Dane Neal, filling in for Dave Plier, travels east to Indianapolis, Indiana and is joined by Clare Clark of Visit Indy, who highlights everything visitors can experience as they travel in for the Indy 500. For more information on things to do and how to plan your trip, go to visitindy.com.

Jon Hansen, filling in for Dave Plier, travels north to Anchorage, Alaska and is joined by Jack Bonney of Visit Anchorage, who highlights the city’s unique blend of urban comfort and untamed wilderness. Visitors can enjoy easy access via major flights or perhaps an Alaskan cruise and partake in unforgettable experiences like spotting moose within city limits, exploring glaciers, and visiting the vast Chugach State Park just minutes away. Jack also shares the magic of Alaska’s long summer days with nearly 22 hours of daylight and the chance to catch the beautiful Northern Lights in late summer. Anchorage continues to be a remarkable and accessible destination for nature lovers. For more information on things to do and how to plan your trip, go to visitanchorage.net

Jon Hansen, filling in for Dave Plier, visits the legendary Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield and talks with owner and founder Doc Mack who highlights how the arcade has grown into not just big, but the largest in the world with more than 1,000 games available to play. Galloping Ghost has a unique free-play model where one admission gets you unlimited gaming all day. Mack talks about how his business has become a destination for visitors around the globe who are drawn to its original hardware, rare machines, and ever-expanding collection. Located just 15-20 minutes outside of Chicago, Galloping Ghost offers visitors a nostalgic, all-ages experience where classic gaming lives on! For more information, visit gallopingghostarcade.com/

WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks with Shirley Walczak about Jurassic Journey, the Midwest’s largest animatronic dinosaur collection at the Waukesha County Expo Center May 8–25. With more than 60 life-sized dinos, including a 40-foot T-Rex, this prehistoric experience includes family-friendly favorites like dino rides, the Jeep off-road driving course for kids, the dino maze and hatchery, fossil and gem digs, live “baby dinosaur” encounters, and a special Dinos After Dark evening on May 15 with lit-up dinosaurs and live music courtesy of a Neil Diamond impersonator and Claire Sardina, the inspiration behind the film Song Sung Blue. Shirley highlights the fact that every activity, ride, and display is included with admission! With free parking and kids getting in free on Wednesdays with a paid adult, Jurassic Journey is an easy and memorable day trip from Chicago or Milwaukee. For more information, visit JurassicJourney.org

WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks with Amy Beadle of Visit Springfield Illinois about why Springfield and the Illinois stretch of the iconic Route 66 should be at the top of your travel list during the 2026 centennial year! During their conversation, Amy highlights a packed season of Route 66-themed experiences including David Schwartz’s “The Road That Takes You” photo exhibit, the Route 66 Bob Waldmire Exclusive Art Exhibition, the Centennial Route 66 5K sending runners onto the world’s fastest dirt mile track, and the Route 66 Submerged pontoon tour over the sunken section of the Mother Road. Amy also reminds listeners and visitors to leave ample time during their travels to explore Springfield’s rich history from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Dana-Thomas House and Abraham Lincoln’s presidential museum and tomb to the Illinois State Capitol. For more information, visit VisitSpringfieldIllinois.com

Arney Silverstri, owner of four iconic destinations on Lake Como, Wisconsin, joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to talk about the best getaways just across the border. From celebrating the warmer weather and enjoying an old fashioned, famous ribs, Friday Night Fish Fry and Prime Rib Saturdays at the century-old Mars Resort to enjoying scenic stays at the historic French Country Inn and savoring a meal at The Getaway Restaurant, Arney takes us through his legacy of lakeside escapes. Plus, get the scoop on his newest venture: Lakeside Coffee, the perfect spot to kickstart your day by the water. Visit mars-resort.com, thegetawayrestaurant.com and thefrenchcountryinn.com

WGN Radio’s Dave Plier is joined by Claudia Coffey, Emmy-Winning Journalist, host of Countdown to Derby with Claudia Coffey on Spotify and Kentucky Derby Insider with Churchill Downs Incorporated, about next week’s race, the activities, the horses, the traditions, and more.

This week on On The Map, Dave Plier welcomes WGN Radio’s very own Dave Schwan while they invite the Chair of Illinois’ Route 66 Centennial Celebration Commission, Cory Jobe, to join the show to talk about the legacy of Route 66. Listen in while Cory shares details surrounding the celebration showcasing the nation’s most iconic highway and how people can get involved. For more information, visit illinoisroute66.org.

WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks to Bob Prosser, owner of Ishnala Supper Club, now celebrating its 73rd season on Mirror Lake. Fresh off winning the Best of the Midwest Award from Midwest Living magazine, Bob shares what’s new this year, including appetizers like duck wontons, walleye bites, and deep-fried pickle chips, along with five spirit-free elixirs. The kitchen remains as consistent as ever, with a head chef of 17 years and a prep cook of 27 years keeping the roast duck, prime rib, and butterflied prawns as mouth-watering as ever. And yes, the Old Fashioneds are still flowing by the tens of thousands. In this insightful reminder of why visitors can’t get enough of Ishnala, Bob urges listeners to leave their phones in the car, unplug, and take in the breathtaking views of Mirror Lake from one of Ishnala’s four bars and three decks. For more information, visit Ishnala.com.

WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks to Pierce Hutchings of The Chicago Hotel Collection about the 100th anniversary of the Ambassador Gold Coast, Chicago’s first boutique hotel. Once a hangout for silver-screen icons like Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and even John F. Kennedy, the Ambassador Gold Coast and its star-studded history still shapes the guest experience a century later. Pierce previews the hotel’s centennial celebration that includes luxury cars from Fields Automotive, paparazzi photos for guests, flapper girls, DJs, and a red-carpet arrival fit for a Hollywood ending. Pierce also honors longtime staff and discusses must-experience details like the building’s brewery-era tunnels and how they are planning on bringing back fanfare and glamour for the next 100 years. For more information, visit TheChicagoHotelCollection.com.