Music Festival: Lollapalooza
Nothing ends a summer more perfectly than great music in a great city. That's why this year's Lollapalooza (August 4 to 6) in Chicago's Grant Park is an experience true music lovers won't forget. Approximately 130 bands and artists will be performing, including Death Cab for Cutie, Wilco and Kanye West. The three-day pass costs $140, but when you're paying approximately a buck a band, it's practically a giveaway. There's no doubt Summerfest and Bonnaroo will be awesome as well, but the fact that Lollapalooza takes place in one of the Midwest's coolest cities means you'll have thousands of things to do before or after the show.
Amusement Park: Six Flags Great Adventure
If wild, looping roller coasters are what get your adrenaline pumping, Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., is a must-go destination. It just so happens to be the country's largest theme park, which includes a water park and drive-through animal safari. This year, the park is opening its brand new coaster, Kingda Ka, which is breaking all kinds of records in the world of theme parks. Going speeds up to 128 miles per hour at a height of 456 feet, it has taken the title as the world's tallest, fastest roller coaster, even beating Cedar Point's infamous coaster in Sandusky, Ohio. If you love your cheeks flapping in the wind and tears streaming down the sides of your face, Six Flags Great Adventure is worth visiting just for a taste of Kingda Ka.
Over the Border: Montreal, Canada
It may be fun to make fun of Canadians, but Americans still manage to have a great time in their country. Montreal, a city located in the Quebec province is a few days' drive from Madison (999 miles, to be exact), but the idea of visiting the ""France of North America"" makes the trip seem like a walk in the park. Its mixture of cultures, traditional and modern charm, and European influences makes it one of Canada's treasures. If you enjoy Madison's liberality, then you will love Montreal for its more than gay-friendly mentality and its melting pot of cultures and languages. Maybe those Canadians are a lot cooler than we thought after all…
Historical Site: Boston, Mass.
Whether you're a U.S. history buff or a collegiate party animal who knows that one out of every four people roaming Boston's streets is a college student, there's no better stop than Beantown. As the home of the infamous Tea Party, the stomping grounds of Paul Revere, the Freedom Trail and the famous Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, there are endless museums, sites and tours dedicated to these and other events. Boston is also a breeding ground of knowledge with such schools as Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, MIT and Berklee College of Music. This youthful presence makes the city a hotbed of nightlife as well as a historical haven.
Totally Random: International Hot Dog Eating Contest
For those who appreciate more offbeat things to do in the summer, the July 4 Coney Island International Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York is the perfect roadside attraction. This is where competitors and fans from all over the world come to experience this strange, sometimes stomach-turning event. The globally-renowned Takeru Kobayashi of Japan will be there in attempts to keep his world-record-breaking title of eating the most hotdogs for the fifth year in a row—his record currently stands at 53.5. Although registration in this contest is now closed, being an onlooker for such a spectacle should be equally exciting. Plus you don't have to worry about hugging the toilet for the next two days.
Wisconsin Getaway: Madeline Island
This somewhat-hidden nook in Lake Superior serves as a perfect getaway to escape Madison's stressful city life and bask in nature's beauty. Madeline Island may only cover about a 12 mile-square area, but there's enough life on the island to occupy anyone for a long weekend. The only way to reach the island is by ferry, where you can see the beautiful Lake Superior and learn all the great spots for fishing and other water activities. The island is also home to hidden beaches, a fully-functional, burned-down bar and hippie sailors known as The Islanders.\
For Sports Fans: Hall of Fame Tour
You like sports? Then you will love this East Coast tour designed for the die-hard sports fan. Beginning in Canton, Ohio, you can visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame, then head east to Oneonta, N.Y. Here you will find the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum to worship everything soccer. Stay in the state, but head north to Cooperstown for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Go even farther up into Springfield, Mass., for Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame too. Four of the great American sports, all within 650 miles—now that's something to shake a giant foam hand about.
Place to Party: NYC
There's no place in the world like New York City, and its nightlife is no exception. The countless bars, dance clubs, music halls and theatres provide a fun Saturday night regardless of what you're into. There's a few key elements that make NYC the best place to party. First, there is no legally-set bar time, so the party lasts as long as each bar decides. Second, the city's subway system is a reliable way to get to and from your destination at all hours of the night—the only public transportation system in the country to run 24 hours. Third, the NYPD have a lot more to worry about than young people using fake IDs, so chances are you won't have too much trouble as an underage. This summer, why not take a bite (or drink) out of the Big Apple?
Outdoor Goodness: Glacier National Park
People in Montana may have a reputation of being crazy hillbillies, but the state's natural beauty makes the visit worthwhile. If you can't get enough of the outdoors, Glacier National Park is just what you're looking for. Camping, hiking, fishing and biking are only a few activities these one million acres of mountains and lakes offer. The Park also houses more than 70 different species of mammals, so don't be surprised if you see a bear or wolf sniffing around your tent. In short, Glacier National Park is a backpacker's paradise.
Volunteer Work: New Orleans, La.
For those whose greatest joy in life comes from helping those less fortunate, there are endless possibilities to get involved this summer. Even though Hurricane Katrina hit eight months ago, the devastation left behind still needs all the help it can get. Rebuilding hospitals, volunteering at animal shelters, delivering food and cleaning up litter are just some of the acts desperately needed by New Orleans and other Louisiana cities. You can visit www.volunteermatch.org/bymsa/m5560/c/opp1.html for volunteer opportunity listings to fit your interests and schedule in the summer.
\
