Travel Briefs | International Travel News

July 2012 issue

Inhotim garden and art in Brazil hills

In southeastern Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, the botanic garden and art gallery Centro de Arte Contemporânea Inhotim (Rua B, 20, Inhotim, Brumadinho, MG, Brazil 35460-000; phone +55 31 3571 9700) spans 5,000 acres and offers two dozen art pavilions with contemporary art by Brazilian and international artists.

Admission is free on Tuesday, BRL20 ($10) Wed.-Thurs. and BRL28 ($14) Fri.-Sun. Extra, a BRL10 pass gives use of hop-on/hop-off electric vehicles driven by staff between three stops in the park.

For BRL25 ($12.59) round trip, a direct bus leaves Belo Horizonte at 9:15 a....

July 2007 issue

Swim with sea lions

At Baird Bay in South Australia, you can swim with sea lions in their wild habitat.

Four-hour boat tours are offered daily, Sept. 1-May 30. It leaves at 9:30 a.m., with a second tour at 2 p.m. if the morning tour is full. Participants need not be strong swimmers. Children 12 and under must be with a parent/guardian while in the water.

Through March 31, 2008, Aus$100 (near US$82) adult, Aus$50 child 6-15, with kids under six free. Prices include wetsuit and snorkel gear and are subject to change. Reservations recommended. Tours may be canceled in poor weather.

Baird Bay...

July 2007 issue

Wind and wave music, Croatia

What looks simply like a series of concrete steps descending into the Adriatic Sea at Zadar, Croatia, is actually a pipe organ that is played by the waves and wind. Located in the city’s Riva section, along Istarska Obala street, the 230-foot-long Sea Organ (morske orgulje) incorporates seven groups of five polyurethane pipes tuned to two chords and opening onto the sidewalk. There is no cost to visit.

April 2012 issue

‘Pull!’ at Gleneagles

Guests at The Gleneagles Hotel (Auchterader, Perthshire, Scotland; phone, in the US, 866/881-9525 or, internationally, 01764 662231), a Leading Hotels of the World member, can attend Gleneagles Shooting School during their stay.

A one-hour archery lesson for one person costs £52 (near $82) and for two people, £70. A clay-pigeon target-shooting lesson (25 cartridges) costs £62. An air rifle lesson on the 55-meter rifle range costs £70. Classes in hunting with a gundog, horseback riding and falconry also are available. Each class is purchased with a gift voucher good for six months...

June 2012 issue

New Ferrari museum

At the new Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari (Via Paolo Ferreri 85, 41121 Modena, Italy; phone +39 059 4397979), visitors can tour the home in which Italian race car driver Enzo Ferrari was born, seeing mementos, biographical displays and rare film footage.

In the huge Exhibition Gallery, half a dozen vintage Ferraris are on display, and visitors can learn the history of Ferrari design and sport racing. There’s also a bookshop, cafeteria and store.

Open 9:30-6, Oct. 1-April 30, and 9:30-7, May 1-Sept. 30. €13 (near $17) adult, €11 senior, €9 child 6-10. Audio guide, €5. A combined...

February 2012 issue

Heathrow pod cars

At London Heathrow Airport, bus service between Terminal 5 Business Car Park and the main terminal was replaced by driverless electric “pod cars” in September. Each of the 21 pods can carry four passengers and their luggage. There is room for no more than one wheelchair per pod.

Riding a pod is included in the price of parking (£26, or near $41, per day). A pod can be summoned by pushing a button at the terminal. Once aboard, the traveler pushes “close doors” and “start” buttons and the pod moves along a track at 25 mph, making the trip in five minutes. The system runs 22 hours per...

June 2004 issue

Best of Barbados

The “Best of Barbados” program, available through June 30 and from Sept. 7 to Nov. 30, 2004, offers a true savings of approximately $600 per couple by providing the following:

• one night free when staying seven nights or longer at participating non-all-inclusive properties (average savings of $150 per couple) or one night free when staying five nights or longer at participating all-inclusive properties (average savings of $300);

• complimentary full breakfast served daily for one or two guests at participating hotels (a savings of $20 per person daily) or, in lieu of...

July 2004 issue

Royal Oak Foundation

The Royal Oak Foundation is the American membership affiliate of Britain’s National Trust. The National Trust owns and operates over 200 historic houses, gardens, castles and sites in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Royal Oak members enter these properties free of charge, saving on admission fees. The Royal Oak membership card is also honored at over 100 properties of the National Trust for Scotland.

Royal Oak individual and family memberships cost $50 and $75, respectively, and are tax-deductible. Members receive the “National Trust Handbook” (with visiting hours and...