Midwest travel: Balloon race is a great time to visit Galena
Top pick
The Eagle has landed
If you actually needed a reason to visit the gorgeous geography of Galena and its equally attractive Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, the largest balloon race in the Midwest is quite a come-on. The 14th annual Great Galena Balloon Race, taking place Father's Day weekend, offers an eyeful of hot air balloons puffing across the Illinois sky. Benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the three-day adventure takes place at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa's grounds, offering multiple balloon races, two night glows, balloon rides, a helium balloon release, classic car show, live music, wine and beer sampling and plenty of activity for kids from face painting to inflatable bounce houses and obstacle courses.
Friday through Sunday, June 19-21, at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, 444 Eagle Ridge Drive, Galena, Illinois. Rates vary per activity. (800) 892-2269 or eagleridge.com.
Chicago
Remix and mingle
Remix Chicago offers all things reused and recycled in a festival setting nestled in one of the city's liveliest neighborhoods — Logan Square. Expect to see a variety of re-purposed arts and crafts and visit informative workshops, kid's activities, unique food vendors and live indie music. Make brooches out of bottle caps, re-use hula hoops to make wreaths and dream catchers, learn to weave plastic grocery bags into yoga-style mats and more.
Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7, on Milwaukee Avenue between Fullerton and California avenues. Suggested donation is $5. (773) 433-8048 or remixchicago.com.
Seeing red
Redheads of all ages will flock to Highwood, Illinois for a two-day “Ginger Jamboree,” which includes the country's largest gathering of redheads to be photographed from above. The family-friendly festival convenes at Highwood's City Hall Park, where you can purchase ginger gear and goodies, vote for your favorite carrot cake and stroll the streets of Highwood to see how Highwood businesses are painting the town red.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7, at City Hall Park, 17 Highwood Ave., Highwood, Illinois. facebook.com/RHDchicago.
Caffeine Crawl
You've heard of pub crawls. Now a new Caffeine Crawl is coming to Chicago. The crawl will highlight 27 local coffee, tea and chocolate shops in a caffeinated blur of education and fun. Each stop includes a unique presentation and a sample of coffee, tea or chocolate, and ticket holders will receive an event bag full of swag and treats. There will be 12 routes over a two-day period.
Thursday and Friday, June 4-5, starting at different places across Chicago. Walking and public transit routes are available. Tickets are $25-$30. caffeinecrawl.com/chicago-tickets.html.
Midwest
The ball's in your fort
The inimitable Yogi Berra once said, “Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too.” See how good when Old World Wisconsin's historic baseball team, the Eagle Diamonds, hosts the first game of the 2015 season. The team plays by the 1870s rules — foul balls are not counted as strikes, no one wears gloves and there are no strike zones. After the game, see if you can smack one with the bat.
1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at Old World Wisconsin, W372 S9727 Hwy. 67, Eagle, Wisconsin. The game is included with Old World Wisconsin admission, which is $19 for adults (ages 13-64); $16 for seniors; $10 for children ages 4-12; ages 4 and under get in free. A Family Pass is $50. (262) 594-6301 or oldworldwisconsin.org.
Put a Springfield in your step
Bring your picnic baskets to the 54th Annual International Carillon Festival in Springfield, Illinois, a free event that's fun for the whole family. The Friday night performance is followed by a fireworks display. You might want to be there when a carillonneur is joined by a soprano and tenor in a special program of some of Abe Lincoln's favorite music. Plan your trip to the state capital so you can take in the Carillon Fest and the SOHO Music Festival, which features five stages of entertainment performed by more 60 regional and local bands.
Wednesday through Sunday, June 3-7, at the 54th Annual International Carillon Festival; Friday and Saturday, June 5-6, at the SOHO Music Festival at Washington Park, Springfield, Illinois. visitspringfieldillinois.com.
Worth the Trip
Searching for that lost shaker of salt? Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, located on the renowned Hollywood Beach Boardwalk in Greater Fort Lauderdale, is now taking reservations. Surprise someone with a trip to the phenomenal property, which boasts 349 guest rooms and suites as well as the Jimmy Buffett Suite and Coral Reefer Suite on the penthouse level of the 17-story property. The oceanfront resort and entertainment complex, opening this summer, will offer eight diverse restaurants, a full-service spa, state-of-the-art oceanfront fitness center, an array of shopping outlets, an extensive on-site water recreation area with multiple pools, FlowRider Double surf machines and three live entertainment venues.
(844) 562-5625 or see MargaritavilleResorts.com