Travel calendar

Chicago

World Music Festival

The city of Chicago celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the largest and longest-running festival of international music in the nation: expect electro-pop, power drumming, trance tunes and more, courtesy of 65 global artists from 39 countries including Iran, Uganda, India, Russia, Italy, Egypt and beyond. Where else can you hear instruments such as a calabash, wooden stomping box or an oud or catch an earthy Kenyan rumba followed by South Indian ragas? This year's lineup features more than 70 events at 21 venues, so check the Web site, www.CityofChicago.org/WorldMusic, to survey sites, artists and dates. You could make it easy on yourself and just attend "One World Under One Roof" closing night event at the Chicago Cultural Center on Sept. 25 that also offers an International Market Place, featuring more than 30 arts, crafts and food vendors. Buzz the Festival Hotline at (312) 742-1938. Sept. 19-25

The 2nd Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival

Barack Obama's neighborhood plays host to 14 hours of effervescent grooves, sly musical strolls and melancholy meditations during the 2nd Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival on Saturday, Sept. 27. World-class headliners and local emerging artists converge upon cool cultural venues such as the DuSable Museum, Experimental Station, Hyde Park Art Center, International House, Little Black Pearl, Oriental Institute Museum, Quadrangle Club, Robie House, Rockefeller Chapel and Smart Museum of Art. All performances are free, but bring a little cash to samples bites from Goose Island Brewery, Robinson's Ribs, Istria Café and Chant with food kiosks on the Midway Plaisance near the main stage. Bebop your way over to www.hydeparkjazzfestival.org or call 773-834-4122 for details.

Chic Chicago: Couture Treasures from the Chicago History Museum

Project Runway fanatics will want to make a day of it at the Chicago History Museum's new exhibit of 50-plus couture pieces that were worn by Chicago women of style. Spanning design from 1878 to 1996, Chic Chicago presents examples by Gianni Versace, Coco Chanel, Jeanne Lanvin and others from its acclaimed costume collection. Check out the 1950s' uber-feminine molded dress by Christian Dior and you might better understand why '60s gals preferred jeans and tees. In addition to the display of fantastic frocks that helped shape fashion history, there are related films, panel discussions on politics and fashion and guided tours. Do call (312) 642-4600, dah-ling, or stroll over to www.chicagohistory.org. Sept. 27 through July 26, 2009

Midwest

Sandy Korners Fall Color Tour

The antidote to those in your life ho-humming an autumn color tour? Get 'em in a Jeep for an in-their-face excursion offered by Michigan's Sandy Korners Adventure Tours. Located in the heart of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, caravans of climate-controlled Jeep Wrangler Rubicans follow a guide from Sandy Korners along both paved and, often, unpaved routes. Opt for a two- or five-hour trip or a two-day fall color safari that travels along logging roads of the Manistee National Forest and trails along historic rivers (offered every weekend, Sept. 27 through Nov. 2). Put the key in the ignition at www.sandykorners.com or call (231) 873-5048.

Warrens Cranberry Fest

Merry Cranberry

Your taste buds, not to mention your urinary tract, will just love you after a weekend at the Warrens Cranberry Fest, voted "Best Festival Weekend" in a recent poll sponsored by the Web site Wonders of Wisconsin. More than 100,000 like-minded cranberry champions gather in the central Wisconsin town (about 255 miles from Chicago) to taste cranberry brats, cranberry salsa, cranberry chili as well as non-berry festival foods and wares along three miles of fun. The authentic small-town celebration also offers a spaghetti "feed," biggest berry contest, marsh tours and pancake breakfasts. Sept. 26-28. Pick up the phone and call (608) 378-4200 or go to www.cranfest.com.

60th Annual Grundy County Corn Festival - Morris

If you go to one festival in celebration of the mighty ear, make it the Annual Grundy County Corn Festival in Morris Sept. 24 - 28. After 60 years, the festival folks have shucked their way to perfection with firefighter water fights; talent show; acres of entertainment and food vendors; photo, corn, grain and flower shows; arts and crafts; parades and fireworks. Admission to all events is $1. Call (815) 942-2676 or harvest details at www.cornfestival.org.

Worth the Trip

Yellowstone in Autumn.

Wouldn't you rather awaken to elk bugling than car horns this fall? Step outdoors in Yellowstone Park any autumn morning and you're bound to spy an abundance of wildlife in the Lamar Valley, sometimes called the American Serengeti. Black and grizzly bears are extra active in autumn before they begin to enter their winter dens and the park is the only place in the lower 48 states to have a continuously free-ranging bison population. There is good availability of rooms during this prime time for watching wildlife including moose, fox, coyote and pronghorn. Make Yellowstone reservations soon by calling (866) 439-7375 or visiting www.travelyellowstone.com.