BIKE
•Build your endurance with regular rides on the paved, 20-mile Lake Michigan path. For less congestion, steer clear of the stretch from McCormick Place to Belmont. Find a bike shop near you at www.chicagobikeshops.info.
• Hook up with other Chicago area mountain bikers to learn where to ride and how to ride responsibility. www.cambr.org. For road biking and neighborhood clubs, go to www.biketraffic.org.
• Cross the border for some of the region’s best mountain biking in the southern unit of Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine State Forest. Natural potholes and rock mounds make most trails moderate to difficult, but the 1.5-mile red loop with prairie views invites easy riding. 262-594-6200; www.dnr.state.wi.us.
• Head about two hours north for some moderate rides on 23 miles of interconnecting singletrack in Rock Cut State Park. Plus, train for your next — or maybe first — 24-hour race here. Night riding permitted. 815-885-3311; http://dnr.state.il.us.
• Just 30 minutes southwest, find the perfect spot for novice skill-building on the gravel path and trails at Waterfall Glen Preserve. 630-933-7200; www.dupageforest.com.
• Become a “Trailblazer” by loop from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi and back on the 535-mile Grand Illinois Trail. http://dnr.state.il.us. For tips and route, contact the League of Illinois Bicyclists. www.bikelib.org.


PADDLE
• Take a lesson or two before taking advantage of the great lakes and regional rivers. 630-336-7245; www.kayakchicago.com.
• Enjoy the benefits of membership — buddies, trips, lessons and even free equipment. Check out the Lincoln Park Boat Club (www.lpbc.net), Prairie Coast Paddlers (www.prairiecoastpaddlers.org), Chicago Kayak Club (www.chicagokayak.com) or Chicago Area Sea Kayaking Association (www.caska.org).
• Paddle right in the heart of the city on the Chicago River. 847-414-5883; www.chicagoriverpaddle.com.
• Go out your front door for scenic water trails along the Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Get paddling tips and gear at Chicagoland Canoe Base. 773-777-1489; www.chicagolandcanoebase.com.
• Take a break from the noise and road trip to more than a dozen water trails in nearby state parks in Illinious, Indiana and Wisconsin. http://dnr.state.il.us/outdoor/index.htm; www.in.gov/dnr/parklake; www.dnr.state.wi.us.


HIKE/CAMP
• Check a high point off your list with a drive to Galena. A 1-mile walk with 75-feet gain leads to the highest point in the prairie state — the 1,235-foot Charles Mound in a middle of a Jean and Wayne Wuebbels’ farmland. 877-Go-Galena; www.galena.org.
• Enjoy the thick foliage while roaming 13 miles of trails in the bluffs and canyons at Starved Rock State Park. Reward yourself with s’mores by campfire. 815-667-4726; http://dnr.state.il.us/.
• Explore 45 miles of trails through sand dunes, bog, wetlands and woodland forests in the Indiana Dunes National Park. Spend the weekend at the park’s Dunewood campground. 219-926-7561 x225; www.nps.gov/indu/. Gear up at Uncle Dan’s Outfitters. 888-246-4453; www.campsupplies.com.
• Make the drive for Wisconsin’s Devil’s Lake State Park or Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit. www.dnr.state.wi.us.


RUN
• Stride the 3.7-mile Lake Defiance loop through woodland and wetland in Moraine Hills State Park. 815-385-1624; http://dnr.state.il.us. Get kicks and tips at 773-395-2929; www.runningawaychicago.com.
• Run, jog or walk with other fitness-minded folks on fun runs organized by the Chicago Area Runners Association. Plus, share and learn suggestions for good local routes. 312-666-9836; www.cararuns.org.
• Just 25 miles west, ride, hike or run the 61-mile triangle between Wheaton, Elgin and Aurora — limestone Prairie Path. www.ipp.org. For other favorite multi-use trails, check out www.americantrails.org.
• Go between the 11-mile multi-use path and countless dirt trails in the meadows and forests around Busse Lake. 708-366-942; www.fpdcc.com.