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December 30, 2015
Serious reservationsHere's a guide to the lodgings, campsites and permits you should nail down now for travel in 2016.
In the Upper Midwest, travel can be competitive. Many festivals are so big and so fun that everyone wants to go. If you do, too, you'll have to act fast to stay ahead of the crowds. The hottest tickets in 2016 will be in the towns hosting the return of tall ships to the Great Lakes. In the western Great Lakes, tall-ship festivals will be in Bay City, Mich., July 14-17; Chicago, July 27-31; Green Bay, Aug. 5-7; and Duluth, Aug. 18-21. Hotel rooms will be expensive and, soon, unavailable. Look for openings at new hotels. In Duluth, Canal Park hotels already are booked up. But the new Pier B Resort — right on the harbor, next to the festival grounds — still has rooms, starting at $339. Best bets for the weekendHead for hills and trails with skis, snowshoes and tubes.
The Christmas rush is over, snow has fallen and all is right with winter. Cross-country ski trails are being groomed across the region, though some snow is more like mashed potatoes than powder (check ski reports). Still, it's enough to launch the candlelight season with nine events in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. If you're new to the sport, check our Cross-country skiing 101. Downhill ski resorts are reporting excellent conditions, and even better learn-to-ski deals for beginners. The best are in Michigan, where Ski Brule offers free lesson, rental and lift to first-timers on Fridays, and all fourth- and fifth-graders in the state get three free lift tickets at 30 resorts for $20. Any beginner can use a Discover Michigan Skiing voucher to get a lesson, rental, and lift package for $35, good at 27 ski areas in January. I know, many of you don't want to do anything strenuous. A really good sale in a fun shopping town will get those endorphins flowing, too. If you haven't yet made plans for New Year's Eve, take a look at our 10 great ways to celebrate. You can watch a carp, cheese and cherry drop, but in contrarian Chicago, a star will rise. But don't celebrate too hard. On New Year's Day, you can join 10 naturalist-guided First Day Hikes in Minnesota and nine in Wisconsin. In Michigan, Shoe Year's Hikes are held all weekend. Then, think about summer. It's not too early to apply for volunteer jobs as a lighthouse-keeper (though the deadline is Dec. 31 for Pottawatomie Light at the tip of Door County) or in the national parks, including a job as wilderness ranger in the Boundary Waters that includes training and free housing. If you camp, think about making reservations in Michigan state parks, especially the very popular, 100 percent reservable parks with Lake Michigan beaches (six-month window). Next weekendBowl a turkey, ride a fat bike, visit an ice cave.
Jack Frost Fest in Spooner, Wis. There's turkey bowling, minnow races, a fat-bike ride and an antique snowmobile show in this western Wisconsin town. Jan. 9. The Big Chill in Racine, Wis. Watch the pros at Wisconsin's state snow-sculpting competition. There's also a Downtown Rail Jam for snowboarders and skiers. Jan. 8-10. Winter Festival in La Farge, Wis. Visit the Kickapoo Valley Reserve for horse-drawn wagon rides, guided snowshoe and ice-cave hikes, winter games and a sled-dog race. Jan. 9. Breezy Point Ice Fest in Breezy Point, Minn. This Brainerd Lakes resort village celebrates with rides on horse-drawn trolleys, hot-air balloons and dog-sleds plus snow golf, a candlelight ski and fireworks. Jan. 8-9. For more events, see our Events Calendar.
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