Travel Briefs

On May 25, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began testing new protocols at security lines in 10 US airports. The new protocols require that any electronic device larger than a cell phone, such as a tablet or e-reader, must be removed from carry-on baggage before going through the x-ray machine. Additionally, some other items, including food items, may be required to be removed from bags for inspection. These rules do not apply to TSA Pre√^® (Pre-check) passengers.

Each year, the European Tree of the Year competition elicits votes from the public to name Europe’s best tree. 2017’s winner is the 650-year-old Oak Józef, in Wis´niowa, Poland, which two Jewish brothers hid in during WWII and which was once depicted on the 100-złoty bill. For descriptions, histories and GPS coordinates of the 2017 candidates and former winners, visit www.treeoftheyear.org.

Ben Franklin’s London home, the Duke of Wellington’s nose at Admiralty Arch and one of the world’s smallest police stations are among stops on the “Secret London” walking tour with Fun London Tours (London, England; phone +44 79 56 601 697, funlondontours.com).

Leaving from Trafalgar Square, each tour typically lasts 1½-2 hours and costs £12 (near $15.50) per person. Dates are limited; book in advance.

In Mon Repos Regional Park, eastern Australia, the most populated loggerhead sea turtle rookery in the South Pacific can be visited at Mon Repos Turtle Centre (141 Mon Repos Rd., Mon Repos, Queensland, 4670, Australia; phone +61 7 4159 1652, www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/mon-repos/turtle-centre.html).

Sightings are not guaranteed and may not occur until late in the night, but turtle nesting and egg-laying occur November-January, and turtles hatch January-March. During season, visitors join nightly “turtle encounters” led by park rangers (start time, 6 p.m.).

Travelers to Tokyo with a taste for sushi can get an education along with their meal through Sushi University (sushiuniversity.jp). Diners are paired with an English-speaking interpreter, who will teach them proper sushi-eating techniques and etiquette and help them converse with the chef to learn about ingredients and preparation.

Under the city of Ramla in central Israel, visitors can take a rowboat through an ancient underground reservoir, the Pool of Arches, built in AD 789 during the Abbasid Caliphate. It measures 20 by 21 meters and maintains a constant level of water. 

The pool’s entrance is between HaHagana and HaShomer streets, across from HaHagana Garden. Open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. and 8-2 Fri. Entry, ILS8 (near $2), adult, and ILS6, child; includes use of boat. To reserve a boat, contact Ramla Tourism (phone +972 08 921 5873, en.goramla.com). 

South Downs National Park, just south of London, England, was granted Dark Sky Reserve status in 2016 by the International Dark Sky Association (http://darksky.org), a nonprofit group that seeks to protect areas of excellent night-sky viewing from pollution by light. 

To qualify for this status, the Snowdonia National Parks Authority made assurances to reduce or eliminate artificial light. Light pollution cannot be completely eliminated in the park, as there are some villages within its boundaries.

Visiting England? You can visit Stonehenge when the site is closed to the general public, either before the park opens or after it closes, with Stonehenge Guided Tours (67-68 Hatton Garden, London, England, EC1N 8JY, U.K.; phone +44 845 643 4428, www.stonehengetours.com).