227000705~Wahkpa Chu'gn Archaeology Site~-4363~5984~118~45~104~During the period between 2,000 and 600 years ago, three different cultural groups used this site as a camp and bison kill, stampeding herds over the cliff to secure meat for winter. It's open for tours from late May to early September, Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM and in the evenings. Tours cost $3.50 for adults and $2 for students. (406-265-6417 or 406-265-7550) 227000706~Fort Asinniboine~-4418~5923~117~51~104~Once the largest outpost of pioneer expansion, Fort Asinniboine was built in 1879 and eventually included a complex of over 100 buildings. The remaining buildings are now part of the Northern Agricultural Research Center. Free tours are given from May to September starting at Clack Memorial Museum. The fort is eight miles southwest of Havre off Route 87. 203000823~Mountain Home~4114~-2265~71~59~104~Located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, this town of around 9,000 is situated between Bull Shoals Lake to the west and Lake Norfolk to the east. In between the beautiful lakes, rivers, and mountain wilderness lies a wonderful world of antiques. This town, peppered with three large antique malls and approximately 20 individually operated shops, is an antique lover's dream come true. A good place to begin is The Farm House Antique & Craft mall. This 8,000-square-foot store includes three rooms of antiques and one room of collectibles. Family-owned and operated, The Farm House Antique & Craft mall is open from 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 PM on Sunday.<BR>Look for The Farm House at 824 Club Blvd, one block off of Hwy. 62. It's the large brown house with a porch, green roof, and green shutters. (870-425-7211) 203000824~Yesteryears Antique Mall~3383~-2297~45~111~100~Tucked quietly away in the hills of northwest Arkansas, Eureka Springs first attracted settlers in search of the healing waters of Basin Spring. Today, this town of around 2,000 inhabitants attracts visitors for a number of other reasons including outdoor recreation, relaxation, romance, and the number of antique shops located in and around the historic downtown district. Actually located outside of downtown, the best place to begin your shopping is the largest antique shop in Eureka Springs -- Yesteryears Antique Mall. This 17,000-square-foot mall houses 125 individual booths selling a variety of antiques and collectibles. The Mall is open seven days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM during the winter and until 6 PM during the summer.<BR>Yesteryears is located at the intersection of Hwy. 62 east and Rock House Road in Eureka Springs. (501-253-5100) 203000825~Antique Mall of Van Buren~3074~-2958~74~105~100~With over eight blocks of antique and collectible shops, historic downtown Van Buren offers a picturesque opportunity for the antique hound. The beautifully restored Victorian Main Street is lined with specialty boutiques, fine restaurants, and antiques galore. Begin your quest at the Antique Mall of Van Buren. With nearly 40 booths, this shop offers "a little bit of everything," including antique toys, Depression glass, marbles, and furniture. Found in the heart of the historic downtown district, the Antique Mall is open seven days a week from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.<BR>Look for the Antique Mall at 415 Main St, next door to the King Opera House. (501-474-7896) 203000826~Mount Bethel Winery~3406~-2931~74~105~104~Mount Bethel Winery has been producing fine wines for over 100 years. Featuring Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and a number of fruit wines including blackberry, strawberry, and peach, Mount Bethel yields 16 varieties of wine each vintage. Family-owned and operated, Mount Bethel offers free wine tasting in their century-old rock cellar. The Winery is open for tasting Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM and Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Free tours are given upon request.<BR>You'll find the winery a quarter mile east of Altus on Hwy. 64. (501-468-2444) 203000827~Post Familie Vineyards & Winery~3404~-2930~74~105~104~Established in 1880, the Post Familie Vineyards & Winery is a 300-acre farm that produces 23 varieties of wine each vintage. Currently run by the fifth generation of Post growers, the winery offers free tasting Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 7 PM and Sunday, 12 to 5 PM. An extensive shop offers wine and grape-related gifts, as well as bottles to take home. Free tours are given upon request.<BR>Look for the vineyard at the corner of Hwys. 64 and 186, just north of Altus. (501-468-2740) 203000828~Wiederkehr Wine Cellars~3406~-2912~74~105~104~Established in 1880, the 152-acre Wiederkehr Wine Cellars produces 41 varieties of wine each vintage. Free wine tasting is offered in 45-minute intervals from 9 AM to 4:30 PM seven days a week. Discover the art of winemaking by taking a free, self-guided walking or driving tour of the vineyard. Explanatory markers are located along the route. The onsite restaurant provides delicious fare complimented by your favorite Wiederkehr wine; open for lunch 11 AM to 3 PM and dinner 5 to 9 PM, Monday through Saturday; open 11 AM to 9 PM Sunday. Before departing, stop at the gift shop for a take-home bottle and souvenir.<BR>Wiederkehr is located on Hwy. 186, two miles north of Altus. (501-468-9463) 203000829~1887 Inn Bed & Breakfast~3360~-2905~74~105~100~This gorgeous, 110-year-old Victorian inn is nestled in the foothills of the beautiful Ozark Mountains. Four guest rooms (two with private baths) and a large anniversary suite provide an escapist setting for a get-away-from-it-all vacation. The $50 to $60 price range includes a full breakfast, complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, and access to area attractions including antique shops, wineries, and a host of outdoor activities. Lunch and dinner are served daily.<BR>You'll find the Inn at 100 E. Commercial in Ozark, Arkansas. 251000519~Jim Gatchell Museum of the West~-3224~3040~104~75~100~For anyone interested in the history of the Old West, the Gatchell Museum in Buffalo is a must-see. This extraordinary collection had its humble beginnings in the drugstore that Jim Gatchell opened in 1900. Through his friendship with the survivors of the earlier violent times, including lawmen, cowboys, scouts and members of the Cheyenne tribe, Gatchell received an invaluable collection of artifacts during the next 50 years. An army rifle taken at the Battle of Little Big Horn, medicine rattles used to celebrate the Cheyenne victory there, and an army bugle from the Fetterman Massacre are among the 10,000 pieces of historic memorabilia you'll find at the museum. You'll also learn the complete history of the Johnson County Cattle Wars, one of the most bitter and bloody chapters in American history. <BR>The Jim Gatchell Museum of the West is open May through October. Admission costs $2 for adults over 17, and children are admitted free. In winter, the museum is open Monday through Friday by appointment only. You'll find it on Main Street at the corner of U.S. Highway 16 in Buffalo. (307-684-9331) 251000523~Historic Occidental Hotel~-3218~3029~104~75~100~The Occidental Hotel combines true history with the romantic fiction of the Old West. A center of social and political life, the hotel also figured prominently in Owen Wister's highly influential 1902 novel, <I>The Virginian</I>. Perhaps more than any other, this book helped define the era of gunslingers, good guys, and the "code of the west." The beautifully restored hotel and museum is open during the summer months. It's located at 10 North Main Street in Buffalo. (307-684-0451) <BR>While the Occidental stopped lodging travelers in the mid-1980s, you can still find plenty of places to stay in Buffalo. The Wyoming Motel is at 610 East Hart Street (307-684-5505) and the Super 8 nearby at 655 East Hart (307-684-2531). For antique furnishings and pencil-poster beds, try the Cloud Peak Inn Bed & Breakfast at 590 North Burritt. (307-684-5794 or 800-715-5794). If you're camping your way around, head for Kaycee. The town offers free camping in the City Park. 251000524~Hoofprints-of-the-Past Museum~-3204~2609~108~95~100~Another of the numerous historic museums found throughout Wyoming, the Hoofprints-of-the-Past Museum in Kaycee includes a schoolhouse, blacksmith shop and a general store with post office. Best of all, you can hear stories of the outlaw past that have been handed down from generation to generation while you arrange tours into the Hole-in-the-Wall country to the west. The museum is open from Memorial Day through October 31 and admission is free. (307-738-2381) 251000525~Hole-in-the-Wall~-3345~2491~100~104~104~Any tour of outlaw country should include a trip into the vast expanse west of Kaycee known as the Hole-in-the-Wall. Situated between the sandstone cliffs of the Red Wall and the Big Horn Mountains, the Hole-in-the-Wall is both a verdant valley and a funnel-shaped canyon where Butch Cassidy and his gang escaped from pursuing lawmen. <BR>If you want to drive into the public portions of this stunning landscape, take Barnum Road west from Kaycee for 17.1 miles. At the sign designating the Middle Fork Management Area of the Powder River, turn left onto the gravel road. Continue for 8.5 miles, then watch for the sign to the Outlaw Cave. The cave is two miles past the turn. In this raw remnant of the rambunctious past, you can still see the bunk beds where the bad guys slept. Another .3 miles past the cave, you'll find Indian pictographs at an ancient rock shelter. Remember, this is rugged country: if it's been raining you'll definitely want a high-clearance vehicle to make the trip. Ask the folks in Kaycee about conditions before heading out.<BR>The true Hole-in-the-Wall and the Wild Bunch's hideout are located on Willow Creek Ranch. You'll need permission from the folks there to visit or even to find it. Fortunately, that's their business. This enormous 57,000-acre working sheep and cattle ranch plays host year-round to people who are looking for a true cowboy experience. Don't expect dude ranch facilities. You'll be doing a lot of riding and roughing it. But then, you'll get to ride where the bad guys rode and hide where the bad guys hid. You can reach them via e-mail at larry@willowcreekranch.com or call them 307-738-2428. 102000930~Cherub Inn~-10208~7522~84~60~106~Located on a quiet, tree-lined street in the fashionable Kitsilano area of Vancouver, the Cherub Inn is just a few steps away from the fine dining, bookstores, and cafes of trendy Fourth Avenue. Luxurious rooms in this beautifully restored 1913 home feature featherbeds, private baths, and elegant furnishings.<BR>There are four double rooms to choose from, ranging from US $95 to $115. A full breakfast is included. There is also a suite with a kitchen available for up to five people. Call 604-733-3166 for reservation information.<BR>From Route 99 North, turn left on West 12th Avenue. At MacDonald Street, turn right. Then turn right on West 6th Avenue and the Inn is in the third block, on the right at 2546 West 6th Street. 102000931~Nitobe Memorial Garden~-10241~7523~58~64~106~The Tea Garden and ceremonial Tea House in the Nitobe Memorial Garden usher the visitor into the serene world of the Japanese tea ceremony. Designed and created by a distinguished Japanese landscape architect, the garden is a masterpiece of Japanese landscape design. Start your day with a long, contemplative walk through the informal Stroll Garden past streams and waterfalls.<BR>The Nitobe Memorial Garden is open from 10 AM to 6 PM daily. Admission is US $1.75 for adults, and US $1.25 for children. Guided tours, conducted on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11 AM, are included in the admission. Call 604-822-6038 for further information.<BR>From Route 99, take the S.W. Marine Drive exit. Follow Marine Drive as it curves west and then north along the coast. The garden is just past the Anthropology Museum at 6501 N.W. Marine Drive. 102000932~Bloedel Conservatory~-10182~7497~103~83~100~One of the most beautifully maintained public parks in the world, Queen Elizabeth Park was originally a rock quarry. Today its spectacular grounds boast an arboretum, ornamental flower gardens, and the famous Bloedel Conservatory. This geodesic conservatory is surrounded by covered walkways, fountains, and magnificent sculpture. Inside, displays feature over 500 varieties of plants, free-flying tropical birds, and colorful koi.<BR>Queen Elizabeth Park is a public park open 24 hours a day, with no admission charge. The Bloedel Conservatory's summer hours are 10 AM to 9 PM. Admission to the conservatory is US $2.30 for adults and US $1.20 for children. Call 604-872-5513 for further information.<BR>Stay on Route 99 as you enter Vancouver and it turns into Oak Street. Queen Elizabeth Park and the conservatory are located at Oak and 33rd Street. 102000933~Seasons Restaurant~-10181~7497~109~80~106~Located inside Queen Elizabeth Park, the Seasons is an extremely popular restaurant featuring gourmet Pacific Northwest Cuisine. As you dine on the patio, drink in the stunning views of the city, mountains, and the surrounding greenery of the park.<BR>On weekends, brunch is served from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Weekdays, lunch hours are 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Mid-day meal entrees range from US $7 to $16.<BR>Stay on Route 99 as you enter Vancouver and it turns into Oak Street. Queen Elizabeth Park is located at Oak and 33rd Street. 102000934~Van Dusen Botanical Gardens~-10187~7497~107~84~104~Lose yourself in the Elizabethan hedge maze, then marvel at the children's garden with its whimsical sculpted topiaries. This center-city garden is 22 acres of over 7,500 different kinds of plants from six continents. The extraordinary garden exhibits are set amidst rolling lawns, placid lakes, and dramatic rock work with vistas of the mountains and Vancouver.<BR>Van Dusen Botanical Gardens are open from 10 AM to 8 PM during the summer months. Admission is US $3.85 for adults and US $2.00 for children. Call 604-878-9274 for more information.<BR>The Botanical Gardens are located at 5251 Oak Street (at 37th Avenue). Route 99 becomes Oak Street, so just stay on it until you get to 37th Avenue. 102000935~Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden~-10178~7524~110~59~104~Experience the tranquility of this Ming-style Chinese garden nestled behind high white walls in Vancouver's Chinatown. The only full-sized classical Chinese garden outside China, it was built by Chinese artisans who came here specifically for this project. While in the area, take a walk down Pender Street to soak up the sights and smells of exotic Chinatown.<BR>Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden is open daily during the summer months from 9:30 AM to 7 PM. Admission is US $4.55 for adults and US $2.80 for seniors and students. Daily tours are included in the price of admission. Call 604-662-3207 for current tour schedules and more information.<BR>The garden is located in Chinatown at 578 Carrall Street. From Main Street, turn west onto Pender. Go two blocks to Carrall Street. The garden is right behind the buildings on the corner of Pender and Carrall. 218000887~Colville Covered Bridge~8271~-433~110~103~104~Once home to no fewer than 17 covered bridges, Bourbon County's last bridge is the Colville Covered Bridge crossing Hinkston Creek. Built circa 1877 by renowned Kentucky bridge-builder Jacob Bower, this 120-foot bridge is one of two Bower-built bridges still standing in Kentucky (the other being Johnson Creek Covered Bridge in Robertson County). Damaged in the 1970s by an overloaded truck, the bridge was repaired in 1977 by Jacob Bower's grandson, L.S. "Stock" Bower, and today remains open to traffic. 218000888~Johnson Creek Covered Bridge~8338~-294~126~77~104~One of two remaining Jacob Bower-built bridges in Kentucky (the other being Colville Bridge in Bourbon County), Johnson Creek Covered Bridge in Robertson County was constructed in 1870. The bridge was closed to traffic in 1966 and suffered minor structural damage from an arson attempt in 1968. Thankfully little damage occurred, and the bridge received extensive repair in both 1972 and 1986.<BR>From US 68 north, go west on KY 165 towards Piqua. Go north on KY 1029. The bridge crosses Johnson Creek. 218000889~Walcott Covered Bridge~8248~-139~108~53~104~Bracken County stands out as the only Kentucky county to retain all known covered bridges ever built within its borders -- that one lone span is Walcott Covered Bridge. Built in 1880 to replace a similar structure constructed in 1824, this 75-foot span very nearly met its demise when KY 1159 was rebuilt in 1954. Thanks to the late G.N. Murray, founder of the Kentucky Historical Society, KY 1159 was rerouted around the Walcott Covered Bridge.<BR>From Brooksville, go north on KY 1159 until you cross KY 546. The bridge is to the northeast of this intersection. 218000890~Dover Covered Bridge~8360~-111~125~48~104~Kentucky's oldest covered bridge, Dover Covered Bridge in Mason County was originally built in 1835 to span the banks of Lee Creek. The 63-foot structure was built using techniques similar to those used in barn construction at that time. By 1965, the bridge faced complete deterioration until the Kentucky Covered Bridge Association pushed for restoration, which was granted by the Kentucky Highway Department later that year. Steel I-beams were added in 1980 to compensate for increased traffic along Tuckahoe Road. Still used today, the bridge remains a stalwart symbol of Kentucky's bridge-building heritage.