - 4 PM (Su)
Website
Long Grove Confectionery
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.) 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)
Hours
8:30 AM - 4 PM (M-F)
10 AM - 4 PM (Sa-Su)
Website
https://www.glenviewparks.org/thegrove/
Description
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)
Hours
9 AM - 5 PM
Website
https://www.glenviewparks.org/historicwagnerfarm/
Description
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)
Hours
10 AM - 5 PM (F-W)
10 AM - 8 PM (Th)
Website
https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/
Description
Costumed interpreters introduce you to life on an 1880s farm.
Location
201 S. Plum Grove Rd. in Schaumburg
about 17 miles from hotel (~½ hour)
Hours
10 AM - 4 PM (Tu-Su)
Website
http://www.parkfun.com/spring-valley/heritage-farm
Description
By art, they mean stones used in art and artifacts, not just a nice rock collection. Remarkable little gem of a museum.
Location
1220 Kensington Road in Oak Brook
about 27 miles southwest of hotel (~55 minutes so a bit longer than the rest of the recommendation)
Hours
10 AM - 5 PM (Tu-Sa)
12 PM - 5 PM (Su)
Wednesdays Admission is Free
Website
https://lizzadromuseum.org/
Description
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

Deadlines

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  • Registration - Wednesday, July 17th is the last day to qualify for the special early bird discounts. Discounts for advanced registration are available through Friday, October 18th. (Note: Full payment is required by the appropriate deadline to qualify for the discount for which you registered. )
  • Vendor space - Please complete and submit a Vendor Application by Wednesday, October 23rd. If you have any questions after reviewing the Vendor Flyer containing all the details, contact the WeeM Vendor Liaison .
  • Lodging - The hotel is offering a WeeM rate of $129 through Thursday, October 17th, subject to availability. If the hotel block is full, please contact our WeeM Chair  who will try to expand the block.
  • Speaker/Tournament Submissions - The deadline to submit your proposal for a program or tournament is Sunday, September 1st.

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