Gencon 2010 Trip Planning

[jtwilkins]

It looks like I may have talked my non card playing wife into going to Gencon this year. It will be my first and I am asking for planning tips, hotel & parking recommendations and what a person can do that is not con related for my wife.
Some things to note:
It's a quick drive from Michigan.
It will be only us two, so no room stacking to bring down costs. This said it is a vacation with my wife so I'm not looking to stay in a shit hole. I found some good prices for rooms not directly next to the Con but I am worried about transportation.
My wife read and is interested in some of the spouse activities but I feel stupid buying a full weekend pass so she can do these activities.

Thanks

[LordHomerCat]

If you are gonna be at the Con, try and find a hotel close enough to walk.  Parking sucks (really badly) and you will not enjoy trying to find a spot every morning.

Also, note the prices on passes.  Usually, 2 days is more expensive than just getting a full weekend pass.  If you're gonna be there more than one day, it will probably be cheaper to just get full passes.  Also, book your hotel ASAP.  Many are full already.

If she is into games of any kind (or fantasy, or pretty much anything like semi-dorky), there will be tons to do.  The con itself is just rooms upon rooms of every type of game you can think of, from CCGs to board games and lots more.  I've never been into it but there are probably panels with artists and designers and such, demos of anything and everything you can try, and lots of weird, dressed up people to stare at (TONS of these).  Again, magic is only a small part of the con (one room really, and often a shared room with other stuff).  It is one of the biggest Cons in the country and if you are the type who enjoys those things, Gencon will be great.

My opinion of Indy is that it kinda sucks.  I can't recommend much else to do there sadly.

[vassago]

If you are gonna be at the Con, try and find a hotel close enough to walk.  Parking sucks (really badly) and you will not enjoy trying to find a spot every morning.

Also, note the prices on passes.  Usually, 2 days is more expensive than just getting a full weekend pass.  If you're gonna be there more than one day, it will probably be cheaper to just get full passes.  Also, book your hotel ASAP.  Many are full already.

If she is into games of any kind (or fantasy, or pretty much anything like semi-dorky), there will be tons to do.  The con itself is just rooms upon rooms of every type of game you can think of, from CCGs to board games and lots more.  I've never been into it but there are probably panels with artists and designers and such, demos of anything and everything you can try, and lots of weird, dressed up people to stare at (TONS of these).  Again, magic is only a small part of the con (one room really, and often a shared room with other stuff).  It is one of the biggest Cons in the country and if you are the type who enjoys those things, Gencon will be great.

My opinion of Indy is that it kinda sucks.  I can't recommend much else to do there sadly.

Ditto.  It may be a bit expensive, but stay at a hotel close to the con, LHC said. We made the mistake of staying to far away and the Taxi costs were stupid expensive.  And Indy, as a town, does suck.  In fact, I would go so far as to say to say it's a shit hole. Gencon might be the only thing that town has...

[Bera]

If you are gonna be at the Con, try and find a hotel close enough to walk.  Parking sucks (really badly) and you will not enjoy trying to find a spot every morning.

Also, note the prices on passes.  Usually, 2 days is more expensive than just getting a full weekend pass.  If you're gonna be there more than one day, it will probably be cheaper to just get full passes.  Also, book your hotel ASAP.  Many are full already.

If she is into games of any kind (or fantasy, or pretty much anything like semi-dorky), there will be tons to do.  The con itself is just rooms upon rooms of every type of game you can think of, from CCGs to board games and lots more.  I've never been into it but there are probably panels with artists and designers and such, demos of anything and everything you can try, and lots of weird, dressed up people to stare at (TONS of these).  Again, magic is only a small part of the con (one room really, and often a shared room with other stuff).  It is one of the biggest Cons in the country and if you are the type who enjoys those things, Gencon will be great.

My opinion of Indy is that it kinda sucks.  I can't recommend much else to do there sadly.

Ditto.  It may be a bit expensive, but stay at a hotel close to the con, LHC said. We made the mistake of staying to far away and the Taxi costs were stupid expensive.  And Indy, as a town, does suck.  In fact, I would go so far as to say to say it's a shit hole. Gencon might be the only thing that town has...

unless you're a lolnascar fan

[Diakonov]

I wouldn't say it's that bad.  There's really not much to do, but you at least have to give it credit for being very clean and simple to navigate.  The people there seem to be very friendly, also, but then again I live in Massachusetts.

You might be able to go watch a Colts scrimmage or something.  There are some cornfields to stare at.

[semioldguy]

I go to GenCon each year and know some people in the area, usually go a few days early to hang out and do things.

Some things I can think of are a couple art museums, one being the actual Indianapolis Museum of Art and the other is the Native American & Western Art Museum. Not everyone share my interest in museums though. They also have a zoo, I have never been to the zoo (being from San Diego most other zoos don't impress me much), but it could be worth checking out for a day. There is also a mall right next to the convention center if shopping is a desirable activity.

The convention is fun or exciting even for people who aren't gamers, at least for a day. And just checking out the Con together could be fun on it's own. There is a lot of casual gaming aside from the more serious stuff as well.

Definitely would recommend getting a hotel downtown though, walking most places isn't terribly far if you do and parking is a hassle otherwise.