Yes, there are ski slopes close enough to Chicago for a day trip. And no, you don't need a car to get there! Windy City Ski is a new bus service offering round-trip transportation for weekend day trips to ski slops in Wisconsin. Check out the Chicago Tribune's coverage of this carfree day trip option: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-trav-0207-ski-bus-20100205...

Unseasonably warm days like today are the perfect time for an outdoorsy daytrip. And Openlands has a great suggestion on their website with public transit directions to their recently opened Openlands Lakeshore Preserve.

Get directions here: http://openlands.org/index.php/Special-Projects/Projects/openlands-lakes...

Check Metra's UP-North schedule here: http://metrarail.com

Learn more about the preserve here: http://openlands.org/index.php/News/Press-Releases/new-preserve-opens-ad...

Though a bit behind schedule, it looks like New Buffalo's new Amtrak station is finally slated to open on Oct. 26. This makes another great Michigan beach town even more accessible to carfree Chicagoans.

Those who love leisurely walks and riding the CTA will really appreciate one of the features in this week's issue of Time Out Chicago. It offers photos, maps and a guide for scenic strolls kicking offer from L stops on each of the CTA's eight train lines. From the Francisco stop on the Brown Line (home to some of my favorite transit art) to the Halsted stop on the Orange Line, this little guide is a good nudge to check out some of the L stops and neighborhoods you might not normally frequent.

Check it out: Time Out Chicago: Walk the lines

And if you really love one of these stations, buy yourself an L Stop Button!

Come enjoy the charm, beauty and architectural character of the near western suburbs of Chicago. The Oak Park Cycle Club and the Oak Park Area Convention & Visitors Bureau are pleased to announce that Wright Ride 2009 will take place on Sunday, August 16, 2009.

Why Wright?
The Wright Ride is named for one of Oak Park's most famous citizens, Frank Lloyd Wright, who spent the first 20 years of his 70 year career here, building numerous homes that still stand in the community, including his own. He lived and worked in the area between 1889 and 1909. His earliest work can be found here, including the Winslow House in neighboring River Forest. Oak Park boasts many examples of the very first Prairie Style houses, as well as Wright's world-renowned Unity Temple, which was built between 1905-1908.