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Other stories in "Fall"

• This weekend
  See elves, artists and Irish dancers.
• Next weekend
  Elves, artists and Irish dancers are hard at work during holidays.
• Remember the wrecks
  On Lake Superior, gales of November bring haunting memories.
• All quiet up north
  Like the leaves, room rates have dropped.
• Big birds
  Eagles are flocking to a stretch of river best known for tundra swans.
• Join the fun
  With an outdoors club, make friends, see new places and save money.
• Homes for the holidays
  On tours, see where the rich and famous celebrated Christmas.
• 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.
• Bash on a bike trail
  Kick up your wheels at small-town fall festivals.
• Scenery in the studios
  On autumn art tours, treasure hunters strike gold (and orange and red).
• Closing the deal
  Believe it or not, it's time to reserve hot dates for 2009.
• Ely's blue over hues
  Act now to keep town's future bright.
• Eyes on the skies
  On bluffs and ridges, it's time to watch the hawk migration.
• Price check/A northwoods weekend
  Two Minnesota B&Bs offer a Boundary Waters adventure — is it a deal?
• On the ropes in Lanesboro
  Try walking a high wire on Halloween.
• In Iowa, a singular inn reopens
  Through December, snag a $99 room at the Hotel Pattee.
• Hunters on the North Shore
  A special deer season this weekend may put guns close to hikers.
• Geocaching for beginners
  Try a fall treasure hunt.
• Hot tip/A different North Shore
  Didn't reserve for fall-color season? Thunder Bay has rooms.
• On the road/A fall drive along the St. Croix
  A stretch of river valley is packed with attractions.
• 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.
• In river towns, favorites debut anew
  On the Red Cedar and in Red Wing, three inns and restaurants finally reopen.
• Home of horsepower
  In Wisconsin, see where race cars, snowmobiles, outboards and motorcycles were born.
• Go swan watching
  

Welcome, Southwest

Finally, low-cost air fares to Chicago have returned.

What a difference competition can make.

On Nov. 5, the cheapest round-trip air fare between the Twin Cities and Chicago was $397. The next day, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines entered the market, and now it's $159.

Southwest won't start flying until March, but it's accepting reservations for travel between March 7 and May 8 on its new Twin Cities-Chicago Midway route. That's lowered fares that more than doubled after AirTran withdrew in May 2008.

Why fly Southwest? It's popular for lower prices, but also because it does not charge fees for baggage, snacks or changes. From Chicago, passengers can catch flights on Southwest to 47 other destinations; it carries more domestic passengers than any other airline. Twin Cities passengers have been clamoring for Southwest for years.

But other airlines will match Southwest's fares. And say you like to build up frequent-flier miles on those airlines. First, crunch the numbers: The 1,000 miles you'll get flying between the Twin Cities and Chicago is 1/25th what you'll need for a free domestic trip (assuming you can get one). That's a value of $8 for a $200 ticket.

So you may save $8, but when an AirTran or Vanguard is driven out of the market, you will pay an extra $200. It's a classic case of use it — or lose it.

Those of us who love to visit Chicago will use Southwest. And just in time, Chicago has introduced a new and better tourism web site: www.explorechicago.org. It also has a new Guide to Special Values, with deals and coupons.

Examples: two-for-one admission to the Museum of Science and Industry, two-for-ones on Chicago Architecture Foundation weekday walking tours and half off admission to Buddy Guy's Legends blues club. Planning a trip? See the Chicago stories.

Last updated on November 7, 2008