On the road: Make a card for Mother's Day

Chicago

Every beat of her art

Enjoy some of the South Side's offerings at Second Sunday, a drop-in event for families featuring arts and crafts projects at the Hyde Park Art Center. Join artists from The Plug-In Studio for a pop-up, drop-in art and technology workshop where you will use electronics and found materials to create interactive works that move, make sound and light up. Or, get in on the Mother's Day workshop designing and hand-printing your own one-of-a-kind Mother's Day card. No preregistration necessary; all ages welcome.

1 p.m. Sunday, May 11, at the Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave. Free. (773) 324-5520 or hydeparkart.org.

Frame the family

Surprise mom with a fully coordinated, on-site photo shoot this Mother's Day by booking a room at the Thompson Hotel Chicago and an appointment with favored photographer, Scott Thompson. Spend the night in one of Thompson Chicago's superior king or double guest rooms and wake up refreshed and ready for your close-up. If you're bringing the whole family, you can add an additional room to your reservation and receive the second booking at half price. The Mother's Day offering includes delicious bites for kids while parents indulge in an in-room mimosa and Bellini bar of prosecco, juices and Chambord, delivered by room service; and the 30-minute photo session that includes a selection of photos with the option to retouch up to five images. Add optional premium additions for mom, like a styling session or a visit to the salon before the shoot.

Friday through Monday, May 9-11, at the Thompson Hotel Chicago, 21 E. Bellevue Place. Rate is $399 per night; use the booking code MOTHER at thompsonhotels.com/hotels, thompson-chicago or call (312) 266-2100.

Midwest

For the benefit of Mr. Kite

The Wisconsin Historical Society's historic sites and museums invite you to Come Fly a Kite at locations all around Wisconsin in May and June. The sites provide materials for making, decorating and flying kites. Wade House in Greenbush, Sheboygan County, will be flying kites during its At Work and at Play event May 17-18. And in Madison's Wisconsin Historical Museum, kite decorating is part of an International Museum Day event on Saturday, May 17. Other venues include Pendarvis in Mineral Point, Stonefield in Cassville, H.H. Bennett Studio in Wisconsin Dells, Circus World in Baraboo, Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien, Madeline Island Museum in La Pointe and Black Point Estate in Lake Geneva.

Weekends in May and June. Venues vary. For a list of scheduled events, see wisconsinhistory.org or call (608) 264-6434.

The Emperor's army

"Terra Cotta Warriors: The Emperor's Painted Army" is coming to The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, and it's your only chance to see the warriors in the U.S. in 2014. The exclusive exhibit tells the story of China's first emperor and features real Terra Cotta Warriors, considered by many to be the Eighth Wonder of the World. See more than 100 ancient artifacts and enjoy hands-on interactive experiences.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday, May 10 to Nov. 2, at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, Ind. Admission is $29.50 for adults; $26 for seniors 60 and older; $19.50 for kids 2 to 17; free for kids younger than 2. (317) 334-4000 or childrensmuseum.org.

Barrel into spring

Before corn and soybeans were prevalent, Illinois was the second largest producer of grapes in the United States. Currently checking in at more than 60 wineries and about 300 grape growers across the state, Illinois' wine industry produces 500,000 gallons of wine per year. The Quad Cities, part of the Upper Mississippi River Valley, is America's largest wine region, covering almost 30,000 square miles. Sip and sample a selection of 150 wines from around the world at the St. Ambrose University Wine Festival on the campus in Davenport, Iowa. Try culinary highlights from restaurants in the Quad Cities, too.

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport, Iowa. Tickets cost $45 online or $50 at the door. To purchase tickets and for details, contact sau.edu or call (563) 333-6290.

Pretty fly fest

Often called the Everglades of the North, Horicon Marsh in central Wisconsin presents one doozy of a festival honoring our flying friends. The Horicon Marsh Bird Festival offers bus and adventure boat tours, hikes, bird-banding demonstrations, night sounds tours, landscape photography workshop and lectures and demos about everything from wetland water bugs to wild birds of prey. There's a beginning birding hike for those who want to get in on the pastime, too, at the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States.

6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, May 9; 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 10; 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 11; and 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, May 12, at Horicon Marsh International Education Center, N7725 Highway 28, Horicon, Wis. Many events are free, but some tours require a fee. horiconmarshbirdclub.com/ birdfestivalevents.cfm or (920) 387-7890.

Worth the trip

Take your passion for fitness to some of the world's most beautiful places on a luxury adventure vacation through Reebok Fitness Vacations by Austin Adventures, launching this summer with a pilot trip to Montana. Take part in a wide range of activities such as biking, hiking, rafting, yoga, traditional and trail running, functional fitness classes, group fitness classes and obstacle racing. Three trip itineraries are scheduled in 2014 with a full launch scheduled for 2015. OUTSIDE Magazine recently named Kasey Austin, vice president of operations and trip leader, as the World's Top Family Guide for 2014.

July 13-18 and Aug. 3-8 in Montana - Big Sky, Yellowstone & Paradise Valley; Aug. 31-Sept. 5 and Sept. 21-26 in Utah - Bryce/Zion; Nov. 15-21 in Costa Rica. Prices vary. Call (800) 575-1540 or see austin adventures.com/reebok.