In the 1987 film "Planes, Trains & Automobiles," beleaguered travelers played by Steve Martin and John Candy try pretty much every mode of transportation in an effort to make it home for Thanksgiving.

For those in the opposite situation -- homebodies looking to hit the road for fun -- all those same vehicle options can be experienced not too far away in the coming days and weeks.

Planes

Let 's begin with things up in the air. That would be the Experimental Aircraft Association 's annual AirVenture event, July 28-Aug. 3 in Oshkosh.

Started in 1953 with a handful of homebuilt airplanes and fewer than 100 visitors, the fly-in has grown into one of the largest aviation events in the world. More than 750,000 visitors attend AirVenture and it attracts 10,000 airplanes each year. It also pumps more than $80 million into the local and state economies, organizers note.

"It really has become one of the world 's top 10 aviation events in terms of attendance and significance, " says Dick Knapinski, who handles media and public relations for the international event.

Probably three-fourths of the people who visit and exhibit at AirVenture come from out of state, Knapinski notes, adding that about 60 countries are represented among those in attendance. Still, it retains a friendly, close-knit atmosphere, he says.

"It 's like aviation 's family reunion. It 's not just a business and commercial show or a local air-show, it 's everything, " Knapinski says. "It spans the entire spectrum of aviation. ... It 's the big tent. "

In addition to exhibits and demonstrations, entertainment has, well, taken a bigger stage at AirVenture. This year 's acts include rock band Foreigner, performing on opening evening; comedian Jeff Dunham, who happens to be a helicopter builder and pilot; and the Lt. Dan Band, featuring "CSI: NY " star Gary Sinise, which has toured with the USO.

"Once the air show is done, they 're still looking for something to do, " Knapinski says of AirVenture visitors. "You have a city of 40,000 people spending the night (so) entertainment has grown in visibility. "

But it 's the aircraft themselves that remain the No. 1 AirVenture attraction, Knapinski says. This year 's event will include such draws as the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter; the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft; and (in a nod to the "E " in EAA) the experimental Martin Jetpack personal aircraft, which will make its public debut at AirVenture on July 29.

Of course, some old favorites aren 't to be forgotten in the rush of new technology.

"The Goodyear blimp still is a draw, " Knapinski says. "And it 's been around for years. "

EAA AirVenture runs July 28-Aug. 3 at Wittman Regional Airport, 525 W. 20th Ave., in Oshkosh (www.wittmanairport.com). Gates open at 7 a.m. daily and exhibit buildings are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $35 daily or $190 for the week. Discounts apply for EAA members, students and children (including free admission for ages 5 and under). For information, check www.airventure.org or call 920-426-4800.

Trains

For a taste of old-time rail travel, the first place that might come to mind is Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, near Reedsburg. Unfortunately, the museum was hit hard by the Baraboo River flooding of the area in June and has been closed since.

"This is a tremendous blow to an operation like ours that is seasonal, " says Mid-Continent manager Don Meyer. "We are losing about $3,000 per day in train fares and gift-shop sales. "

Cleanup efforts are ongoing. Beyond the basics of scraping away muck left by floodwaters and tossing ruined items, the railway museum has the unique task of repairing damage to what 's called its "rolling stock, " train cars and engines.

"The high water affected key components on our rolling stock -- air-brake systems, bearings and traction motors -- which has kept us from running trains for the first time in our 45 years at our North Freedom facility, " Meyer says. "The metal surfaces of the bearings and the electric motors on the diesels are all very susceptible to water damage. And with some 120 pieces of rolling stock in our collection, the scope of the work has been pretty intimidating. "

Besides contracting out for electrical repairs and some other work, Mid-Continent has relied on volunteers from its membership to tackle the workload.

"Many of them have already spent several hours, some of them days, here doing basic cleanup or taking on the more technical tasks of repairing the equipment, " Meyer says. "We have also been able to draw from a larger community we call railfans. These are people who share our love for trains and they have shown up, usually unannounced, to lend a helping hand doing the dirtiest of jobs. "

Meyer says the non-profit museum is fortunate it can rely on donations to help cover cleanup and repair costs. Also, an event today in Mazomanie is serving as a fundraiser of sorts.

