Planning meetings and events in Chicago North Shore offers visitors the very best in urban excitement and convenience, as well as access to beautiful tree-lined streets, beaches, parks, and vibrant downtown districts. Bordering the city of Chicago along Lake Michigan, Chicago North Shore includes the communities of Evanston, Skokie, Northbrook, Glenview, and Prospect Heights. Located just 20 minutes north of the city center, Chicago North Shore's event venues are set amid rich arts, dining, and recreational offerings, as well as fabulous accommodations and shopping.
Chicago's two major airports, O'Hare International and Midway International, serve Chicago North Shore. The second-largest airport in the country, O'Hare International, is located 17 miles west of downtown Chicago and 30 minutes from Chicago North Shore. The airport is the nation's only dual-hub airport and is currently undergoing an $8.7 billion modernization program. Located along the south shore of Chicago and an hour from Chicago North Shore, Midway International is served by a number of low-cost air carriers. Passengers traveling through both airports can access downtown Chicago and Chicago North Shore via a number of public transportation options.
Large-scale lodging and meeting venues in Chicago North Shore includethe Westin Chicago North Shore in Wheeling, which features 40,000 square feet of meeting space including a 15,000 square foot ballroom – the largest on the North Shore. The Renaissance Chicago North Shore, in Northbrook and DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago/North Shore Conference Center, in Skokie, both feature 22,000 square feet of meeting space. The Holiday Inn North Shore, in Skokie and Crowne Plaza Chicago-Northbrook span 15,000 square feet of meeting space, while the Hilton Northbrook offers 20,000 square feet of meeting space. Both the Hilton Orrington/Evanston and Wyndham Glenview Suites span 12,000 square feet of meeting space; while for smaller groups, the Hilton Garden Inn Evanston features 5,000 total square feet of meeting space.
Next door to the DoubleTree Hotel Chicago/North Shore Conference Center is Skokie's North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, featuring an 867-seat main theater and a convertible 318-seat theater that can host 550 for a reception. Groups may rent out the theaters, as well as the 6,000-square-foot lobby, rehearsal hall, and two conference rooms. Ideal for intimate gatherings, the stylish SPACE, or Society for the Preservation of Art and Culture in Evanston, is a fully equipped, audio-visual, and music venue, which seats 225 for a concert, up to 120 for a dinner, and up to 200 for a reception. Elsewhere, for a meeting with a side of bocce or bowling, Northbrook's Pinstripes is home to a number of indoor and outdoor bocce courts, 18 bowling lanes, an outdoor patio and fireplace, and banquet space for up to 600 guests.
Exemplary special event venues in Chicago North Shore include the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie. Here, the story of the Holocaust is told through interactive exhibits, video testimonials, artifacts, documents, and photographs. The museum's permanent collection focuses on pre-war German life to eventual liberation and resettlement. Groups may take a private tour of the museum or gather in such spaces as its 240-seat auditorium, six classrooms, Museum Hall, and Pritzker Hall of Reflection. Elsewhere, the beautiful Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe features 385 acres of 24 gardens and 2.5 million plants, situated on nine islands surrounded by lakes. Groups can take tram tours or private garden walking tours, as well as hold onsite meetings and events indoors in first-rate facilities.
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