Digging into 'Gold' exhibit

Discover the beauty, scientific value and power of gold in the new “Gold exhibit at the Field Museum. There will be an array of gold objects, nuggets, coins from shipwrecks, gold bars and jewelry. Learn about the mining process and follow gold from natural form to finished jewelry.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Friday, Oct. 22, through March 8, at 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (312) 836-7000 or fieldmuseum.org.

Gnus and boos at the zoo

If you haven't visited Lincoln Park Zoo lately, the Spooky Zoo Spectacular is an opportunity for your young goblins to celebrate Halloween in a free, safe and family-friendly environment. Visitors can learn fun facts about animals in the Spooky Zoo Education Zone within the Pritzker Family Children's Zoo, make crafts in the Kovler Lion House, enter the not-too-scary haunted house, collect treats and enjoy entertainment throughout the zoo. Be sure the little ones are dressed in their costumes. There will even be special activities for toddlers in the Regenstein Center for African Apes.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago. (312) 742-2000 or lpzoo.org.

Up on the catwalk

Fashion Focus Chicago 2010 brings the hottest looks to Millennium Park and venues throughout the city for a week of runway shows, designs from emerging artists, shopping events, industry seminars and previews of designers' collections for spring 2011. Don't miss the runway debut of students from Chicago's fashion design schools and a showing of the four finalists from Chicago History Museum's FashioNext Generation competition.

Monday to Sunday, Oct. 8-24, at various venues and Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. Tickets range from free to $95 and there are student discounts. (312) 742-1168 or http://tinyurl.com/2daafjc.

Midwest

Yell ‘Timber'

You can still get in on fall packages and programming at the family-friendly Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark in Lake Geneva, Wis. Opt for the Haunted Hayride weekend package that features Sleepy Hollow haunted hayrides and other entertaining amenities; a Fall Adventure package that includes a horseback ride through the lodge's private riding trails; and a Fall Cruisin' and Splashin' package that comes with a boat ride in Geneva Bay and dining options. All packages include Moose Mountain Falls Waterpark passes and overnight accommodations

The Haunted Hayride package starts at $169 per night and is available through Sunday, Oct. 31; the Fall Adventure package starts at $199 per night and rates are valid through Thursday, Oct. 28; and the Fall Cruisin' and Splashin' package starts at $229 per night through Oct. 28. (866) 636-4502 or timberridgeresort.com.

Hellish trip

A trip to Hell, Mich., during the Halloween season will be memorable for sure. Ghosts and goblins can help visitors pick out the latest in costumes at Scream's Costumes. Then there are Twilight Tours of the Lakeview Cemetery and spooky storytelling. There also will be costume parades Saturday afternoons in October (kids marching in costume get a free cone), Halloween activities for kids and ghost stories around the bonfire Saturday nights. Walking ghost tours, guided by Southern Michigan Paranormals, will leave from Main Street Winery in historic downtown Howell, about 15 minutes from Hell.

Weekends in October. (734) 878-2233 or hell2u.com. For lodging ideas, call the Livingston County Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) 686-8474.

Worth the trip

The Grand Canyon Railway's Polar Express will make more than 70 runs this upcoming holiday season. The nighttime experience closely follows “The Polar Express book written by Chris Van Allsburg and features a special reading of the book while passengers enjoy hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. Santa Claus and his reindeer will welcome passengers and Santa boards the train for the return trip making his way through the Pullman passenger cars, greeting each child and giving them a special gift of a jingle bell. The Grand Canyon Railway is offering 50 percent off the regular rate for the railway excursion for all travelers who ride the Polar Express this season. There is also the Polar Express Package that includes the round-trip train excursion, a one-night stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and breakfast and dinner at the Grand Depot Café.

Nov. 12 to Jan. 8. Tickets cost $29 for adults and $19 for children ages 2 to 15. The Christmas Eve Limited, a special departure on Dec. 24, costs $58 for adults and $38 for children. The train/hotel package price for two adults and two children is $338. (888) 848-3511 or thetrain.com