Eagle Tours Offered At Oregon Conference

View the largest wintering concentration of bald eagles in the lower 48 states from Feb. 16-18 at the 17th Annual Klamath Basin Bald Eagle conference. The conference will be held at the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, Ore.

Tours of local wildlife areas, speakers, workshops and other activities are included in the conference. For more information, call the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at (503) 883-5732.

Call ahead: The on-again, off-again status of the federal government has resulted in disappointment for people trying to use federal recreation facilities.

Glacier National Park in northwest Montana reports that 225 would-be visitors were turned away on New Year’s Day because the federal shutdown had closed all federal parks. Similarly, Forest Service ranger stations were closed throughout the Christmas break.

“It was not our choice to be closed,” said Steve Frye, chief ranger at Glacier. “We have been forced to do something we never thought that we would have to do - close the entire park.”

When parks are closed, even private concessionaires offering trips are not allowed in. So when in doubt, call ahead.

Short takes: Bits and pieces from all over:

The annual Rendezvous Mountain Marathon, a cross-country ski race of 30k or 42k in the Winthrop area, is Jan. 28. For information, call (509) 996-3287.

Triple Creek Ranch, an upscale hideaway near Darby, Mont., has been named a member of Relais & Chateaux, an elite association of more than 400 lodgings in 42 nations worldwide. For information, call (406) 821-4600.

Heritage festival: The 15th annual Festival Sundiata, celebrating African and African American Culture, runs Feb. 17-19 at the Seattle Center.

Northwest artists will perform, jazz, hip-hop, gospel, R&B, traditional African music, dance and drama. There’ll also be an art exhibit and a children’s art workshops, plus food, handicrafts, clothes, art and jewelry. Call (206) 684-7200.

Sleep for less: Nineteen downtown Seattle hotels are offering Super Saver rates through March, 1996. Travelers can save up to 50 percent on rooms, and in January hotels will begin offering additional savings on shopping, dining, and other attractions. For reservations, call (800) 535-7071.

Calendar available: The Bellingham/Whatcom County Convention and Visitors Bureau has just come out with its 1996 calendar, which lists over 140 events.

Planned events include several plays and concerts. The Whatcom Museum of History and Art also will auction works of art from regional artists on Feb. 10. For a free copy of the calendar, call (800) 487-2032 or (360) 671-3990.

, DataTimes MEMO: Send information about travel opportunities around the Pacific Northwest to: Travel Editor, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.