Warm South Carolina Breeze Takes Chicago by Storm

CHICAGO, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago is defrosting with sun-sational offerings and activities. It's all part of the "Time To Thaw" campaign (http://www.TimeToThaw.com), a come-to-South Carolina marketing campaign that includes large, colorful graphics that will transform downtown Chicago into beach, golf and sunny lakeside venues.

Activities and offerings include:

Sand Sculpture: World record holder and Chicago-area resident Ted Siebert crafts a sand sculpture in the main lobby of the Grant Park North parking garage, February 28-29. The sculpture will be available for viewing from February 29-March 9.

Surfin' Safari: Visitors can hold on to the stair railing (aka windsurf board bar) in the Grant Park North Garage Pedway, pose for pictures, upload the images to http://www.TimeToThaw.com and enter to win prizes. The surfer with "the most rad" picture wins the grand prize -- a vacation to Hilton Head Island and a round of golf for two.

Virtual Golf: South Carolina's (http://www.discoversouthcarolina.com/time-to-thaw) scenes, including the world-famous 6th hole at the Kiawah Island Ocean Course, will be re-created in the Monroe-Randolph lobby in the East Monroe Street garage. Other South Carolina scenes will be located at Grant Park North, Grant Park South and Millennium Park, February 18-March 17.

Trolley Rides: February 18-March 2 brings free trolley rides downtown. The rides will loop around Chicago stopping at five high-trafficked locations from Union Station to Michigan Avenue. Guests will receive information on South Carolina, lip balm, ice scrapers and sunscreen and can enter to win prizes daily including tickets to see "Alter BoyZ", the Blue Man Group or best of all -- a trip to South Carolina.

Pottery Workshops: March 5 and March 7 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., noted South Carolina sculptor Bob Doster will conduct pottery making workshops on South Carolina's Native American Catawba culture at the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier.

Hot Deals: With more than 100 non-stop flights weekly to key South Carolina cities, it is "Time To Thaw" in the Palmetto State. For information on vacation discounts visit http://www.discoversouthcarolina.com/time-to-thaw/hot-deals/

Tune In To Win: February 29 - March 17, Y103.9 is offering a chance to win a trip to Kiawah Island with the "Always After Me Spring Getaway" promotion. April 2-May 15, Star 105.5 will promote the "$50,000 in the Sand" giveaway to Daufuskie Island.