Great Lakes Options (15)

Pennsylvania's chocolate smooch

There's more to chocolate than meets the mouth. "Candy Chats," which take place daily at Pennsylvania's Hershey Museum through Sept. 3, give visitors an insider's look at how the Hershey bars and kisses are made. Best of all, there are plenty of sweet treats available to sample. The museum, located at 170 W. Hersheypark Drive in Hershey, is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $5.50 for seniors and $3 for children ages 3 to 15. Call (717) 534-3439.

Cruise the light

Lighthouses look impressive from the shore, but they're even more awesome up close. During August, Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry Service, headquartered in Mackinaw City, Mich., is offering a variety of three-hour Lighthouse Cruises along the coast of Lake Michigan. Routes pass 20 structures, including the candy-striped White Shoal light, built in 1910 and one of the most recognizable structures on the Great Lakes; and the St. Helena light (1873), with its restored keeper's house and tower. Costs range from $45.50 to $145 per person. Call (231) 436-5023 for reservations.

Taste Detroit

This month, Detroit serves up a smorgasbord of art, music and food at the 13th-annual Comerica Michigan TasteFest. Thirty-five restaurants will fire up the grill to tunes performed onstage by Booker T & the MG's, the Average White Band and Cubanismo. Throughout the event, the city's Second Ave. Street Market will be filled with vendors selling antiques and collectibles. TasteFest takes place at New Center Park, located at the corner of Second Avenue and West Grand Boulevard. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 1 through 3 and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on July 4. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.tastefest.org or call (313) 872-0188.

Stand by Lancaster

For the past 17 years, a star-studded lineup of show-business legends, including Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Dudley Moore and Tommy Tune, have taken center stage at the Lancaster Festival, the largest music and arts festival in Ohio. This year's event, which takes place July 17 through 28, is no exception. Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer Ben E. King and country music sensation Collin Raye will headline at the festival July 21 and 28, respectively. The fest also includes theater and dance workshops, wine tastings, and an antiques show. For times and ticket information, log on to www.lanfest.org or call (740) 687-4808.