<BR>From Dover, go east on KY 8 to KY 3113. Go south on KY 3113. The bridge Crosses Lee Creek. 218000891~Cabin Creek Covered Bridge~8538~-184~157~59~104~In 1956, Cabin Creek Covered Bridge became the last remaining of Lewis County's three covered bridges. Constructed in 1867, this 114-foot span received much-needed new iron tension rods and wooden arches from Louis Bower in 1914. Several repairs have been made since 1964. The bridge was closed to traffic in 1983 after heavy loads and weather lead to warping of the trusses. In critical need of repair, Cabin Creek is one of Kentucky's most fragile covered bridges.<BR>From Tollesboro, go north on KY 57 to Cabin Creek Rd. The bridge is located adjacent to Cabin Creek Rd. just west of Cottageville. 218000892~Valley Pike Covered Bridge~8369~-161~125~62~104~Holding the distinction as Kentucky's shortest covered bridge, Valley Pike Bridge in Mason County has served as part of the driveway to the Bouldin family farm since 1864. Valley Pike is the only covered bridge to be privately owned by the same family since its construction. Crossing the 24-foot span of a tributary of Lee Creek, this bridge wasn't discovered until 1965 when the Kentucky Covered Bridge Association got wind of its existence. At the request of the Bouldin family, warped parts were rebuilt in 1972 and "cattle guard" flooring replaced the gate at one end.<BR>From KY 3056 in Maysville, go north on Valley Pike Rd. The bridge is off of the east side of Valley Pike Rd. 218000893~Goddard Covered Bridge~8538~-327~151~86~104~Located in Fleming County, the "Covered Bridge Capital of Kentucky," Goddard Covered Bridge crosses Sand Lick Creek at the Goddard United Methodist Church. The 63-foot bridge was moved to its present location in 1932 from its original home on KY 32, one mile to the south. Although the date of construction is lost to time, Goddard was built using a patented design common in the 1820s. In desperate need of repair, Goddard was saved in 1968 by Stock Bower, who used an 1832-patented design to ensure the bridge's continued authenticity. The bridge is the only remaining covered bridge in Fleming County open to traffic.<BR>From Goddard, go south on KY 3110 to Goddard United Methodist Church. The bridge crosses Sand Lick Creek. 218000894~Ringo's Mill Covered Bridge~8552~-401~159~99~104~Ringo's Mill Covered Bridge spans the 86-foot void over Fox Creek along KY 158 in Fleming County, the "Covered Bridge Capital of Kentucky." One of only three bridges left out of 18 that once stood in Fleming County, Ringo's Mill was built around 1868 and stood virtually untouched until much needed restoration began in 1984. Famous bridge-builder Stock Bower was once again called upon to save an aging Kentucky covered bridge; it would be Bower's last attempt. During restoration, Bower tragically lost 90 percent of his eyesight and was unable to finish. However, restoration continued unabated. Although closed to traffic, the bridge remains in excellent condition.<BR>From Ringo's Mill, go north on KY 158. The bridge crosses Fox Creek adjacent to KY 158. 218000895~Hillsboro Covered Bridge~8531~-414~156~94~104~Built circa 1868 in Fleming County, the "Covered Bridge Capital of Kentucky," Hillsboro Covered Bridge spans Fox Creek, adjacent to KY 111. Retired in 1968, the bridge underwent two major restorations -- once in the 1930s, when the original horizontal siding and shingle roof were replaced, and subsequently in 1984, when white oak planking and a new metal roof replaced the rusted work completed in the 1930s. Originally a twin of the Ringo's Mill Bridge, Hillsboro is today one of only three covered bridges left in Fleming County.<BR>From Hillsboro, go south on KY 111. The bridge crosses Fox Creek adjacent to KY 111. 202000849~Fairhope~7003~-5874~166~87~112~The focal point of the Eastern Shore's ever-growing tourism industry, Fairhope is a relatively young city, founded in 1894 by a group of Iowan idealists seeking a utopian way of life and believing that their efforts had "fair hope" of succeeding. The city's consistent growth is testimony to its heritage of fortitude and perseverance, two qualities you won't need if you're looking for "shop-'til-you-drop" opportunities. You'll find over 80 locally owned specialty stores, art galleries, antique shops, and cafes tucked in the nooks and crannies along a five-block stretch in downtown Fairhope's village-like atmosphere. Sound like utopia? Make sure you stop for a bite to eat at one of the delicious restaurants or delis, many of which offer outdoor patios.<BR>Fairhope is located along the AL 98 alternate, bordering Mobile Bay. 202000850~Romar House Bed & Breakfast~7188~-6042~189~116~100~The rustle of palm trees, the smell of salty air, a spectacular view of the Gulf of Mexico, and complimentary wine and cheese for every sunset! The Original Romar House Bed & Breakfast offers visitors seaside serenity at its finest. Constructed in 1924, the Romar house was the first home built on the beach that today is a namesake. Five individually appointed rooms, one suite, and one cottage are available for your overnight escape. Each of the five rooms is named after an area festival and furnished with a queen size bed and Art Deco furniture. With sunrise comes a sumptuous Southern-style breakfast complete with everything from fresh strawberries and melon to steaming scrambled eggs and biscuits and honey. Afterwards you can indulge yourself in everything from sunbathing on the beach to relaxing in the hot-tub spa to sipping cool tropical drinks at the Purple Parrot Bar overlooking the Gulf. The Romar House is an exotic escape located right on Alabama's Gulf Coast. Rates range in price from $129 to $200 depending on your choice of room.<BR>Located at 23500 Perdido Beach Blvd in Orange Beach. From AL 59, go about four miles east on Perdido Beach Blvd. (334-974-1625) 202000851~Alabama's Gulf Coast~7125~-6054~189~116~104~From the emerald waters and white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico to small seaside towns offering the best in romantic as well as rollicking vacation entertainment, Alabama's Gulf Coast is a perfect mixture of fun, sun, and shopping-on-the-run. Along the short drive from Orange Beach through Gulf Shores and on to historic Fort Morgan, you'll discover a medley of specialty shops and boutiques to please even the most particular shopper. If angling is your thing, you'll be happy to hear that hundreds of charter fishing operations call the Gulf Coast area home. Looking to golf? One of the 15 area courses is bound to challenge your handicap (or lack thereof). The one constant ingredient you'll find during your stay on Alabama's Gulf Coast is the endless miles of sugar-white shoreline, and hopefully the sun!<BR>Located along AL 180 adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. 227000726~Pirogue Island State Park~-2724~4405~111~69~104~Located near the midpoint of the lower Yellowstone River at Miles City, Pirogue Island State Park is an excellent spot for agate hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching. The park occupies a 269-acre, cottonwood-covered island where deer, waterfowl and bald eagles take shelter. There are no marked trails but exploring the level terrain is fairly easy. To get to the island, take Route 22 for one mile north from Miles City, go east on Kinsey Road for two miles, then south on the county road for two miles. Use care in crossing the side channels to get to the island. (406-232-4365)<BR>Picking out agates from the similar looking river gravel requires some practice. Look for stones with a milky, waxy appearance or stones that are pitted like a potato. Colored bands on the surface or anything resembling quartz are also good signs. Most importantly, be sure to get a close up look at the rocks. You may find anything from pea size agates to stones as big as golf balls or larger. With patience, luck and perseverance you can walk away from Montana with a true prize. 227000324~Miles City~-2727~4394~111~69~112~Once a wide open Wild West town, Miles City has become a respectable retailing and livestock center. If you'd like to take a break from rock hunting on the Yellowstone, you'll find several interesting attractions here including the Custer County Art Center, historical Fort Keogh, the Range Riders Museum, and the Wool House Gallery. <BR>For steaks and seafood in an historical atmosphere, try the Hole in the Wall restaurant. The building dates back to 1875, it's decorated with pictures of Butch Cassidy and his gang, and has a genuine bullet hole in the bar. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it's at 602 Main Street. (406-232-9887) 227000727~Range Riders Museum~-2723~4396~111~69~100~The sprawling Range Riders Museum complex of nine buildings covers a wide range of historical, artistic and scientific subjects. Here you'll find the 400-piece Bert Clark Gun Collection, 200 western prints in the Charles M. Russell gallery, a one-room school house, an original officers' quarters from Fort Keogh, and a miniature reconstruction of the fort. You can also purchase jewelry made from locally found agates. The museum is open from 8 AM to 8 PM daily from April through October. It's on Main Street, one mile west of downtown. (406-232-6146) 227000728~Wool House Gallery~-2726~4395~111~69~100~Railroading enthusiasts will find an interesting collection of artifacts and memorabilia in the Wool House Gallery, as well as historical homesteading photographs and various wood and metal art work and furnishings. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday afternoons from April through December. It's located in the former railroad wool warehouse at 419 North Seventh Street, Miles City. (406-232-0769) 227000729~Prairie County Museum and Cameron Gallery~-2459~4630~124~55~100~The tiny town of Terry bills itself as the "home of the moss agate." You'll find plenty of places here to explore the Yellowstone River as well as a chance to look back into Montana history at the Prairie County Museum and Cameron Gallery.<BR>Renowned photographer and British immigrant Evelyn Cameron recorded the settlement of Montana during the early years of the 20th century. Her work has been preserved at the Lady Cameron Gallery, part of the Prairie County Museum in Terry. Other features of the museum include a pioneer homestead, railroad depot, household and business antiques, and the only steam-heated outhouse west of the Mississippi. The museum is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9 AM to 3 PM on weekdays and from 1 to 4 PM on weekends, and by appointment at other times. Admission is free. The museum is located at 101 South Logan. (406-635-4040) 227000730~Glendive~-2147~4840~143~44~112~Agates for rockhounds and paddlefish for anglers make Glendive a popular stop along the Yellowstone River valley. The town is also home to the Frontier Gateway Museum and Makoshika State Park, which preserves the badlands of eastern Montana.<BR>Glendive has a number of lodging options including the Best Western at 223 North Merrill Avenue (406-365-5655) and Days Inn at 2000 North Merrill Avenue (406-365-6011). If you're looking for something a little more special, you can try the Charley Montana Bed and Breakfast in the historic Krug Mansion at 103 North Douglas Avenue. They offer eight rooms with shared bath and a complete breakfast (406-365-3207 or 888-395-3207). Gentry's, at 1079 Road 303, has three ranch cabins fronting on the Yellowstone River, perfect for fishing and rock hunting (406-687-3679). 238001291~Jacksonville Museum of Southern Oregon History~-11262~2939~72~125~100~The old county courthouse has become the Jacksonville Museum of Southern Oregon History, where you can see many of the works of 19th-century photographer Peter Britt and other mementos of settlement days. The nearby children's museum, housed in the former town jail, contains Indian and pioneer artifacts. It's open from 10 AM to 5 PM daily except for Mondays from October to May. Admission costs $2. It's at 206 North First Street. (541-773-6536) 238001292~Britt Gardens~-11265~2936~72~125~104~The Britt Gardens are all that remain of the estate of pioneer photographer and horticulturist Peter Britt. The spread was lost to fire in the late 1950s. The nearby Britt Pavilion hosts the annual music and art festival that carries his name. For festival information, call 541-773-6077. The gardens are located at South First and West Pine streets. 238001293~Beekman House~-11264~2946~72~125~100~The home of Cornelius C. Beekman, one-time apprentice carpenter and later founder of Beekman Bank, is furnished as it would have been 100 years ago. You'll find costumed characters here bringing back the life of the wealthy 19th-century merchant class. It's open from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 1 to 5 PM daily. Admission costs $2. Beekman House is located at 352 East California Street (541-773-6536).<BR>If you have time, stop by Beekman's brainchild, the Beekman Bank on California Street. You'll meet C.C. himself (or someone who acts an awful lot like him). The bank has remained unchanged since its 1912 closing. Admission if free. It's open from 1 to 5 PM in summer. Call 541-899-8118 for more details. 238001294~Jeremiah Nunan House~-11268~2945~72~125~100~Jeremiah Nunan's house was ordered from a catalog in 1892 and delivered in 14 box cars. Designed in the Queen Anne style and furnished with period antiques, it's open from 10:30 AM to 5 PM, daily (except Tuesday) during the summer, and Friday through Sunday during November and December. It's at 635 North Oregon Street. (541-889-1890)<BR>Some of Oregon's finest dining rooms are found in Jacksonville. Try the Jacksonville Inn at 175 East California Street, where you'll see real gold glinting in the exposed sandstone walls (541-899-1900), the Bella Union, an old time saloon with a garden framed in wisteria at 170 West California Street (541-899-1770), or the McCully House Inn at 240 East California Street for fine dining among the rose gardens of an elegant 19th-century home (541-899-1942). 224001362~Depot Museum~3834~4878~95~95~100~Since the late 19th century, Two Harbors has thrived upon its capacity to continuously load ships with taconite, a low-grade iron ore mined in northeast Minnesota. The Duluth & Iron Range Railroad played a key part in this business during the early 20th century. Located in the 1907 headquarters of the Duluth & Iron Range Railroad, The Depot Museum highlights the early pioneering history of Lake County, from early geological formations to the first shipment of iron ore and the expansive logging operation that thrived here during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The museum is open from 9:30 AM to 5 PM seven days a week, May through October, and on weekends from November through April. There is a small admission price.<BR>You'll find the museum where Waterfront Drive dead-ends into South Avenue running along Agate Bay. (218-834-4898) 224001363~Edna G. Tugboat~3839~4882~95~95~100~Visitors to Two Harbors can still watch gigantic lake-faring ships slowly maneuver their way into Agate Bay, supporting the century-old iron ore industry to which Two Harbors owes its existence. Overworked and underappreciated tugboats such as the <I>Edna G.</I> make this slow maneuvering possible. Built in 1896, the <I>Edna G.</I> was the last coal-fed, steam-powered tugboat in operation on the Great Lakes. Her pulling capacity served Two Harbors for 91 years until her retirement in 1981. Designated a National Historic Site in 1974, the <I>Edna G. </I>was fully restored in 1994 and today is open for public tours. Tours last about 45 minutes to an hour. The museum is open seven days a week, May through October, and on weekends, November through April. There is a small admission price.<BR>Located where Waterfront Dr meets Agate Bay in Two Harbors. (218-834-4898) 224001364~Two Harbors Lighthouse & Harbor Museum~3835~4878~95~95~100~The only operating lighthouse left in Minnesota, Two Harbors Lighthouse first began guiding ships to the safety of Agate Bay in 1892. Now a seasoned veteran, the Lighthouse holds a worthy spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Located in the Lighthouse, the Harbor Museum explores the development of Agate Bay, where the first shipments of iron ore left Minnesota on their way to various ports throughout the country. Guided tours take you to the top of the light tower, where you'll find a spectacular view and the restored, turn-of-the-century Assistant Keeper's House. Also located on the grounds is the pilothouse from the Frontenac, an iron ore carrier that wrecked off the Two Harbors coast. The lighthouse is open daily, 10 AM to 4 PM, May through October. There is a small admission price.<BR>You'll find the lighthouse and museum at the end of the point separating Agate Bay from Lake Superior. Take Waterfront Drive south until it dead-ends at the waterfront park. (218-834-4898) 224001365~3M/Dwan Museum~3836~4879~95~95~100~"The world's only sandpaper museum," the 3M/Dwan Museum explores the history of Two Harbors' most famous commercial enterprise, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, better known as 3M. John Dwan is one of the five businessmen credited with forming this industrial giant in 1902. Among other exhibits, the museum features a replica of Dwan's office with his original desk and bookcase and an interactive exhibit of 3M's industrial progress over the years. The museum is open from 10 AM to 4 PM daily, May through October.