Extend summer by doing something special Labor Day weekend

Take advantage of that extra day off work for a last-minute vacation.

Take advantage of that extra day off work for a last-minute vacation.

Fit in a Door County vacation to end the summer
Fit in a Door County vacation to end the summer

Door County, a Wisconsin peninsula separating Green Bay from Lake Michigan, is about 3 ½ hours north of Chicago. This is a place to just kick back, hike and bike the state parks and visit art galleries.

However, for a special treat, try to snag a ticket to “Grand Eloquence,” the peninsula’s last classical chamber concert of the summer season, Sept. 2 at 3 p.m. and plan to return home late Monday afternoon.

The concert is a repeat of one that sold out early in the series that is held in a fabulous, Gatsby-style, 35,000 square foot Ellison Bay estate.  The program is Gustav Mahler’s Quartet Movement in A minor for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Piano.

A dressy casual  (no shorts or flip flops) event, catered by Alexander’s of Door County, the concert benefits United Way of Door County and Midsummer’s Music Festival. Tickets are $150. For more information call 920-854-7088 and visit Midsummer Music.

Or, for summer’s waning days, plan trips to the northern suburbs of Chicago.

Check out butterflies or stroll the paths at the Chicago Botanic Garden
Check out butterflies or stroll the paths at the Chicago Botanic Garden

Visit the Chicago Botanic Garden. A butterfly is sure to land on your shoulder at “Butterflies and Blooms” in the garden’s net-enclosure. But the happening ends Sept. 2.

Fit in a visit to Long Grove. A historic village, settled in the mid-1800s, the town is home to such tasty shops as Long Grove Confectionery. However, it also has stores that carry wares from Italy, Ireland and other countries. Labor Day weekend features “Long Grove Around the World” to celebrate those shops.

Cap the weekend off with a picnic on the lawn and  concert at Ravinia Festival.

You can still picnic under the trees at Ravinia or get a dinner music package on Labor Day Weekend
You can still picnic under the trees at Ravinia or get a dinner music package on Labor Day Weekend

At Ravinia, hear violinist Johnny Gandelsman  play selections by Bach, Stravinsky, Glass and Biber Sept. 1 or pianist David Fung play Ravel, Scarlatti, Rachmaninoff Beethoven Sept. 2. Both concerts are 6 p.m. in Bennett Gordon Hall. Dinner packages are available. For tickets and more information visit Ravinia.

Photos (C) Jodie Jacobs

Five top things to do now in Chicago

Chicago simply does not stay still long enough to make any experience old or boring.

It doesn’t matter if you have visited Chicago or are now thinking of putting the city on your summer vacation list. Chicago simply does not stay still long enough to make any experience old or boring.

A tourist notes the "Bean" arch and reflections
A tourist notes the "Bean" arch and reflections

Millennium Park, home to the city’s famed “Cloud Gate” (“The Bean”) and Jay Pritzker Pavilion, keeps adding and changing sculptures and concerts.

The Art Institute of Chicago, connected to Millennium Park by the Sky Bridge over Monroe, moves from one block buster exhibition to the next. The theater scene, home of 200 live stage companies including Goodman and Steppenwolf Theatres and Broadway productions, keep turning out Jeff and Tony award winners.

Just as important, new restaurants pop up weekly and new and remodeled hotels cater to today’s plugged-in generation and suburbanites who want to take advantage of Chicago’s downtown attractions.

With so much going on, planning a weekend can either be fun or a challenge. Here are five top Chicago destinations that can be centerpieces of a great vacation minus the confusing what-to-do part.

Look for Marc Chagall's windows at the east end of the Art Institute of Chicago
Look for Marc Chagall's windows at the east end of the Art Institute of Chicago
  1. You don’t have to know anything about art to find something fascinating at the Art Institute of Chicago.  The world-class museum happens to be showcasing French Impressionism from the Musee d’Orsay, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and its own collection now through Sept. 29, 2013. However, adults and youngsters ooh and ah at the miniature furniture and interiors in the Thorne Rooms and Medieval arms and armor.
  2. If you make it to Chicago before Aug. 18 you can still catch Goodman’s beautiful production of “The Jungle Book.”  Another hot 2013 ticket is the “Book of Mormon.” At the Bank of America Theater through Oct. 06, 2013. This is  the writers’ and director’s recently revised production which many critics think is even better than the original.
  3. Visitors often talk about and recommend the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s river boat tour. However if the price or times don’t match your pocket book or schedule you’ll do fine with the other boat companies’ architecture tours.  If you don’t mind walking you’ll like the Architecture Foundation’s tours that go inside buildings.

