![[Lake scene drawing]](http://images.midwestweekend.com/graphics/lake_scene.gif)
After nearly 150 years, the Civil War still inflames imaginations. Many Upper Midwest historic sites host encampments, where
re-enactors offer artillery drills, medical demonstrations and a row of sutlers, or period vendors.
But some re-enactments also include battles, which give spectators an incredible opportunity to see history in all its sound
and fury. Some feature thundering cavalry and dozens of cannons; others are more intimate, with affecting human dramas woven
into the smoke of battle.
Aug. 1-3, Muskets & Memories Civil War Weekend in Boscobel, Wis. This river town in southwest Wisconsin draws nearly 1,000 re-enactors and includes band concerts, a ladies' garden party, a ball and guided tours of the Union and Confederate camps. Battles are at 1 p.m Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Aug. 15-17, Civil War
Battle and Encampment in Mason City, Iowa. More than 500 re-enactors will gather to
re-create the Battle of Vicksburg in this northern Iowa town. The weekend also includes a press conference with President
Lincoln and generals Grant and Lee, a military dress ball and ladies' tea. Battles are at 3 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m.
Sunday.
Watch a water-ski show, and you'll want to climb into your Thunderbird and go get a chocolate malted.
There's something deliciously retro about spending a balmy summer evening listening to '50s party music and the roar of marine engines as spangled, sun-bleached teen-agers fly by. A corny comedy routine is part of the show, but it's the tricks that keep the crowd enthralled: double flips, dance lines and pyramids that can go up to five tiers.
Show skiing is most popular in the Upper Midwest. Ralph Samuelson, who invented water-skiing on Lake Pepin in 1922, was a showman, and Tommy Bartlett began putting on shows in the Wisconsin Dells in 1952. Wisconsin has more show clubs than any other state, and the Janesville Rock Aqua Jays organized the first national championships in 1975.
The Madison club won that first championship and is the current champion, winning titles in 2008, 2007 and 2006. It performs Sundays on Lake Monona. In Minnesota, the Little Crow Water Ski Team in New London is a perennial contender and placed fifth in 2008; it performs Fridays on Neer Lake.
You can spend big bucks for a weekend at a B&B or resort with all the frills, or you can spend hardly anything and get no
frills but all the fun. Here are a few ideas for a cheap getaway.
$135: Bicycling southern Minnesota with the Parks & Trails Council, Aug. 29-Sept 1, including expert guide (Minnesota Court of Appeals Judge David Minge), many tours, meals and camping in Lake Louise State Park.
$74-$44: Sightseeing in Madison or Chicago, including two nights in a hostel, both very well-located.
$70: Lake weekend for four in a yurt on the shores of Clear Lake
(pictured) in northern Iowa; recruit friends to rent the other yurt and you've got your own dock, shower house and corner of
McIntosh Woods State Park. Or rent a yurt or
camper cabin in parks in Minnesota, Michigan, South Dakota
or Ontario.
Whitewater kayaking is a lot of fun to watch, but not everyone wants to go bumping through froth on an obstacle course of rocks.
Many of the best-known whitewater-kayaking rivers — the Kettle in eastern Minnesota, rivers of Minnesota's North Shore, the Presque Isle on Michigan's Upper Peninsula — are not suitable for beginners.
Beginning paddlers, especially timid ones, should look for a river that’s mostly flat, has reliable flow most of the
summer and is served by an outfitter who can offer advice and support.
Late summer, when most rivers are fairly tame, is a good time to try out kayaking. Below are a few good rivers.
On a beautiful summer day, there are few places that aren't good for a picnic.
A patch of grass, a plump sandwich, the warmth of sun on skin — this is what we look forward to all winter.
But some picnic spots are so great a picnicker might want to while away a whole afternoon there. Here are five of the best, along with good places to pick up a box lunch on the way. If you want the lunch ready when you get there, call a day in advance or early in the morning.
