From the first weekend of June through September, downtown Manhattan is alive with the River to River Festival. An eclectic schedule of musical acts holds forth in such venues as South Street Seaport and Governor’s Island. The 2007 lineup included Booker T. and the MG’s, the Martha Graham Dance Company, the Jonas Brothers, and the Bang on a Can 26-hour music marathon, and this year’s event promises something for everyone too. rivertorivernyc.com

Kid-lit heroine Eloise would be impressed. So would the Beatles and Kevin from Home Alone II. They all famously stayed at the Plaza. The only New York City hotel to be designated a National Historic Landmark, the Plaza reopened this spring after a two-year, $400 million renovation. The 19-story hotel, which opened in its Fifth Avenue location in 1907, now has 282 guest rooms, a world-class retail collection, a spa, a salon, white glove service, and, of course, the legendary Oak Room and Oak Bar, as well as the Rose Club and the Grand Ballroom. For a great introduction to one of Manhattan’s most famous addresses, and a chance to gawk at the glamour, take afternoon tea in the famous Palm Court. fairmont.com/theplaza

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but you can’t ride a dachshund. The American Museum of Natural History makes a pretty good case for another four-legged friend with a major exhibition called, simply, The Horse. It traces the 50 million year evolution of Eohippus (the modern-day horse’s dog-sized ancestor) and shows how horses have influenced trade, warfare, transportation, and sports. amnh.org

Marbles made in akron were the first mass-produced toys in the United States. Thousands of them are on display at the American Toy Marble Museum, located in Lock 3 Park. An indoor marbles ring lets experienced mibsters and novice players try knuckling down. There’s also a collection of rubber ducks, dolls, and other toys that kept kids amused in the days before Barbies and Legos. americantoymarbles.org, lock3live.com

Fabric in all its permutations — from silk organza to automotive upholstery — fills the Art Gallery at Cleveland State University for Focus: Fiber 2008, a juried exhibition sponsored by the Textile Art Alliance of the Cleveland Museum. Artists use methods typically associated with textiles to create “paintings,” three-dimensional constructions, wall-mounted sculptures, and woven mixed-media installations. The show of contemporary works runs through June 21. clevelandart.org/taa

Going to an Akron Aeros game at Canal Parkis a family-friendly way to watch some baseball. Tickets to see the team, a Cleveland Indians affiliate in the AA-level Eastern League, are affordable, there’s plenty of parking, and every seat in the state-of-the-art facility offers a great view. Players, who are happy to talk with fans, will be pitching and hitting at home most of this month, and fireworks light up the night sky June 13 and 27. akronaeros.com

Modern artists have woven a rich tapestry in the new exhibit Old, Weird America, at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. Sam Durant’s lifesize installations depict Native American history while Winchester, a digital animation series by the late Jeremy Blake, mixes abstract and Western cowboy images. Continental is an official sponsor of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. camh.org

If you wish your kids were more enraptured with recycling, check out My Home, Planet Earthat the Children’s Museum of Houston. This hands-on exhibit makes the eco-journey fun, illustrating how chemicals taint our water and air, and how dust mites and mold spores clog our noses and lungs. The exhibit runs through September 7. Continental is an official sponsor of the Children’s Museum. cmhouston.org

Getting There: All the destinations covered in “Go Explore” can be reached by flying Continental Airlines. To book your vacation, contact Continental Airlines Vacations at covacations.com.