<BR>The museum is located downtown, but the tours start at the Depot Museum, which is at the southern end of Waterfront Drive (right where it dead-ends into South Avenue). (218-834-4898) 224000533~Split Rock Lighthouse~3952~5003~116~71~100~In November 1905, a punishing Lake Superior gale wrecked six ships within a dozen miles of the Split Rock River, prompting the construction of this photogenic landmark. Completed by the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1909 and commissioned one year later, the Split Rock Lighthouse warned ships away from impending danger for 59 years, emitting its 370,000-candlepower beacon of safety over the waters of Lake Superior. Today, you can tour the lighthouse, fog-signal building, and the restored keeper's quarters. The on-site history center offers an award-winning film, exhibits, and a museum store. Open 9 AM to 5 PM daily, mid-May through mid-October; 12 to 4 PM Friday through Sunday, mid-October through mid-May. There is a small admission price during summer only.<BR>Located within Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, 20 miles northeast of Two Harbors on Hwy 61. (218-226-6372) 224001366~Grampa Woo~3834~4879~95~95~104~Experiencing the natural beauty and splendor of Minnesota's North Shore from land is easy, but getting a ship's-eye view of the towering cliffs and spectacular scenery offers a unique glimpse of Mother Nature's craftsmanship. The Grampa Woo, the pride of Lake Superior Excursions, departs on a two-hour cruise each day at noon from either Two Harbors or Beaver Bay. Lunch is available during the cruise, which offers unmatched views of the amazing Lake Superior shoreline.<BR>Tickets for cruises departing from Two Harbors can be purchased at the Depot Museum. Tickets for cruises originating in Beaver Bay can be purchased at the Lake Superior Excursions ticket office, located one mile north of town on the right hand side of the road. Call for details concerning departure days and harbors. During summertime the number is 218-226-4100; winters you may call 334-990-3784. 224001367~Stone Hearth Inn~4057~5175~131~47~100~This fully renovated 1920s inn is nestled at the base of a steep hill that descends to the rocky shores of Lake Superior. The main building features four rooms, three furnished with full-size, antique beds and one furnished with a king-size or twin beds. The rate for these rooms includes a full breakfast each morning in the Lakeside Dinning Room, with its maple hardwood floor and handcrafted pine furniture. If you're looking for more complete privacy, choose from the rooms offered in the renovated Boathouse or Carriage House. These rooms feature queen-size beds, whirlpool tubs, fireplaces, and the lapping sounds of Lake Superior waves. Room rates for the Boathouse and Carriage House include a complimentary continental breakfast. A night's stay at The Stone Hearth Inn will run you anywhere from $85 to $125.<BR>The Inn is located at 1118 Hwy 61 East in Little Marais. (218-226-3020) 224001368~North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum~4189~5293~152~26~100~Commercial fishing, like the iron ore industry, helped the communities along the North Shore thrive throughout the early 20th century. Over 400 fishing businesses once dotted the North Shore, supplying the country with Lake Superior delicacies. With the decline of the once-plentiful fish population, commercial fishing died out in the '40s, but it's survived today by the throngs of sport anglers who cast their way along this stretch of shoreline. The North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum is housed in a replica of the deep red fish house built by three Scandinavian fishermen who were early settlers of Tofte. The exhibits tell the story of these early settlers and the thriving commercial fishing industry for which they laid the groundwork. The museum is open seven days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM (until 7 PM June through Labor Day). There is a small admission price.<BR>You'll find the museum on Hwy 61 at the base of the Sawbill Trail (Cook County Hwy 2) in Tofte. (218-663-7804) 224001369~Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery~4405~5436~180~5~106~Considered one of America's top art communities, Grand Marais boasts several private art galleries among its quaint array of shops and restaurants. Located within this thriving art colony, the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery holds major exhibits of regional and local art 12 months a year. Located in a hand-hewn log cabin, itself a work of art, the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery is the perfect place to begin browsing in Grand Marais. If it fits your plans, visit during the annual Arts Festival in July, where you'll find dozens of art and fine crafts booths, food, and live music and theater. The Gallery is open seven days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM during the summer, and noon to 4 PM November through May.<BR>The gallery is located across from Marina Harbor on Wisconsin Street and 2nd Avenue in Grand Marais. (218-387-2314) 244003620~Beer Can House~2683~-6793~94~74~106~Fashioned by a retiree with a truly monumental love of beer, this otherwise ordinary tract house shimmers in the sunshine, tinkles in the wind, and draws curious visitors from all over the country. John Milkovisch, who passed on in 1988, hated lawn mowing and house painting, so in the late '60s he paved over the yard with concrete and began cladding the wooden bungalow with his own homespun aluminum siding -- flattened Budweiser, Texas Pride, Shiner, Coors, and Busch cans, generally whatever he found on sale. Later, he added streamers from the eaves made of strung-together pull tabs, as well as other decorative touches. Today his wife and son maintain the property, occasionally greeting admirers from inside its elaborate beer can fence.<BR>The Beer Can House is located at 222 Malone Street, just west of downtown off Memorial Drive. Be mindful that it is a private residence, not a museum. Just a few blocks away, at 5420 Floyd Street, you'll find another curiosity known as Tempietto Zeni (pronounced "zany"), a corrugated metal home featuring culvert pipes as Ionic columns, upside-down water spigots, and numerous other whimsical flourishes. You may want to grab a bite at Roznovsky's Hamburgers, a hallowed neighborhood institution at 5719 Feagan Street, phone 713-864-1492. 244003621~Pigdom~2709~-6812~107~88~106~Despite the fact that one of Vickie Herberta's pet pigs became a local celebrity in 1984 after heroically pulling a drowning child from a lake, complaints by neighbors eventually resulted in the pigs' removal from her home. Rather than raise a stink, she decided to make her front yard into an elaborate shrine to swine, and today the bright purple bungalow, festooned with pig-themed adornments, is her hog heaven. Passersby cannot help but pork out on this light-hearted feast for the eyes, which includes a clutter of porcine-themed road signs, lawn furniture, and innumerable other oddities.<BR>Be mindful that it is a private residence, not a museum. It's located at 4208 Crawford Street at the corner of Eagle, with US 59 running overhead. Nearby, at 3317 Sampson Street, you can see the "Flower Man's House," a spectacular garden oasis incorporating a peculiar mix of household objects. 244003622~Orange Show~2740~-6820~130~96~106~Beginning in 1959, retired postal worker Jefferson Davis McKissack embarked on his dream of building a theme park dedicated, quite simply, to oranges. Though the Orange Show never bore fruit in his lifetime -- he died brokenhearted in 1980 when hardly anyone showed up for the grand unveiling -- today this curious extravaganza of castoffs assembled on a former residential lot is run by a private foundation with funding from Houston's Cultural Arts Council and entertains thousands of visitors annually. Almost indescribable, the site beckons the public with whizzing whirligigs and fluttering flags, and takes guests through a maze of passageways leading to observation decks and amphitheaters, a steamboat on wheels plying a concrete pond, and much more.<BR>The Orange Show is open for tours on weekends from noon to 5 PM and on weekdays by appointment only; call 713-926-6368. Located at 2401 Munger Street near the Telephone Road exit from I-45, the Orange Show Foundation sponsors exhibits and arts-related programming throughout the year, including an annual art car parade in April. 244003623~Art Car Museum~2696~-6789~101~78~106~Clad in sheet metal and spikes, this facility houses the automotive equivalent of a Halloween costume pageant -- a rotating exhibit of about nine cars gussied up so outlandishly that even inveterate motorheads may have some difficulty guessing makes and models. Permanent cars here include a mercifully spared, pristine 1958 pink Cadillac, as well as "Rex the Rabbit," a 15-foot-tall VW in a bunny suit, and an old Camaro encrusted with beads, jewels, and skulls. <BR>The Art Car Museum, 140 Heights Blvd., operates Tuesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM. Admission is free. Call 713-861-5526 for exhibit and event information. 241000926~Hobcaw Barony~11529~-3140~137~89~104~Formerly known as the Bellefield Nature Center, this is the place to go if you're curious about the Myrtle Beach area's wildlife and rich environmental features. Hobcaw Barony was once the sprawling estate of financier Bernard Baruch, confidante to such 20th-century titans as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, both of whom visited Baruch at his home. Today, the Baruch Institutes operates the Barony and its Visitor Center dedicated to environmental research and education. At Hobcaw you can enjoy informative talks and audiovisual programs that will tell you about the region's wildlife, unique coastal ecosystem and history. Touch-tanks allow you to feel animals that live in the area and kids especially will appreciate the snake displays. Tours of the estate are also offered. Reservations are required if you want a guided tour of the Center. The Hobcaw Barony Visitor Center is open year-round. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM, and Saturdays are seasonal. Admission to the Visitor Center is free (though tours are not), but you should contact the Museum about a month in advance of your visit for information. (803-546-4623) <BR>The Hobcaw Barony Visitor Center is located south of Myrtle Beach, along US 17 at 22 Hobcaw Road. You'll spot it at the entrance of the Hobcaw Barony. 241000927~Alligator Adventure~11727~-2798~152~63~104~Located in North Myrtle Beach, Alligator Adventure is one of the world's largest reptile research institutes featuring alligators, crocodiles, frogs, lizards, turtles, snakes and even exotic birds. If you have a hankering to commune with our slimy, leathery, slithery or feathery friends in the animal kingdom, this is the place for you. Alligator Adventure is spread out over an impressive 12.5 acres. A 5000-foot long boardwalk winds through the wetland setting, allowing you to see such rare creatures as American albino alligators, Galapagos tortoises, and venomous king cobras up close. Tours of Alligator Adventure are self-guided. There are also displays and exhibits in the headquarters. Alligator Adventure is open 9 AM to 9 PM and the ticket office closes at 8 PM. Admission costs $10.95 adults, $9.95 seniors, and $6.95 for kids aged 4 to 15. (803-361-0789) <BR>Alligator Adventure is located at 4898 Hwy 17 South, along Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach. 241000928~Franklin G. Burroughs, Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum~11746~-2791~152~63~106~For those interested in the fine arts, the Franklin G. Burroughs, Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum on South Ocean Boulevard makes a fun addition to a Myrtle Beach visit. This art museum is open to the public and features permanent as well as guest exhibits of a wide range of visual arts. Exhibition galleries, known as "the Villa," let you enjoy the local art scene at a leisurely pace. The Museum is open year-round Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 AM to 4 PM, and Sundays from 1 to 4 PM. Admission costs $4 for adults, $3 for students and $2 for kids. (803-238-2510).<BR>Good places to eat in the Myrtle Beach area include the Oak Harbor Inn, an open air restaurant located at 1407 13th Street in North Myrtle Beach (803-249-4737), and Horst Gasthaus, a Bavarian restaurant located at 802 37th Avenue also in North Myrtle Beach (803-272-3351). Both restaurants take reservations.<BR>The Franklin G. Burroughs, Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is located at 3100 South Ocean Boulevard. 241000929~Horry County Museum~11561~-2813~135~67~106~About 12 miles northwest of the Myrtle Beach resort area you'll find the Horry County Museum in the town of Conway. The Horry County Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the region's history. Housed in a converted post office, the museum features artifacts, exhibits, wildlife specimens, and a wealth of fascinating memorabilia and photographs. The Horry County Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission is free. (803-626-1282) <BR>The Horry County Museum is located at 438 Main Street in Conway. To get to Conway take Route 501 west out of Myrtle Beach. 241000930~Rice Museum~11498~-3146~135~92~100~The aptly named Rice Museum in Georgetown preserves and exhibits all things to do with the crop that put Georgetown on the map. In the 18th century Georgetown was the world's leading rice exporter, and the rice museum is a very cool place to go if you want to see how rice was grown and shipped from the region between 1700 and 1900. Dioramas, a video presentation, exhibits, maps, and artifacts give you an agricultural and social context from which to understand the impact of the crop on regional society. The Rice Museum is open year-round except major holidays. Hours are Monday through Saturday 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Admission is $2 for adults. Kids get in free. (803-546-7423)<BR>Great places to eat in Georgetown include the Rice Paddy, located at 408 Duke Street (803-546-2021), and the River Room, located on the Sampit River at 801 Front Street (803-527-4110).<BR>The Rice Museum is located on Front Street in central Georgetown at the intersections of Front and 17th Streets. The museum, with a clock tower that dates from 1842, is easy to spot. 225000597~Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum~4404~-1~90~40~100~Located on Hill Street, a portion of Hannibal's charming historic district that has been closed to vehicular traffic, the small, white clapboard house where the Clemens family lived in the 1840s is now the focus of a cluster of Twain-related sites and collections of Twainabilia. The boyhood home has been restored to look much as it did during the Clemens' time here. Museum exhibits include first editions of Twain's books and one of his signature white suits. The adjacent Museum Annex features a biographical multimedia presentation about Mark Twain. The multitudinous memorabilia honoring Hannibal's favorite son takes up so much space that the New Mark Twain Museum and Gift Shop, located at the corner of Main and Center streets, has now been opened to accommodate it. Also included in the price of admission is access to the Clemens Law Office -- where John Marshall Clemens, patriarch of the clan, served as justice of the peace -- and to the Pilaster House, the site of Grant's Drug Store, over which the Clemens family lived in 1846-47, and where John Clemens died. Across the street from Twain's boyhood home, at 211 Hill Street, you'll find the Becky Thatcher Bookshop. This establishment occupies the first floor of what was once the home of Laura Hawkins, Samuel Clemens boyhood sweetheart and model for fetching Becky Thatcher. The bookshop carries an impressive selection of Twain's works, and the upper floor features a restored parlor and bedroom, open for viewing.<BR>The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, at 208 Hill St., 573-221-9010, is open 8 AM to 6 PM in summer, and 8 AM to 5 PM in fall and spring, with reduced winter hours. Adults admission is $5, and children 6-12 are $2.50. And no, you won't get a discount by offering to whitewash the fence. 225001443~Mississippi Riverboat Cruises~4436~13~90~40~104~Cruise "Old Man River" in style on the Mark Twain. Although quite a bit smaller than the ornate, multitiered riverboats that once plied this famous waterway, the Mark Twain offers one-hour sightseeing tours and two-hour dinner cruises that feature scenic views of Hannibal and the surrounding shoreline. All cruises board from a landing at the foot of Center Street. One-hour cruises cost $8.50 for adults and $5.50 for children ages 3-12. Two-hour dinner cruises are $22.95 + tax for adults and $15.95 + tax for children. Call 573-221-3222. 