Travel Briefs
Darwin cruise
The 352-passenger Spirit of Adventure will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth with cruises to Central and South America in 2009, among them the 18-night “High Andes & Galápagos Adventure,” Feb. 21-March 10, 2009.
Historic Augsburg
Augsburg is the second-oldest city in Germany and was the home of the Fugger family (a German mercantile and banking dynasty), Leopold Mozart and Bertolt Brecht.
Flaming tar barrels
• Every year on Nov. 5, flaming tar barrels are carried through the streets of Ottery St. Mary in Devon, England, to the delight of townsfolk and visitors.
British Friends
Public displays of affection, high fives and the word “awesome” really aren’t very British. To find out what is, visit the website www.visitbritain.com/us, where people living all over Great Britain share their personal experiences.
Aboriginal art walk
In Queensland, Australia’s, Carnarvon National Park, the Art Gallery is an area of sandstone overhangs with aboriginal art thousands of years old.
Disney Down Under
Adventures by Disney’s (phone 877/728-7282 in U.S. or 714/520-5100 outside U.S. or visit www.abd.disney.go.com) 10-day/9-night “Australia Family Vacation” includes Mossman Gorge and rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, Taronga Zoo and Sydney.
Volunteer vacations
Play it Forward Adventures specializes in tours which include volunteer work.
Mendelssohn Festival
Leipzig, Germany, will honor the 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s birth with a series of musical celebrations around the city in 2009.
Viking museum
The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, a 20-minute drive from Copenhagen, Denmark, offers interactive programs, demonstrations and exhibitions, including five original 11th-century Viking ships excavated from Roskilde Fjord.
‘Paris Story’
A nearly 1½-hour audiovisual presentation on a 40-foot screen, “Paris Story,” tells the history of Paris from its beginnings as a Roman settlement to a modern, world-class city. Headphones allow listening in English.
Cruiselinehistory.com
Visit www.cruiselinehistory.com or www.cruisingthepast.com to examine the history of cruise lines, cruise ships and steamships.
Steam train in UK
Severn Valley Railway, based in Bewdley, Worcestershire, offers rides on the company’s restored steam train. The 16-mile route follows the Severn River and crosses the 200-foot-high Victoria Bridge.
Mobility aid for EU travelers
As of July 26, 2008, under guidelines set by the European Union’s Equality & Human Rights Commission, or EHRC (in England, phone 0845 604 6610, www.equalityhumanrights.com), mobility-impaired or otherwise disabled passengers who are citizens of EU countries and travel by air to, from or within the EU
Travel Bookshelf: “Fandex Family Field Guides: Africa”
“Fandex Family Field Guides: Africa” by Alex Karis (Workman Publishing. ISBN 0761139788 — 50 die-cut cards, $9.95).
Antarctic Dream
Adventure Life Voyages (Missoula, MT; 800/344-6118, www.alvoyages.com), an eco-based adventure travel company, is offering 11-day/10-night Antarctic expedition cruises aboard the Antarctic Dream through February 2009.
Monte Carlo package
In Monte Carlo through Jan. 4, 2009 (excluding Dec. 15-22), Hôtel de Paris (Place du Casino, 98000 Monaco; phone +377 98 06 30 00, fax 98 06 59 13, http://en.hoteldeparismontecarlo.com) is offering a 2-night package for two people that starts at €1,540 (near $2,429).
Biking in Kruger
At the Lebombo and Sweni lodges in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, you can explore the park via mountain bike. A guide will lead bikers into the wilderness.
Unique overnights, Wales
Visitors to Wales can stay in any of 18 renovated cottages, farmhouses and unique historic buildings year-round through Under the Thatch, an organization dedicated to rescuing historic buildings.
Onboard organizer
The Zen Class Nirvana Organizer unzips flat to mount onto a seat-back tray table on any plane or train. It has multiple mesh and zippered storage compartments, a cup holder, pen holders and a key chain clip to keep on-board essentials at arm’s reach.
Family Fiji cruise
Until March 31, 2009, Blue Lagoon Cruises (2222 Foothill Blvd., Ste. E–175, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011; 877/252 3454, www.bluelagooncruises.com) is offering family rates on Fiji cruises.