"Extra-Curricular Events Outside of a Convention" Topic

Sometimes. However any side trips or activities tend to be done on the way to the convention, or on the way home. Not done during the convention itself

Nashcon is my sole yearly convention at this time. Unfortunately, it's currently held in a hotel which isn't near anything worth doing (or eating).

Nice food trips outside of the hotel are essential.

Other before or after con activities if anything of interest in the area.

Historicon in Lancaster is surrounded by some fantastic culinary options. I always look forward to the food as an attraction all its own. Sadly, I will not be able to attend this summer.

Well, yes--since the OP appears to include having a nice sit-down meal at a convention as an "extra-curricular event." There's a Longhorn steakhouse next to the Host, and Fiddler's Hearth when the SYWA Convention is in downtown South Bend.

Otherwise, no, not normally. You wind up missing things at the convention or rushing the event and transportation time has to come from somewhere. I can see where people would who weren't expecting to ever see U-505 unless they were attending the convention would pay the penalty. Don't miss the Colleen Moore Fairy Castle while you're there!

All conventions I've attended in the last fifteen years or so have been close enough that I've slept at home, so I've done a lot of "extracurricular activities" along the lines of having dinner at home with my wife and daughter.

In Lancaster, my wife usually sends me to the outlets to pick up something for the family. I am given a list of what I should bring home. Last time I went to a Chicago area convention, I visited family for a couple of days on the way and saw Fort Meigs on the way back.

I wouldn't include restaurants as an "extracurricular activity" Plenty of markets and restaurants in Lancaster in fact it is probably better to walk across the street than stay in the convention center.

Having said that when Fall In was in Gettysburg I always made it a point to visit some part of the battlefield during or after the show.