225001444~Mark Twain Cave~4438~7~91~43~108~Tom Sawyer called it "McDougal's Cave" and declared that "No man knew the cave; that was an impossible thing." Better known as "Mark Twain Cave," in honor of the man whose writing made it famous, this cavern has been open to the public since 1886, when it became the first cave in Missouri to conduct commercial tours. The cave was discovered in the early 19th century and was notorious in the eyes of the good people of Hannibal even before it became the setting for one of the most hair-raising scenes in American literature. During Clemens' boyhood, the cave was owned by Dr. Joseph Nash McDowell, a local surgeon who used the cave to conduct experiments on cadavers (including that of his own daughter, deceased at 14 years of age, whose body he suspended in a copper and glass container from the roof of a cave chamber). Outraged townsfolk put a stop to his "research." Modern visitors don't have to worry about getting caught in the maze of cave corridors or running out of candles a la Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher. Today, costumed guides lead hour-long tours of the cave, which has been fully lighted since 1939. Nearby Cameron Cave, discovered in 1925 and twice as large as its neighbor, is open to the public and features only lantern-lit tours. When you're done caving, try panning for gemstones or refresh yourself with a stalagmite-sized ice-cream cone at the adjacent Cave Village tourist complex. Or head across the street to Sawyer's Creek Fun Park, Cafe, and Christmas Shop for a round of miniature golf or bumper cars.<BR>Mark Twain Cave and Cave Village, located one mile south of downtown Hannibal on Highway 79, open from 8 AM to 8 PM in summer and from 9 AM to 4 PM the remainder of the year. Admission is $9 for adults and $5 for children 5-12. Cameron Cave costs $11 for adults and $6.50 for children. A two-cave discount ticket is available. (573-221-1656)<BR>Sawyer's Creek Fun Park, Cafe, and Christmas Shop is located directly across Highway 79 from Mark Twain Cave. (573-221-8221) 225001445~Garth Woodside Mansion~4419~-7~90~40~100~Mark Twain slept here! No, really! In a 1882 letter to his wife, Samuel Clemens wrote that he "spent many nights with John and Helen Garth in their spacious, beautiful home." You, too, can stay in this lovely Victorian mansion, built in 1871 on 39 wooded acres off of New London Road in Hannibal. Guests at this bed and breakfast inn can choose from eight bedrooms, each with a private bath, dine at the house's original walnut table, or lounge in a rocking chair on the breezy veranda. For more information, contact the innkeepers at Rt. 3, Box 578 in Hannibal. (573-221-2789) 225001446~LulaBelle's~4439~13~90~40~106~Samuel Clemens was long gone from Hannibal by the time Sarah Smith blew into town from the sin city of Chicago in 1917 and laid out plans for her house of joy. This building at 111 Bird Street was the thriving but discreet pleasure center of Hannibal until the town's ministers finally succeeded in shutting its doors in the late 1950s. Today, it's taken on a respectable new life as a popular restaurant and unique bed and breakfast inn.<BR>LulaBelle's is located at 111 Bird Street. Open for dinner daily 5 PM to 9 PM, to 10 PM on Saturdays. Reservations are required. For bed and breakfast information, contact proprietors Pam or Mike Ginsberg at 573-221-6662 or 800-882-4890. 225000010~Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site~4201~-153~57~63~100~Samuel Clemens, whom the world would come to know as Mark Twain, author of some of America's most beloved and most sarcastic literary works, was born in Florida, Missouri, about 30 miles west of Hannibal, on November 30, 1835. The modest two-room cabin that witnessed this happy event is now enshrined within an ultramodern museum inside the boundaries of Mark Twain State Park, a quarter of a mile south of where it once stood. A plaque now marks the original site of this humble abode, of which Twain himself wrote "Recently someone in Missouri has sent me a picture of the house I was born in. Heretofore I always stated that it was a palace but I will be more guarded now." In addition to the cabin, the museum houses first editions of Twain's books, a manuscript of <I>The Adventures of Tom Sawyer</I> rendered in Clemens' own hand, an impressive collection of contemporary newspaper articles about the famous author, and a host of Mississippi River-related memorabilia. The museum overlooks the waters of Mark Twain Lake, a recently constructed reservoir and a body of water completely unknown to its namesake.<BR>Located within Mark Twain State Park, the site is open from 10 AM to 4 PM every day except Sunday, when it's open noon to 5 PM. Closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Admission is $1.25 for adults and $0.75 for children younger than 12. (573-565-3449) 225000062~Mark Twain Lake~4226~-166~62~66~104~The largest lake in northern Missouri, Mark Twain Lake was formed when the waters of the Salt River were impounded by Clarence Cannon Dam to provide flood control, hydroelectric power, a water supply, and a recreational facility for the region. Anglers flock here to hook catfish, bass, walleye, bluegill, sunfish, and crappie, while boating enthusiasts can take advantage of numerous ramps and two full-service marinas. The lake boasts many guarded swimming beaches, as well as several public and private campgrounds, most with full hookups and amenities. The surrounding Mark Twain State Park provides miles of hiking trails and plenty of seasonal opportunities for hunting and wildlife watching. The Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site is also located within the park boundaries.<BR>The park is located 28 miles southwest of Hannibal, MO. You can enter the park at many points off MO 107. (573-565-3440 or 800-334-6946) 108000087~Confederation Bridge~16520~7467~90~71~104~The new 13-kilometer bridge is a convenient and dramatic way to arrive on Prince Edward Island. Connecting Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick to the town of Borden-Carleton on PEI, the bridge is one of the world's longest. It takes less than ten minutes to cross. 108000088~Dalvay-by-the-Sea~16717~7657~116~37~100~This historic resort hotel offers no televisions, phones, or radios in the 26 period guest rooms. Strictly for the visitor for whom relaxation is a priority, Dalvay-by-the-Sea features miles of white sand beaches, a precision croquet green, lawn bowling, and tennis courts. This spectacular Victorian mansion, well-known as an historic landmark, is famous for its afternoon tea served on the terrace. Dinner and breakfast are included in the room rates, and the kitchen prepares exceptional gourmet dishes with native seasonal foods. <BR>Located on the north side of the island, inside Prince Edward Island National Park, room rates (including breakfast and dinner) range from US $130 to US $200 during the summer high season. Call 902-672-3315 during the winter, and 902-672-2048 in summer for reservations. <BR>Get to Dalvay-by-the-Sea from Route 2 by taking Route 6 through Brackley Beach, go north on Route 15 and then go east on the Gulfshore Highway. Dalvay-by-the-Sea is located at the east end of the park. 108000089~College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts~16445~7545~73~61~100~If you forgot your Sgian Dubh, glengarry, or bagpipes, don't worry! You can pick them up at the Highland Supply Outlet located on the campus of this school for the Celtic Arts. They'll even order your family tartan from Scotland and create a kilt especially for you. This school is a living testimonial to Scottish heritage and culture. You'll be captivated by the sounds of the bagpipes and drums that emanate from the practice fields. There are activities for visitors from June to early September, but the best time to visit is in late June, during the Highland Gathering, when students, visitors, and locals compete in piping, drumming, step dancing, and caber toss competitions. <BR>Call 902-436-5377 for more information on the Highland Gathering and other current events. <BR>The College of Piping is located in Summerside at 619 Water Street East. From the west (Kensington area), you can reach the school via Route 2. At Traveler's West, exit left, then go right on Route 11. At Reed's Corner take Water Street East 2.2 kilometers and you'll see the school. 108000090~Dunes Studio Gallery~16717~7636~120~39~106~Watch Peter Jansons throw pots in his roof garden "studio with a view" overlooking water gardens and panoramic dunes. Sophisticated works by the island's leading artists include paintings, prints, photography, and sculptures. All are for sale along with the award-winning pottery. Stay for lunch in the popular dining room which offers an imaginative albeit funky menu featuring seafood and vegetarian fare. <BR>The complex is open from 10 AM to 6 PM from June 1 through October 31, seven days a week. For more information and off-season hours call 902-672-2586. <BR>The Dunes Studio Gallery complex is located on Route 15, south of Prince Edward Island National Park in Brackley Beach. 108000091~Cheeselady's Gouda Cheese~16733~7599~116~53~100~Make a dairy stop at the Cheeselady's place. Watch Gouda being made in the traditional Dutch style and taste some samples at this family farm in Winsloe North. Included in the tour is a video, and a chat with the cows, sheep, and llamas who make it all possible. <BR>There is no admission to the farm, which is open year-round, Monday through Saturday, from 9 AM to 6 PM. Call 902-368-1506 for further information. <BR>Cheeselady's Gouda Cheese is located in Winsloe North on Route 223, 8 kilometers off Route 2.<BR> 108000092~Northumberland Ferries~16998~7445~165~70~104~Say farewell to Prince Edward Island from the deck of the car and passenger ferry that leaves from Wood Islands. This scenic cruise will be a highlight of your weekend. The 75-minute trip takes you to Caribou, Nova Scotia. <BR>Round trip fare on the ferry is US $32 (you pay only on departure from the island, so there is no one-way fare). Ferries make up to eight trips a day in peak season. Call 1-888-249-745 for schedules and more information. <BR>To reach the ferry landing, take Route 1 south to Wood Islands and follow the signs. 328000065~Magdalena~-6280~-5849~71~60~104~Magdalena, 60 miles south of the Arizona border, is the burial place of two of Sonora's most notable men. A million-dollar monument has been constructed in memory of Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, who in the late 1600s founded 22 missions, introduced several fruits and crops, undertook extensive explorations, and converted half a dozen Indian tribes. His remains, discovered here in 1966, lie in a mausoleum on the the cathedral plaza. More recently, the town became the burial place for Luis Donaldo Colosio, the presidential candidate who was gunned down in 1995. His statue also overlooks the plaza. 328000066~Hermosillo~-6431~-6918~62~112~104~Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora, provides both a convenient jumping off point for seaside resort communities and a central location for organizing a weekend getaway in northwestern Mexico. A city in rapid transition, Hermosillo makes an excellent case study in the transformation of Mexico from an agrarian to a modern industrial state. While Hermosillo's population numbered in the tens of thousands only a decade ago, it is now home to over 600,000. Pockets of the old city can still be found amidst the modern sprawl and are well worth seeking out. The Plaza Zaragoza at the center of the old town offers a much-welcome retreat beneath cool green trees and a classic Victorian gazebo. The cathedral and the Palacio de Gobierno, equally impressive structures, flank the plaza. Other worthwhile stops include the Museo de Sonora and the Centro Ecologico de Sonora.<BR>Your best bet for lodging here is the Fiesta Americana at Blvd Kino 369, a popular stop with U.S. businessmen (62-59-60-60 or 800-343-7821). The Holiday Inn Hermosillo is equally popular with Mexican business travelers; it's at Blvd Kino and Ramon Corral (62-14-45-70). Less expensive accommodations can be found at the Hotel Bugambilia, really a motel, at Boulevard Kino 712 (62-14-50-50) and the Hotel Kino downtown at Pino Suarez 151 Sur (62-13-31-31). 328000067~Museo de Sonora~-6432~-6933~62~112~106~Located in a former prison on the side of the Cerro de la Campana (Hill of Bells), the Museo de Sonora overlooks Hermosillo and features displays on Sonoran history and anthropology. The tiny, dank prison cells are also open to the curious. It's open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission costs $1.50 but is free on Sundays. 328000068~Centro Ecologico de Sonora~-6465~-6982~56~111~104~A spectacular combination zoo and horticultural garden, the Centro Ecologico de Sonora is both an important center for biological research and a favorite with children. You can see a wide array of native animals here including monkeys and sea lions. Even more impressive is the vast cactus collection of over 300 different species. The kids especially enjoy the free movies shown on weekends, from noon to 6 PM in an air-conditioned theater. The center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 AM to 3 PM. It's located 3 km south of downtown Hermosillo, off Vildosola. (62-50-12-25) 328000069~Bahia Kino~-7053~-7039~25~119~104~Once a haunt of only the most intrepid RV owners, Kino Bay on the Gulf of California has become a kind of backyard resort for many wealthy Arizonans. Kino Viejo is still a dusty fishing village while Kino Nuevo, a few kilometers further on, sprouts condos are springing up everywhere. The excellent highway from Hermosillo makes the town a little more than an hour's drive from the capital city. The best beaches are in Kino Nuevo, but good restaurants can be found in either part.<BR>You'd expect outstanding seafood here, and you'll find it at El Pargo Rojo, the town's best-known restaurant. It's at Boulevard Mar de Cortez 1426, Kino Nuevo. (624-2-02-05) Also in Kino Nuevo, try the Restaurant Kino Bay on the Boulevard Mar de Cortes for a family restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. (624-2-00-49) In Kino Viejo, your best bet is the Restaurant Marlin, where you'll find excellent inexpensive seafood, giant drinks, and live music. It's at Calle Tastiota and Calle Guaymas. (624-2-01-11) 328000070~Museo de los Seris~-7051~-7044~25~119~106~The indigenous Seris people were forcibly evicted from Isla del Tiburon (Shark Island) to create a world-class wildlife refuge. They now make a living selling handmade baskets and carved ironwood animals. Their story is told at the Museo de los Seris, located at Mar de Cortes and Progreso in Kino Nuevo. It's open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 AM to 4 PM. Admission costs two pesos. 328000072~Puerto Penasco~-7748~-5241~52~119~112~A town in transition, Puerto Penasco is better known to the beach crowd as Rocky Point, the name British explorers gave it in the 1700s. At one time, this was a sleepy fishing village with the occasional influx of RVers, retirees and college students from the United States. Times here, however, are a-changin', and the new $150 million dollar Marina Penasco, which will eventually include a luxury hotel, condominiums, marina and shopping mall, is specifically designed to attract the high rollers. With all the change, there are still miles of empty beaches to frolic on. You'll also find plenty of tide pools teaming with such exotic creatures as octopus, starfish, and a variety of shellfish. If you'd like to learn about the area's unique coastal desert ecosystem, you can drop by the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans and its neighboring aquarium.<BR>As you might expect, seafood is the order of the day in Puerto Penasco, and there are a large number of good places to choose from. For the best view of the water and the village below, try La Casa del Capitan. To get there, just head up the hill from Boulevard Benito Juarez. (638-3-60-27). The Friendly Dolphin at Avenue Alcantar 44 offers seafood prepared from special family recipes and a very attractive, homelike setting. (638-3-26-08). For good Mexican food with a family atmosphere, try La Curva at Boulevard Kino and Comonfort. (638-3-34-70) 328000073~Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans~-7719~-5238~60~115~108~CEDO (as it is known by its Spanish acronym) is a joint effort by U.S. and Mexican scientists to study the unparalleled coastal desert ecosystem of the northern Gulf of California. In addition to tours of the facility, CEDO also provides a tide timetable, which can be useful in an area where tide changes of up to 23 feet are not uncommon. The CETMAR aquarium next door features hands-on exhibits that kids especially like. The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Sundays from 10 AM to 2 PM. It's located three miles east of town off Fremont Boulevard. (638-3-54-03) 328000074~Parc Nationale Del Gran Desierto Del Pinacate~-7657~-4942~59~90~104~El Pinacate is an extraordinary geologic area mixing volcanic lava fields and vast sandy desert. Located halfway between the Arizona border and Puerto Penasco, the park has no facilities whatsoever and offers a very daunting terrain. High-clearance vehicles are a must for anyone wishing to enter the park. Information on guided tours of the area can be obtained at Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans (CEDO) in Puerto Penasco. 226000080~Elvis Presley Birthplace & Museum~6239~-3464~182~110~100~The King's birthplace is indeed humble. On January 8, 1935, Elvis Aron and a twin brother, Jesse Garon, who died at birth, were born to mother Gladys in the bedroom of this modest two-room "shotgun shack," built by Elvis' father Vernon at a cost of $180. Both rooms (the second room served as the family kitchen) are open to the public, as are a museum and a chapel, both of which are located behind the house. The museum features many rare items from Elvis' early childhood in Tupelo, as well as more familiar regalia, including one of the jumpsuits he wore during his days on the Las Vegas showroom stage.