    If you can't ID these Chicago landmarks now you will be able to after you take the Film Tour or an architecture boat ride.
    If you can't ID these Chicago landmarks now you will be able to after you take the Film Tour or an architecture boat ride.
  4. Movie and television producers love Chicago. To see where some of the 80 movies set in Chicago were shot such as “Dark Knight” and “Blues Brothers” take the Chicago Film Tour. The guides are knowledgeable. You see parts of Chicago that even locals have not visited. And you see clips on the bus while traveling.
  5. You’ve heard of China Town, which is fun and interesting. But other Chicago neighborhoods also have their own character and unique restaurants. You can learn more about the city and explore some of its culinary scene with Chicago Tours and Sidewalk Tours.

Enjoy Chicago!

Photos (C) by Jodie Jacobs

For More endless summer ideas visit summer blogs

Visit historical ghosts for a haunted Halloween

Springfield, Ill. is the former, and supposedly current home, of Abraham Lincoln and wife Mary.

In Springfield, a ghostly tour stops at the home of Abraham and Mary Lincoln.
In Springfield, a ghostly tour stops at the home of Abraham and Mary Lincoln.

Haunted places and history go together like peanut butter and jelly so this October combine the two with a visit to a town rife with haunting figures from Illinois’ and the country’s past.

Think Springfield, Ill., former home and, if rumors are correct, still current home of the 16th President of the United States and his wife.

Unaccountable footsteps and voices have been reported at Lincoln’s Tomb, an Illinois historic site in Springfield’s Oak Ridge Cemetery. Sightings of Lincoln have also been reported there.

In addition, Lincoln has supposedly been seen at his home and at the Old State Capitol. The Lincoln home, part of a four-block National Historic Site maintained by the National Park Service, is said to also be haunted by Mary Todd Lincoln.

Another wife reluctant to leave home is said to be Catherine Yates, wife of Richard Yates, governor of Illinois during the Civil War. She is supposedly behind otherwise unexplainable hi- jinks at the Executive Mansion.

These places can be checked out by individuals during a Springfield visit.

However author and Springfield expert Garret Moffett does two haunted tours. “Lincoln’s Ghost Walk: Legends & Lore,” a 1.5 hour tour, and “Haunted Dead Walk,” a 2.5 hour tour, are every October Friday and Saturday night.

For more October haunts visit ghostly ideas. Have a Happy Halloween, or a happy haunting happening.

Photo by Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Does it take a visitor to appreciate the scenery?

I wonder: Is the road or train ride oft taken really less of a travel trip then a journey through less familiar surroundings?

Fold the newspaper. Buy a cup of coffee. Clamber aboard.

I’m about to head to downtown Chicago again surrounded by commuters if it is early morning and concert and theater goers if it is late afternoon.

Many commuter trains disgorge riders at the Ogilvie Transportation Center downtown Chicago where commuters hurry to work and visitors take time to see the sights
Many commuter trains disgorge riders at the Ogilvie Transportation Center downtown Chicago where commuters hurry to work and visitors take time to see the sights

We all opt for a window seat if available. But how many of us really look out the window?

Heads bury in sports or business sections. Other travelers pull out their Blackberries, Smart Phones, iPads, lap tops. What good is the window seat except for shoulder support?

Once they reach downtown, commuters head to their offices with rapid strides or jostle for space on a bus. In the afternoon, show goers walk or hail a cab.

Did any of them know they passed a stunning art deco entryway or architecturally important building?

After returning from a publishing seminar on a recent windy (of course, it is Chicago) but sunny late afternoon, I was lucky enough to be sitting near a gaggle of youngsters and parents returning to Wisconsin after a day in Chicago.

“Wow.” “I loved Chicago.”  “It’s so clean.” “I saw…..” And so the conversation went.

The comments continued as the commuter train whipped past warehouses, condos, cemeteries, parks, busy streets and churches in the city and changed to spacious yards, larger homes, shopping strips and more open areas in the suburbs.

“Did you see…?  “Look.”

I put away the Sudoku and crossword puzzles and looked.

Yes, I love Chicago and its buildings, but am I really looking?

