Museum Trip Caters To Art Lovers

Take a three-night trip from Spokane with fellow art lovers to visit the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and other destinations. The tour will take place Feb. 8-11.

Price is $550 per person based on double occupancy, which includes round trip airfare from Spokane, hotel accommodations and museum entrance fees. Call the Contemporary Arts Alliance at (509) 624-2615 for more information.

Eagle cruises: The Spokane River Queen, a paddle-wheel riverboat, is offering eagle-watching cruises on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

The two-hour cruises in Wolf Lodge Bay are offered Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 21 and daily during peak viewing season: Dec. 18-Jan. 1. Tickets are $14, and private charters are available.

For information, call (208) 765-2367.

Christmas cheer: Some holiday-related promotions:

The Hotel Vintage Plaza in downtown Portland is offering a Snuggle With Your Santa package through Jan. 6, featuring a double room, bouquet of mistletoe, two hot toddy drinks and a holiday gift. The price is $140; for information, call (800) 243-0555.

The sixth annual Mountain Christmas celebration in the Mount Hood area is now in progress, featuring parades, parties, festivals and appearances by Santa at the mountain. For information, call the Mount Hood Area Chamber of Commerce at (503) 272-3403.

The Inn at Semi-Ah-Moo, near Blaine, Wash., is offering a “Home for the Holidays” package from Dec 17-28. The package includes overnight accomodations for two, a live Christmas tree in every room, dinner for two and more.

The inn is the only 1995 Mobil Travel Guide Four Star and 1995 AAA Four Diamond resort in the state. For more information, call (206) 682-6979.

The Alexis Hotel in Seattle is offering Winterfest and New Year’s Eve packages. The Winterfest package is available through Dec. 30 and includes overnight accomodations, evening wine and hors d’oeuvres, continental breakfast, and a morning paper. Prices range from $140 to $180.

The New Year’s Eve package includes champagne, an optional five-course dinner, continental breakfast, a morning newspaper, and a 4 p.m. checkout the next day. Prices range from $210 to $465.

For more information or reservations call (206) 624-4844 or (800) 426-7033.

Book report: Books of interest to Northwest travelers:

There’s a new edition of “Northwest Best Places” (Sasquatch, $19.95) that’s fully updated (even the Spokane listings are current, for a change). It’s a bit slimmer than earlier editions, since some of the previous information has been moved to other guidebooks.

But it’s still a very useful guide, especially when you’re off the beaten path and looking for a decent place to dine, or stay. There’s also a companion 50-minute video, which sells for $20 on its own or $35 with the guidebook.

, 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.