<BR>Located at 306 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Tupelo, MS. Open Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 5:30 PM, from May through September and 9 AM to 5 PM from October through April. Open Sundays from 1 to 5 PM, year-round. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas day. Admission to the birthplace is $1; admission to the museum is $4. Admission to the chapel is free. (601-841-1245) 226000685~Elvis Presley Driving Tour~6230~-3461~187~117~106~Before you hop in your car and high-tail it toward Memphis and Elvis' wealthier digs, take the time to savor the unassuming surroundings of his Tupelo boyhood. Drop by the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau to pick up your map of the four-mile tour, which begins at the King's birthplace and also includes the church where the Presley family worshipped; the elementary and junior high schools that Elvis attended and where he made his first steps toward a career in music; Tupelo Hardware, where Elvis bought his first guitar; and the city's fairgrounds, the site of Elvis concerts in both 1956 and 1957, when the King was at the height of his popularity as a teen idol.<BR>Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau is located at 399 East Main Street. Call 601-841-6521 or 800-553-0611. 226000686~Graceland Too~5790~-3169~122~74~106~Midway between Tupelo and Memphis, just off US Highway 78, lies the quaint, and until 1990, generally sedate town of Holly Springs. In that year, Paul MacLeod and his son, Elvis Aaron Presley MacLeod, opened their antebellum home to the public. It houses one of the most extensive and meticulously compiled assortment of Elvis ephemera ever assembled. It's open 24 hours a day, provided the proud owners of all this Presleyanna, who easily convince even the most skeptical visitor that they are indeed the "World's Number One Elvis Fans," are at home. This shrine includes hundreds of TV Guides with every Elvis reference marked with a color-coded paper clip, multiple and complete sets of Elvis trading cards (which adorn the ceiling of the TV room), a mind-boggling array of products marketed under Elvis' name, and even one of Elvis' high school report cards (on which he received an F for conduct). The home is also an Elvis research center and contains a selection of Elvis publications that puts the Library of Congress to shame. Prepare to stay a few hours, no matter when you choose to drop in!<BR>Graceland Too is located at 200 E. Gholson Ave. at Randolph St. Tours last from two to four hours, depending on the research activities of the proprietors. Admission $5. (601-252-7954) 243000715~Sun Records~5432~-2952~64~36~106~See where it all began! In 1954, Elvis, then a local truck driver, dropped into the Sun Records studio to record a song as a birthday present for his mother. The rest is rock 'n' roll history. In addition to Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, Helen Wolf, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins got their starts by recording for Sun Records. Sun Records is once again a working studio, with recording scheduled at night so as not to interrupt the numerous tourists who stream through on a daily basis. Stop in next door at the Sun Studio Cafe for a taste of Elvis' favorite deep-fried peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich. If you can't stomach that, they also serve up great cheeseburgers.<BR>Sun Records is at 706 Union Ave. Open year-round, you should still call for a daily schedule. (901-521-0664) 243000066~Beale Street Historic District~5428~-2954~64~36~100~No visit to the King's domain is complete without a trip through the world that inspired his musical style. Beale Street, once the center of Memphis' thriving African-American community, was one of the birthplaces of the blues. W.C. Handy perfected his Mississippi Delta Blues in the clubs of Beale Street. Elvis Presley used to frequent the neighborhood, absorbing some of the musical inflections that would distinguish his performances from other aspiring singers. Saved from threats of urban decay and restored as a historic district, Beale Street is again a flourishing commercial nightlife center. Attractions include the Center for Southern Folklore; the Memphis Music Hall of Fame; A. Schwab's Dry Goods Store, a neighborhood fixture since 1876 and purveyor of a wide range of items including voodoo powders and 99-cent neckties (their motto: "If you can't find it at Schwab's, you're better off without it"); a "Walk of Fame" honoring Memphis' best roots musicians, and Elvis Presley's Memphis, a restaurant/music venue managed by the King's estate. It's located in the building that once housed Lansky Brothers, a menswear emporium that helped Elvis create his signature "Rockabilly Cat" style of dress. The district also hosts several music festivals yearly, including the Zydeco Festival in February and the Memphis in May Beale Street Spring Music Festival, a celebration of blues and jazz.<BR>The Center for Southern Folklore is at 209 Beale Street (901-525-3655). Call for schedule of events. Admission is free but contribution is suggested. The Memphis Music Hall of Fame is at 97 S. 2nd St (901-525-4007). Open Monday through Thursday 10 AM to 6 PM, Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday 12 to 6 PM. Adult admission is $7.50, children 6-12 are $2.50, and children five and under are admitted free of charge. A. Schwab's Dry Goods Store, at 163 Beale Street is open daily except Sundays (901-523-9728). Elvis Presley's Memphis at 126 Beale St is open daily from 11 AM to early morning. Reservations are not accepted. There is never a cover charge before 10 PM. (901-527-6900) 243001408~Java Cabana, 1st Church of Elvis the Impersonator~5466~-2969~67~45~106~Elvis may have left the building, but his spirit lives on in those who choose to follow his path. This coffee house, one of the vanguards of the avant-garde in Memphis' cool Cooper-Hewitt district, features a "blessed vista" shrine to the King in their storefront window. A donation of only one measly quarter bestows upon the faithful an extravaganza of dancing lights, spinning figures, and renditions of the songs that made Elvis the King. If you're so inclined, step to the rear of the establishment to be joined in holy matrimony at the Viva Memphis! Wedding Chapel. The ceremony will be presided over by none other than a non-denominational Elvis impersonator. If you'd rather not tie the knot or renew your vows, be sure to sample the caffeine and sweets for which the Java Cabana is also famous. Stop by Thursdays for Poet's Night and Saturdays for live music.<BR>Java Cabana is at 2170 Young Ave. (901-272-7210) 243000319~Days Inn - Memphis / At Graceland~5454~-3020~71~52~100~There's no better place to spend your Elvis evenings than at the Days Inn at Graceland. A mere block away from the King's palace, this Days Inn features a 24-hour, 365-days-a-year Elvis marathon on your room's TV, as well as a guitar-shaped swimming pool for your lounging enjoyment! Be aware, however, that this is a popular hostelry, especially during Elvis Week in the middle of August. In fact, it's booked solid for Elvis Weeks through the turn of the century. Reservations are available at other times of the year.<BR>The Days Inn - Graceland is at 3839 Elvis Presley Boulevard. For reservations, call 901-346-5500 or 800-DAYSINN. 234000661~Way It Was Museum~-10084~605~82~97~100~Featuring the most complete collection of Comstock mining artifacts in the world, the Way it Was Museum steps back in time to 1859, when the excitement of the Comstock Lode discovery electrified the West. Photographs, mining maps, lithographs, working models, costume displays, and cutaways of mines and mills are on display. The museum also shows a 16-minute video, hosted by none other than Merlin Olsen and Charlie Jones narrating the history of the Comstock gold and silver rush.<BR>The museum is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. Admission is $2 for adults, free for children 11 and under. The museum is located at 113 North C Street. (702-847-0766) 234000663~Chollar Mine~-10083~604~82~97~104~In 1861, Billy Chollar discovered the Chollar Silver Lode, just as the solid vein of gold-bearing quartz began to gush around Virginia City. The mine went on to become the fifth-largest producer on the Comstock, grossing over $18 million. Today, Chollar Mine is the last of the great gold-givers to remain open to visitors. Half-hour guided walking tours exhibit original square set timbering and vintage equipment from the mine's rich past. During summer months, you can take the opportunity to practice your gold-panning and glass-blowing techniques, which are demonstrated daily.<BR>The mine is open from noon to 5 PM daily, May through October; they often trim their times during earlier and later months, so call 702-847-0155 to double check. Admission is $5 for adults, and $1 for children 5 to 14 (4 and under free). It's located on South F Street near its intersection with E. 234000664~Chollar Mansion Bed & Breakfast~-10083~605~82~97~100~Billy Chollar built this elaborate mansion shortly after discovering the Chollar Silver Lode in 1861. Today, Chollar's mansion offers visitors a luxurious night's stay, with a touch of history. The first floor suite (with private bath) is where mine superintendent Isaac Requa and his wife Sarah used to hold their daughters' cotillions. Also historically notable are the 164-square-foot arched vault that once stored millions in gold and silver bullion, and the Pay Master's booth, where each month on Tally and Exchange Day, the miners lined up to draw their pay from Requa, who calmly sat flanked by a revolver and a box full of "hard coin" (most miners wouldn't accept paper money, which at the time was worth 20 percent of face value). A savory breakfast is served each morning.<BR>The mansion has two bedrooms upstairs that share a bathroom ($75), one downstairs suite ($110), and a one-bedroom cottage, perfect for families ($125; +$15 per child). It's located at 565 South D Street. (702-847-9777) 234000665~Mackay Mansion~-10085~604~82~97~100~The oldest building on the Comstock, the Mackay Mansion was built by the Gould & Curry Mining Company in 1860 to serve as mining office and superintendent's residence. George Hearst, superintendent at the time, made a quick $7 million dollars in two years -- evidently enough to skip town to San Francisco, where he purchased the <I>San Francisco Examiner </I>to help fuel his political drive to a seat in the U.S. Senate. The more prominent place in history was reserved for George's son William Randolph Hearst, who after taking over the struggling <I>Examiner,</I> went on to establish or acquire newspapers and magazines in every region of the United States, only to lose control of the vast communications empire during the Depression. The mansion is named after John Mackay, the man to whom the big Comstock boom is attributed. While serving as superintendent of the Gould & Curry Mining Company during the years 1874 through 1878, Mackay massed a personal fortune of $134 million.<BR>Self-guided tours of the mansion cost $3 for adults; children 14 and under are free. The mansion is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM, and is located at 129 South D Street. (702-847-0173) 234000666~Virginia & Truckee Railroad~-10083~606~82~97~104~Completed in 1869, the Virginia & Truckee Railroad is by far the most famous American short-line railroad still in operation. Powered by a steam locomotive, this train has over the years been entrusted with carrying precious cargo -- from various presidents, to millions of dollars in gold and silver, to the countless families enjoying a modern-day tour. Today, the train continues to follow its 1869 right-of-way from Virginia City to the historic mining town of Gold Hill.<BR>The 35-minute narrated round trip tour costs $4.75 for adults, and $2.50 for children. Trains leave from Car #25, near the intersection of Washington and F Streets, approximately every 50 minutes beginning at 10:30 AM, with the last train departing at 5:45 PM (the last train is a one way trip to Gold Hill). The V&T Railroad operates from roughly late May through the middle of October, and on weekends through November. (702-847-0380) 234000207~Ethel M Chocolate Factory Tour~-8107~-1968~103~82~108~Ceasar's Palace, Mirage, Excalibur... Chocolate Factory! Now those are two words that'll light up your kid's faces. When the swimming pools and arcades leave them cold, head out to the Ethel M. Chocolate Factory. On a self-guided tour of this facility's candy kitchens, you'll see the making of various candy "centers," such as toffee, butter creams, and liqueur creams, as they're prepared for a milk or dark chocolate dunk. You'll also view different processes for molding chocolate into coins and other shapes. Where machines hide processes from view, video presentations will take you. Afterward, you can sample the candy of the day, visit the retail area, or stroll through a huge desert garden featuring hundreds of varieties of cacti and other plants, some imported and rare. <BR>The best time for watching candy-making is between 9 AM and 2 PM seven days a week; guided tours of the garden are available with advanced notice. The facility is open from 8:30 AM to 7 PM. It's located at 2 Cactus Garden Drive in Henderson. From I-15, exit at Sunset Rd and go east. Go straight onto Sunset Way to where the road splits in three (South Mountain Vista Street to the north, Sunset Road to the south, and Sunset Way to the east). Proceed straight on Sunset Way; turn southeast onto Cactus Garden Drive to the factory. (702-458-8864) 234000669~Famous Brands International Marshmallow Factory~-8087~-1993~116~85~108~Ever wonder how those spongy white gems called marshmallows are made? Rebuilt after being leveled by the Pepcon Rocket Fuel Factory explosion in 1988, the Famous Brands International (formerly Kidd & Co.) Marshmallow Factory offers a free, self-guided factory tour (don't worry, the rocket fuel factory has since relocated). The tour, which takes about 25 minutes, highlights the start-to-finish process of marshmallow-making. Free samples are available at the end, and a gift shop includes take-home treats.<BR>The factory is open daily from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Call 702-564-3878 ahead of time to ensure that they're in production. The factory is located at 1180 Marshmallow Lane in Henderson. Exit I-515 going west on Lake Mead Drive. The factory is north of Lake Mead Drive. 234000670~Ocean Spray's Cranberry World West~-8076~-1985~116~85~108~Like a juicy desert oasis, the 10,000-square-foot visitor's center and gift shop of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. rises out of the hot, cracked Nevada soil to offer visitors a cranberry crash-course complete with complimentary samples. Your visit begins in a 100-seat theater with a brief but entertaining film starring Carina the Cran-Cran Girl, who takes you through the history of this exclusively American fruit. Various multi media exhibits highlight the agricultural as well as scientific aspects of the berry, while a tour of the plant processing and packaging center sheds light on the berry-to-bottle process. How versatile is the cranberry? A stop in the demonstration kitchen allows a chance to sample some of the tasty treats and delicious dishes prepared with cranberries. To wash down the snacks, stop by the refreshing juice drink sampling room to taste all kinds of Ocean Spray juice drinks. End your visit by checking out the ample array of cranberry-themed mementos available in the gift shop.<BR>Cranberry World West is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. It's located at 1301 American Pacific Drive in Henderson. Exit I-515 at Lake Mead Drive and proceed west to Gibson Road. Go north on Gibson Road, and turn east on American Pacific Drive. (702-566-7160) 234000671~Ron Lee's World of Clowns~-8087~-1984~116~85~108~In 1976, Ron Lee began making his sculptures in his West Hills, California garage. In the years since, gift shops, art galleries, and trade shows around the world have sold more than a million of Ron's creations. With the Ron Lee Collectors Club topping the 20,000 member mark, the popularity of Lee's creations, such as the famous "Hobo Joe," continues to grow in leaps and bounds. Completely designed by Ron and his wife Jill, the $3 million, 30,000-square-foot World of Clowns opened in 1995, and today is home to more than 100 employees, artists, and technicians carefully placing the finishing touches on Ron Lee's creative ideas. Along with the free, self-guided tour of the museum and factory, this child's dreamland features the Carousel Cafe, displays of original costumes worn by some of the world's most famous clowns, more than 600 goose eggs fashioned into likenesses of the world's most famous painted faces, and the spectacular, glass pavilion-enclosed, 30-foot Chance Carousel, complete with beautifully painted, jewel-encrusted animals.