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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.
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
- Registration - 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.
HalloweeM