The Gandy Dancer Festival, featuring live music and free train rides aboard the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, originally was meant simply as a promotional event for Mid-Continent.

"But it has become a benefit for the museum, as we will have donation boxes placed around the festival site, " Meyer says.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mazomanie 's Promenade Park, with train tickets distributed, first-come, first-served, at the nearby depot beginning at 9 a.m.

In addition to relying on donations, the museum has some insurance coverage for the flood damage and also has general coverage for repairs to its rolling stock. It also is hoping for help from FEMA, Meyer says.

"Watch our Web site for updates on our accomplishments and to look for the announcement about the resumption of train operations, " he advises, adding that the museum is aiming to be back on its regular schedule by the first of August.

For the latest information, check www.midcontinent.org or call the museum at 800-930-1385.

In the meantime, rail buffs might try heading in the other direction from Madison, southeast, to the East Troy Electric Railroad. This historic line -- Wisconsin 's last original electric railroad line -- runs 5 miles from East Troy to Mukwonago, with weekday service (except Mondays and Tuesdays) in summer and more limited weekend service through Oct. 26.

Completed in 1907, the East Troy Electric Railroad is basically a streetcar powered by overhead direct current. The line roughly follows old Wisconsin Highway 15, which is now County ES (parallel to Interstate 43).

Besides fulfilling the desire for a streetcar experience, one of the highlights of a ride on this rail is a visit to the Elegant Farmer bakery, deli and market, which is at the Mukwonago end of the train line. Try a fresh-baked muffin, jumbo cookie or a taste of the Elegant Farmer 's award-winning apple pie, baked in a paper bag.

For a ride on the railroad, passengers can board at either end, at the East Troy station (2002 Church St.) or at the Elegant Farmer (1545 Main St., Mukwonago), with all but the final departure of the day being round-trip. Regular fares are $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $7 for ages 3-11 and free for children under 3. Special dinner trains and wine-tasting trains also are offered. For information, check www.easttroyrr.org or call 262-642-3263; reservations are not required but may be made at 262-642-3077. For information about the Elegant Farmer, check www.elegantfarmer.com or call 262-363-6770.

Automobiles

Aug. 3 is the date for this year 's Vintage Celebration classic car event at Botham Vineyards in Barneveld. It 's the 13th annual event mixing vintage wine and vintage autos, and the quality of cars shown here seems to keep getting better, says the winery 's Sarah Botham.

"The event draws a more diverse roster of competition vehicles than are found at a typical car show and spectators have come to expect this exceptional level of quality, " Botham says. "In recent years, we have featured marques and specific vehicles that can 't be found at any other show and in some cases are so rare that they come out in public almost never, and then only for events of the highest caliber. "

This year 's featured vehicle is no exception. It 's a 1931 BMW Ihle 600 Sport Roadster owned by Tom Griffith of Verona, an avid collector who has participated in Botham Vineyard 's Vintage Celebration every year.

The car is the only one of its kind in the United States; only a handful exist in Europe. Its history includes being bombed in a warehouse during World War II, then sitting damaged for 50 years until it was rebuilt in the 1990s.

Griffith purchased the car on a European Web site in 2007 and had it flown from Amsterdam to Chicago. The move was not without controversy, as there were some who believed the car should not have been allowed to leave Europe.

Nonetheless, Griffith committed to a second overhaul of the vehicle, and it will make its post-restoration public debut at the Vintage Celebration.

In addition to the featured car, about 150 vehicles will be entered in competition categories, Botham says.

"The event primarily draws competition participants from throughout Wisconsin and the surrounding Midwest states, though we 've had entries from as far away as Canada and California, " she says.

Along with the vintage automobiles, live music, food and drink are part of this "relaxing day at the vineyard, " Botham says, adding that proceeds benefit the infant intensive care unit at St. Mary 's Hospital in Madison.

"We have worked hard to create an event that appeals to many interests but retains at its core an appreciation for the aesthetic and nostalgic appeal of vintage vehicles, and, of course, for fine wine. "

The Vintage Celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 3 at Botham Vineyards, 8180 Langberry Road in Barneveld. Admission is $5; children under 12 are free. For information, check www.bothamvineyards.com or call 888-478-9463.