Things To Do
Des Plaines River Trail
The Westin Chicago North Shore sits off the northern-most portion of the Des Plaines River Trail. Trail access is found on the eastern side of the hotel and at the southeast corner of the southern parking lot. Travel Time: 1 minute walk from The Westin Chicago North Shore Cost: Free
Chicago Botanic Garden
The botanic garden is one of our favorite places to take guests. It offers 385 acres of various gardens, natural environments, and activities such as birding, workshops, and markets. We're particularly fond of the Model Railroad Garden and the Grand Tram Tour - both of which are included with admission. Travel time: 15 minute drive from The Westin Chicago North Shore Cost: Parking is $12 and garden admission is $19.
Indoor Karting at K1 Speed Buffalo Grove
Karting is the activity that brought us together, and it's an activity we love to this day. K1 Speed is just a few minutes away from the venue, and it offers fast electric karts you can drive around a technical indoor track. The facility provides helmets and head socks, and you'll want to bring closed-toe shoes. There is also a minimum adult height requirement of 58 inches. Travel Time: 6 minute drive from the Westin Chicago North Shore. Cost: $30 for one race, with discounts if you buy more than one race, plus $8.50 for an annual K1 license.
Cubs Game at Wrigley Field
We live only a 5 minute walk away from Wrigley field and love to attend games together after a long work day. The Cubs are in town May 1st-May 3rd and play the Diamondbacks! Pro-tips: You can bring in food (if in ziploc baggies) and unopened clear plastic water bottles; if someone offers to take your picture in front of the marquee, you should say no. Travel Time: 45-60 minute drive from The Westin Chicago North Shore with good traffic. Cost: You can usually find decent seats secondhand on StubHub for $30-$45 per ticket. If you need parking, we may be able to get you a street parking pass for free (if you let us know a couple weeks in advance).
Tours & Boats Architecture Tours
A riverboat architecture tour is a must for us whenever we have guests. We like Tours & Boats since their tour guides are really knowledgeable and like to mix in a bit of humor. They also have a dedicated parking lot by their dock, which we find really convenient. Funny enough, the first day of their 2026 season is May 2! Travel Time: 40-60 minute drive from the Westin Chicago North Shore depending on traffic and tolls. Cost: Starts at $50 per person, but you can often find deals on Groupon, and parking is roughly $10.