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 will be posted below. 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 early August. 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 Thursday, October 26th

Description
You know the stories—Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Martian Chronicles, Dandelion Wine, The Illustrated Man (and so much more)—now explore theirauthor. HalloweeM attendees are invited to join us for a visit to the new Ray Bradbury Experience Museum in Waukegan. We will be met by the museum director, who will take us on a tour of the new and still evolving museum. We will then be joined by Ty Rohrer, Cultural Arts Manager for the Waukegan Park District, who will conduct his full Bradbury walking tour of “Green Town,” as Bradbury named Waukegan in books he set there. The longest stretch in the tour is roughly half a mile, but most sites downtown are 2 or 3 blocks apart. So not a killer hike, but you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes. Something of a bonus for those who love history: the Carnegie Library where Bradbury fell in love with literature (and which is on the tour) is the only Carnegie Library that is more than two stories high.
Location
13 N. Genesee St. in Waukegan
(~32 miles northeast of the Westin)
Time
1 PM
Duration
~3 hours—though might last longer if you stay to shop and/or to wander the extensive grounds after the tour.
Cost
$15/person
Website
http://raybradburyexperiencemuseum.org/
Max. Number of Participants
30
Restrictions
Wear comfortable walking shoes.
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HalloweeM 45 Excursion: Ray Bradbury Museum & Walking Tour

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.
Website
http://www.bostonfishmkt.com/menu-wheeling/
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
835 W. Dundee Rd. in Wheeling
~2 miles southwest of the hotel
Description
It’s a Polish deli/grocery/bakery where you can get great carry-out food, hot and cold.
Website
https://mykdmarket.com/
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
http://elfamousburrito.net
Location
228 McHenry Rd. in Buffalo Grove
~3 miles slightly north, mostly west of the hotel
Description
Specializes in excellent southern Indian cuisine.
Website
http://www.hhbuffalogrove.com

Things to Do Nearby

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
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

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