<BR>Ron Lee's World of Clowns is open from 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday, and 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday (closed Sunday). Exit I-515 at Lake Mead Drive and proceed west to Gibson Road. Turn north on Gibson Road. It's located off of Warm Springs and Gibson at 330 Carousel Parkway in Henderson. (702-434-1700) 227000263~Aerial Fire Depot~-6486~5132~120~85~104~Buzzing with incoming and outgoing planes, the Aerial Fire Depot and Smokejumper Base is the Northwest's hub when a forest fire runs wild. Blazes from Alaska to Florida count on the smokejumpers headquartered at this outpost. Learn about smokejumper history from 1939 to the present. Be sure to stop by the visitor center, which features a reconstructed lookout tower, murals and videos. You might even get to see some of the U.S. Forest Service smokejumpers in training. <BR>The visitor center is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 8:30 AM to 5 PM. Forty-five minute tours are available on the hour. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. The facility is located one-half mile west of the Johnson-Bell Airport on Interstate 93, just 10 miles west of Missoula. For more information, call 406-329-4934. 227000806~Ninemile Remount Depot~-6600~5271~115~69~104~Head west for a firefighter's trip back in time. From the 1930s to 1953 -- the years of smokejumping's infancy -- Ninemile Remount Depot was the Northwest firefighting headquarters. Instead of airplanes, pack animals such as mules were used to haul men and gear into the back country. Take an historic journey through the northern Rocky Mountains in forest firefighting's early days at the visitor center. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Ninemile Remount Depot looks much like it did in the 1930s, when it was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.<BR>The visitor center, open May through September from 9 AM to 5 PM, is located 22 miles west of Missoula on Interstate 90. Take Exit 82 and head north for four miles. The station shelters more than 200 horses and mules during the winters; the animals are still used in the Forest Service's firefighting efforts. Admission is free, and self-guided tours are offered. Call 406-626-5201 for additional information. 227000807~Casa Pablo's~-6448~5102~126~86~106~If you've worked up a burning appetite, head to Missoula for a late lunch or early dinner of some hot Mexican fare. Casa Pablo's serves up a five-alarm meal sure to send smoke out of your ears. It is located at 147 W. Broadway St. near the intersection with Charlo St. Call 406-721-3854 for more information or to make reservations. 210004138~Fountain of Youth~10854~-5664~142~111~106~The Fountain of Youth is a 25-acre park established to preserve Selay, a Native American village that Ponce de Leon visited when he arrived in Florida in 1513. One of the primary reasons poor ol' Ponce traveled to the New World was to find the fabled fountain of youth. Well, the park claims to have the fountain on site. You can actually taste this sulfurous potion in the Springhouse, although there are no guarantees it'll work. The Fountain of Youth is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM year-round except Christmas Day. Admission is $4.75 for adults, $3.75 for seniors, and $1.75 for kids aged 6 to 12. (904-829-3168)<BR>The Fountain of Youth is located at 11 Magnolia Avenue, at the intersection of Willow Street and Magnolia Avenue. If you're in central St. Augustine, drive north on San Marco, take a right on Ocean Avenue and then a left on Magnolia Avenue. 210004139~Oldest House~10858~-5680~141~118~100~You won't want to pass up a chance to visit the Oldest House in St. Augustine. The original dwelling that stood at the site is believed to date from the early 17th century. The building that stands there today, known as the Gonzalez Alvarez House, is a very cool place. The rooms have been restored to show successive periods in St. Augustine's history, from two distinctive periods of Spanish control to a period of British control. Tours of the Oldest House begin on the hour and half-hour daily between 9 AM and 5 PM The last tour begins at 4:30. Admission is $5 for adults, $4.50 for seniors over 55, $3 for students and $1.50 for children. (904-824-2872)<BR>The Oldest House is located at 14 St. Francis Street, at the intersection of St. Francis and Charlotte Street. 210004140~Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse~10854~-5674~141~118~100~St. Augustine's Spanish Quarter is home to the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse in the U.S.A. This simple cypress and cedar structure dates to the 1770s. Though originally intended as a house, it served as a school until 1864. The Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse is open from 9 AM to 5 PM daily. Admission is $2 for adults, $1.50 for seniors 55 and over, and $1 for kids. (904-824-0192). If you find yourself getting hungry before or after your visit to the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, head over to La Parisienne, a fine little restaurant located at 60 Hypolita Street where you can find fine French fare for lunch or dinner. Entree prices range from about $13 to $18. Reservations are highly recommended. (904-829-0055) <BR>The Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse is located at 14 St. George Street, just a short one-block walk north from the Spanish Quarter Museum. 210004141~Authentic Old Jail~10854~-5667~141~118~100~St. Augustine's Old Jail isn't as old as a lot of the other local landmarks, but it makes for a fascinating tour nonetheless. The Authentic Old Jail dates from 1890 and was used to hold St. Augustine's more unsavory and unscrupulous citizens until 1953, when it was taken out of active service. Costumed guides will take you on an unforgettable tour of this Victorian jailhouse. It's open daily from 8:30 AM to 5 PM, and closed Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, and Easter. (904-829-3800)<BR>The Authentic Old Jail is located in the northern part of St. Augustine at 167 San Marco Avenue at the intersection of San Marco and Williams Street. 210004142~Oldest Store Museum~10856~-5677~141~118~100~The Oldest Store Museum is unlike anything you've seen before. The museum sits at the site of the old C&F Hamblen General Store. When the said "general," they meant it. You'll see a selection of goods ranging from spinning wheels to 19th-century shoes and 1890s bathing suits. Over 100,000 items that have been sold here over the years are on display. Together they make up a veritable survey of 19th-century consumer culture. The Store Museum is open Monday through Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM and Sundays from noon to 5 P.M (during the summer Sunday hours are 10 AM to 5 PM). Admission is $4 for adults and $1.50 for kids aged 6 to 12. It's free to kids 5 and under. (904-829-9729)<BR>The Oldest Store Museum is located at 4 Artillery Lane, between Aviles St. and St. George Street.<BR>If you're hungry after your visit to the Oldest Store Museum, head east to the banks of the Matanzas River. There, docked at the City Marina on Avenida Menendez, you'll find the <I>Anastasia,</I> a replica of a turn-of-the-century paddleboat. Lunch and dinner cruises take off regularly, and dinner cruises feature live music and dancing. The <I>Anastasia</I> is a perfect way to cap off your day in Old St. Augustine. Reservations are a must. (904-824-DINE) 221000826~Dr. Dodson House Bed & Breakfast~12249~762~123~86~100~St. Michaels has an endless choice of B & B's and inns, but choose the Dr. Dodson House for an extra special treat. Built in 1799, this building is located in the National Historic District, within walking distance of everything, and is just one house away from the harbor. The rooms have private baths, fireplaces, canopy beds, and chocolate truffles on your pillow. There is morning room service for coffee and the Sunday paper, gourmet breakfast, and bicycles for guests to ride around town.<BR>Room rates range from $130 to $150 a night. Call 410-745-3691 for reservations and directions. 221000827~Chesapeake Carriage Company~12249~761~123~86~104~Start your weekend with a ride in a horse-drawn carriage through the historic district and the harbor. Drink in the ambiance as you clip-clop past handsome churches and elegant colonial, federal, and Victorian homes.<BR>Call 410-745-4011 to arrange a carriage ride or get more information. Cost is $15 per person for a half-hour ride. The Chesapeake Carriage Company is open 24 hours a day, and champagne packages are available. 221000828~Dockside Express~12248~763~123~86~104~You may wish to spend a Saturday morning aboard the 38-foot Express Princess II for an escape to an enchanting water world. A two-hour nature cruise features bird watching (they supply binoculars) and a panorama of other bay flora and fauna. Glide by local watermen harvesting seafood from the bay, and past elegant, historic estates.<BR>The cruise is $20.00 per person. Cruises leave from in front of the Maritime Museum. Call 410-886-2643 for reservations and more information. 221000829~St. Mary's Square Museum Walking Tour~12250~759~123~86~100~While away an afternoon along a self-guided walking tour through the most historic sections of St. Michaels. A copy of the itinerary is available from the starting point at St. Mary's Square Museum. The route takes you past over thirty historic buildings and landmarks and includes colorful stories and descriptions of each. The walking tour is a great way to get a taste of St. Michaels' history and its role in the War of 1812. 221000351~Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum~12247~764~123~86~100~From the days of the earliest boat-building English colonies to today, Chesapeake Bay has been the central influence of this region. Its nautical history is recounted at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in nine separate exhibit buildings. Eighteen acres of waterfront property house this impressive museum, which includes a fully restored 1879 lighthouse, a working boat shop, and the nation's largest collection of Chesapeake Bay water craft. Spend a couple of hours browsing the museum. Also be sure to check out special events offered nearly every week.<BR>The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is open in the summer from 9 AM to 6 PM. Admission is $7.50. Call 410-745-2916 for more details and information on special events. 221000830~Bellevue-Oxford Ferry~12248~761~123~86~104~Grab the bicycles and head out on a trip across the beautiful Tred Avon river to Oxford, a vintage colonial seaport. Only a short, five-mile pedal from St. Michaels, the boat between Oxford and Bellevue is considered the oldest continuously operating ferry in the U.S. The boat ride takes about 20 minutes. In Oxford, cruise the waterfront and stop for beer and crabs on the Pier Street Restaurant deck.<BR>The ferry leaves every 20 minutes. Bicycle fare is $2.00, or $3.00 round trip. The ferry runs every day in the summer from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. For further information, call 410-745-9023. 224000557~Village of Yesteryear~3256~2852~188~98~104~In Owatonna, some 60 miles south of Minneapolis, the Village of Yesteryear has assembled some of the finest examples of authentic buildings from the pioneering era. In addition to log cabins, a church, general store and a blacksmith's shop, you'll find a railroad depot and a 1905-vintage caboose. One hour guided tours are given Tuesday through Sunday at 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM from May through September. Admission costs $3 for adults or $6 for the whole family. The village is located at 1448 Austin Road. From I-35, take exit 40 to Highway 14 eastbound, then turn north on Austin Road. (507-451-1420) 224001437~FarmAmerica~3077~2836~158~105~104~Head west on US 14 and you can find out how the prairie farmers first brought forth crops from the earth at FarmAmerica, the Minnesota Agricultural Interpretive Center in Waseca. Dressed in period garb, guides to the three working farms demonstrate conditions on an 1850s homestead, a 1920s-style dairy farm, and a modern agricultural operation. FarmAmerica is open from 10 AM to 4 PM Tuesday through Saturday from May 1 to October 15. Admission costs $3 for adults and $1 for children. To get there from Waseca, go four miles west on County Route 2. (507-835-2052) 224000545~Harkin Store~2596~3016~74~75~100~Ah, the vagaries of transportation and commerce. In the 1870s, the railroad stopped coming through tiny West Newton and the town all but disappeared. The general store closed its doors and left its stock sitting on the shelves. It's still there today. This popular stop along the history trail is staffed by costumed volunteers and frequently hosts old-time musical groups. Stop by to chat over a game of checkers on a turned-up cracker barrel. It's open from 10 AM to 5 PM on weekends in May and September and from Tuesday through Sunday in between. Watch for County Route 21 at the intersection of Route 14 and Route 15 in New Ulm. Take County Route 21 nine miles northeast along the banks of the Minnesota River. (507-354-2016) 224001438~McCone Sod House~2357~2895~49~92~100~Without any lumber to build houses, the first settlers crafted their homes from the dirt. In a primitive area of restored prairie grasses near Sanborn, Stanley McCone has created two authentic styles of sod house: the dugout of the poor man and the soddy of the rich. Each is outfitted with authentic 19th-century furniture pieces. Step inside and try to imagine how the settlers lived. You can visit from April to October from 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 2-5 PM. Admission costs $3 per person; free for children under 7. (507-723-5138)<BR>If you plan ahead, you can experience a true pioneering weekend and spend the night. The larger of the two sod houses (the one built for a "rich" man) is operated as a B&B by Stanley and his wife, Virginia. They charge $85 per couple, $140 for a family of four. To make reservations, call 507-723-5138. They're located on Highway 14, one mile east of the intersection with Highway 71. 224001439~Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum~2180~2884~20~99~108~On Route 14, you'll find Walnut Grove, one of the many homes of the author most closely associated with the prairie life of the 1870s. Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote of her life here in <I>On the Banks of Plum Creek</I> and in the<I> Little House on the Prairie</I> books that later inspired the popular television series of the same name. The museum grounds include a chapel, school house, and her grandmother's house. It's open daily from March through December. Admission costs $1. (507-859-2358) You'll find the museum by turning south off U.S. 14 onto 8th Street. Cross the railroad tracks, and about a block later look for 330 8th Street.<BR>While you're in Walnut Grove, think about driving one-and-a-half miles north to where you can visit the actual site where Laura's family lived in the ground. The sites described in the books are still visible: the big rock, table land, and plum thickets. A picnic area along Plum Creek invites an outdoor lunch. Privately owned, the site is open daily from May through October. Admission costs $3 per car. 224001440~Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant~2180~2885~20~99~108~Walnut Grove is home to "Fragments of a Dream," the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant performed in July. Staged in a natural amphitheater along the creek banks near where Laura's family lived in a dugout house, "Fragments of a Dream" tells with comedy and song the dramatic story of a young girl growing up during pioneer times. The show begins at 8 PM Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights during the first three weekends in July. Tickets cost $6. (507-859-2115) 224001442~Mayo Clinic~3623~2840~154~106~106~This company town was built around the world-famous Mayo Clinic, whose buildings still dominate the skyline. The clinic's innovative medical strategy was to let a team of specialists work on patients' problems. Staffed today by 800 physicians and 7,000 other personnel, the clinic treats thousands of people from around the world. It also engages in extensive research and education. You can get an inside look by taking the free public tour leaving from Judd Auditorium at 10 AM Monday through Friday. A second tour, concentrating on the clinic's architecture and extensive display of major artworks, begins at 1:30 PM. (507-284-9258) It's in the heart of downtown at 200 First Street W. 224001443~Mayowood Mansion~3612~2821~154~106~106~The Mayo Clinic was founded in 1914 by Dr. William Mayo and his sons, Will and Charlie. Their palatial 57-room mansion, Mayowood, occupies a 3,000-acre estate overlooking the Zumbro River valley. Today, Maywood is operated by the Olmstead Historical Society and is open to visitors for one-hour tours. Hours vary, so call 507-287-8691 for information. Admission costs $8 for adults and $5 for children under 16. It's located at 3720 Mayowood Road SW. Turn west off of Route 52 onto Mayowood Rd. and drive about 2 miles. 224001444~Plummer House~3623~2839~154~106~106~Dr. Henry Plummer was one of the physicians instrumental in the creation of the Mayo Clinic. His 49-room Tudor-style mansion is open for afternoon tours on Wednesdays and some Sundays during the summer months. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children. (507-281-6160). The 11 acres of beautifully manicured gardens are open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset. It's all found at 1091 Plummer Lane. To get there, take Salem Road east from Route 52. 