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Side Trips

Briefs: Attendants in training

The Travel Channel's Flight Attendant Training follows 40 students as they try to get their wings for Frontier Airlines during a six-week training session. Ultimately responsible for the safety of all passengers, the students, who don't all make it, realize that being a flight attendant is more than passing out pretzels and soda. The show debuts at 9 and 9:30 p.m. Jan. 12.

WWII GUIDE MAP

The World War II Heritage Guide Map, the first cultural heritage trail brochure of World War II sites in Wilmington and southeastern North Carolina, highlights 47 sites; its text, maps and photos link to structures, museums, bases, markers and other spots important to the war effort. The brochure is being distributed free through area hotels, visitor centers and museums. To request a copy, call toll-free 1-866-266-9690 or visit www.gocapefearcoast.com

Wcities, which provides travel information, has released its newest product: Pod CityGuides. Users can download a guide to more than 300 cities worldwide as easily as they download their favorite music to their iPod. It's a free source for clubs, hotels, restaurants, top attractions and events. Users also can get tickets on the Web site. Visit www.wcities.com

In commemoration of the centennial anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is presenting "After the Ruins, 1906 and 2006: Rephotographing the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Legion of Honor" through June 4. The exhibit pairs vintage images of the aftermath with modern views by Mark Klett. Call 415 863-3330 for more information or go to www.thinker.org

Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is ready to reopen Monday after winter repairs, but it will do so without its record-setting blue catfish.

The education and conservation center recently published an obituary announcing the Dec. 6 death of Splash, a 121.5-pound female catfish. When she was caught in Lake Texoma in January 2004, Splash set state and world records for a blue catfish. At the time of her death, Splash was still the Texas state record blue catfish; a larger blue catfish was caught in the Mississippi River this year. A life-sized replica of Splash is planned for display in the center's record-fish area, and her skeleton is being preserved for display.

For information, call 903 676-2277 or go to www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Stayed home last night? Well, two popular travel Web sites, www.orbitz.com and www.tripadvisor.com respectively, offer their Top 10 lists of the best U.S. places in which to ring in the new year:

1. Las Vegas/Las Vegas

2. Los Angeles/New Orleans

3. Orlando/New York City

4. Denver/Orlando

5. Miami/Seattle

6. Fort Lauderdale/Miami

7. New York City/Boston

8. Chicago/San Diego

9. Phoenix/Chicago

10. Tampa/Lake Tahoe

The state is cleaning up its act at the 81 restrooms located in state parks across the islands. "The No. 1 complaint of state park users is that restrooms are not clean, or are damaged," Peter Young, chairman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, told the Honolulu Advertiser. "We are cleaning and sanitizing our park comfort stations and performing some renovations throughout our park systems."

There are plans to renovate 24 restrooms in 12 parks statewide over the next two years.

- Compiled by JANET K. KEELER from staff reports and the Dallas Morning News, the Chicago Tribune and Associated Press. Reach her at 727 893-8586 or www.krieta@sptimes.com">href="mailto:www.krieta@sptimes.com">www.krieta@sptimes.com

[Last modified December 30, 2005, 09:10:05]