Road, Wacker, IL by Michael Johnson

For our annual These Parts issue the Reader sends correspondents out beyond the city limits to explore the region around us. This year’s finds include a tree grower whose superhuman patience pays off in his stunning landscape photography (see above) and some far-flung farmers trying to revive a rare breed of heritage hogs—they make great bacon. And while we’re more interested in telling good stories than making travel recommendations, we can’t resist: in this edition we found ten idiosyncratic lodgings to build a trip around, toured Gary, and rounded up the best fairs and festivals for a pullout guide to use all summer long.

Mount Carroll, IL By farming trees, Michael Johnson sustains the landscape he’s made his name photographing.	Blanchardville, WI The best way to save the endangered mulefoot pig is to eat it.	Gary, IN You won't see it in the New York Times travel section anytime soon, but for a certain type of traveler a quick trip to the Magic City is a must.	Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin If you want to know how to hawk a hot dog, you go to Hot Dog University.
Kalamazoo, MI Theron Denson is the world's only African-American Neil Diamond impersonator.	Great Stays Ten lodgings that are attractions in their own right.	Fairs and Festivals A guide to the biggest, best, and most interesting extravaganzas the midwest has to offer.

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