224001445~Assisi Heights Convent~3630~2851~154~106~106~The impressive castle-like structure dominating Rochester's northwest skyline is Assisi Heights Convent. Although it's the home of the Sisters of St. Francis, this multi-denominational center is shared by a dozen religious and civic groups. It was designed to resemble the Basilica of St. Francis in Italy and has an impressive marble interior. Tours are given Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 2 PM. Call 507-280-2180 to make reservations. It's north of the Mayo Clinic, about a half-mile east of Route 52, at 1001 14 St. NW. 224001446~Silver Lake Park~3636~2848~154~106~104~Be sure to take time for a stroll in Silver Lake Park in the northeast corner of town. It's a great place for picnicking, paddleboating, and feeding the Canadian geese. And there are lots of geese. In winter, the goose population soars to an astounding 30,000 (nearly half the size of the city's human population!), making this the world's largest single flock of Giant Canadas. 239002070~Mountaintop Lodge~12224~2356~102~43~100~Built in 1928, this recently remodeled bed and breakfast is centrally located in the heart of the Poconos. Relax on the grand porch with a treat from the espresso bar, or curl up beside the huge stone fireplace with a book. Down comforters and private baths are featured in each room. A gourmet country breakfast is served at private tables in the Great Room.<BR>On weekends, rooms are $75 a night, suites $95 a night, with a minimum two-night stay. For more information and reservations, call 717-646-6636.<BR>The Mountaintop Lodge's address is PO Box 1097, Route 940, Pocono Pines. It is located about 40 minutes southeast of Scranton, about four miles west of Route 380, on Route 940. 232000886~Kittatinny Point~12413~2322~131~54~105~Interstate 80 still stuns unsuspecting drivers when they find themselves winding through the spectacular "S" curve carved by the Delaware River. This is the Delaware Water Gap, a narrow stretch of road that tempts your eye skyward even as your driving skills are tested on the curves. This geologic feature lends its name to an entire area administered by the National Park Service. To check out the dramatic landscape, however, you need spend no more than a few hours. Pull off the highway directly into the visitor center parking lot, where park staff will answer your questions and provide you with maps and information. Follow Rte 611 to the Resort Point Overlook and climb the stairs to the top for one of the most breathtaking views of the Delaware Water Gap. For those inclined to hike a bit, the Appalachian Trail crosses the path here.<BR>For information on the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, call 717-588-2435. The visitor centers are open from May to October.<BR>The Kittatinny Point visitor center is located just off I-80 on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River. 239002136~Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour~12099~2535~83~17~100~Walk 300 feet below Earth's surface at the Lackawanna Coal Mine in Scranton. Guides are certified miners with lots of stories about the mining way of life. Located just outside of Scranton, the Lackawanna tour is a neat way to get a taste of what working in a mine was really like.<BR>Tours run about an hour, from 10 AM to 4:30 PM (be there by 3:30 PM for the last tour) from April through November, seven days a week. Admission is $6. Call 1-800-238-7245 for further information.<BR>Located at 51 McDade Park, take I-81, exit 51 or exit 57B, or Turnpike exit 38 to reach the mine tour. 239002137~Famous Houdini Museum~12075~2546~75~15~106~Don't miss this most entertaining stop at a small storefront dedicated to one of the most popular magicians ever. The museum's directors, John Bravo ("Bravo the Great") and Dorothy Dietrich ("First Lady of Magic") give a first-rate magic show featuring some outstanding illusions, and then guide visitors through the museum's collection of Houdini memorabilia.<BR>Plan on spending about three hours at the Houdini Museum. Admission is $9.95 for adults, $7.95 for children. Call 717-342-5555 for information and to confirm hours (hours change throughout the summer months). Open seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day.<BR>The Famous Houdini Museum is located at 1433 N. Main in Scranton. Exit Interstate 81 at Main Avenue, heading southwest a little over a half-mile. 239002138~Barley Creek Brewing Company~12302~2342~109~46~106~Finish off your day at one of the most unique nightspots in the Poconos. The Barley Creek Brewing Company is a brewpub offering fabulous food and world-class beer brewed on-site in an impressive English brew house. There is music on the weekends, and the Brewtique gift shop has cool gifts for your friends.<BR>Barley Creek Brewing Company is open for lunch and dinner every day. For more info call 717-629-9399.<BR>The brewpub is located at Sullivan Trail and Camelback Roads, one and a half miles from Crossing Factory Outlets, on the way to Camelback Ski Area. 239002139~Eckley Miner's Village~12036~2250~67~66~100~Walk through an abandoned mining town now being restored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Kitchens, bedrooms, social clubs, and laundry rooms of a hundred years ago all appear as if deserted yesterday. This frozen ghost town is sure to send a shiver up your spine and delight you at the same time.<BR>Eckley Miner's Village is open from Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, Sundays from noon to 5 PM from Memorial Day to Labor Day. A $5 entry fee includes admission to the museum and a guided tour through the village. Phone 717-636-2070 for more information.<BR>Eckley Miner's Village is located nine miles east of Hazelton, off Route 940. White-on-brown directional signs will guide you from either side of the town of Freeland. 213000408~Bridges of Madison County -- Winterset~3007~987~95~132~104~It didn't take the star power of Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood to make local folks appreciate the treasures in their backyard. They've been celebrating their 19th-century covered wooden bridges every year since 1970 during the Madison County Covered Bridge Festival, always held the second full weekend in October. The festival features bridge tours, food, music, entertainment, and a classic car show. Six of the county's original 19 covered bridges survive; maps to the bridges, as well as "Francesca's House" (the dwelling occupied by Streep's character in the film), can be obtained year round from the Winterset Visitor's Center or from various merchants on the town square.<BR>The Winterset Visitor's Center is located at 73 Jefferson Street; hours are 9 AM to 4 PM Monday through Saturday, 11 AM to 4 PM Sunday; phone 800-298-6119 or 515-462-1185. 213001086~Kaser-Bevington House and Historical Complex~3005~994~101~129~100~Though this 18-acre site contains numerous vintage structures, ranging from an 1850s log schoolhouse to a brick Victorian mansion to a 1934 Martin gas station, it's mostly noted by the locals for its privy: a three-holer with wallpaper and walnut trim. The privy made it onto the National Register of Historic Places! Housed in the complex are thousands of historical artifacts including clothing, machinery, and such dating back to the Civil War, as well as fossils and rocks. <BR>Open daily May through October, the complex is located at 815 S. Second Avenue in Winterset; phone 515-462-2134. Hours are 11 AM to 4 PM Monday through Saturday, and 1 PM to 5 PM on Sunday. 213001087~John Wayne Birthplace Home and Museum~3007~989~101~129~100~The swaggering hero of countless western films and perhaps the most durable icon Hollywood ever produced, John Wayne was born Marion Morrison in the town of Winterset in 1907. See the modest four-room house where "the Duke" spent his earliest years, restored faithfully to its original appearance but for the collection of Hollywood memorabilia it holds: props and clothing from several movies, hundreds of rare photographs, and correspondence from such stars as Lucille Ball, Gene Autry, George Burns, and many more.<BR>The house is located at 216 S. Second Street in Winterset; open seven days a week from 10 AM to 4:30 PM. Call 515-462-1044 for information. 213001088~Hotel Pattee~2939~1323~87~76~100~Disheartened by the abandonment and demolition of her hometown's architectural treasures, a wealthy California philanthropist rescued the historic Hotel Pattee from the wrecking ball and began a painstaking restoration. Today, with $12 million in improvements and a four-star chef from Sweden, this little prairie gem celebrates Iowa with an extensive collection of art and sumptuously outfitted rooms that each tell a memorable story about local history. Noteworthy are its Colonial Revival-style exterior, Arts and Crafts-style interior, two-lane bowling alley, and 88-seat restaurant paying homage to the town's railroading heyday. Currently, the owner is developing an Iowa heritage museum that will occupy the town's former Carnegie Library.<BR>The hotel is located at 1112 Willis Avenue in Perry, just 40 miles from Des Moines; phone 515-465-3511 or toll-free at 888-424-4268 for information on rates, room availability, and restaurant hours. You may want to stop in for a snack at the neighboring Thymes Remembered Tea Room and Calico Shop, another interesting venture in delightful surroundings. 213001089~Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad Tour and Museum~3036~1482~103~52~100~The name Scenic Valley aptly describes what passengers see on the museum's daily summer vintage train excursions through central Iowa's rolling hills and across the tallest interurban trestle in the United States, at 156 feet high. Those taking a weekday trip get pulled by one of the museum's five 1920s-era diesel locomotives; weekend and holiday visitors get pulled by a steam engine. A special 22-mile weekends-only jaunt takes visitors on a breathtaking ride to the town of Wolf, during which passengers are served dessert in the museum's "City of San Francisco" car, a converted Pullman sleeper with a lounge, kitchen, and observation deck. Back at the indoor/outdoor museum, visitors will find old train cars and exhibits devoted to the history of area railways.<BR>You'll find the museum located at 225 Tenth Street in Boone, just 25 miles northeast of Perry. Tours run daily from Memorial Day weekend through the end of October, weekdays at 1:30 PM and weekends and holidays at 11 AM, 1:30 PM, and 4 PM. The museum and grounds are open year round; call 800-626-0319 for hours. 213000008~Living History Farms~3121~1192~117~96~104~These interpretive exhibits take visitors back in time: to the 1875 town of Walnut Hill, a village not yet reached by the railroads, where farmers, tradesmen, and merchants still dominate the economy and community life; to a 1700 Ioway Indian village, where you'll see woodlands Indian culture, with particular emphasis on foodways and technologies, as well as trade items that evolved in response to the arrival of the first Europeans; an 1850 pioneer farm powered by oxen, with furnishings and sundries made by hand; and a 1900 farm powered by horses and increasingly furnished with manufactured goods. <BR>Located just outside Des Moines at 2600 N.W. 111th Street in Urbandale, the exhibits are open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, May 1 through the third Sunday in October; call 515-278-2400 for special event information. Plan to spend three or four hours. 214000189~Shoshone Ice Caves~-7038~2554~64~59~104~Ninety feet below the Earth's surface, freezing air currents create stunning ice sculptures in Idaho's Shoshone Ice Caves. While the surface temperature may be more than 100 degrees F, the thermometer in the ice caves will register consistently between 18 and 28 -- far colder than in most caves. A coat and sturdy shoes are recommended, and be prepared to climb 100 feet of stairs. Guided tours are available every 30 minutes. A museum awaits you at the end of your exploration.<BR>Shoshone Ice Caves are located 17 miles north of Shoshone on Highway 75. Open 8 AM to 8 PM, May through October, a visit will likely take at least an hour. There is an admission fee. Call 208-886-2058 for more information. 214000193~Lava Hot Springs~-5922~2144~120~84~104~Native Americans knew long ago of the natural healing powers of Lava Hot Springs' mineral waters. Underground springs supply warm, soothing waters year-round. You could spend any one of the year's 365 days enjoying the spa's many facilities. The Olympic-size swimming pool, one of two outdoor pools, has a 33-foot diving tower, and a depth of 17 feet. If it's succor instead of swan dives that you seek, look into the sulfur-free, 110-degree mineral baths. A unique facility in Idaho's intermountain area, the spa won the National Gold Medal Award for design when it was constructed in 1969.<BR>For an added adventure, grab some lunch in town, rent inner tubes and float the Portneuf River. Don't soak the sandwiches!<BR>The State of Idaho operates Lava Hot Springs. From Highway 15, take exit 47 onto Highway 30 and follow the signs for about 12 miles. Admission is $4.50 for bath or pools, and the charge for children is discounted. Packages are available. The facility is not open year-round, so call 800-423-8597 for specifics. The spa opens at 8 AM and closes at around 11 PM. 214000608~Frontier Pies Restaurant and Bakery~-6099~2348~115~73~106~Dine in Old West ambience at Frontier Pies Restaurant & Bakery in Pocatello. Antiques and horseshoes decorate the establishment, which features chicken, chile and pot pies. Frontier Pies is located at 1205 Yellowstone Avenue. Prices range from $4 to $9. Call 208-237-7159 for information or reservations. 206000094~Georgetown~-2926~-103~18~103~100~Once known as the "Silver Queen of the Rockies," Georgetown's fortunes began to ebb with the silver market crash of 1893. The booming city quieted into a sleepy community where nothing much changed for the next hundred years. Even the railroad was dismantled. At the lower end of town, you'll see one of the few modern constructions -- a condominium village and shopping plaza clustered around the shores of Georgetown Lake. But the original downtown is unspoiled, compact, and easy to find your way around in.<BR>When you're ready for a bite to eat, just wander past the galleries and antique shops along historic 6th Street. You'll run into the Red Ram Restaurant & Saloon (303-569-2300) and the Happy Cooker (303-569-3166), both renowned for solid home cooking. 206001685~Hotel de Paris~-2925~-110~18~103~106~The restored Hotel de Paris offers a glimpse into the high life style of the 19th century. Originally constructed as a bakery, the building was transformed into a luxury hotel by Louis Dupuy in 1875 and became famous as much for the eccentricities of its owner as for the opulence of its appointments. It is now operated by the Colorado chapter of the Colonial Dames and is open for tours daily during the summer and on weekends the rest of the year. A small fee is charged. The Hotel de Paris is located at the corner of Sixth and Griffith Streets. (303-569-2311). 206001686~Hamill House~-2928~-112~18~103~100~Georgetown's wealthiest silver baron built this Gothic Revival-style mansion in 1869. Hamill House has many of its original features still intact. Walnut woodwork, hand-painted wallpaper, and imported marble fireplaces made this one of the showcase homes of the Old West. It's now operated as a museum by the Georgetown Historical Society and is open for tours daily during the summer and on weekends during the rest of the year. A small admission fee is charged. You'll find Hamill House at the intersection of Third and Argentine Streets. (303-569-2840). 206001687~Georgetown Loop Railroad~-2923~-101~18~103~108~The Georgetown Loop Railroad operates between Georgetown and Silver Plume, a few miles up the valley. The roundtrip ride lasts about an hour and ten minutes and takes you over one of the 19th century's great railroading marvels: the Devil's Gate High Bridge, which takes the line both over Clear Creek and, at the towering height of 95 feet, back over itself. By this ingenious means the line conquered the otherwise impossibly steep grade between the two towns. The train runs several times daily from May to October. Tickets cost $12.95 for adults and $8.50 for children ages 3-15. Tickets for the roundtrip journey can be purchased at the original depot at 1106 Rose Street. (If you're starting from Silver Plume, tickets can also be purchased there.) Reservations are recommended. (303-569-2403 or 800-691-4386). 206001688~Lebanon Mine~-2924~-103~18~103~108~This stop along the Georgetown Loop Railroad will give you a chance to visit a 19th century silver mine. In addition to the old mine buildings, your explorations will take you 600 feet underground. It is cold and damp down there, so be sure to dress appropriately. The tour costs an additional $5 for adults and $3 for children. Mine tours are available from May to September. (303-569-2403 or 800-691-4386) 207000614~Zephirine Boat and Breakfast~13852~3047~189~30~100~Let the gentle lapping of water rock you to sleep as you snooze aboard the Zephirine, an antique wooden yacht. Operated by the Stonecroft Bed and Breakfast, this forty-foot Baltzer Seamaster motor cruiser was built in 1949, and after a four-year restoration and renovation, provides the perfect private getaway. Unwind after your drive on the teak deck in the warm glow of an oil lamp. A modern galley features a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee fixings. The two large single berths are made up with comforters and fine linens. To keep things simple, the boat remains tied up at the dock during your stay.