On the road

Chicago

Classical pass

You don't need the checkbook balance of a Bill Gates or Warren Buffett to take in world-class classical music. The Sunday Salon Series of innovative music and performance at the Chicago Cultural Center showcases a wide variety of classical music by local, national and internationally based classical artists - for free. Take in the sounds of Fifth House Ensemble, a dynamic group presenting a concert of music for strings from Bach and Beethoven to Zhang's new Rhythm Cadence II. Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008 at 3 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street. Ring (312) 744- 6630 or sway your way to www.cityofchicago.org/CulturalAffairs.

Picture this.

You'll be a regular Annie Leibovitz snapping pix of family with the dazzling Winter Flower and Train Show as your background. Open through Jan. 4, 2009, the Lincoln Park Conservatory's annual show features an old-fashioned steam engine, freight train and trolley snaking through a miniature village set in a field of eye-catching red, graceful white and soft pink poinsettias. The tiny village is dotted with natural willow, spruce and birch woods and features a variety of Chicago-style bungalows and well-known buildings such Chicago Theatre and Water Tower Place. Better yet, admission to

the Winter Flower and Train Show is free. 2391 N. Stockton Drive, Chicago. (312) 742-7736.

Entertain a stay at The James

The James Chicago entices suburbanites with a "Drive to The James" package - it includes free parking (have you seen what parking rates run in the city these days?) and a $50 gift certificate to world-class on-site restaurant, David Burke's Primehouse, doing Modern American Cuisine in a contemporary steakhouse setting. Package rates start at $259. When you call (877) James-55, ask for the "Drive to The James" package or reserve at the Web site, www.jameshotels.com/chicago. 55 East Ontario, Chicago IL 60611.

The Nutcracker horses around

If you have a budding equestrienne at home (or even a kid who can't stop braiding her toy pony's tail), consider an outing to see The Nutcracker on Horseback. The Noble Horse Theatre is the only theater in North America to perform the historic version of "The Nutcracker" on horseback: the show. features the beloved characters of Clara, the Mouse King, the Sugar Plum Fairy plus Tchaikovsky's unforgettable music and agile, trick riders from around the world on magnificent white stallions. Noble Horse Theatre, 1410 N. Orleans St. through Jan. 12, 2009. Call (312) 266- 7878 for tickets and show times or gallop over to www.noblehorsechicago.com.

Midwest

Belly up to the car and head to Michigan

Companies may be having a hard time going belly up but you can actually have a good time at it - on the Everslide at Echo Valley Winter Sports Park in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Reach speeds up to 60 mph tobogganing down the all-season sledding surface, Everslide, before coming to a stop at the end of the quarter mile long runs. Practice your double axels on the 43,000 square foot ice ink that is groomed regularly or take a ride down the tubing hill. Echo Valley has covered tubes so you can have an exhilarating ride in all snow conditions and then head inside to the lounge for a snack and hot chocolate. When parents tucker out, they can relax on the expansive observation deck watching the skaters, tobogganers and tubers. Let your fingers do the skating to www.echovalleyfun.com or call (269) 329-1790.

Out of Africa, into the Dells As if the little miscreants needed yet another reason to implore you to take them to the Wisconsin Dells, the Africa-themed Kalahari Resort announces the opening of its new 110,000 square foot Indoor Theme Park this month. Open Dec. 19, the new $20 million Indoor Theme Park connects Kalahari Resort and Convention Center to a restaurant and the 15-screen Desert Cinema via indoor walkways. The resort already offers "under-one-roof" entertainment. With a 125,000-square-foot indoor water park, 742 guest-rooms and suites, eight dining options, Spa Kalahari and Salon, shops and a 100,000-square-foot convention center. The new addition includes a six-story Ferris wheel; 24 lanes of state-of-the-art Brunswick® bowling; 430-foot, two-story elevated adult and kiddie go cart track; Laser Tag area; carousel; ropes course; 18 holes of indoor mini-golf; Full Swing golf simulators with HD screens; an interactive dry play structure; 32-foot climbing walls; hundreds of arcade games, simulators and redemption games; DJ booth and dance floor; private party rooms; and food and beverage for purchase. Call (877) 525-2427 or visit: www.KalahariResorts.com.

Building castles in the (Northwoods) air

Every winter since the late 1920s, a glittering ice castle is constructed in Eagle River, Wisconsin and 2008 volunteers are ready for the task. Nearly 3000 12-inch-thick ice blocks from a local lake are hauled to downtown Eagle River, the Snowmobile Capital of the World, where the structure is erected between Christmas and New Year's Day. A new design is sculpted every year and depending on weather, the Ice Castle normally stands until late February. Located on major snowmobile trail, hundreds stop to have picture taken in front of the design. For ideas on accommodations and attractions in the Eagle River area, call (800) 359-6315 or rev it up to www.eagleriver.org. Worth the Trip

Yo, ho, ho and festival for rum

What could be any better around mid-Jan. than a beach and a bottle of rum? Well, OK, Johnny Depp on the blanket next to you would be great, too, but two-thirds of this delusion can come true at the annual St. Lucia Food & Rum Festival, Jan. 15-18, 2009. The gastronomic event attracts some of the best chefs, rum connoisseurs and foodies from around the world to sample Caribbean cuisine, enjoy tastings and lectures on rum, chef demonstrations and concerts held on Saturday and Sunday night. For a list of events, ideas on accommodations and details on participants, dig into www.foodandrumfestival.com.