Travel

When planning a summer getaway, it's easy to forget that, although an entirely different country, Canada is a mere two-hour drive from Spokane. With rising gas prices, anxiety over national security and the overall comfort factor of home, many Inland Northwest residents may stay close to home this summer for their holidays and, really, it's no wonder. Many say exotic destinations are simply too far and expensive to get to, and others find that dealing with customs, borders and luggage searches causes more stress than the holiday is supposed to relieve in the first place.

CRACK IN THE GROUND, Ore. – If you know where this place is, you probably live nearby. That goes double for Hole in the Ground just a few miles west. They are two of a slew of geologic oddities sprinkled along and near the National Outback Scenic Byway – a daylong diversion from more than 20 golf courses, 71 ski runs, whitewater rafting, alpine hikes, fishing and more in the Bend-Mount Bachelor area.

The Walla Walla Valley Spring Release Weekend happens May 7-8 throughout the Walla Walla area. The Valley's winemakers will be on hand to introduce new wines and share the creative winemaking process. For more information call the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance at (509) 526-3117 or visit www.wallawallawine.com. • The town of Manson on Lake Chelan holds its annual Manson Apple Blossom Festival May 12-15. The event features a carnival, pageant, apple-eating contest, quilt show, fun run and a craft and food fair. A car and Harley show and a rock and mineral show also are part of the event. Call (509) 687-3111 or go to www.cometothelake.com for more information.

Editor: Tricia Jo Webster ~ triciajo@spokesman.com Page design, copy editor: Peter Tormey ~ petet@spokesman.com

Each year, as vacation time rolls around, pet owners are faced with the dilemma of what to do with their furry friends while they are away leading the two-legged good life. Anyone who has looked into hotel or resort reservations for a getaway knows finding pet-friendly accommodations makes an already daunting task nearly impossible. While many campgrounds accept well-behaved pooches, indoor people-oriented facilities tend to frown on canine cohabitation due to liability, cleanliness and consideration for others who may not appreciate dogs as much as some of us. Although some hotels cater to your pooch, they are few and far between.

At the White Pig Bed and Breakfast in Schuyler, Va., Norman is not on the breakfast menu. Norman, the property's namesake, is the star of feeding time (look for the dirty white pot-bellied pig who hobbles around the yard like Pavarotti in stilettos). The innkeepers will gladly tell you about his tough childhood in urban New York and his move to spacious, green Virginia. After seeing his piglet pictures, I was thankful that the glistening "sausage" links crowning my pancakes did not have a name, except for Meat Substitute.

If you're traveling with the family, we have specials on vacation packages abroad. When booking family travel, ask about rates for children. International airfares can drop by 10 percent to 25 percent for kids ages 2 to 11. Infants not occupying a seat typically pay 10 percent of the adult fare.

If you have a green thumb, rejoice. With spring upon us, Peter Deilmann Cruises is introducing several itineraries that might be called … well, cultivating.

Some mothers, bless them, cherish every construction paper heart, every five-finger turkey painting, every dandelion bouquet. Mine subscribed to a different philosophy. She opted for discrimination.

The hotel industry probably has more brands in its inventories than Kellogg's has cereals. No matter what the company, it's a matter of picking the brand – from luxury to budget – that best suits you. Not new among the brands, but definitely on the upswing, are all-suite properties.

LAS VEGAS – It's chilling to walk by a dented Army helmet with big tinted goggles on the brim, a frayed "atomic cocktail" recipe book – and then come face to face with a family of mannequins, frozen in time in a fallout shelter. Baby boomers will recognize the Civil Defense character Bert the Turtle and know by heart the instructions droning in black-and-white on the family's boxy Packard Bell TV: When sirens sound, find shelter. Don't look at the light. Duck and cover.