Below is basic information about great trips that can cost
less than $100 per person. For details about these trips and
others, check
the Plan a
Trip page of MidwestWeekends.com,
the on-line travel
guide published by Rovers members Beth Gauper and Torsten
Müller.
Summer on Madeline Island in Lake Superior |
| Where to stay: | Rustic group camp (lodge) of Wisconsin's Big Bay State Park, $40, 715-747-6425, (reserve up to a year in advance) or Big Bay Town Park, 715-747-2801. |
| What to do: | Canoe Big Bay Town Park, kayak Lake Superior, swim Big Bay
State Park, bicycle around the island and around the Bayfield Peninsula. |
| Events to catch: | Fourth of July on Madeline Island. |
| How far from the Twin Cities: | 4 hours to Bayfield, then take ferry, |
| Information: | www.madelineisland.com.
For details on
this trip, see The More, the Merrier. |
Paddling the Upper Iowa River near Decorah, Iowa |
| Where to
stay: | Check www.bluffcountry.com
for campgrounds/liveries. Among them: log cabin and campsites
at Hutchinson Family Farm Campground and B&B and canoe livery,
563-382-3054. Also, Randy's and Hruska's. |
| What to do: | Paddle Upper Iowa, bicycle Root River or Harmony-Preston Valley state trails 15-30 minutes away, visit Decorah. |
| How far from the Twin Cities: | 3 hours |
| Information: | www.bluffcountry.com; www.decoraharea.com |
Hiking Devil's Lake in central Wisconsin |
| Where to
stay: | Willowood
Inn motel rooms/cottage,
or Devil's Lake State Park
campsites, 608-356-8301, (campsites are state's most
popular; reserve up to 11 months in advance for
summer). |
| What to do: | Hike trails in park and Ice Age National Scenic Trail to Parfrey's Glen. Go to Baraboo for museums, nightlife, restaurants. Visit International Crane Foundation, Pewits Nest SNA, Dr. Evermor's Art Park. |
| When to go: | Fall color in mid-October is spectacular. |
| How far from the Twin Cities: | 4 hours |
| Information: | www.downtownbaraboo.com. For details on this trip, see Devil's Heaven. |
Backpacking Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Michigan's Upper Peninsula |
| Where to stay: | Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore campsites |
| What to do: | Hike 42-mile section of North Country Scenic Trail along Lake Superior |
| How far from the Twin Cities: | 8-9 hours |
| Information: | www.hunts-upguide.com, a guide to the Upper Peninsula. |
Paddling the Bois Brule in northwest Wisconsin |
| Where to
stay: | State-forest
campgrounds just south of the town of Brule and Copper Range four
miles north of town, near the Pine Tree Landing, 715-372-5678. In
Solon Springs, Lucius Woods County Park, 715-378-2219. |
| What to do: | From Brule, paddle the Bois Brule, Outfitter: Brule River Canoe Rental.
From Solon Springs, hike the North Country Trail from Upper St. Croix Lake. Swim, go to Saturday-night concerts in the county park, . |
| How far from the Twin Cities: | 2 1/2 hours |
| Information: | www.visitsuperior.com. For details on this trip, see Paddling the Bois Brule and Summer nights in Solon Springs. |
Bicycling Chicago |
| Where to stay: | Hostelling International hostel in South Loop, $28-$37 per person. Reserve far in advance for summer festival weekends. |
| What to do: | Bicycle the 18-mile Lakefront Trail. |
| Events to catch: | Festivals all summer in Grant Park, three blocks. |
| How far from the Twin Cities: | 7-8 hours by car; train; or Megabus. Train and bus tickets are cheaper the farther in advance they're reserved, up to five months for the $2 round-trip tickets on Megabus. |
| Information: | www.choosechicago.com. For details on this trip, see Spin City. |
Bicycling around Clear Lake, Iowa |
| Where to stay: | Two yurts in McIntosh Woods State Park on Clear Lake and campsites, 641-829-3847, www.exploreiowaparks.com. Reserve up to a year in advance, 1-877-427-2757, www.reserveiaparks.com. |
| What to do: | Bicycle the 15 miles around the lake or to Mason City, fish for walleye, take a cruise on Lady of Lake paddlewheeler, hear band concerts in City Park. |
| Events to catch: | Bicycle, Blues & BBQ Festival, second weekend in July. Lakeside DixieFest, Iowa Storytelling Festival and Art Sail, fourth weekend in July. |
| How far from the Twin Cities: | 2 hours |
| Information: | www.clearlakeiowa.com. For details on this trip, see Yippee for Yurts. |
Bicycling/paddling/swimming/hiking Duluth |
| Where to stay: | Willard Munger Inn in West Duluth, near trailheads, or Indian Point Campground on St. Louis Bay. |
| What to do: | Hike Superior Hiking Trail or Western Waterfront Trail, kayak or canoe the St. Louis River/Bay, bicycle the Willard Munger State Trail, go whitewater rafting, take a ride on the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad |
| How far from the Twin Cities: | 2 1/4 hours |
| Information: | www.visitduluth.com. For details on this trip, see Duluth's Other Waterfront |
Whitewater kayaking in northeast Wisconsin |
| Where to stay: | Bear Paw Outdoor Adventure Resort on Wolf River just south of Langlade, northeast of Wausau, in cabins or campsites. |
| What to do: | Kayak or raft on whitewater rivers, take whitewater classes |
| How far from the Twin Cities: | 4 hours |
| Information: | For details on this trip, see Whitewater 101. |
Kayaking the Rossport Islands in Ontario |
| Where to stay: | Rainbow Falls Provincial Park just east of Rossport, 807-824-2298, www.ontarioparks.com. |
| What to do: | Kayak or raft on whitewater rivers, take whitewater classes |
| How far from the Twin Cities: | 4 hours |
| Information: | North of Superior Tourism. For details on this trip, see Paddling toward the light. |
Hiking in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park on Michigan's Upper Peninsula |
| Where to stay: | In rustic cabins, yurts or campsites in the park, 906-885-5275, www.michigan.gov. Reserve up to a year in advance at 800-447-2757. |
| What to do: | Hike on 100 miles of trails and see the waterfalls. In late summer, swim in Lake Superior from beaches. |
| Events to catch: | Porcupine Mountains Music Festival, fourth weekend of August. |
| Best time to go: | Late summer, fall, winter (there's alpine skiing as well as cross-country). |
| How far from the Twin Cities: | 5 hours. |
| Information: | 906-885-5399, www.porcupinemountains.com. For details on this trip, see Afoot in the Porkies. |
