Management Act Creates Six New National Parks
Six new national parks were created last month when President Clinton signed the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act, which also included provisions for improvements in nearly 115 parks in 41 states.
The new ones are:
In Kansas, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, including 11,000 acres of tallgrass prairie, and Nicodemus National Historic Site, a town founded as a community for free black slaves after the Civil War.
In Massachusetts, New Bedford National Historical Park, which recognizes the whaling industry, and Boston Harbor Islands, a dozen islands in Boston Harbor.
Washita National Battlefield in Oklahoma, a Plains Indians battlefield site.
Shenandoah Valley National Battlefield in Virginia.
Among the big bill’s many other features are the preservation of Sterling Forest on the New JerseyNew York line.
Eat up for a discount
Amtrak breaks new ground in railroad discounting with its latest promotion: 50 percent off on companion fares for certain cereal eaters.
Certificates on boxes of General Mills’ Total, Total Raisin Bran and Total Corn Flakes can be redeemed at travel agencies or Amtrak ticket offices for half off a companion ticket when another ticket is purchased at full fare to any of Amtrak’s destinations.
The certificates can be redeemed through next September, and the deal is good on most Amtrak trains, except for the Auto Train, weekday Metroliners and routes jointly operated with Via Rail Canada.
Travel must be completed by Nov. 15, 1997. Amtrak says the promotion is aimed at seniors - among whom the three cereals are popular - but is available to anyone who produces a certificate. Information: 800-872-7245.
California rakes in travel dollars
The states where you spent the most travel dollars in 1994 (with jobs supported, in thousands, in parentheses), according to the Association of America as reported in Travel Agent magazine.
1. California (604): $43.9 billion
2. Florida (458): $29.1
3. Texas (389): $21.2
4. New York (267): $20.7
5. Illinois (227): $14.8
6. Nevada (275): $14.5
7. New Jersey (166): $11.2
8. Pennsylvania (170): $10.6
9. Georgia (180): $9.8
10. Virginia (162): $9.5