Travel Briefs | International Travel News

July 2007 issue

Lighthouse and penguins

Montague Island, off the coast of Narooma, New South Wales, Australia, has a historic lighthouse and a nature reserve which seals and seabirds, including little penguins, call home.

On a one-night tour of the island, visitors stay in the lightkeeper’s quarters and can opt to assist in a seabird and penguin research project. The price includes boat transport from Narooma; meals; a night in the guest house; a tour of the lighthouse and museum, and wildlife viewing with a naturalist — Aus$415 per person, twin, or Aus$475 single (US$341/US$391) during peak season and Aus$370 ppt or $430...

April 2011 issue

Champagne festival

During La Route du Champagne en Fête (website in French only), a festival in several towns in the Aube department of France, Aug. 6-7, 2011, a number of cellars open so visitors may taste champagne. Events and exhibitions are also held.

June 2012 issue

Lough Derg trails app

For Android and Apple devices, the free app “Lough Derg Trails” describes 21 walking itineraries in Ireland, with photos. Itineraries may be downloaded to the phone for use without a data connection.

February 2012 issue

Dominica zip-line

A zip-line course has been opened on the Caribbean island of Dominica by Rain Forest Adventures (Miami, FL; 305/704-3350). The three-line course includes a ride over the 350-foot Breakfast River Gorge. The zip-line ride can be purchased with either a tour of the Chattannier Nature Trail ($50) or a ride on the Rainforest Aerial Tram ($99).

July 2004 issue

Relais & Châteaux

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2004, Relais & Châteaux includes 450 privately owned hotels and restaurants in 50 countries around the world, each establishment adhering to the association’s quality charter.

Gift certificates, in denominations of $50, $100 or $500 and valid for two years, can be used for gourmet dining, hotel accommodations, spa treatments and other amenities and may be purchased by calling 877/334-6464 or visiting www.relaischateaux.com/gift.

To order the international guide ($8 shipping and handling fee), call 800/735-2478.

June 2004 issue

‘Britain’s Gardens’

VisitBritain has a new brochure on beautiful and historic gardens of Britain. It includes info on events and festivals (2004 is the “Year of Gardening” in Britain); insider tips from head gardeners; garden tours and holidays; courses throughout Britain, and seasonal information on which gardens to see and when.

The brochure is available free from VisitBritain’s Travel Center, 551 Fifth Ave., Ste. 701, New York, NY 10176-0799; phone 877/899-8391 or e-mail travelinfo@visitbritain.org.

July 2004 issue

Forum Barcelona 2004

The Universal Forum of Culture is taking place in Barcelona, Spain, until Sept. 26, 2004. The 4½-month international festival is presenting 423 concerts and 170 musical groups plus street performances, circus, art exhibitions (including Terra Cotta Warriors of Xi’an), international markets, dance, theater and a nightly celebration. Conferences and debates will be open to the public, many with audience question-and-answer sessions. Translation services are available.

It is taking place primarily at the newly built convention center, park and marina complex.

A one-day pass...

March 2012 issue

Ophel City Wall open

In Israel, a complex of buildings from the tenth to sixth centuries BC that were exposed during a multiyear archaeological dig are now open to the public inside the Walls Around Jerusalem National Park (phone 800 25 24 23). Archaeologists have named the complex the Ophel City Wall (see Nehemiah 3:26) and have built passageways around the various buildings, which include a gatehouse, royal edifice and fifth-century-AD wall. Also on display is the earliest written document to be discovered in Jerusalem, a clay tablet that is believed to be a copy of a letter sent to the king of Egypt. April-...