Spain's Greenways
It's not a good idea to walk or ride your bike on a railroad track, unless the track is part of a "greenway" -- those unused railway lines that have been converted to walking and biking trails. Spain's 930 miles of "vías verdes" (greenways) feature more than 70 trails that wind over hills, through valleys, along canals, through tunnels, and under stone bridges all over the country. The 60-mile Carrilet Vía Verde goes from a volcanic region in the foothills of the Pyrénées to the city of Girona and on to the Costa Brava (where Anthony Quinn, Frank Sinatra, and Ava Gardner made movies). The government has invested more than $70 million in this project and is enjoying an increase in tourism. Free.
‘For the People: American Mural Drawings of the 1930s and 1940s’
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. Through March 11
During the Great Depression, the mural project that was part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal was like a reality makeover show without the TV. The government-sponsored works of art, along with privately financed murals, literally covered private and public places including post offices, museums, hospitals, high schools, housing projects, music halls, ships, and even night clubs. More than 25 drawings, paintings, photographs, and sketchbooks are on view at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College. Tuesday-Sunday, free.
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave. 845-437-5632 . fllac.vassar.edu.
You can impress other spectators at these races by using some of the commands and terms associated with the sport. A musher drives the sled dogs; the wheel dog is closest to the sled; "gee" means turn right, "haw" means turn left, and "easy" means slow down. Top mushers from the United States and Canada compete in the 30- , 60- , and 250-mile races starting at 8, 9, and 10 a.m. You can watch the starts on Main Street and the finishes of the 30- and 60-milers at the Lonesome Pine Ski Lodge. (You have to hang around until Monday and Tuesday to see the longest race finish.) Free.
207-834-5354. can-am-sjv.net.
Ever wonder what happens to Olympic villages when the athletes, spectators, and vendors leave? Wonder no more. Groups including moe. , the Disco Biscuits , Little Feat , the Slip , and others perform at the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics. And music isn't the only attraction at this three-day festival. You can fantasize about being an Olympian while you luge, bobsled, toboggan, ice skate, ice climb, tube, and attempt other fun activities. Tickets start at $52 .
518-523-3330 . snoedown.com.
The Iditarod trail is a National Historic Trail that began as a mail and supply route. In 1925, part of the trail was a life-saving highway for diphtheria-stricken Nome, which depended on mushers and their dogs for medicine. At this annual event, more than 1,150 miles will be covered in 10 to 17 days by teams of 12 to 16 dogs and their mushers. Some teams spend a year preparing for the race, taking time out from their day jobs , which include mining, fishing, medicine, law, and art. The route ends in Nome and covers large metropolitan areas , small rural villages , dense woods, and desolate tundra .
iditarod.com.
Events sometimes are canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; call or check online to confirm. Contact June Wulff at jwulff@globe.com. 
