On the road: Explore the universe
Chicago
Walk right in
How big is the universe? Where did it come from? And are we alone in this colossal space stew? Explore possible answers to these questions and more in a new interactive exhibit, “The Universe: A Walk through Space and Time,” at the Adler Planetarium. Through immersive media from spectacular projections to touch screens, experience how the universe evolved over 13.7 billion years.
9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sept. 3 at 300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. The exhibit is included in the general admission, which is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for children 3-11. (312) 922-7827 or adlerplanetarium.org.
Dancing machine
Chicago SummerDance returns for its 16th year of moving and grooving. The series offers free, introductory one-hour dance lessons by professional instructors followed by music and dancing. The event kicks off at the 32nd annual Taste of Chicago, July 11-15, with DJs spinning a different genre of music each night in Grant Park, and then it moves to the Spirit of Music Garden for the rest of the summer.
6 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 4 to 7 p.m. Sundays, July 11-15, and July 19 to Sept. 16, at Congress Parkway and Michigan Avenue. (312) 742-4007 or explorechicago.org.
St. Patty's in July
Get to the 27th annual Irish American Heritage Festival and enjoy the best in Irish music, dancing, food, and culture. Entertainment on six stages includes The Tossers, The Young Dubliners, The Mickey Finns, The Great Whiskey Project, the Dooley Brothers and the Larkin and Moran Brothers. Kids stuff includes an inflatable kicking wall, arts and crafts, carnival games and a Sham-ROCK Stars! contest for budding young singers. Come hungry for fish and chips, sausages, shepherd's pie, corned beef sandwiches and more.
6 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 13, and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 14-15, at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox. Admission is $8 through July 11 or $15 at the gate. (773) 282-7035 or irishfestchicago.com.
Midwest
Fore!
Visit the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in July for family-friendly golf options. The Take Your Family to the Course Month special offers free golfing for children ages 10 to 17 on either of the resort's courses when joining a full-priced adult. For young pros, the resort also extends complimentary family golf clinics every Sunday in July.
Free golf clinics run from 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays. Take Your Family to the Course Month golf specials are all-day Monday through Thursday, and for tee times after 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday throughout July. Special is limited to one child per paying adult. (262) 248-2556 or grandgeneva.com.
Vive le Milwaukee
Bastille Days, a free four-day French-themed celebration returns to downtown Milwaukee's Cathedral Square Park. There will be live music, an international marketplace, chef and wine demos, French and Cajun cuisine, roaming entertainment and a 43-foot Eiffel Tower replica. New for 2012 is Mardi Gras Friday featuring a specially themed drinks and entertainment.
11 a.m. to midnight Thursday and Friday, July 12-13; 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, July 14; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, July 15
Follow your bliss
The 32nd Annual Blissfest Music Festival offers live entertainment, culture, art and community in rural northern Michigan. Open to families, friends and music lovers of all ages, the annual event is a showcase of American roots and world music including bluegrass, blues, zydeco, Celtic, folk, jazz, Latin and ethnic. Rustic camping is available for the weekend with a weekend pass. There also will be children's activities, a variety of food and a juried arts and crafts show.
Wednesday through Friday, July 13-15, at Festival Farm, 3695 Division Road, Harbor Springs, Mich. Daily ticket prices cost $35-$50 for adults, $20 for children 13-17 and free for those 12 and younger. (231) 348-7047 or blissfest.org.
Worth the trip
Radisson Blu is offering 20 percent savings at hotels in 200 European cities this summer, valid on two-night stays in participating hotels in the United Kingdom, Western and Southern Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Africa, the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific and the Nordics.
Offer available through August 2012, radissonblu.com/weekend-breaks.