Here are some of the more interesting events, deals, websites and other travel tidbits that have come across our desk recently:
*The Zephyr Route is offering a Mississippi River Fall Foliage round-trip train tour Oct. 7-9 from Chicago to St. Paul, Minn. The trip, which also can be started in Glenview, costs $775 per person and includes meals on the train and two nights’ lodging in St. Paul. 630-542-3607, http://tinyurl.com/hfdw7qt
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*Regent Seven Seas Cruises has reduced single supplements on select dates for nine of its cruises. Check them out at http://tinyurl.com/h9khcxw.
*For a chance to win a trip to London for two, go to http://tinyurl.com/gohfqgp.
*Thermal hot springs are an attraction at multiple locations in Colorado, and the tourism folks there have mapped out what they call the Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop. Check it out at www.colorado.com/hotspringsloop.
*Eagle River, Wis., stages its 37th annual Cranberry Fest on Oct. 1-2. Cranberries will be available, naturally, along with delicacies using the autumnal red berries, such as juice, soda, beer, meatballs, fritters, pies, breads and chutney. There will be tours of a cranberry marsh and a wine tasting, which require advance registration. An antiques market, farmers market and Lake Country Weaver and Fiber Artists show and sale round out the festivities. 800-359-6315, www.cranberryfest.org
*The Northern Illinois University science, technology, engineering and mathematics departments will present STEMfest on Oct. 8 in the university’s Convocation Center in DeKalb, Ill. Scores of activities are planned for all ages to show the importance of these four areas in everyday life. Among exhibitors will be FermiLab, Argonne National Laboratory and NIU Robotics. www.stemfest.niu.edu/stemfest
*Hops, used in beer brewing, are becoming a popular agricultural commodity. The tiny town of Empire, Mich., pays homage to this important ingredient Oct. 1 with the Empire Hops Festival. A number of the area’s microbreweries will be on hand to offer their latest brews, and there will be food and live music. http://tinyurl.com/zvlrsex
*The Silver Creek and Stephenson Railroad in Freeport, Ill., will lead into the Halloween season Oct. 8, 15 and 22 with the Train of Terror. The spooky ride departs hourly 6-9 p.m. at the Silver Creek Depot. 815-235-2198 or 815-232-2306, http://tinyurl.com/ox74cde
*The Fermentation Fest on Oct. 1-9 in Reedsburg, Wis., will feature more than 40 classes by farmers, chefs, artists, cheesemakers and more. There’s also a 50-mile self-guided farm/art tour on back roads to see art installations and mobile roadside stands selling locally grown produce. www.fermentationfest.com
*”Nelson Mandela — The Artist” is an exhibition of two dozen drawings and lithographs by the late South African icon that chronicle the 18 years he was imprisoned during his fight against apartheid. They are on display through Oct. 9 at the Long-Sharp Gallery at Conrad Indianapolis. This is only the second time the collection has been on display in the U.S. http://tinyurl.com/jrbpnfj
*If you’re planning a trip to Michigan’s Mackinac Island, you might want to consider a bike ride on Highway M-185, which traces the Lake Huron shoreline. For tips on what to see on the route, check out http://tinyurl.com/zdhz6r8.
*Antique steam-powered mills will be among the equipment in action Oct. 7-9 at the 46th Annual Algonquin Mill Fall Festival in Carrollton, Ohio. There will also be antique tools, machinery, cars and tractors and demonstrations of old-time crafts such as spinning and weaving, soap making, blacksmithing and candle dipping. http://tinyurl.com/hn6cc23
Deals and websites listed here have been checked for availability as of press time, but the listings are not endorsements. Send tips to ChicagoTribTravel@gmail.com.
Phil Marty is a freelancer.
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