On the road: Field offers a whale of a time
Chicago
A whale of a time
Get to know the stars of the sea during a visit to “Whales: Giants of the Deep” at the Field Museum. Get immersed in the world of whales through science and stories, listen to whale songs and South Pacific legends about the enormous animals, and hear from whale riders, scientists and former whaling families; see two massive sperm whale skeletons (male and female) and artifacts made from whale bones; touch whale teeth; and take a virtual plunge into the ocean to hunt giant squid.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Jan. 16 at 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Tickets to the exhibit are included in both discovery and all-access passes to the museum. Admission costs $22-$29 for adults, $18-$24 for seniors and students with ID, and $15-$20 for children 3 to 11. Call (312) 922-9410 or visit whales.fieldmuseum.org.
Hyde Park art fair turns 63
Chicago's 57th Street Art Fair is celebrating its 63rd year and will feature more than 250 artists in the annual Hyde Park event. The oldest juried art fair in the Midwest offers a family-friendly environment with aisles of glass, jewelry, leather, photography, printmaking, painting, sculpture, wood, ceramics and fiber art. Get in on Art Buying Boot Camp, a guided tour through the fair with experts who can help you determine the best price for a piece or the best colors to match your foyer or living room walls. The fairs also offers kids' activities and lots of food vendors.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 6, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 5, at 57th Street and Kimbark Avenue. Free admission. Call (773) 493-3247 or visit 57thstreetartfair.org.
Midwest
Pirates of Port Washington
Alas, Johnny Depp will be nowhere in sight, but the Port Washington, Wis., Pirate Festival promises plenty of swashbuckling fun. The harbor in the downtown historic area is the backdrop for pirate invasions, a Thieves Marketplace, a Gruel Galley and a Buccaneer Bash. Count on children's activities, educational exhibits, musicians, comedians, a parade and evening fireworks.
6 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 3; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 4; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 5. Free admission. Call (262) 388-9762 or visit portpiratefestival.com.
70 years of udder fun
Join in Illinois' longest-running festival, Harvard Milk Days, which celebrates the town's dairy heritage. The granddaddy of Illinois festivals turns 70 this year and has grown from a small hay wagon stage with street dancing to three days of dairy-related events such as cattle care and feeding and milking demonstrations, a two-hour parade on the Milky Way, a craft show, a horse show, a grilling competition, a hot-air balloon launch, bed races, carnival rides and games, food and fireworks.
10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 3-4, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 5, at 300 Lawrence Road, Harvard. Free admission, but parking is $3. Call (815) 943-4614 or visit milkdays.com.
Something's fishy
Take advantage of the Free Fishing Weekend throughout the state of Wisconsin. All the waters of the state are open, including the Great Lakes and rivers bordering Wisconsin. Residents and nonresidents can fish without a fishing license over the two days, so get the guys, pack up the kids and make a date to attend fishing clinics and special activities planned at state and local parks throughout Wisconsin. There are even tackle loaner sites at several state parks and DNR regional offices to borrow equipment.
Saturday and Sunday, June 4-5, throughout Wisconsin. Call (888) 936-7463 or visit dnr.wi.gov/fish/kidsparents/freefishingweekend.html.
Worth the trip
Staycations are so last year. You can take a great summer vacation without the budget guilt when you book at a RockResorts property and take advantage of Summertime Rocks pricing. Rates start at $99 per night at luxury resorts from the Rockies to the Caribbean. Guests have access to adventures such as exploring Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park by horseback, white-water rafting through New Mexico's Box Canyon, hiking and golfing in Colorado, or swimming with dolphins in the Caribbean. Room-only promotions are available at 11 properties in the U.S. and Caribbean or choose one of the Adventure Promotions in Jamaica or Jackson, Wyo.
Call (866) 513-7625 or visit summertimerocks.com.