Office workers often hurry past the 1929 Art Deco Carbon and Carbide Building at 230 N. Michigan but visitors stop because the historic building now houses the Hard Rock Hotel
Office workers often hurry past the 1929 Art Deco Carbon and Carbide Building at 230 N. Michigan but visitors stop because the historic building now houses the Hard Rock Hotel

Sometimes, I walk instead of taking a bus from the train to the museums, meetings, shows and restaurants I cover. But rarely do I slow my pace to admire or snap an art deco doorway or sculpture just inside an office building.

Visitors don’t have that familiarity breeds blindness disease. They snap away with phones and serious camera equipment.

I also love the suburbs and taking  scenic drives or visiting the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. But when on a local train traveling through very familiar (I think) suburbs, my thoughts wander to grocery shopping, articles to do and event schedules.

Wait, was that a new sculpture in that suburb’s downtown? Hmm, I don’t think I knew that coffee shop was there, close to the train station. If I hadn’t heard that “look” earlier during the ride I would have missed seeing the sculpture and shop.

Driving around my area proves to be little better. The next day is for within-five miles errands. Armed with water bottle, I buckle up and start down the driveway.

A mild winter and early spring has encouraged early blooms and early construction.  Both distract from quick errands.

The slower pace means more time to recall and look for what my granddaughter sees when she sits in the back seat peering out the window.

“Look. Archways,” she often says.

Yes, today I actually look for branches reaching over streets to form bowers.

“Weeee,” she says as we crest a street. Yes, I notice our neighborhood does have some rolling roads.

As I park the car at a frequented grocery, I sit and wonder:  Is the road or train ride oft taken really less of a travel trip then a journey through less familiar surroundings?

Two fascinating destinations to spend Spring Break

Go back to Abraham Lincoln’s time for Spring vacation this year

Instead of heading to overcrowded beaches and boardwalks for Spring vacation, try something different this year – go back in time.

A young Abe sits outside his log cabin inside the Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Ill.
A young Abe sits outside his log cabin inside the Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Ill.

While the United States is still commemorating the people, their arguments and their actions during the American Civil War of 1861 to1865, visit Springfield, Illinois where an excellent museum on Abraham Lincoln features his life and difficult presidency.

Or go visit Western Tennessee and Corinth, Mississippi where you can picture the confrontations that took place on the strategic battlefields that make up the Shiloh National Military Park.

Shiloh marks its 150th Civil War anniversary March 29 through April 8 with special events but is an interesting destination throughout the year.

A modern family of dad and daughter pose with the Lincolns at the Abraham Lincoln Museum
A modern family of dad and daughter pose with the Lincolns at the Abraham Lincoln Museum

Springfield, Illinois

It doesn’t matter whether traveling alone or as a family, there is enough to do and see in Springfield and at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to satisfy all ages.

What to expect at the museum

Movies, live performances, a log-cabin replica, a White House replica, gallery exhibits all tell different aspects of Lincoln’s life.

Here is a rundown of the major attractions: The Treasures Gallery, The Illinois Gallery, Mrs. Lincoln’s Attic, Journey One: The Pre-Presidential Years, The Union Theater, Live Performance Theater, Journey Two: The White House Years, Ask Mr. Lincoln, Ghosts of the Library and The Gateway

Plan to spend half a day or at least two hours to do everything.

The museum is across the street from the library and typically a destination for researchers. However, an “Illinois Answers the Call: The Boys in Blue” exhibit that includes the U.S. Colored Troop regiments and features the people, letters and music of the Illinois Civil War regiments are on exhibit.

What to expect downtown Springfield

Lincoln gave his "house divided" speech at Springfield's Old Capitol
Lincoln gave his "house divided" speech at Springfield's Old Capitol

The town is a mix of the Old State Capitol and historic buildings and the newer, in-use State Capitol Building with its governing and lobbying spinoffs and restaurants. If time allows, visit both beginning with the Old Capitol.

Lincoln gave his “House Divided” speech here and tried cases before the Illinois Supreme Court.  An original flag carried by the 95th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War is on display next to the Adjutant General’s office.

Across the street from the Old Capitol is the Lincoln-Herndon Law Office.

If up to walking, there is a reasonably priced 90-minute, 10 block evening tour beginning from Lincoln’s law office at 6th and Adams, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For information call 217-502-8687.

Be sure to stop at the Lincoln home (1844-1861) and its Visitor’s Center operated by National Park Service Rangers.

Go over to the Capitol Building where the legislature meets. A mix of baroque and classic, the Capitol has an impressive rotunda and is worth a tour.

New Salem visitors learn about life in Lincoln's time from a costumed volunteer
New Salem visitors learn about life in Lincoln's time from a costumed volunteer

What is nearby

Drive about 20 minutes north to historic New Salem, a recreated village with costumed interpreters that looks like it did when Lincoln worked there.

