HomeMiGirl Chicago 2024 Itinerary

MiGirl Chicago 2024 Itinerary

MiGirl Chicago Itinerary Nov. 8-10, 2024

DAY 1 – FRIDAY

7:15 a.m. – Traverse City pick up – passenger loading begins

  • Meijer, 3955 US-31, Traverse City, MI 49684 (This is the original Meijer in TC)
  • Look for our huge motor coach!
  • This year we will be staging by the car wash next to Meijer. Please park a couple rows back from the charging stations. There is limited space so please carpool or ask for someone to drop/pick you up. 
  • You can leave your car parked here for the weekend, at your own risk. The security team at Meijer is aware of our group leaving cars there.
  • Meijer is open for any last-minute snacks/bathroom!

8:00 a.m. – Depart Traverse City SHARP*

*PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU MISS THE BUS, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION. WE LEAVE AT 8AM ON THE NOSE. PARTY TIME!

  • Do not board the bus without checking in and getting a luggage tag. This is considered the “check-in” process. Once you get a luggage tag, put it on your suitcase. There will be a bus driver there to load it under the bus for you.
  • You are asked to bring ONE suitcase per person. I will have one luggage tag for each person for the bus driver to keep track of. This is stored under the bus. You must label any other carry-ons and you can keep it in your seat or in the overhead storage above your seat or under the bus. But be sure to remember anything beyond the 1 labeled suitcase is your responsibility to make sure it gets on/off the bus safely. The bus has some open seats this year – so you can spread out a little!  
  • Food, adult beverages and soft drinks are allowed on the bus. Please be sure to clean up after your feral self.
  • There will be sections of the bus reserved for groups with friends getting picked up in Cadillac or GR. Please respect the signage on the bus reserved for these gals so they are able to sit together. Thanks!
  • The first few ROWS on both sides of the aisle are reserved for the hostesses and wine (VIP). These are marked reserved. Please sit beyond those rows. It is first come, first seated on the bus except where marked for GR and Cadillac passengers. You will have the same seat all weekend – both on the way there and on the way back, so get comfy!
  • Once we are on our way, we will hand out goodies. We will have games and prizes en route as well as wine we’ve brought to share a toast with everyone. 
  • There is a small bathroom on the bus. We will also have a bathroom break at Grand Rapids at the Walmart (2 hours away) and at lunch in Chesterson (another 2 hours down the road).
  • There are plug-in (and USB) outlets on the bus for charging your phone.

9:00 a.m.– Cadillac pick up

  • Exit 183 off US-131 Boon Rd. Park and Ride.
  • Street address: 9902 E Boon Rd Cadillac, Mi 49601
  • From northbound US – 131 turn left/east onto Boon Rd. in Cadillac. Lot is on right/south.
  • From southbound US -131 turn left/east onto Boon Rd. in Cadillac. Lot is on right/south.
  • MapQuest pin: http://mapq.st/2Nbt8kr

10:30 a.m. – Grand Rapids pick up

  • Location: Walmart Exit 67 off I-196
  • Address: Walmart, 4542 Kenowa Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418.
  • Park on the west side of Walmart’s parking lot. You can leave your car parked here for the weekend, at your own risk. 
  • We will have a 15 min. bathroom break.

TIME CHANGE – WE MOVE BACK 1 HOUR FOR CHICAGO TIME.

FOLLOWING TIMES ARE CHICAGO TIME ZONE.

11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – LUNCH at Chesterton

  • Chesterton, IN, Exit 26A off I-94.
  • 45-minute lunch break
  • Bus parks near: Arby’s, 706 Plaza Dr., Chesteron, IN.
  • There are a variety of fast food options you can walk to. Lunch is not included and is on your own. Do not choose a sit-down restaurant for lunch or you will be left behind with a flourish. 
  • You are welcome to get food to-go and eat on the bus.
  • Depart lunch approx. 12:30 p.m. Depending on when the bus arrived, we will be departing 45 mins. after arrival. Be sure to listen to your bus leader on the TIME of DEPARTURE.

2:30 p.m. – Arrive at HOTEL

  • Arrive at hotel between 2:30-3 p.m.
  • Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile
  • 165 E Ontario Street, Chicago, IL  60611
  • Each room includes 2 queen beds, a mini fridge, coffeemaker and one bathroom.
  • There are NO microwaves in the rooms and there is NO continental breakfast.
  • Wifi is free. You log in with your last name and room number.
  • You will need a key to get to every floor in the hotel, so make sure everyone keeps a key on them at all times.

