so you want to come to dubuque, eh?

We welcome you to the Midwest and couldn’t be more excited to have you! Directions are hard. That’s why we’ve gathered some information for you to help make booking your trip a breeze. We’ve got recommendations if you’re looking for an extended weekend or just want to swing by for the sweet stuff!

Come and enjoy the city the bride and groom have come to call home. Take a flight into O’Hare or Midway and slide downtown via the El Train or an Uber. Stay downtown at the Virgin Hotel (free happy hour!), where you’ll be close to the Chicago River, Lake Michigan, The Bean and the Art Institute. Spend the day sight-seeing and be sure to stop by the Chicago Athletic Association for the best old-fashioned in the city, shuffleboard, and a history lesson! Looking for a little spice at night? Taste classic cuisine by chef Rick Bayless. Wanting a timeless Chicago meal? Look no further than Gene and Georgetti’s. Or, looking for an adventure? Cruise on over to Eataly. Finally, meander through a dark alley and discover Three Dots and a Dash for a nightcap.

If you’re staying for an extended period of time, we recommend wandering around the trendy Wicker Park neighborhood, right off the blue line El Train stop. And for the ultimate Chicago experience, visit the legendary Kingston Mines blues bar.

getting around chicago

For traveling long distances throughout the city—like from the airport to downtown or from downtown to Wrigleyville—you’ll probably want to take the El Train. Taxis, Uber or Lyft are always an option but just keep traffic and cost in mind. If you’re up for it, you can always rent a bike and Divvy around the city, or along the lake for an enjoyable scenic path.

making your way west

Although Dubuque has a small airport one can fly into, we recommend renting a car on Saturday from Chicago and driving to Dubuque. The trip takes about 3 and a half hours. Heading west from Chicago, you’ll drift through majestic peaks and valleys on Highway 20 before crossing the Mississippi River into Dubuque.

If you’re planning on coming to Chicago, drop us a line! We’d love to greet you before we head to Iowa to prepare for the big day.

If planning to fly to the Midwest, we recommend looking at flights that land in Moline or Cedar Rapids, then renting a car to take the hour drive. Dubuque does have a small airport but flights may be limited and/or pricey. A car may come in handy throughout the weekend because, as we outline further, public transportation options are limited.

HOTEL UPDATE

As of Aug 2nd we learned that the block of rooms at the Grand Harbor that we reserved are all taken up for Saturday night. The Julien Hotel, as well as the Holiday Inn on Main Street, are all booked for Saturday as well. There are still a few rooms at the Grand Harbor available for Friday night, however, we reserved an extra 10 rooms at the Days Inn nearby for Saturday night.

days inn rates

When booking, mention the Whitty-Andracchio wedding. Rates are $85 per night for 2 adults. If more than 2 adults, it’s an extra $10 per person. The discounted rate will be honored until 2 weeks before the wedding.

hotels

We’ve rented a block of rooms at the Grand Harbor Resort. Located right on the Mississippi, there’s a casino close by, the River Museum, and even a water park inside the resort.

grand harbor rates

$129 for Friday night
$149 for Saturday night

When calling to make a reservation, mention the Andracchio-Whitty wedding before August 10th for a discounted rate. Admission to the water park is included with the room.

alternative options

Hotel Julien is located right across the street from Saturday night’s after party at The Lift. The recently renovated Hotel Julien was frequently visited by Al Capone during America’s prohibition era. Rates are a bit higher here. There are other hotels around town too.

eagle point park

You’ll climb your way to the north side of the city on Saturday where the ceremony and reception will take place inside Eagle Point Park’s Riverfront Pavilion.

Accessible primarily by car, we’ve also got a trolley coming to pick up guests from the Grand Harbor or Hotel Julien to take you to the park and back. Since space is limited, please indicate on the RSVP if you’re interested in riding the trolley. If planning to drive, please be safe!

getting around dubuque

Renting a car is probably your most convenient option. Dubuque does have a few taxi services, but don’t expect to be able to Uber or Lyft a ride. As mentioned, we have arranged for a trolley to and from the wedding. Since space is limited, please indicate on the RSVP if you’re interested in riding the trolley.

grabbing a coffee, a sweet, or other treats

If you’ve got some time to explore America’s oldest city west of the Mississippi, we highly recommend taking a trip up and down one of America’s oldest operating elevator cars on 4th Street. You’ll get an amazing view of the city. Stroll along Bluff Street on your way there and grab a coffee at Monk’s.

restaurants and watering holes

There’s a Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning where you can peruse, grab a bite, and listen to bluegrass music by the area’s well-known Breitbach family. If staying at the Grand Harbor, there’s a Tony Roma’s in the resort. For pizza and beers, the Shot Tower is close by. Finer Midwest cuisine can be had at Pepper Sprout (where Gina worked in high school) or L. May (where Gina’s great-grandfather once owned a store inside the building). Go drink a beer with a real stuffed polar bear at Paul’s, or head to 1st & Main or Lot One for solid bar food.