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1. Go Birkie in Hayward (Northwest)
Thousands of spectators and skiers pour into the Hayward area every year to be part of the American Birkebeiner cross-country ski race and festival. While the race takes place on Saturday, Feb. 19, the “Birkie” is a weekend-long Nordic fest for all ages. Skiing events begin Feb. 17, with the Sons of Norway/Swiss Miss Barnebirkie, the largest children’s cross-country skiing event in the U.S. Hayward also has many activities in summer and fall, including the Musky Festival in June and Lumberjack World Championships in July. Bundle up and go to www.haywardlakes.com/hdb/, call (800) 724-2992 or e-mail info@haywardlakes.com.

2. Who’s Houdini? (East central)
On the “east coast” of Wisconsin is an attraction you will only find one place in the world: the Houdini Historical Center in Appleton. The Outagamie Historical Society has gathered for display and interpretation artifacts that depict the life and adventures of the great escape artist Harry Houdini. This museum is a national treasure and an important site for historical researchers. For more information, go to www.foxvalleyhistory.org/houdini/ or call (920) 733-8445.

3. Fall for snowshoeing (North)
If you’re really in shape and miss those summer marathons, take a trek up to Copper Falls State Park near Mellen and strap on some snowshoes. The area is glorious this time of year,and the snow-covered trees provide shelter from winter wind. Cascades Falls Cross-country Ski Trail extends 3.3 miles through frozen waterways and dense hemlock and maple stands. Views include sights of Brownstone Falls and the Cascades. Peruse www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/regions/nr/copperfalls.html or http://areas.wildernet.com/index.cfm for more.

4. Skate Milwaukee (Southeast)
The Pettit National Ice Center on I-94 in Milwaukee offers the biggest and fastest indoor ice in the state. Take a date to the rink and you’re bound to end up holding hands as you glide along under the skating banners. This U.S. Olympic training facility features skating classes, skate rental, public skating, and figure skating, speed skating and hockey competitions. Visit the rink at http://www.thepettit.com/flash.cfm.

5. Discover Columbus (South central)
Dubbed Wisconsin’s Largest Antique Mall, the Columbus Antiques Mall and Museum lies in the heart of Columbus, where Columbia County meets Dodge County. The mall features booths for 180 dealers in 72,000 square feet of antiques heaven. There’s also an exhibit on the 1893 Chicago World Columbian Exposition and a Christopher Columbus Museum. Log on to www.columbusantiquemall.com/ or call (920) 623-1992.

6. Groove at Granite Peak
Avalanche Days at Granite Peak Ski Area may be the hottest place to network in north-central Wisconsin. Just outside Wausau, Granite Peak packs in the fun over spring breaks from March 21 to April 3 with fireworks, sleigh rides, bonfires, snow sculptures, races, music, ski demos and free lessons. Granite Peak has 72 runs (58 new), five new lifts, a new chalet, new sports shop and new tavern, in addition to its bustling historic stone chalet. Visit www.skigranitepeak.com/ and then visit Granite Peak.

7. Don’t miss the Mississippi
The Web site: www.big-river.com/GEND2.html introduces travelers to the Mississippi River from southwestern Wisconsin: “From the Wisconsin-Illinois border to Cassville, steep rocky bluffs and black-dirt bottomlands line the Mississippi. Traveling by car, you see bluffs flirting with rolling prairie farmland punctuated by small towns. Dickeyville, about 12 miles northeast of Dubuque, is home to the Dickeyville Grotto, a shrine made from concrete encrusted with glass shards, shells, costume jewelry and other bric-a-brac. Visitors can check out a real lead mine at St. John’s Mine museum in Potosi.” 

8. Meet Deke in detail
In 1999, a group of Monroe County enthusiasts founded the Deke Slayton Memorial Space & Bicycle Museum in Sparta. The museum honors Wisconsin native Donald “Deke” Slayton, an astronaut on the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975 during the Cold War. The museum is also dedicated to bicycling—a significant recreational activity in the area, which sports the Sparta-Elroy Bike Trail. The museum maintains a collection of artifacts, documents and photographs, including aviation items. The Web site www.dekeslayton.com has more information.

9. Watch the horizon at Horicon
Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area, a birder’s paradise, is an easy drive from points south, north and east. At 32,000 acres, it is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the U.S. The northern two-thirds is a refuge best known for the spring and fall migration of Canada geese, which number more than 200,000 birds. Most of the southern area is open to the public and includes hiking trails. Read more at three Web sites: http://midwest.fws.gov/horicon/, www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/reclands/horicon/
and www.enjoyhoriconmarsh.com/.

10. Shoppers are royalty in Princeton
Tired of shopping malls? Stop by Princeton’s main street, park and walk to interesting shops and cafes. And did we mention Wisconsin’s largest weekly outdoor flea market, every Saturday from the end of April through October? And don’t forget your bike! Bicycling enthusiasts can choose from over 150 miles of mapped routes on back roads that begin downtown. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (920) 295-3877 or go to www.princetonwi.com/.