Dream of spring and dogwoods in Quincy

Ansel Adams was an accomplished photographer who chose his subjects with care -- such as his acclaimed photo-essay of loyal Japanese-Americans during interment at a "relocation center." Yet, despite his strong social conscience, Adams probably is best known for his black-and-white nature photographs of the American West that was his heart and soul.

Among his favorite subjects were blossoms of the dogwood tree. His lens captured the stark white flowers (which, in nature, are framed with a delicate tinge of pink). Recently, a 9¼-by-6½-inch photographic print, signed by Adams and depicting an appealing clump of dogwood blossoms, sold at Sotheby's auction house for thousands of dollars.

There's absolutely no charge for seeing -- and photographing -- a massive display of dogwood blossoms in Quincy, Ill. (population 40,366), a thriving river town along the Mississippi about 115 miles west of Springfield. For almost a half century, Quincy's annual Dogwood Festival has been the river town's spring event opener, drawing about 20,000 visitors.

Mark your calendars for May 1-4, when Quincy's popular Dogwood Festival lets you enjoy these sweet-scented blossoms to your heart's content. You'll also enjoy plenty of food and choose from an entertainment lineup that includes tricycle races, a flag football tournament, car show, pet show and parade. You can shop for locally made crafts as well as for plants and baked goods.

A nice way to see Quincy's bounty of pretty white blossoms is by bicycle along the network of Dogwood Trails, especially along the 4.2-mile-long Historic District Trail that takes riders past beautiful mansions along Maine Street.

Loaner bikes, painted a distinctive neon blue, are free (via a $10 refundable deposit) at six locations across Quincy. Bikes come with a helmet and chain lock. Riders must be at least 18 years of age; younger children must have a parent or guardian complete and sign the rental document.

Come Saturday morning, a yard and bake sale, held at Quincy Museum (1601 Maine St.) begins at 8 a.m., as does the Mississippi Garden Club annual plant sale. Breakfast is served beginning at 8:30 a.m. on the lawn of the First Christian Church.

The festival incorporates the Quincy Mall Spring Arts & Crafts Show, where artisans display homemade work. It is held on Saturday during regular mall hours (just in time for Mother's Day shopping). Also on Saturday, at 9:30 a.m., the parade begins at 24th and Maine streets and proceeds west to Sixth Street.

A popular photo op at festival time is at the corner of 16th and Maine, named by National Geographic as "one of the most architecturally significant corners in the United States." Check out the blossoms surrounding a historic gazebo in the side yard of one of these spectacular homes. As for the architecture, this celebrated corner showcases Greek Gothic, Victorian and Queen Anne styles.

In this year of debates between campaigning politicians, it is interesting to recall that 2008 also marks the 150th anniversary of the famed debate in Quincy between Abraham Lincoln and Quincy native Stephen A. Douglas. It was the sixth of seven debates between the two as they vied for a U.S. Senate seat. It took place in Washington Park on Oct. 13, 1858, and attracted more than 12,000 people.

Washington Park is the city's original central square, laid out by founder John Wood in 1825. A monument created by noted Midwest sculptor Laredo Taft commemorates the debate.

As we also approach next year's 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, you'll see major improvements at the debate site and around Quincy's central business district. These include 21 Looking for Lincoln storyboards that interpret history surrounding the 16th president. Two of these will be installed at the debate site, which also will display an engraved 1858 U.S. map showing 32 states in the union.

Spirit Knob, a family-owned winery at Ursa, Ill., is about 10 miles north of Quincy along the Great River Road. While the winery, established in 2002, focuses on Illinois wines -- including the production of estate wines -- it is a picturesque winery that probably would seem comfortably at home in Paso Robles, or one of the other hilly California growing regions. It is perched above the Mississippi River Valley, where beneficial airflow down the bluffs combines with rich loamy soil and sun-drenched summers to create an ideal growing region.

Currently two acres of grapes are planted on site, which typically produce up to 10 tons of fruit. The winery also purchases grapes from other Illinois growers, so that everything produced there is 100 percent Illinois.

Located in a pretty brick building with a wraparound wood porch and a monumental fieldstone fireplace in its tasting room, the winery produces popular semi-sweet whites that include Vignoles and Traminette and a dry white Chardonel. Its estate wines include full-bodied oaked, dry red Chambourcin and Norton.

Check with the winery about its calendar of fun events, including Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. Especially popular are Wine Down Fridays, held on the last Friday of every month from 4 to 10 p.m. Live music starts at 7 p.m., featuring Cheeks McGee, who plays acoustic guitar, harmonica and trumpet.

If you go

Information: Quincy Convention & Visitors Bureau, (800) 978-4748, www.quincy-cvb.org; Illinois Tourism, (800) 226-6632, www.enjoyillinois.com.

Mileage: Quincy is about 280 miles southwest of Chicago. Amtrak service from Chicago provides two daily departures in each direction.

Mike Michaelson is a travelwriter based in Chicago andthe author of the guidebook"Chicago's Best-Kept Secrets."