Food options at the hotel:

  • CopperFox Restaurant is located in the lobby, open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. 
  • Starbucks: Also located in the lobby, open from 7am-5pm.

CHECK-IN:

  • Please remain on the bus until your bus host releases you.
  • Check-in is at 4 p.m. They are trying to get our group in closer to 3 p.m. but there is no guarantee. We will hand out keys to anyone whose room is ready. Otherwise, they are going to give us a room to put our bags into so that you can go shop/cruise around instead of wait in the lobby. 
  • There is NO porter service included. You may ask/tip porters as you’d like.
  • If your room is ready, you will be handed your key ON THE BUS. If your room is not ready, you will have to check in at the front desk after 4 p.m. to get your keys individually. I (beg) ask the hotel every year to have our rooms ready all together upon our arrival and some years we have better luck than others!
  • As you exit the bus, please get your own luggage (the bus driver will be unloading it and setting it on the sidewalk). 
  • Items you leave on the bus: You will have access to the bus FRIDAY night when we go to the show. Otherwise, you will not see the bus again until Sunday AM. The bus is locked for the weekend, but please do not leave valuables on the bus.
  • If you get your key from me, you do not need to check in at the hotel registration desk unless you want to order amenity services on your own credit card, such as “in room” movies, cash bar, etc. 
  • Please be patient as there will be a line for the elevator. Last time we were all checked in within 30 minutes. The wine on the way down will ensure your mood is chipper and the line is a total riot (in a good way).
  • EAT dinner on your own before the show – it will be a long wait at area restaurants so plan accordingly! I suggest making any reservations NOW – for like 4pm! Or snack/pizza in your room. Dinner is not included in your package. Eat early so you don’t miss the bus to the show.
  • This is a non-smoking hotel. It is a $300 charge for smoking. They WILL enforce it.

6:10 p.m.– Load bus in front of hotel to head to the show. We are checking in as a group – stick with your leader! We will not be doing a headcount so be prompt if you’d like to use the bus transportation.

NOTE: You may choose to NOT use the bus to get to/from the show and instead arrive there on your own. If you are meeting us at the theater, please find our group – we will hard to miss.

6:45 p.m.  – Arrive at:

The Trickery
https://www.trickerychicago.com
3453 N Halsted Street, Chicago, IL

7:00 p.m. – Show starts. Running time is 1 hour. This show is BYOB – bring drinks if you’d like! They do NOT sell alcohol. This is a private show for MiGirl – so it’s just us in the theater, fyi – so let’s get to know each other!

8:15 p.m.– Load bus and depart theater. You have time to use the bathroom and then head out to the bus. There are restaurants in the area if you want to stay on your own. We are 4.5 miles from the hotel, fyi, a roughly 30-minute cab ride.

8:45 p.m.– Arrive back at hotel, get some sleep or paint the town red or even a pale pink.

DAY 2 – SATURDAY

Breakfast is not included in your package and is on your own.

Food options near the hotel:

ALL DAY ON YOUR OWN – Enjoy this time to explore and shop Chicago. Make all dinner reservations before we get down there! You will have a hard time getting into restaurants. 

DAY 3 – SUNDAY

8:30 a.m.– There is NO porter service, please bring bags down. It is one bag per person with your luggage tag on it as we started with on Friday. Any other bags you have acquired (ahem), bring downstairs too and give to your bus driver to load under the bus. It will be your job to make sure that extra bag comes off at your drop-off location, so don’t forget it. Ideally these need your NAME ON THEM. The bus driver will only be responsible for the one tagged piece of luggage.

8:45 a.m. – Load bus. Must be checked in on bus. Please sit in the SAME SEAT. Please do not move your seat. It causes confusion and delay when we are in a weakened state!

9:00 a.m. – Depart Chicago at 9 a.m. SHARP*
This is 9 a.m. Chicago time (10 a.m. Michigan time)

*PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU MISS THE BUS, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION HOME. 

TIME CHANGE – We MOVE FORWARD 1 HOUR – TO MICHIGAN TIME

1:15 p.m.– Grand Rapids drop off & LUNCH BREAK 

  • Walmart on Exit 67 off I-196, 4542 Kenowa Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418.
  • 30-minute break –pick up something from Walmart grocery/deli for early lunch. 

3:15 p.m.– Cadillac drop off-Exit 183 off US-131 Boon Rd. Park and Ride. 

  • Exit 183 off US-131 Boon Rd. Park and Ride.

4:15 p.m.– Traverse City drop off – Arrive back in Traverse City at Meijer. Be sure to text your ride so that you can have your chariot waiting! Home sweet home!