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Other stories in "Winter"

• Good deals
  Go midweek and rake in the bargains.
• Vacations for the brain
  Go to a summer folk school and you'll come home with a skill.
• Next weekend
  Push a potty, play broomball or drink bock beer.
• This weekend
  Chase kites on ice and cast for eelpout.
• A throng of tall ships
  In 2010, schooners from around the world will converge on Great Lakes ports.
• Sightseeing by bicycle
  This summer's tours include an extra quota of scenery.
• Best bets for the weekend
  Build a snowman, toast a s'more.
• Wacky winter festivals
  Some folks really know how to throw a party — and a lot of other things, too.
• Go, dogs, go
  Watch an elite field of mushers and huskies in the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.
• Walking on ice
  To stay safe and have fun, buy a pair of crampons.
• Volunteering on Lake Superior
  Be keeper of the light or a watcher of wolves.
• Best bets in ski country
  Trails in the south bask in snow; a hostel reopens in state forest.
• Skiing in the city
  On the trails of Duluth, a cappuccino never is far away.
• Cheap winter retreats
  Spend a weekend mushing dogs or tracking wolves at bargain prices.
• Happy holidays from MidwestWeekends
  Here are our wishes (and gifts).
• How to make ice luminaries
  With homemade lanterns, make your front walk sparkle.
• A peek into an inn
  During holidays, B&Bs in four tourist towns open for tours.
• Holiday house calls
  On tours, see where the rich and famous celebrated Christmas.
• Magic under the moon
  In winter, plan a trip around a candlelight ski or snowshoe.
• A very merry city
  At Christmas, Chicago brims with good will.
• All eyes on eagles
  In winter, tourists and birds alike head for open water.

Serious reservations

Here's a guide to the lodgings, campsites and permits you should nail down now.

In the Upper Midwest, travel is competitive.

Many events are so big and so fun that everyone wants to go. If you want to go, too, you'll have to act fast to stay ahead of the crowds.

Start thinking about summer lodgings now, and reserve for such huge events as Apple Festival in Bayfield, when 50,000 people cram themselves into the tiny northern Wisconsin village of 611 (pictured).

Reserve choice cabins and campsites in state parks; Michigan's campground reservation window is six months, so you'll want to reserve those beach sites on Lake Michigan now.

For the 2010 guide to the most-coveted and hardest-to-get  reservations throughout the year, see Serious reservations.

Last updated on December 30, 2009