Duluth/Skyline Parkway and the Rose Garden: No town has more great picnic spots than Duluth. For one thing, nearly every part of town has a view; for another, it's often 20 degrees cooler than the rest of the state, thanks to fresh breezes off Lake Superior.
For some reason, the last week of July is a great time to pig out on baked goods:
July 25-27, Kolacky Days in Montgomery, Minn. This southern Minnesota town, settled by Czech immigrants, calls itself the Kolacky Capital of the World and makes thousands of the fruit-filled pastries for its annual festival.
July 25-27, Aebleskiver Days in Tyler, Minn. The festival in this southwest Minnesota town features the ball-shaped Danish pancake.
July 26, Great Minnesota Pie Extravaganza at theIf you're interested in sea kayaking and ready to jump in, kayaking festivals are a good place to improve skills and meet other kayakers. Programs include classes, seminars, demos, on-water tours and, often, races.
Sign up as early as possible for the best selection of classes and tours. Below are six of the best festivals in 2008.
June 20-22, Rossport Islands Kayak Symposium in Rossport, Ont. See the new Lake Superior National Marine Conservation
Area, part of Parks Canada, the largest freshwater conservation area in the world. Classes are based at nearby Rainbow Falls
Provincial Park, and cost of $150 includes a concert and a presentation by Gary and Joanie McGuffin. 800-203-9092, www.rossportsymposium.ca.
July 11-13, Door County Sea Kayak Symposium near Ellison Bay, Wis. This big festival, sponsored by Rutabaga in Madison, is based at the Wagon Trail Resort on the Lake Michigan side of the peninsula. Passes are $255-$350, $100-$165 for ages 8-15, including some meals. 800-472-3353, www.everyonepaddles.com.
Thanks to volunteers who love locomotives, excursion trains live on.
And these days, trains also are rolling entertainment venues, offering staged robberies, murder mysteries and beer tasting in
addition to barbecue, pizza, brunch, box lunch, happy hour and holiday trains.
Of course, the scenery is great, too. Below are five of the best trains to ride.
North Shore Scenic Railroad, downtown Duluth: The 57-mile run to and from Two Harbors leaves Duluth at 10:30 a.m., arrives in Two Harbors (pictured) about 12:30 p.m. and returns to Duluth at 2:30 p.m., giving passengers time to see the ore docks and visit the 1892 lighthouse (See The Lighthouse Express). It runs Fridays-Saturdays in June, Fridays-Sundays from July through Oct. 19, $22 adults, $12 ages 3-13. Book early, especially for fall weekends.
We've got plenty of real heroes to celebrate in the Upper Midwest.
There are festivals honoring writers Sinclair Lewis and Laura Ingalls Wilder, musicians Bix Beiderbecke and Bob Dylan, explorer Father Marquette. From fiction, we celebrate Heidi, Paul Bunyan and William Tell.
But in some towns, an earthbound festival just doesn't cut it. Below are five places that look to outer space for a reason to celebrate.
June 12-15, Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Ill. This town will unveil a
Lois Lane statue to go with its Superman and try to set a world record for "Most People Dressed as Superman.'' Actor Ned Beatty
and "Smallville" actress Allison Mack will be there, too.
10 great campsites
I don’t do a lot of camping when I travel around this region. Camping is a leisurely kind of travel, and I’m always moving too fast. But that doesn’t stop me from admiring a great campsite when I see one.
Here are 10 of the campsites that have made me say, “Wow, this is really choice.’’
1) Saxon Harbor County Park on Lake Superior. I found this Iron County park while seeking out nearby Superior Falls, on the Montreal River between Wisconsin and Michigan. It has everything anyone wants in summer — a sand beach for swimming, a protected bay for kayaking and a bar that serves burgers and pizza on days when it’s too hot to cook. Last year, showers were added. Sites are first-come, first-served -- weekends fill fast -- and cost $10, $15 with electricity. Harbor Lights bar gives out information, 715-893-2242, or call Iron County, 715-561-2697; www.ironcountywi.com.