Where to stay:

The Inn at 835 is an early 1900’s former apartment house on the National Register of Historic Places.Newer by half a century and retro is The State House Inn.

Both places have complimentary breakfasts and that scarce commodity: parking. They are within walking distance of most attractions.

On the edge of town is the Crowne Plaza Hotel, a conference-style facility that features a pool, sauna and WiFi coffee shop.

Bonus:

Travelers who like the old Route 66 will find that Springfield is on the “Mother Road” and has some landmarks. See Shea’s Gas Station, 2075 Peoria Road and Cozy Dog Drive In, 2935 S. Sixth Street.

Shiloh

A monument to Army of the Mississippi General Albert Sidney Johnston who was the highest ranked officer on either side killed during the Civil War is at
A monument to Army of the Mississippi General Albert Sidney Johnston who was the highest ranked officer on either side killed during the Civil War is at Shiloh

A year after the Fort Sumter attack, Union forces beat the Confederacy at Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862.

The Union victory was a decisive battle on the Civil War’s Western Theater because of its river placement and location near Corinth, Miss. Which had an important rail junction.

Grant needed Corinth before he could move on Vicksburg and control the Mississippi Valley.   Confederate General P.T.G. Beauregard was on record saying: “If defeated here we lose the Mississippi Valley and probably our cause.”

What to expect

Shiloh National Military Park is about 3,996 acres with marked and preserved strategic land forms and monuments to both sides. Its battle sites are in Hardin County, Tenn. and in Corinth, Miss. The main section is in the unincorporated town of Shiloh south of Savannah, Tenn. Iron plaques mark both sides’ advance and retreat positions. The rest is about 23 miles southwest of Shiloh in Corinth, Miss.

Take the 12.7 mile auto tour or a guided tour. You will learn that the Battle of Shiloh is also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing named for “Pitts” Tucker, a saloon owner and that Shiloh is named for the Shiloh Church on the battlefield.

A US park ranger shows and tells visitors the importance of Pittsburg Landing and the strategies attempted during the Shiloh battles
A US park ranger shows and tells visitors the importance of Pittsburg Landing and the strategies attempted during the Shiloh battles

If you go during the 2012 Sesquicentennial celebration, time the visit to see two reenactments by more than 6,000 re-enacters using more than 100 cannons, March 29-31.

Organized by The Armies of Tennessee and the Blue-Gray Alliance, the event features The Armies of Tennessee march to Shiloh from Mississippi and The Blue-Gray Alliance transport of soldiers to the battle by rail and river.

Observation is limited so register for the events by visiting 150th Civil War Events 0r Armies of Tennessee.

If in the area April 4-5, go to nearby Pickwick Landing State Park at Pickwick Dam, Tenn. for “Invasions by Rail and River: The Battle of Shiloh”  The Story of Shiloh: Fiery Trial will premier at 7 p.m. April 4. A forum with historians will be held there at 9 a.m. April 5. In addition there will be an exhibit of Civil War artifacts from the Battle of Shiloh.

Or go to Shiloh for ranger led hikes at specific strategic sites 150 years after their particular confrontations, April 6-8. Also be on hand for the “Grand Illumination,” April 7 from dusk to 10 p.m. when luminaries are placed around the battlefield representing the 23,746 killed, wounded or missing at Shiloh. For more special event information visit Shiloh 150.

Pickwick Inn near Shiloh is a well placed state park resort for visiting the battlefield and relaxing on vacation
Pickwick Inn near Shiloh is a well placed state park resort for visiting the battlefield and relaxing on vacation

What to expect at Corinth

See the interpretive center movie and ask about auto and walking tours to see homes used by the generals and the Civil War fortifications and Corinth Battlefield. (http://corinth.net/)

Bonus

Corinth is a historical town that has antique shops, bluegrass jamming and historic homes.

Where to stay

Pickwick Inn, at Pickwick Landing State Park, (Park Road, Pickwick Dam, TN 38365  is a vacation spot southeast of Shiloh on the Tennessee River.

Another choice is Generals Quarters B&B at 924 N. Fillmore St. Corinth, MS 38834.

All photos by Jodie Jacobs

Spring vacation guide to Chicago

Take in a show, a museum, an interesting tour, some shopping and admire the sculptures in Millennium Park. They are all downtown Chicago.

Chicago is a perfect spring break  destination whether living out of town or in the city.

