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Other stories in "Fall"

• Head toward the (twinkling) lights
  At Christmas, tourist destinations pull out all the stops.
• Big birds on the move
  On the Mississippi, tundra swans and bald eagles are heading south.
• Remember the wrecks
  On Lake Superior, gales of November bring haunting memories.
• All quiet up north
  Like the leaves, room rates have dropped.
• Save on the ski hills
  Get a deal now on a season pass.
• Home of horsepower
  In Wisconsin, see where race cars, snowmobiles, outboards and motorcycles were born.
• On the ropes in Lanesboro
  Try walking a high wire on Halloween.
• Eyes on the skies
  On bluffs and ridges, it's time to watch the hawk migration.
• Culture in the bluffs
  Follow musicians to four unusual venues near the Mississippi.
• Ghouls ahoy
  On Great Lakes, two haunted ships are spoiling for a fright.
• Scenery in the studios
  On autumn art tours, treasure hunters strike gold (and orange and red).
• Hot tip/A different North Shore
  Didn't reserve for fall-color season? Thunder Bay has rooms.
• Hunters on the North Shore
  A special deer season this weekend may put guns close to hikers.
• 10 great trails to ride in fall
  Here's where to get your fill of flora, fauna and fall colors.
• Go on a trail-clearing trip
  If you enjoy a hike, help make it possible for others.

Join the fun

With an outdoors club, make friends, see new places and save money.

Sometimes, when traveling, it's nice to let someone else run the show.

Someone who reserves those holiday-weekend rooms a year in advance. Someone who plans dinners, gets discounts on lift tickets and organizes transportation. Then, all you have to do is sign up and go.

And the costs can be irresistibly low.

If you'd like to do something fun this winter, now is the time to join an outdoors club. You don't have to live in the town in which the club is based.

In Minneapolis, the North Stars, North America's largest cross-country ski club (pictured), is offering weekend trips to the North Shore, Bayfield, Cable, Duluth and many other prime ski spots around the Upper Midwest, with total costs of $85-$135 per trip.

The Minnesota Rovers Outdoors Club is offering a three-night cross-country ski trip to Itasca State Park for $95 and a winter camping trip for beginners for $15.

Milwaukee's Nordic Ski Club is offering ski trips to Ironwood and the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan and Minocqua and Cable in Wisconsin.

From Madison, the Wisconsin Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Club is planning trips to Indianhead Mountain and Mount Bohemia on Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 

From Chicago, the LakeShore Ski & Sports Club is offering alpine skiing trips to Traverse City, Mich., and Devil's Head in Wisconsin, $350-$370, and cross-country trips to the Kettle Moraine in southern Wisconsin and to Holland, Mich., $115-$125.

From Chicago's western suburbs, the Four Winds Ski and Social Club plans family trips to Chestnut Mountain near Galena, Lutsen in northeast Minnesota and Granite Peak in central Wisconsin.

Clubs are open to people around the region, and memberships, $25-$45, often include use of equipment. For details and more groups, see Join the club.

Last updated on November 13, 2009