Summer. It's a word that inspires dreamy reverence among winter-scarred Minnesotans, as evidenced by our heady three-month season of outdoor music festivals. But why stay near home? Summer music fests of all stripes are experiencing a heyday all across North America. Go ahead: Make your summer vacation a rock 'n' roll road trip.

With headliners such as Bruce Springsteen, Wilco, Phish, the Beastie Boys and Nine Inch Nails, there's something for everyone at this king of festivals. Comedy acts include Jimmy Fallon, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, several members of the "Daily Show" cast and Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter. There's plenty of camping, and there may still be hotel rooms available nearby too. The festival does offer free drinking water and showers to wash the festival stank off after a long day of jamming. Named by Rolling Stone as one of the 50 moments that changed rock 'n' roll, Bonnaroo is well worth the trip.

Located in one of the most scenic venues on the planet, the Telluride fest is bringing back some "longtime friends" and making new ones. David Byrne and Conor Oberst are making their festival debuts. Emmylou Harris, Bela Fleck and Elvis Costello will also perform. Telluride is located in southwestern Colorado and a drive across the state is absolutely breathtaking.

Soundset on steroids. The multi-city, two country hip-hop extravaganza will be blazing (pun intended) a path across North America after kicking off in Chi City. (The next nearest stop is Denver on Aug. 6.) With heavyweights Nas & Damian Marley, the Roots, Common and Busta Rhymes backed by indie phenoms K'naan, Sage Francis and the Rhymesayers duo of Eyedea & Abilities among many others, this tour is bringing some serious lyrical talent.

Brew City claims to have the world's largest music festival: More than 700 bands will play on 11 stages from noon until midnight for 11 straight days. Just like the beers that come out of Milwaukee, there's a headliner to suit anyone's taste. Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan, KISS, Keith Urban and Stevie Wonder each have their night on the main stage at Marcus Amphitheater. If you make it down for the first day, you can also catch the Twins battle the Brewers at Miller Park.

This festival takes place at several venues throughout Montreal, each with separate ticket prices. There are some free concerts, and a complete list will be unveiled June 8. Stevie Wonder plays a free opening-night concert June 30. Just remember: You'll need a U.S. passport to get into Canada now.

Rothbury has replaced Bonnaroo as the summer destination for hot hippie jam-band action. Driven by goals similar to Woodstock's, the festival boasts the summer's only performances by both the Dead and the String Cheese Incident, as well as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Nas & Damian Marley.

With a high-minded mission statement and a seemingly thorough follow-through, Pitchfork delivers on its goal "to create a reasonably priced summer music festival" and "an overwhelmingly positive, comfortable and fun festival experience for both attendees and musicians." Pitchfork probably provides the best value for the amount of music of any festival this summer. July 17 stars Yo La Tengo, Built to Spill, the Jesus Lizard and Tortoise. July 18 has Yeasayer, DOOM, Beirut and the National. On July 19 you get Blitzen Trapper, M83, Grizzly Bear and the coup de grace, the Flaming Lips.

The Village Voice hosts its ninth annual free day of indie-rock on Coney Island. Performers include Built to Spill, Spank Rock and the Ravonettes. Your best bet is to fly into NYC for around $200.

Its name comes from the defunct railroad terminal where Ellis Island immigrants would board trains headed for "all points west." Unlike the spaces in Monopoly, the stages of this festival are named after real railroads. But instead of taking people away from the area, the Blue Comet, Bullet and Queen of the Valley now bring thousands of people into Liberty State Park. The mix of indie-rock and hip hop includes major names such as Coldplay, Tool, the Beastie Boys, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, Echo & the Bunnymen and My Bloody Valentine. Flying into Newark might be your best bet.

After revamping Lolla's format in 2005 from a multi-city tour to a one-weekend event in Chicago, the festival has experienced quite a resurgence. All the original members of Jane's Addiction are scheduled to return to the stage for the first time since 1991. Depeche Mode, Tool, the Killers, the Beastie Boys and the Kings of Leon also headline. Up-and-coming acts include Cage the Elephant, Los Campesinos, Passion Pit and many others.

Going strong since 1971, Bumbershoot is "North America's largest urban arts festival." With national representatives in theater, art, film, comedy, dance, spoken word and music, Bumbershoot is the most wide-ranging of the summer mega-festivals. But it's still a music fest, with Modest Mouse, Katy Perry, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Franz Ferdinand and more.

ATP started in 1999 in the U.K. with the first festival "curated" by Mogwai -- meaning Mogwai chose the lineup. Since then, ATP has spread worldwide to include events in the United States and Australia, each one curated by a different band or artist. The Flaming Lips are curating New York's 2009 event, selecting Iron & Wine, the Jesus Lizard, Animal Collective, Panda Bear, Deerhunter, comedian David Cross and more. The host, Kutshers Country Club, is more than 100 miles from New York City, so a car is a must.