Chicago's skyline is picture perfect from the Museum Campus
Chicago's skyline is picture perfect from the Museum Campus

Take in a show, a museum, an interesting tour, some shopping and admire the sculptures in Millennium Park. They are all downtown Chicago.

Shows

Jersey Boys returns to the Bank of America theatre April 5 Fela will be at the Oriental Theatre March 27-April 8

Museums

The Museum Campus,  sticking out into Lake Michigan from Lake Shore Drive between 12th and 14th Streets, is among the best places to snap photos of the city’s skyline. But be sure to save time for at least one of its museums: The Field, Shedd Aquarium or Adler Planetarium.

They reward visitors with fascinating exhibits year round. However, they are gearing up for Spring vacationers with either new exhibits or extended hours to see all their special exhibits.

At the Adler, Undiscovered Worlds, a show about finding real planets and stars beyond the Earth’s solar system, opens early March in time for Spring vacation.

Because the Shedd, situated between the Adler and the Field, draws crowds during school holidays, the museum has extended hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. March 26-March 30 and April 1-April 6. Longer hours mean fitting in Jellies, Wild Reef and an Oceanarium show.

Families visiting Chicago often head to the Field to see dinosaurs. But Spring break time means also fitting in two temporary exhibits that just opened: Opening the Vaults: Mummies and Genghis Khan.Visitors come to the Field Museum for Sue the T-Rex but stay to see such exciting temporary exhibits as Mummies

Tours

Trolley tours are fine for getting around because you get background info from tour guides. However, if looking for something special consider an architectural Chicago River boat cruise and a movie site tour.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation boat tours typically do not start until the end of April. But you should be able to book a cruise on Wendella and Chicago Tours.

The Wendella cruises start at the base of the Wrigley Building below the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Chicago Tour cruises start at Navy Pier.

The Chicago Film Tour is a fun way to see parts of Chicago you might not get to such as Wrigley Field in the Wrigleyville neighborhood. The tours start and end on Clark Street between Ontario and Ohio, a perfect spot for people who love Portillo’s Chicago Dogs and their Italian beef.Wrigley Field is on the Film tour

Shopping

Out-of-towners enjoy browsing the shops along North Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Lincoln Park. Visit Magnificent Mile the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association’s website to pick out some specific shopping and dining destinations.

Whatever other places you choose, you should  stop in Garrett’s Popcorn Store in the 600 block of Michigan Ave. If shopping at Macy’s at State and Randolph (Marshall Field’s former flagship store) follow the nose across the street to Garrett’s next to the Oriental Theatre.

Speaking of food (similar to chocolate, in Chicago popcorn is considered a food), families coming to town typically want to try a pizza parlor. Everyone has a favorite so arguments abound. but two places that make many lists for the good deep dish stuff that Chicago is known for are Gino’s East and Lou Malnati’s.

Millennium Park

Bordering Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street, Millennium Park draws thousand of tourists who want to see “Cloud Gate,” better known as “The Bean.” They also check out the Frank Gehry sculpture top to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the Crown Fountains which spit water late spring and summer.

Visitors flock to Cloud Gate, also known as The Bean, in Millennium Park
Visitors flock to Cloud Gate, also known as The Bean, in Millennium Park

Insider Tips

  • If staying in town  for a few days, it may pay to obtain a CityPASS. You will be paying about half what you would to individually visit the Shedd, Field, Skydeck at Willis Tower (formerly Sears), the Adler or Art Institute of Chicago and either the Museum of Science and Industry or the John Hancock Observatory. In addition, the pass means not having to stand in line to purchase tickets.
  • If tired when walking the “Mag Mile” take a bus back south on Michigan Avenue. Most buses you see go downtown. You can also catch a bus on State Street south to the Museum Campus. Bus drivers do not have change so have some singles and quarters handy.
  • You don’t have to leave town without trying Garrett’s because the company has stands at the Metra trains’ Ogilvie Center and O’Hare Airport.

Photos by Jodie Jacobs

Five tips to doing Chicago like a travel pro

The city is about music in the clubs, musicals in its Broadway in Chicago theaters and music at Chicago Symphony Center.

If looking for a fun and interesting winter break, head to Chicago.

Chicago is about enjoying Lake Michigan and snapping its skyline from the water
Chicago is about enjoying Lake Michigan and snapping its skyline from the water

The city is about all shopping the Magnificent Mile of North Michigan Avenue and seeing public sculptures around almost every downtown corner.

