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Side Trips
Briefs: Things to to
Compiled by JANET K. KEELER
Published August 7, 2005
Thanks to Patricia Schultz's 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, we know where to go before our demise. But what exactly shall we do when we get there? Steve Watkins and Clare Jones answer that question in Unforgettable Things to Do Before You Die (Firefly; $19.95). The to-do list ranges from dog-sledding in Sweden and riding elephants in Chitwan, Nepal, to climbing a volcano in Pacaya, Guatemala, and camel-trekking in Jordan. An altogether different sort of risk-taking is involved in the casinos of Las Vegas. Gorgeous photographs add to the appeal.
AMERICA'S BEST
The top "American treasures," from a survey by the Travel Industry Association of America:
- Grand Canyon
- Statue of Liberty
- Yellowstone National Park
- White House/monuments of Washington, D.C.
- Niagara Falls
- Hawaiian Islands
- Mount Rushmore
- Redwood forests
- Glaciers/fiords of Alaska
- Rocky Mountains
APPALACHIAN MEMORIES
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the organization that oversees the 2,100-mile trail that stretches from Georgia to Maine, is collecting stories and photographs that capture visitors' favorite moments there. E-mail your contribution to journeys@appalachiantrail.org
The conservancy can help you plan a day hike or longer trip. Visit www.appalachiantrail.org or call 304 535-6331.
NO SWIM WITH DOLPHINS
Radisson Seven Seas Cruises has discontinued its onshore "dolphin encounters" programs, which allowed guests to interact with dolphins in water parks and holding facilities during its Caribbean cruises.
Sylviane de Tracy, manager of land programs for the cruise line, said that the programs had been "extremely popular" during the past five years, but she cited concern for the dolphins' well-being in captivity and the contradiction posed by the cruise line's environmental education programs as reasons for the decision.
MOVIES IN HAWAII
Different sites to see in Hawaii are places where popular movies have been shot.
Movie Tours offers bus, helicopter and off-road trips to Kauai sites that include the now-shuttered Coco Palms resort (Blue Hawaii, 1961), Wailua rain forest (Jurassic Park, 1993) and the North Shore (South Pacific, 1958).
The cost is $101 to $277 per adult, plus tax; less for children. Film clips of the featured scenes are shown on video monitors. Call toll-free 1-800-628-8432 or go to www.hawaiimovietour.com
MUD IN YOUR EYE
The National Wetlands Centre in Wales is holding a festival for grownups who like to play with mud, featuring everything from mud masks to muddy tug of war competitions.
The National Mud Festival, Sept. 10-11, will also feature mud sculptures, edible mud (actually chocolate) cakes and even a serious educational component: talks on the vital role that mud plays in the ecology of the South Wales coastline. Llanelli is 5 miles from Swansea.
For more information on the mud festival, visit www.wwt.org.uk/visit/llanelli
Compiled by JANET K. KEELER from Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, New York Times and Los Angeles Times reports. She can be reached at 727 893-8586 or krieta@sptimes.com
[Last modified August 5, 2005, 10:28:03]
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