Courses Highlight Yellowstone In Winter

Sun., Dec. 1, 1996

Of the 3 million people who visit Yellowstone National Park each year, fewer than 2 percent go in winter. The nonprofit Yellowstone Institute is inviting tourists to see the wilder, lonelier side of the world’s oldest national park in its series of winter courses. The selection of two-to four-day courses includes “Winter Wildlife & Nature Photography,” Jan. 10-13; “How Mammals Survive Winter,” Jan. 25-26; and “Gathering Winter Words,” Feb. 7-9. Tuition ranges from $105 to $275 per person and accommodations are available at cabins in the park for $10 a night. Information: 307-344-2293.

St. Andrews popular

You’ve mastered Pebble Beach, conquered Pinehurst and outwitted Mauna Lani. Perhaps you’re ready for the ultimate golf challenge: getting a tee time on the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland.

The venerable public course is so popular that players often have to wait years to play it. But guaranteed playing dates and exact tee times are now being offered by Sophisticated Events and Travel Services (1-800-213-5483); prices start at $4,450, including air fare, accommodations for two nights, some meals and all golfing fees.

If you’re not that steeped in tradition, book a $1,695 weekend package, including air fare, car rental, three nights’ lodgings, some meals and three rounds of golf, to either Turnberry or Gleneagles, premiere Scottish golf resorts, through Golf International (1-800-833-1389).

How much from where?

How many bottles of tequila may you bring back from Mexico? Pounds of chocolate from Belgium? Video cameras from Hong Kong?

Just punch in your destination on electronic kiosks being installed by U.S. Customs at major airports across the country and receive a printout outlining duty regulations, exemptions and other customs information.

The kiosks, tested at the Washington Dulles and Dallas-Fort Worth airports since spring, will be placed in 10 additional airports in 1997, in cities including Boston, Newark and San Francisco.

Great service

The 10 greatest U.S. tennis resorts, as selected by Tennis magazine in its November issue:

1. The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, Longboat Key, Fla.

2. Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

3. Kiawah Island Resort, Kiawah Island, S.C.

4. Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

5. Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort, Pawleys Island, S.C.

6. La Quinta Hotel, Golf & Tennis Resort, La Quinta, Calif.

7. Topnotch at Stowe Resort & Spa, Stowe, Vt.

8. The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.

9. The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colo.

10. Rancho Valencia Resort, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

See sites on Internet

New travel sites on the Internet include:

The Great Chicago Fire and the Web of Memory, from the Chicago Historical Society, is a virtual encyclopedia of facts and images about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. (http://www.chicagohs.org)

Passport applications are now available from the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs’ web site. (http:/ /travel.state.gov)

The USDA Forest Service offers daily wildfire updates, maps showing current fire locations and projected wildfire weather conditions. (http://www.fs.fed.us)

The Boulder (Colo.) Convention & Visitor’s Bureau has a virtual tour of Boulder, including photos and maps of the city and information on festivals, outdoor activities, lodging and transportation. (http://visitor.boulder.net).

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