It is music in the clubs, musicals in its Broadway in Chicago theaters and music at Chicago Symphony Center.

It is about exploring centuries of fine art at the Art Institute of Chicago and centuries of natural history at the Field Museum.

It is about enjoying the seascape of Lake Michigan and creatures of the sea at the Shedd Aquarium.

Penguins, dolphins and jelly fish make the Shedd Aquarium a top Chicago attraction
Penguins, dolphins and jelly fish make the Shedd Aquarium a top Chicago attraction

However, Chicago is best enjoyed when you know how to get around the town.

Here are five tips to doing Chicago like a travel pro:

  • If flying in to O’Hare International Airport, you can take the subway system downtown. The Chicago Transit Authority, popularly called the CTA, has a station downstairs of O’Hare’s baggage claim area. Its Blue Line will take you from O’Hare to Randolph Street near theaters and hotels. Visit CTA and go to Trip Planner. The Trip Planner extimates travel time at about 45 minutes but driving the Kennedy Highway from the airport can take an hour when backed up and then driving into the downtown area from the highway can take a good 15 minutes more.

    Chicago is also known for its architecture. The Marina Towers on the left and Trump Tower, far right, are on the north side of the Chicago River just west of Michigan Avenue
    Chicago is also known for its architecture. The Marina Towers on the left and Trump Tower, far right, are on the north side of the Chicago River just west of Michigan Avenue
  • If taking an Amtrak train to Chicago’s Union Station, you have a choice of buses to take from Union Station’s cross streets to the city’s main shopping areas and attractions. Go to CTA Trip Planner for options.
  • Chicago is as much a destination for suburbanites and residents of nearby towns as it is for visitors. But public transportation is still a good choice to avoid traffic congestion and highly taxed parking garages. Visit Metra for stations and times and visit the CTA Trip Planner for bus options from the Ogilvie Transportation Center or Union Station.

    The Picasso sculpture at Daley Plaza is a Chicago landmark but the city also has sculptures by well-known artists throughout the downtown including Joan Miro's Chicago across from the plaza and Claes Oldenburg's Batcolumn just west of the Metra station
    The Picasso sculpture at Daley Plaza is a Chicago landmark but the city also has sculptures by well-known artists throughout the downtown including Joan Miro's Chicago across from the plaza and Claes Oldenburg's Batcolumn just west of the Metra station
  • Chicago is a CityPASS town. The pass saves big bucks and time when trying to fit in more than one attraction.  It allows entry to the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium or Art Institute, the SkyDeck at Willis Tower (formerly Sears) and the Museum of Science and Industry or the John Hancock Observatory. The pass typically means not having to stand in line to for tickets.
  • World class museums are certainly a draw but there also are events, neighborhoods, public sculpture, parks and many more sights and activities so check out the city’s official visitor site: Explore Chicago to see what is happening when you plan to come to town.  The site also lists hotel packages. Now wishing you world class fun.

All photos by and copyrighted to Jodie Jacobs

Three spas that will help you manage the holidays

Instead of trying to lose weight and feel better after the holidays arm yourself with expert advice and a wellness plan at a destination spa

Thanksgiving is just the beginning of our annual holiday binge days
Thanksgiving is just the beginning of our annual holiday binge days

Of course the holidays practically shove yummy temptations in your face so what is a fun, food and party-loving person to do to not gain what feels like 100 pounds between Thanksgiving and January 2?

Well, aside from either feeling deprived when out or staying home, there are ways to curb the appetite such as eat a favorite raw fruit or protein snack before heading out the door.

However, another choice is to move your annual January SOS trips to fitness centers up a month or two to November or December.

But instead of merely thinking local work-out place, take it to the next level. Seek out a spa that does more than massages and facials. You need one that also has a nutritionist on staff and trainers or work-out gurus whom you can consult.

No Junk Food? Will I survive? A couple of days later the answer was a resounding yes!
No Junk Food? Will I survive? A couple of days later the answer was a resounding yes!

You may have a good place near you. But you have a better chance of listening and following nutrition and workout advice when away from home and away from familiar temptations and distractions

Here are three spas with very different atmospheres. Each of them is worth traveling to any time of year but they all take nutrition and individually tailored workouts, seriously.

Heartland Spa

The most casual of the three spas,  even  likened to an away camp, is The Heartland, about 90 minutes south of Chicago in Gilman, Ill.

Leave the designer clothes at home when coming here. You don’t even have to worry about bringing fresh workout clothes. Shorts, Ts, baggy sweats (top and bottom) are handed out upon arrival and replaced when left outside the room’s door after wearing.

