In pursuit of the great outdoors this summer, don't overlook Midwest ski resorts as destinations to dip into hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, tennis and, oh yes, golf, in forested, hilly settings. And, because this is off-season, accommodations, ranging from rustic to luxe, tend to be easier on the pocketbook. As at Rocky Mountain ski venues, Midwest resorts cannot survive on snow alone.

Summer offerings at the resorts vary widely, from sports and occasional concerts to virtually nothing but inhaling the fresh pine-scented air. In the main, vacationers can build their own packages and follow their own interests. Here's what's available at eight destinations in four states:

-Illinois

Chestnut Mountain . Eight miles south of Galena and overlooking the Mississippi River, Chestnut, with 120 rooms, operates year-round. Summer activities include an alpine slide (a 2,050-foot track to the banks of the river), Mississippi Explorer cruises into the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge, mountain bike rentals, 18 holes of miniature golf and trolley rides in Galena. A summer midweek one-night bed-and-breakfast package costs $89 per person, double occupancy. 800-397-1320; www.chestnutmtn.com

-Michigan

Boyne Mountain (including Boyne Highlands). Located in Boyne Falls, about 15 miles south of Petoskey near Lake Michigan in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula, the resort comes closest to competing with its Rocky Mountain counterparts in activities and lodging.

To tweak its summer, Boyne's Music on the Mountain concerts will feature, among others, country singer Randy Travis, July 22, and the 2nd annual Boyne Mountain Bluegrass Festival, Sept. 1 and 2.

Boyne offers as much activity as one can stand - hiking, nature walks, bike rentals, mountain biking, an indoor water park, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, chairlift rides, Michigan's largest spa and lots of golfing opportunities - 162 holes on eight different courses, including one by Robert Trent Jones. For children 6 through 12, Boyne has an adventure camp that focuses on outdoor fun.

Lodging ranges from $76 to $114 a night per room on the low end to $153 to $229 for spiffier digs. 800-462-6963; www.boyne.com

Shanty Creek. Between Petoskey and Traverse City, the resort launched what it calls a silent sports program _ ways to enjoy the nature and beauty of northern Michigan through hiking, kayaking, birding and geocaching, where guests are provided a GPS unit and directions to find treasure spots located somewhere in Shanty Creek's 4,500 acres.

Golfers can play on four top-flight courses, one designed by Arnold Palmer, another by Tom Weiskopf.

Guests can choose from three lodging villages, each with its own personality and a combined total of 600 rooms. Summit, the largest, has standard guest rooms for $79 a night. Schuss, more upscale, has condos that start at $120 a night to big homes that can sleep 20 for $600. At upscale Cedar River, a one-bedroom suite costs $250. Packages can be customized . 800-678-4111; www.shantycreek.com

Crystal Mountain . Midway between Manistee and Traverse City at Thompsonville, and near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan, Crystal is big on golf, with 36 holes and a noted golf school with more than 100 programs for players of every level. Besides golf, there's a one-acre water park, biking along the Betsie Valley Trail; hiking trails, tubing, canoeing and kayaking on the Platte River; chairlift rides, an adventure camp for kids and outdoor movies on weekends.

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