As we deal with snow and cold of this winter season, it makes me yearn for spring and then the fabulous Chicago summers. While there are many places in and around Chicago to vacation, for those who are a little bit more adventurous, I have found some places that are within a few hours of the city and you can see most of these places on a real budget.

Down South --
Have you ever thought of Downstate Illinois? Well, due south of Chicago near the flagship campus of the University of Illinois there are two tourist attractions that should be on the short list of value conscious travelers.

Alto Vineyards
4210 N. Duncan Road (Rt. 150 West to Duncan Rd. North), Champaign
Alto Vineyards owns and operates a retail wine shop and tasting room in Champaign. Along with their award winning wines, one will find a selection of gifts, including custom gift baskets, gourmet foods, and local artwork. They offer indoor as well as outdoor seating to relax and enjoy their atmosphere, as well as live entertainment. (217) 356-4784 www.altovineyards.net

Spurlock Museum
600 South Gregory, Urbana
The Spurlock Museum celebrates the people of the world with featured galleries of Africa, Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania, the Americans, and the Ancient Mediterranean. Special facilities include a focus gallery for temporary exhibits, learning center, auditorium, and educational resource center. (217) 333-2360 www.spurlock.uiuc.edu

Out West --
On the western reaches of Chicagoland there exists the Aurora Area- nine cities and towns that are unique in their own charms and yet unified by the flowing Fox River that rolls throughout the valley. Less than an hour and less than the cost of a tank of gas from Chicago, the cities that make up Aurora Area - Aurora, Batavia, Big Rock, Montgomery, North Aurora, Plano, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Yorkville - offer savory dining options, unique architecture, some very cool attractions, every type of shopping experience imaginable.

Whether traveling in a pack or with only your significant other, the Aurora Area delivers on a weekend brimming with enough opportunities for experiences to fill a scrapbook (or two). Expect the best. To augment the experiences be sure to check out the Fox Valley Winery, which specializes in creating small lots of handcrafted, award-winning wines-many made from estate grown, single-vineyard Illinois grapes.

There are three different locations with the full-service winery and tasting room located on Route 34 in Oswego, Illinois. It features a private tasting room, sitting area, two fireplaces and a large retail store. Tours of the winemaking facility are offered on weekends. Two other tasting rooms are located in Sandwich and Geneva, Illinois. The Sandwich tasting room is in a 120-year-old double-walled masonry building that was originally used to store blocks of ice cut from the Somonauk Creek, which lies just west of town. This double storefront location offers a comfortable sitting and tasting area. The Geneva location is three storefronts wide and features a lounge area that is separated from the main room. It is a comfortable and relaxing place to enjoy a glass of wine with friends after exploring the unique shops along nearby Third Street. For more information, contact the Fox Valley Winery at (815) 786-3124 or go to www.foxvalleywinery.com.