A highly lauded destination spa since the mid1980’s, Heartland covers a range of healthy body and mind issues from lifestyle discussions and fitness classes to body assessments and diet consultations.

Inspiring messages accompanied healthy snacks.
Inspiring messages accompanied healthy snacks.

Situated on a former dairy farm, the spa is small so guests tend to get to know each other, particularly because they gather in the small dining room at the same time. Healthy snacks were always available in an inspiration-filled hallway.

Everyone gets the same meal unless there is a dietary restriction. However during a recent visit, lunch was a delicious Italian roasted chicken breast on top of roasted vegetables topped with golden melted mozzarella. Dinner was tomato lentil soup, a yummy grilled chili salmon with sweet pepper salsa, garlic mashed potatoes, delicate asparagus and a three berry crepe for desert.

Calories and fat content are listed on the side. Meals and snacks each day are vegetarian with an add-on of chicken or fish totaling 1400 calories for women and 1500 for men. Activities here are mostly in the spa’s facilities with a few hikes along the farm roads.

Lake Austin Spa

About 35 minutes from downtown Austin, Texas, Lake Austin Spa Resort was named the Number One Destination Spa in the United States in Conde Nast Traveler’s poll in 2010 and 2011.

Dress is whatever guests want to wear. Activities are on the resort’s 19 acre property but with additional choices along the lake and on the lake.

Meals are nutritious and offer several options that often include burgers, salmon, pork loin and sea scallops. Diners can eat alone or at a communal table. Calories and fat grams are listed but choices are up to the guests.

Nutritionist Terry Shaw will work with guests to design meal plans and holiday eating approaches to take home.

Miraval

Desert, mountains, accommodations and philosophy make MiravaL a retreat
Desert, mountains, accommodations and philosophy make MiravaL a retreat

Spread across a desert landscape outside Tuscon, Ariz., Miraval is the SpaFinder Magazine Crystal Award winner for 2011. The spa ranked fourth in Travel + Leisure Magazine’s 2011 World’s Best List.

However, it is Miraval’s understanding of healthy eating, the right workout program and mind-body connections that makes the spa a popular destination.

The spa reflects the philosophy of Integrative Health and Healing Director Dr. Andrew Weil.

Dinner is sit-down but lunch is an attractive buffet with calorie and carbs listed. Guests can also have lunch with a registered dietician.

The spa’s desert location and meditation areas give Miraval a retreat atmosphere. Guests are comfortable wandering the grounds in robes or workout clothes.

Photos by Jodie Jacobs

Five tips for a fun fall color trip

A little fall travel homework now saves trip stress later on

The signs are there, teasing the Northern US and Midwestern states with nippy air and barely tinged maple and aspen leaves. It’s time to plan a fall color getaway.

Fall comes in all colors along the forested back roads of Door County in northern Wisconsin
Fall comes in all colors along the forested back roads of Door County in northern Wisconsin

But before you pencil in your destination there are a few tips to consider so that fall color fever does not have to be treated with two aspirins a day.

1. Even though weekends may be easier on your work schedule, it won’t be easier on your drive or stay at popular fall destinations.

Do try to go during the week or you will find yourself in bumper to bumper traffic along normally scenic roads, staying at less desirable locations and grabbing “to-go” from a drive-in instead of relaxing at a good local restaurant.

2. Once you have determined where you want to go, take a look at that area’s Convention and Visitors Bureau websites for accommodation listings.

An overlook at Peninsula Park in Door County reveals warm tangerines, ambers and shimmering golds
An overlook at Peninsula Park in Door County reveals warm tangerines, ambers and shimmering golds

It is OK to call the CVB for suggestions and recommendations. They want visitors to be happy. They may even have a list of places in your price range and that meet your needs that are booked and those with vacancies.

3. Accommodations in popular color destinations are often filled months, sometimes a year, ahead so book as early as possible. Also, broaden your options to include Bed & Breakfasts, condominium rentals and suite hotels.

Remember that a place that may sound pricey but includes breakfast could end up cheaper than somewhere without breakfast. Also a condominium with kitchen facilities may also save on meal costs.

4. Choose an area that has more to do than drive around looking for the best snapshot to post on Facebook or go into the family album. Areas rich in fall color often have additional attractions such as wineries, harvest festivals and art galleries.

