Can’t handle another street fair? We don’t blame you. At this point in the summer, we’d rather gnaw off our own leg then than watch another greasy-faced festival reveler go to town on a turkey drumstick. But just because you don’t have the cash to jet to a more glam spot doesn’t mean you can’t get away for a mini-vay-kay. We’ve rounded up some nearby getaways that help you change the scene without spending a lot of green.
Lake Glendale Stables
Yearning for less cement and more flora and fauna? Head downstate to these stables, nestled within
260 privately owned acres of Southern Illinois forest. At five hours away, it’s definitely a trek, but you can take guided and unguided tours ($25/hour, $95/day), riding under waterfalls, along rock bluffs and even around a private lake. Shack up at the lodge ($95/night) or save your dough and hit the campgrounds ($20/night) instead. Lake Glendale Rd., RR2, Galconda, 618-949-3737.
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Herrington Inn and Spa
Scouring these new outlets (1650 Premium Outlets Blvd., Aurora, 630-585-2200) is hard work. Sure, you scored a Petit Bateau tee, a pair of Tommy jeans and even got some Adidas sneaks (half off!), but your blisters have taken over, and your back’s totally given out. Take a break and head to the Herrington Inn and Spa (15 S. River Lane, Geneva, 630-232-4252) for a little pampering. Indulge in a honey facial ($85) or a sugar scrub ($45). Guys, try a manly shave and face massage ($85). Don’t worry, we’ll tell everyone you were checking out a new set of Bose speakers.
Saugatuck, Mich.
Don’t have the bucks–or the bod–for South Beach? Head two-and-a-half hours northeast to diversity-friendly Saugatuck, Mich., and sister-city Douglas, where small towns don’t mean small minds. Must visits: The Dunes Resort (333 Blue Star Highway, Douglas, 269-857-1401), a mega-GLBT lodging-and-nightlife complex; Groovy Groovy (56 Blue Star Highway, Douglas, 269-857-2171), a retro shop at campy mid-century throwback Pines Motor Lodge; and Yum Yum (98 Center St., Douglas, 269-857-4567), featuring Oprah’s fave gelato. Tip: Park at Oval Beach and walk north–$5 gets you into a private gay beach. For details, check out gaysaugatuckdouglas.com.
House on the Rock
So we may not have the world’s largest ball of twine (that honor goes to Cawker City, Kan.), but one of the Midwest’s strangest roadside attractions is only three-and-a-half hours to the north. More than a house, this tribute to kitsch–spread out over a 200-acre complex–offers sweeping views of Wisconsin’s Wyoming Valley and a barrage of antiques. But this is no tame display: Winged mannequins pose awkwardly above the enclosed, gleaming “World’s Largest Carousel”; a 200-foot-long sea creature battles an octopus in the middle of the Heritage of the Sea building; and a bachelor pad–complete with shag carpet–boasts rock walls, stained glass and bronze sculptures. Why such a weird collection? We don’t know, but you gotta see it. 5754 Highway. 23, Spring Green, Wis., 608-935-3639.
Long Grove
We know this town, located about an hour from Chicago, is usually a tourist destination for chocoholics, not a day trip for thrill-seekers. But give it another try. The fab-to-funky boutique Olivia’s Past (144 Old McHenry Rd. 847-913-1988) is a virtual candy shop stocked with unique clothes, jewelry and handbags. Next, head across the street to Village Tavern (135 Old McHenry Rd. 847-634-3117) for a postshopping brew and some homestyle fare. Not sure what to do next? Consult Merrily, a psychic who reads Tarot cards at the tavern several days a week. You’ll find her there from approximately 6 to 10 p.m. Wed. and Fri.; 1-6 p.m. Sat. and Sun. A 15 to 20 minute session is $15.
New Glarus, Wis.
Nestled among the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin, just three hours from Chicago, lies New Glarus, the Swiss capital of the Midwest. Home of both the Heidi and Wilhelm Tell festivals, New Glarus plays its heritage to the hilt. Many of the town’s buildings are “chalet” style, and the sidewalks are dotted with fiberglass cows decorated by local artists (sound familiar?). Browse the wares at the Swiss-themed shops and finish up at the Glarner Stube (518 1st St. 608-527-2216) with beer from the nearby New Glarus Brewery (512 Highway 69; 608-527-5850), fondue, and all the sausage you could ever want, not to mention the largest urinal in the state. Or end the day in the more refined environs of Deininger’s Restaurant (119 5th Ave. 608-527-2012), run by Lincoln Square expats who specialize in Alsatian cuisine.
Three Floyds Brewery
OK, so Munster, Ind., isn’t on your list of 100 places to see before you die. Still, a visit to this northwest Indiana town, a 45-minute drive from the city, is worth it for the brewery tour at Three Floyds. Get an informative–if bare-bones–walk around the brewery; your tour guide (often an owner) stops in front of various vessels and contraptions and explains the significance of each to the brewing process. It wraps with the real reason you came anyway: a chance to sample beers with quirky names like Gumball Head and Rabbid Rabbit. Tours 4-7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Reservations required. 9750 Indiana Pkwy., Munster, Ind., 888-266-0294, ext. 305.
Galena Cellars
You don’t have to cash in your frequent-flier miles for a flight to Napa Valley to participate in a wine harvest. Head three hours west to get your hands dirty (and a little sticky) when Galena Cellars harvests its 31 1/42 acres of LaCrosse and St. Croix grapes later this summer. “We usually start pretty early in the morning, break for a big lunch and drink a lot of wine to keep our spirits up,” winemaker Christine Lawlor-White says. She anticipates that she’ll harvest this year’s crop around the last weekend of August and encourages interested wine enthusiasts to contact her. 515 S Main St., Galena, 815-777-3330.
Amish country
Head south two-and-a-half hours ’til you hit Arthur–the center of the state’s Amish population–for a taste of the simple life sans Paris and Nicole. Even if going on an Amish Country Tour (888-452-6474) in a horse-drawn buggy isn’t your thing, you can take part in two of our favorite activities: eating and shopping. Pick up hand-crafted furniture, quilts and accessories at a bevy of specialty shops like The Briar Patch (138 S. Vine St. 217-543-2744), and fuel up on traditional fare at Yoder’s Kitchen (1195 East Columbia St. 217-543-2714). The Amish aren’t exactly known for spicy dishes, but you’ll get hearty smoked hams, pork chops and more; not to mention to-die-for pies and pastries.