Palmer House country's longest continuously operating hotel

Chicago

Potter Palmer's masterpiece

Did you know that the country's longest continuously operating hotel is right here in Chicago? With its $170 million restoration complete, the Palmer House Hilton offers Old World grandeur and roots dating back to 1871 with amenities straight out of the 21st century. There are a variety of spring and summer packages from which to choose. The Historic Package showcases this grand palace hotel with a guided tour perfect for Chicago history buffs. The Go Chicago! package includes a two-day Go Chicago card providing access to more than 30 of the city's top attractions and tours. A Spa & Wellness Package gets you a one-hour massage or facial and use of the hotel's state-of-the-art fitness center and indoor pool. Call about the Palmer House Hilton's special summer weekend rates for festival season from Blues Fest to Taste of Chicago.

Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe St., Chicago. Historic Package available through Dec. 31; rates start at $209. The Go Chicago package is available through Oct. 25; rates start at $278. Rates start at $299 for the Spa & Wellness Package, and the special summer weekend rates for festival season start at $129 (for a two-night minimum) and must be booked by Friday, April 30. All rates are subject to availability. Call (312) 726-7500 or visit palmerhousehiltonhotel.com.

Manna for mama

She'll like you better than your siblings if you take Mom to brunch or dinner aboard the distinguished Odyssey, festive Spirit of Chicago or cool Mystic Blue cruise ships on Mother's Day. Each cruise features plentiful brunches and/or scrumptious entertaining dinners. The Odyssey is a 700-passenger ship and is the largest cruise vessel to ply the waters of Lake Michigan. The Spirit of Chicago is a four-story ship with climate-controlled dining decks, three indoor bars, two dance floors and panoramic windows. The Mystic Blue features a contemporary decor with sleek, silvery-blue interiors, open-air observation deck and three enclosed decks with the largest picture windows of any dinner boat on Lake Michigan. Reservations are required.

Morning, afternoon and evening brunch and dinner times vary by ship on Sunday, May 9. Prices range from $64.90 to $79.90 on the Odyssey; call (866) 305-2469 or visit odyssey.com. Spirit of Chicago rates range from $59.90 to $69.90. Call (866) 273-2469 or visit spiritofchicago.com. Mystic Blue packages range from $54.90 to $64.90. Call (877) 299-7783 or visit mysticbluecruises.com. Cruises are half price for children age 3 to 12, and ages 2 and younger eat for free.

Art murmur

The Art Institute of Chicago is now open on Friday nights during the run of its "Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913-1917." Ease into the weekend by browsing new and favorite galleries, then visit the cash bar for cocktails served in Gallery 150. As the weather warms, cocktail hours will move outside to the Modern Wing's Pritzker Garden.

The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, is open until 8 p.m. Fridays through June 20. Cocktails served from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Buy tickets by calling (877) 307-4242 or visit artic.edu.

Midwest

Kiss these trout lips

Spring is trout time and Kalkaska, Mich., celebrates in a big way. The National Trout Festival, in its 74th year, is small-town charm at its finest with a Trout King and Queen Coronation; flea market in the fairgrounds; carnival; a hoedown with dancing, food and fixings; art and craft show; parade; kids' fishing contest; fly fishing contest; grocery cart races; fireworks and more.

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, April 21-22; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 23; 12:01 a.m. to dusk Saturday, April 24; and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 25. Venues vary. Call (800) 487-6880 or visit nationaltroutfestival.com.

Celebrate beer, wine and cheese

It's time to go past the cheddar curtain from Illinois into Wisconsin for the eighth annual Between the Bluff Beer, Wine & Cheese Festival. Held on La Crosse's Oktoberfest grounds, the fest offers tastes of more than 200 brews poured by more than 35 breweries and more than 45 types of wine from local and world-famous vintners. Visitors can sample (and purchase) gourmet cheese and other food, and there will be live music on two stages. All attendees receive a souvenir glass. Enter your homebrew or wine in the Homebrew Contest or first-ever Wine Making contest. Only 3,200 tickets are available.

2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at the Oktoberfest grounds, La Crosse and 2nd streets, LaCrosse, Wis. Buy tickets online by Thursday, April 22, for $30 or day-of tickets for $35. Call (800) 658-9424 or go to betweenthebluffsbeerfest.com.

South of the border, north of the city

Get a little bit of Mexico in Gurnee at the Chicago area's largest indoor water park, KeyLime Cove. The colorful Cinco de Mayo Fiesta celebration features authentic performers, themed activities and a reduced lodging rate to commemorate Mexican Independence. Kids will get into Cinco de Mayo-themed crafts, bingo, games, piñatas and other activities. There will be a sunset festival Cinco de Mayo Parade, a Mariachi band and Los Flamencos castanet dancers. There also will be specials on margaritas and Mexican fare in the resort's restaurants.

1700 Nations Drive, Gurnee. Queen Deluxe or Queen Grand stateroom for Wednesday, May 5, costs $89.95, which includes admission for a family of four to KeyLime Cove's Lost Paradise Indoor Waterpark. Call (877) 360-0403 or visit keylimecove.com. Use Promo Code CINCO10 when booking the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Cove room rate.

Worth the trip

There's yet another reason to visit Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Of course, the Great Smoky Mountains, the nation's most visited national park, can be found 10 minutes from town while the new Titanic Museum Attraction should appeal to countless history buffs. It's a half-scale, permanent, three-deck reproduction of the Titanic with 20 galleries displaying hundreds of authentic, priceless Titanic artifacts that were either carried from the ship and into lifeboats by passengers and crew, or were found afloat soon after the sinking and quickly salvaged by rescue boats. Visit full-size reproductions (built to actual Titanic blueprints) of third-class quarters, a first-class suite, dining rooms and a $1 million reproduction of the Titanic's grand staircase. Kids and teens will go for the many interactive experiences. There's even a special interactive Tot-Titanic Play-and-Learn Room for younger kids. Study some of the largest, most detailed Titanic models ever built and browse world-class galleries showcasing rare historical artifacts.

9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Visit TitanicPigeonForge.com.