Visitors go to Southern Illinois for its wine trail and find out the Shawnee Forest is in the best kept color secret category except to people who live there
Visitors go to Southern Illinois for its wine trail and find out the Shawnee Forest is in the best kept color secret category except to people who live there

Knowing more about an area than its reputation for color may help deciding when and where to go.

5. Whether you have a destination in mind or not, you will have a better idea on when peak color comes if you check a state’s website. States want you to come so they have color watch and color information.

Knowing ahead that color comes the last week in September in one state or area of a state and mid-October in another state or area, will help you schedule your trip.

Here are some Midwestern scenic and color websites sites to check (other states have similar sites):

Follow the red border roads on the Leelanau Peninsula near Traverse City because they lead to wineries, cute towns, great overlooks and more fall color
Follow the red border roads on the Leelanau Peninsula near Traverse City because they lead to wineries, cute towns, great overlooks and more fall color

Visit Illinois and Color watch. See Indiana and check Color information. Go to Ohio and its  Color information. Also see Michigan and its Color information. Visit  Minnesota and its Color information. In addition go to Wisconsin and Color information

Photos by Jodie Jacobs

Three reasons to go to Navy Pier second weekend of August

Board a Tall Ship and sail on a schooner or watch an America’s Cup style race and see amazing Cirque aerial acts at Navy Pier

Imagine boarding a square rig warship like the one Commander Oliver Hazard Perry sailed when winning the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.

Board Pride of Baltimore II seen here when it arrives at Navy Pier in Chicago
Board Pride of Baltimore II seen here when it arrives at Navy Pier in Chicago

Or, picture seeing exciting jockeying for position among boats from five countries in Match Races.

Add in a chance to watch amazing Cirque acrobatics on a 1.5 mile pier that once housed World War I regiments and World War II troops from several countries.

The events happen the second weekend in August at Chicago’s Navy Pier, a historic site that is also home to popular restaurants, a large Ferris wheel and other entertainment venues.

Tall Ships

Six tall ships from as far as Baltimore, Erie and Newport Beach and as close as South Haven and Chicago are sailing to Navy Pier for Taste of Tall Ships Aug. 11-14, 2011.

Board or sail out onto Lake Michigan on a Tall Ship the second weekend of August
Board or sail out onto Lake Michigan on a Tall Ship the second weekend of August

Two of them – Perry’s Flagship Niagara and the topsail schooner Pride of Baltimore II, will be available for boarding.

Friends Good Will, a square topsail sloop with a South Haven, Mich. port and Lynx, a square topsail schooner from Newport Beach, Calif., plus Chicago-based gaff schooners Windy and Red Witch will take passengers out onto Lake Michigan.

Boarding prices are $9 adults, $6 children. A combo ticket of boarding and three Navy Pier rides are $16 adults and $13 children. Boarding hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 11-13 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 14.

Sail away prices and times vary according to ship and length of sail. Sail-away tickets are also available on “Windy” in combination with boarding “Flagship Niagara” or “Pride of Baltimore II.” More ticket information

Chicago Match Race

At the east end of Navy Pier bleachers will be set up for free viewing of the Chicago Grade 2 Match Race. The competition is America’s Cup style racing to give 10 internationally ranked sailing teams match race practice. Qualifying rounds are Aug. 12 followed by semi-finals Aug. 13 and finals on Aug. 14.

Cirque Shanghai Extreme

Cirque Shanghai Extreme is at the Pier’s Pepsi® Skyline Stage® now until Sept. 5 . Go to the show to see  trapeze artists, aerial acts, motorcycle daredevils and Kung Fu sword fight displays.

More than a mile of attractions has made Navy Pier a top visitor destination in Chicago and Illinois
More than a mile of attractions has made Navy Pier a top visitor destination in Chicago and Illinois

About Navy Pier

Navy Pier was part of famed city planner Daniel Burnham’s 1909 “Master Plan of Chicago.” The 1.5 mile pier was built from 1914 to 1916. Originally called the Municipal Pier, it was renamed Navy Pier in 1927 in tribute to World War I Navy personnel. World War II military pilots trained at the pier as did sailors and technicians. After the war, the University of Illinois had a branch at the pier until 1965. However, the Pier was also designed to include entertainment venues.

Today, visitors can go to a Shakespearean theater, dine at famed Harry Caray’s or Billy Goat Tavern and browse a free stained glass window museum.

Getting there

Navy Pier is at Lake Michigan at the east end of both Illinois Street and Grand Avenue. Parking is available however CTA buses do go there from the Ogilvie Transportation Center (Metra) and Union Station.

Photos are courtesy of Navy Pier