Follow The Path Of Lewis And Clark
Sixteen travelers will follow the trail of the Lewis and Clark Expedition through Montana next summer.
Tours run by Off the Beaten Path and Special Expeditions depart Great Falls July 17, Aug. 7 and 25 for nine days in Montana. Participants enjoy a buffalo roast dinner on the banks of the Missouri River just above the Great Falls. They continue the Lewis and Clark trail to Helena, Three Forks, Ulm Pishkin Buffalo Jump, on a boat cruise through the Gates of the Mountains and on to Horse Prairie Ranch.
Cost is $2,570; for details call Off the Beaten Path, (800) 445-2995.
Take your dancing duds
The eighth Ultimate Rhythm & Blues Cruise sails June 5 from Athens, Greece, and the entertainment aboard ship includes 12 award-winning R&B bands.
Among the bands which will give 30 performances including nightly jam sessions will be Taj Mahal, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, John Hammond, Geno Delafose, B.B. & the Blues Shacks, Louisana Red and Rudy Rotta.
The week-long cruise stops at Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and Istanbul.
The fee includes round-trip air fare from New York to Athens; for details call Ultimate Cruises, (800) 886-6132.
On stage in Eastern Canada
Like most cities, Toronto boasts plenty of deals between January and March since it’s the slow tourist season.
One of the ongoing events in that Ontario city is Stages ‘98, which includes 12 weeks of theater and performing arts events. Many of the hotels package lodging and tickets to plays. For complete information, contact Tourism Toronto, (800) 363-1990.
A couple of gentle journeys
If the gardens of Italy are your personal mecca, an April tour just might be the ticket. Garden writer Jacqueline Murphy will lead a small group on a 15-day tour of the gardens of the Italian Lake District. Cost is $3,595; for details call Lucas & Randall European Tours, (800) 505-2505.
The same tour company is running an escorted tour to the tulip fields of Holland on April 15. The 11-day trip includes stays in The Hague, Groningen and Amsterdam, but focuses on the gardens of Holland during peak blooming season. Cost is $2,795 and details are available by calling the number listed above.
Is it the rides?
We do like our theme parks. Of the top 10 amusement/theme parks (based on attendance) this year, five are in the U.S. Following is a list of the best-attended sites in 1997, compiled by Amusement Business magazine:
1. Tokyo Disneyland (Tokyo), Attendance: 17,368,000
2. The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, Fla.) Attendance: 17,000,000
3. Disneyland (Anaheim, Calif.) Attendance: 14,250,000
4. Disneyland Paris (Marne-LaVallee, France) Attendance: 12,600,000
5. EPCOT at Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, Fla.) Attendance: 11,796,750
6. Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista) Attendance: 10,473,750
7. Everland (Kyonggi-Do, South Korea) Attendance: 9,120,000
8. Universal Studios Florida (Orlando) Attendance: 8,900,000
9. Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Blackpool, England) Attendance: 7,800,000
10. Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise (Yokohama, Japan) Attendance: 6,643,000)
Focus on the Gorge
A new Umbrella Book guide covers the Columbia and Snake Rivers with a concentrated look at the history and natural beauty of the region.
“Exploring the Columbia-Snake River Waterway” by Sharlene and Ted Nelson (Epicenter Press, $12.95) includes information about car trips to museums, historic forts, wildlife refuges and waterfalls in the Gorge, tips for boating on the waterways, stories about historic travelers and cruise ship info.
The book is divided by region, and there are plenty of ideas for short sidetrips from the main route up the rivers.
Heading for warmer climes?
Florida-bound travelers might want to check out a new history guide to the Florida Keys by Joy Williams (Random House, $14).
“The Florida Keys: A History & Guide” includes information about the hidden treasures of the islands, as well as tips for antiquing in the communities in the Keys and the best way to see the coral reefs.
, DataTimes