On the road: City hotels offer spring packages

Chicago

Put some spring in your step

Just because you can't spend spring break at the shore, you can still have an adventure that includes cultural attractions, shopping, noshing and more, minus the expense of airfare and gas. The Doubletree Chicago Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago offers four special packages to enjoy: the Doubletree By the Sea Package brings sea otters, whales and other marine life to you via the Shedd Aquarium; the Doubletree in 3-D Package includes vouchers to view a movie at the Navy Pier IMAX Theatre; snag swimming passes for the entire family in the full-size indoor pool adjacent to the hotel with the Splashtastic Getaway; and the 2011 Package offers a one-night stay and various other extras such as parking deals and dining vouchers.

300 E. Ohio St., Chicago. Packages begin at $124 per night and some require a two-night minimum stay. Call (866) 778-8536 or visit doubletreemagmile.com.

Uptown girl

Surprise your best girl with a trip into the city and a memorable day with her American Girl doll with the Talbott Hotel's American Girl Place packages. Each of the three packages includes a breakfast for two, a keepsake American Girl doll-sized travel bed, access to the Talbott Hotel girl blog and two Sprinkles cupcakes. Other packages include a horse-drawn carriage ride or a $100 salon certificate, breakfast in bed and more.

20 E. Delaware Place, Chicago. Packages begin at $185 and are valid throughout the year. Book at (800) 825-2688 or visit talbotthotel.com.

Bed of roses

The 17th annual Chicago Flower & Garden Show returns to Navy Pier with the theme “The Sport of Gardening.” Look for the Blackhawks' hockey-themed garden and a “Hall of Fame: Blooming Victories” garden, complete with sporting paraphernalia from the Cubs, White Sox, Bulls, Bears and Blackhawks. Stroll by 30 gardens designed by top gardening and landscaping companies; visit more than 100 garden exhibitors at the Marketplace; sign up for classes, gardening seminars, workshops and horticulture competitions and catch culinary demos. There also will be children's activities like storytelling, plant potting, the science of worm composting, a bug exhibit and time in the sandbox or on swings.

10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 5-13, at 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Admission is $15-$17 for adults; $5 for kids ages 4-12. Call (312) 595-7437 or visit chicagoflower.com.

Midwest

Sap story

The National Maple Syrup Festival turns the tiny town of Medora, Ind., into a sugar shack the first two weekends in March and promises plenty of maple tree tapping, historic encampments, live music, chain-saw carving demonstrations and lots of maple from pancakes and sausage to maple pork chops and maple baked beans. There also will be a farm animal petting zoo, rope-making demonstrations, a ventriloquist, face painting, crafts and more.

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to Sunday, March 5-6 and March 12-13, at Burton's Maplewood Farm, 8121 W. County Road 75 South, Medora, Ind. Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors; $6 for children ages 5 to 15; and free for kids 4 and younger. Bring a canned good for local food pantries and get $2 off admission. Call (812) 966-2168 or visit nationalmaplesyrupfestival.com.

Slush puppies

When you get lemons, make lemonade, and when the snow melts at a ski resort, you hold a Slush Cup. Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire, Mich., offers its most popular winter event as skiers compete to see who can get up enough speed to make it across a 40-foot pond filled with icy waist-deep water. To super-size the fun, it's also the weekend for Shanty Creek's annual Mardi Gras celebration with lots of games, parties, music and gumbo. Get in on bead bobbing, a frozen fish toss, shovel races, dummy darts and more.

Saturday to Sunday, March 5-6. Call (800) 678-4111 or visit shantycreek.com.

Head out on the highway

Born-to-be-wild types should check out one of the Harley-Davidson Museum's Camp H-D experiences for motorcycle enthusiasts in Milwaukee, Wis. Enjoy an ultimate, insider experience immersed in Harley-Davidson culture. A Biker Boot Camp for Women includes a Brewers baseball game at Miller Park, a night out in Milwaukee, Bike Night at the H-D Museum and plenty of riding. The Harley-Davidson Fantasy Camp adds a city tour of Milwaukee, a trip to Summerfest and Lakefront Brewery and a group ride. The Speed Camp includes a tour of H-D's plant, a night out in Milwaukee and the NHRA races.

Biker Boot Camp for Women will be May 9-14; the Harley-Davidson Fantasy Camp will be June 27 to July 1; and Speed Camp is July 6-11. It takes place at 400 Canal St., Milwaukee. Call (414) 287-2824 or visit h-dmuseum.com.

Worth the trip

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction in Branson, Mo., presents its biggest feature ever, “Return of the Buffalo!” An amazing 8 tons of real American bison lead the stampede nightly into Dixie Stampede's giant arena. The dinner and show experience is set in a 35,000-square-foot arena featuring a comedy preshow, horsemanship, pyrotechnics, waltzing Belles of the Ball, audience participation and a four-course feast.

Times, days and ticket prices vary. For information, call (800) 520-5544 or visit dixiestampede.com.