On the road: Spring Walk and Cruise Tour
Chicago
Bright lights, bike city
Take the City Lights at Night Bike Tour, a three-hour, guided evening jaunt that features stops at Chicago landmarks like the Museum Campus, Millennium Park and the light show at Buckingham Fountain. Bikes and helmets are included. The Wednesday and Saturday night rides include the skyline fireworks display at Navy Pier.
7 p.m. daily May 27 through Oct. 2; Saturdays through Nov. 6 at Bobby's Bike Hike Kiosk, 465 N. McClurg Court, Chicago. Adults $35; seniors and students $30; kids younger than 4 $10. (312) 915-0995 or bobbysbikehike.com.
The naked truth
Every month, the Art Institute of Chicago releases a self-guided minitour with a theme. May's tour is called “The Birthday Suit Visit,” and it covers the nude, a subject consistently interpreted throughout the history of art. The bronze statuette of “Hercules” (second century A.D.), “Young Spartan Girls Challenging Boys” (c. 1860) by Edgar Degas and “Departure of Summer” (1914) by Man Ray are a few of the included works.
10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday during May at 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Admission is $18 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and free for children younger than 14. (312) 443-3626 or artic.edu/aic/.
Green way backers
The Green Festival comes to Chicago and partners with the Sierra Club to promote sustainable progress for people, community and business. Festivities include presentations by more than 125 authors and environmental leaders, workshops, films, kids' activities and live music. Sip organic beer and wine and sample vegan and vegetarian cuisine. Shop in the green marketplace of local and national eco-friendly businesses.
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 14, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at McCormick Place, 2301 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. $15 for a weekend pass or $10 for one day. Visit greenfestivals.org.
Midwest
Feet, seat and eat
Take a self-guided eight-mile hike from Lake Geneva to Williams Bay, Wis., then hop aboard a boat cruise for an onboard champagne Sunday brunch buffet, including appetizers, six entrees, desserts and a narrated tour. During the Spring Walk and Cruise Tour, you'll follow the public lake shoreline and see multimillion-dollar estates, gardens and more.
Hike starts at 8:30 a.m. Sundays, May 8, 15, 22, 29 and June 5 and 12 with Lake Geneva Cruise Line. The cost is $49.90 for adults and $47.35 for seniors older than 65, including tax and gratuities. (800) 558-5911 or lakegenevacruiseline.com.
Get that sinking feeling
You still have time to take advantage of hotel packages that include tickets to “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” on display at the Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre in Davenport, Iowa. Several area hotels have put together overnight packages for visitors. Hotels include the Hotel Blackhawk and the Radisson Quad City Plaza in Davenport and the Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf and the Stoney Creek Inn in Moline, Ill.
The exhibit is on display through June 26 at the Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre, 1717 W. 12th St., Davenport, Iowa. Visitquadcities.com.
Source of Norse
Stoughton, Wis., just south of Madison, celebrates Norwegian Constitution Day during the annual Syttende Mai Festival, and it's one of the largest of its kind in North America. The event dates back to1868, when Norwegian immigration to the area was reaching its peak. You'll see lots of folks dressed in authentic Norse costumes and folk dancing. Browse exhibits of Norwegian painting and needlework, woodcarving, watch the parade and enjoy a Norse costume style show. There also will be a smorgasbord of Norwegian foods.
9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday to Sunday, May 13-15, in and around downtown Stoughton, Wis. (888) 873-7912 or stoughtonwi.com.
Worth the trip
Moose outnumber people three to one in Greenville, Maine, and the humans like to celebrate the start of moose-watching season with Moose Mainea. This year's events include a canoe race, Moosterpiece Craft Fair, moose tale telling, a kids fun day and a moose photo contest. Set among scenic mountain ranges, Moosehead Lake in Maine attracts ecotourists, paddlers, hikers, fly fishermen, white-water rafters, moose watchers and those who want to relax on a scenic cruise on the historic steamship Katahdin.
Saturday, May 14, to Sunday, June 12. (207) 695-2702 or mooseheadlake.org.