Travel calendar
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Take a bite of Bayfield's Apple Festival
Orchard owners, artists, musicians, street entertainers, crafters and festival food vendors will line the historic streets of Bayfield, Wis., for the 46th Apple Festival Oct. 5-7. More than 60,000 visitors are expected to attend to enjoy the bounty of the fall harvest and the natural beauty of the area in this harbor town, the gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. You'll find apples in abundance: caramel apples, apple pies, apple tortes, dumplings or tarts, apple sundaes, apple cider, bags and bushels of apples, and apple bratwurst. On the Isle Vista Casino center stage Warren Nelson and the gang from Big Top Chautauqua will perform songs from their historical musicals. The weekend also includes a carnival, Venetian Boat parade, Grand Parade, more than 150 arts and crafts vendors and activities at many of Bayfield's orchards. (479 miles from O'Hare, (800) 447-4094, www.bayfield.org)
Row, row, row on the Rock River
The largest rowing event in the Midwest can be described as poetry in motion as men and women make this physically grueling sport look graceful. The Head of the Rock Regatta Oct. 6 and 7 in Rockford, Ill., attracts more than 1,700 rowers and 400 sculls from 60 clubs and universities across the U.S. Spectators line up along the banks of the Rock River to cheer on the teams. (72 miles from O'Hare, (815) 489-1216, (800) 521-0849, www.gorockford.com)
Art studios open for tours in Michigan
Six working artists open the doors to their studios along the southwest coast of Michigan during the 18th Annual Blue Coast Artist's Fall Tour of Studios Oct. 6 and 7. View original artwork, watch art-making demonstrations and enjoy refreshments in and around Saugatuck and Douglas, Mich. (159 miles from O'Hare, (269) 236-9260, www.saugatuck.com/calendar/Oct.htm)
Enjoy old-fashioned country fair
Plan to spend Oct. 6 and 7 in Galena, Ill., to take in the Galena Country Fair. More than 150 vendors will be selling original, handmade arts, crafts and fine arts. You'll find a farmers market, country bake shop, gazebo garden, live entertainment and children's games. The 20th Century Railroad Club is sponsoring the Galena Limited chartered Amtrak train for excursions from Chicago, LaGrange and Naperville to Galena on both days of the fair: (312) 829-4500, www.20thcentury.org. (148 miles from O'Hare, (815) 777-0817, www.galenacountryfair.org)
View historic homes in Wauwatosa
The Wauwatosa Historical Society's annual Tour of Homes "Prairie Craftsman Era -- Then and Now" will include six craftsman- and prairie-style homes open Oct. 6 in Wauwatosa, Wis. Although five homes were built in the early 1910s and '20s, one is the owner/architect's 2000 interpretation of the prairie style. The homes are within walking distance of each other. Children younger than 10 are not permitted on the tour. (85 miles from O'Hare, (414) 774-8672, www.wauwatosahistoricalsociety.org/2007HT.htm)
Feast on cranberries in Eagle River, Wis.
Eagle River, Wis., will again welcome thousands of visitors to its fall celebration of cranberries on Oct. 6 and 7. The 28th Annual Cranberry Fest features fresh cranberries, cranberry cheesecake, cranberry beer, cranberry chili, cranberry meatballs and cranberry ice cream plus crafters, an antique market, flea market, marsh and winery tours. (315 miles from O'Hare, (800) 359-6315, www.eagleriver.org/CranberryFest.asp)
Art festival honors 'Hoosier Poet'
One of Indiana's largest arts and crafts festivals takes place Oct. 4-7 in Greenfield, Ind. The Riley Festival, celebrating writer, poet and native son James Whitcomb Riley, features 450 arts and crafts booths displaying quilts, fine arts and photography. The weekend also includes a parade and entertainment. (222 miles from O'Hare, (317) 462-2141, www.rileyfestival.com)
Botanical center has harvest celebration
Shop for garden crafts from dozens of vendors at the country market and learn about history from demonstrators of Old World crafts who will be making pottery, spinning and weaving and making quilts during the Garden Harvest Festival. The festival on Oct. 7 at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island, Ill., includes American Indian songs, dances and stories. Kids will especially like the petting zoo, free hayrides and pioneer games. Vote for your favorite scarecrow. (169 miles from O'Hare, (309) 794-0991, www.qcgardens.com/id87.html)
Fighting the War of 1812 in Indiana