<BR>The Zephirine is docked in a quiet Mystic River cove. It is yours for $185 a night. For more information and reservations, call the Stonecroft Bed and Breakfast at 860-572-0771.<BR>Drive to the Stonecroft to check in, pick up the keys and get directions to the boat. The Stonecroft is located at 515 Pumpkin Hill Road in Ledyard (only ten minutes from Mystic). From I-95, take the Allyn Street exit North (Exit 89) and follow it (it turns into Pumpkin Hill Road). 207000615~Chamard Vineyards~13608~2889~151~58~104~Detour down the Route 156 loop for a leisurely scenic drive on your way to the Chamard Vineyards. One of Connecticut's best-known wineries, Chamard is situated on 40 acres of gently sloping fields along the coast. Visitors can tour the state-of-the-art wine cellar, and enjoy a panoramic view of the vineyard from the tasting area.<BR>Tours and tastings are offered Wednesday through Saturday, from 11 AM to 4 PM. Call 860-664-0299 for more information.<BR>Chamard Vineyards is located at 115 Cow Hill Road, in Clinton. From I-95, take Exit 63, turn left onto Route 81 North. Turn left onto Walnut Hill Road, it will merge into Cow Hill Road. The vineyard will be on the left. 207000616~Lighthouse Cruise~13831~2972~184~45~104~What's a craggy coastline without a lighthouse? When the weather cooperates, board an EnviroLab Research Vessel at Avery Point for a cruise out to the New London Ledge Lighthouse. This exquisite landmark, built in 1909, sits in the middle of the Thames River. Visitors climb the stairway to the lighthouse and take a guided walking tour through the building and the tower.<BR>Lighthouse tours are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from mid-June until Labor Day. The trip takes about two hours. Cruises leave at 4 PM. Call 1-800-364-8472 to make reservations (required). Adult fare is $15, children go for $10.<BR>Cruises leave from Avery Point, in Groton. From I-95, take Exit 87 onto Route 349 (Clarence B. Sharpe Highway). Turn right onto Rainville Avenue, and left onto Benham Road. When you reach Avery Point Campus, bear right onto the campus and follow the small blue signs for Project Oceanology. 207000012~Mystic Seaport~13872~3016~193~40~104~The spectacular outdoor maritime museum of Mystic Seaport is a classic coastline stopover. Explore this re-created 19th-century whaling village, with its extensive collection of ships, buildings, art, ship models, and artifacts. Spend some time in the preservation shipyard, where you can watch craftsmen apply traditional skills to maintain the museum's fleet of historic ships. The 40-acre waterfront site will keep you busy for most of the day.<BR>Mystic Seaport is open daily, year-round. Ships and exhibits are open from 9 AM to 5 PM. in the summer. Admission is $16 for adults, and $8 for children. For more information, call 860-572-5315.<BR>Mystic Seaport is located on Route 27 in Mystic. From I-95, take Exit 90 and go south about one mile. Free parking is available. 238001433~Petersen's Rock Garden~-10159~3960~134~110~104~Four acres of spectacular rock architecture await you at Petersen's Rock Garden just north of Bend, between the Cascade Mountains and the desert. Thundereggs, malachite, agate and obsidian are pieced together to form castles, towers and bridges in this rock wonderland. A museum and gift shop offer samples for visitors to purchase, and the staff can direct you to prime rockhounding sites in the area.<BR>Admission is $3 for adults; $1.50 for ages 12-16; $.50 for ages 6-12; and free under age 6. The grounds are open 9 AM and close at dusk. Plan to spend at least an hour here. Take US 97 10 miles north of Bend to Gift Road and then follow the signs. Call 541-382-5574 for more information. 238001434~Pandrea's~-10276~4071~126~99~106~If the word "thundereggs" ratchets up your appetite, visit Pandrea's for an excellent pizza, or perhaps a pasta dish. Call 541-549-6081 for the day's specials or to make lunch reservations. Take US 20 to Sisters. Pandrea's is at 100 E. Cascade. 238001435~Prineville Rockhound Pow-Wow Association~-9951~4002~153~107~104~Put on your heavy shoes, comfortable clothes and safety goggles because it's time to rockhound. Prineville is a prime area of rock beds. The Rockhound Pow-Wow Association has kept a number of claims available free of charge to the public. Call Elkins Gem Stones at 541-447-5547 or Quant Rock Shop at 541-447-5548 for more information on the Rockhound Pow-Wow Association's available sites, which are scattered about the area.<BR>Take US 126 to Prineville. The Limb Cast Beds are one of the more popular digs. Take Highway 380 east to mile post 51. Turn right and travel five miles on the all-vehicle, all-weather road. You'll need to bring your own picks, shovels, hammers and chisels. 238001436~Richardson's Recreational Ranch~-9898~4312~158~85~104~For some great rock hunting, try Richardson's Recreational Ranch. Agate beds and bounties of thundereggs are waiting just north of Madras. Richardson's offers free use of rock picks for the day. Although geologists have difficulty agreeing on how thundereggs are formed, they do agree that it is not actually a rock, but a nodule or a geode. Oregon's most popular "rock" is usually between two and six inches in diameter, but some thundereggs have been as large as a yard in diameter and more than one ton in weight. Thundereggs generally are filled with chalcedony or opal, making them valuable prizes to jewelry makers as well as rockhounds. But thundereggs are the only "rocks" at the ranch. You'll need chisels, wedges or mining tools -- you can rent them at the ranch -- to hit the 4,000-acre agate area, which isn't part of Richardson's. <BR>Richardson's is located 11 miles north of Madras on US 97. Follow the signs to the Richardson Office, which is open 7 AM to 5 PM. Call 541-475-2680 for admission prices. 237000908~Guthrie's Historic District~1394~-2737~100~72~100~When Oklahoma City replaced Guthrie as the state capital in 1910, development came to a screeching halt. Relatively unchanged since then, this elegant enclave of 2,169 Victorian buildings on redbrick streets now ranks as the largest contiguous urban district on the National Register of Historic Places. Homes range from swank, rambling mansions to worker's cottages; most are private residences, but some open up to the public during Guthrie's numerous fairs and festivals throughout the year. The spectacular downtown area offers numerous attractions including specialty shops, restaurants, and quaint small museums, as well as a historic theater, a music hall, and a rodeo arena.<BR>Located 32 miles north of Oklahoma City via I-35, Guthrie hosts visitors year-round. You'll find walking tour brochures available at just about any of the downtown museums or businesses. A 45-minute narrated trolley ride boards at Second Avenue and Harrison seven days a week except holidays; call 405-282-6000 for hours, which vary by day and season. Those who want to spend the night here can choose from 16 bed and breakfasts, several of which are outstanding. For information on B&Bs and local events, contact the Guthrie Visitors Bureau at 405-282-1947. 237000909~Scottish Rite Masonic Temple~1396~-2736~100~72~106~This sumptuous Greco-Roman behemoth, the largest Scottish Rite temple anywhere, occupies the ten-acre site originally intended for the Oklahoma State Capitol. Begun in 1920, its neoclassical exterior stands in contrast with the largely Victorian town of Guthrie, yet it's one of the Plains States' most fascinating structures. Inside, it has a sort of Roaring Twenties movie palace sensibility, with 14 magnificent rooms containing elaborate decorative design themes -- Egyptian, Pompeiian, Assyrian, the 18th-century English Adam style, and more. Central to the building is a gigantic Roman atrium with a stunning stained-glass skylight. <BR>The Scottish Rite Masonic Temple is located at 900 E. Oklahoma Avenue; phone 405-282-1281. Visitors may take guided building tours Monday through Friday at 10 AM and 2 PM, and on Saturday at 10 AM. 237000910~Tulsa's Downtown Historic District~2163~-2525~215~37~100~Its growth fueled by the famous Oklahoma oil boom, Tulsa boasts some of the best Art Deco architecture in the country, and more than 50 significant buildings in its downtown core -- Zigzag Art Deco from the 1920s, Streamline Art Deco from the 1930s, and the Classical style of the Great Depression and the New Deal. So popular was the style here that Art Deco buildings continued to emerge well into the 1950s, and local developers and builders have consistently maintained and creatively readapted these civic treasures for future generations. To appreciate the downtown's buildings fully, it's best to visit on weekdays, when you can view their magnificent interior lobbies.<BR>For downtown walking tour maps, visitors have two options: Downtown Tulsa Unlimited, 320 S. Boston, and the Tulsa Historical Society, 25th and Peoria. The former is open 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday; phone 918-583-2617. The Historical Society keeps odd days and hours but is open weekends; call 918-596-1350 for information. Bandana Tours welcomes interested visitors to join their prearranged guided group tours for conventioneers; call 918-747-8379 to see what's scheduled. Just south of downtown is the posh Maple Ridge Historic District, where you can see the early homes of oil barons and industrialists. Also worth visiting is the Gillette Historic District, with a rich bounty of Craftsman, Deco, and Jacobean/Tudor Homes, on Gillette Avenue and Yorktown Place between 15th and 17th Streets. 215001986~Pomona Winery~5629~-1260~81~99~104~Located in the lush peaks and valleys created by terrific Ice Age forces, Pomona Winery has been sweeping national and international awards with its apple spice wines, made from lush Southern Illinois apples. Be sure to try the semi-dry, oak-aged Jonathan Reserve or the sweetly aromatic Orchard Spice. Other tastes include peach and blueberry wines. <BR>The winery is open on Saturdays from 10 AM to 5 PM, Sundays from 1 to 5 PM, or by appointment. Tours are given on Saturdays at 1 PM or by appointment. The winery is closed January through March. Pomona Winery is located at 2865 Hickory Ridge Road. From I-57 south, exit at IL 13 heading west. Go south on IL 127 to Pomona, where signs will direct you to the winery. (618-893-2623) 215001987~Von Jacob Vineyards~5611~-1285~78~110~104~Grand Canyon Gold, Hillside White, Country Red, and Honey Blush are just a few of the wines you'll taste at Von Jacob Vineyards. Located on a 900-foot Shawnee Forest hill, Von Jacob yields a balanced blend of scenery and sippability. <BR>Von Jacob Vineyards are open on Saturdays from 10 AM to 5 PM, Sundays from 1 to 5 PM, or by appointment. They're located at 1309 Sadler Road. From I-57 south, exit at IL 13 heading west. Go south on IL 127 to Jerusalem Hill, turn west to Sadler Road and proceed south to Von Jacob. (618-893-4500) 215001988~Pomona Natural Bridge~5628~-1261~81~99~104~Carved by Ice Age forces, the Pomona Natural Bridge spans the 90-foot-wide void 25 feet above a trickling stream. A lesson in Mother Nature's strength and artistry, the bridge is surrounded by the towering treetops of Shawnee National Forest. The Pomona Natural Bridge presents a perfect place to enjoy lunch, as well as a post-picnic hike. The area near the bridge includes fire rings, tables, rest rooms, squirrels, birds, and if you're lucky, some deer. The bridge is located just north of Pomona. 215001989~Alto Vineyards~5642~-1300~88~108~104~Family owned and operated, Alto Vineyards has been producing award-winning wines since its establishment in 1988. In season, you can stroll down the endless rows of French and American hybrid grapes. Each vintage at Alto results in about 12 different wines, which you can taste for free. Before departing, stop in the gift shop for some take-home treasures.<BR>Alto Vineyards are open year-round Sunday through Friday from 1 to 5 PM, and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM. If you're interested in touring behind-the-scenes, make sure you call 618-893-4898 ahead of time to make an appointment. They're located at 8515 Route 127 North. From I-57 south, exit IL 13 heading west. Go south on IL 127 to the vineyards. 215001990~Owl Creek Vineyard~5720~-1322~100~116~104~Established in 1995, Owl Creek Vineyard is a relatively young operation that nevertheless has already established a solid reputation. From dry reds aged in oak to a variety of savory sweets, each Owl Creek vintage since 1995 has resulted in award-winning tastes. Whether you're interested in touring the wine-making operation, taking a wine education class, or some free tasting, Owl Creek gives grape-lovers a fine getaway opportunity.<BR>Owl Creek is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 PM. From I-57, exit IL 31 and head west to Carbondale. In Carbondale, head south on IL 51 for about 15 miles. The vineyard is located 2.5 miles east of IL 51 at 2655 Water Valley Road. (618-893-2557) 205000274~La Jolla Cove~-9677~-3883~63~79~104~Whether you're seeking sustenance at lunchtime, or any other time of day, La Jolla Cove offers an array of choices. The combination of great food and gorgeous scenery will satisfy the soul as well as the appetite. Bring a picnic and munch your lunch on the grassy expanse of the Ellen Browning Scripps Park, or choose from several charming restaurants on La Jolla Cove. George's at the Cove and the Grill at La Jolla, both at 1250 Prospect Street , and the Mediterranean/Ocean View Terrace of the La Valencia Hotel at 1132 Prospect offer delicious food and spectacular ocean vistas. <BR>After lunch, stroll north from the Cove for about a mile atop a graded cliff walk. Pause to catch your breath at one of the many park benches installed along the path. Just south of the Cove, join the throngs watching the sea lions loll on the beach and frolic in the water. If you're lucky, you may even spot whales on the horizon as they migrate from summer to winter homes and back. 205006156~Prospecting the Coast Walk~-9680~-3885~63~79~106~Whether your taste runs to Armani or to vintage castoffs, in La Jolla you'll find a shopper's paradise. On Prospect Avenue and the Coast Walk, upscale shops litter the landscape. Art galleries, handmade jewelry, designer clothing and antiques abound. You can max out the healthiest credit card limit with no trouble at all, or just keep your wallet in your pocket and enjoy a good browse.<BR>Bargain hunters can check out the great resale shop on Girard Street just off Pearl where affluent La Jolla residents consign designer clothes seldom or never worn. Pearl Street is also home to The Psychic Eye, an incense-scented market for every book, statue, candle, and artifact that followers of the occult and New Age thinking could ever hope to find. Have your palm or cards read, or your horoscope done. Ensure that the remainder of your visit is in harmonious convergence. 205006157~Prince of Tide Pools~-9680~-3885~63~79~104~Prowl the beaches of La Jolla at low tide to witness the free show Mother Nature puts on daily. Be sure to wear rubber-soled shoes, otherwise you'll risk getting green stains on your pants from slipping on the wet kelp and moss that slime the rocks. Check out the zillions of crabs, snails, and clams that the receding waters expose in rocky depressions, where they abide. Enjoy the strange sensation of having sea anemones grip your probing finger. Marvel at the rhythms of the tides. The best spots are a short stroll along water's edge to the south of La Jolla Cove. Just ask the natives -- they're happy to point you in the right direction. 205000275~La Jolla Shores~-9669~-3878~63~79~104~La Jolla Shores is a long, flat beach ideal for swimming, sunning, scuba diving, or surfing. Choose from many hotels at La Jolla Shores such as Sea Lodge, a resort with amenities including the Shores restaurant, a pool and hot tub, table tennis, game room, and health club. Neighboring La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club boasts a restaurant, pool, Par 3 golf course, and 14 tennis courts. Both resorts are located right on the beach and have ocean views and balconies from most rooms. Just around the corner are surf rentals, coffee shops, and a couple of charming restaurants.<BR>La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club is located at 2000 Spindrift Dr. (619-454-7126); Sea Lodge is at 8110 Camino del Oro (800-237-5211). 205006158~Scripps Institute of Oceanography~-9666~-3878~63~79~106~La Jolla serves up not only a feast for the senses, but also a banquet for the brain. La Jolla has been the home of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography since its founding in 1910. The Institution, now part of the University of California, San Diego, is a world-renowned leader in oceanographic research and instruction. Explore Birch Aquarium at Scripps, where permanent exhibits, interactive displays, and even a simulated deep-sea dive instill a sense of the fascinating science of oceanography in visitors. The Birch Aquarium is located at 2300 Expedition Way and is open every day but Thanksgiving and Christmas from 9 AM to 5 PM. General Admission is $7.50; $6.50 for seniors, and $4.00 for youths age 3-17. <BR>Dr. Jonas Salk, developer of the polio vaccine founded his Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, where it is located adjacent to the campus of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) at 10010 N. Torrey Pines Rd. The Institute is world-renowned for medical research, and is open for public tours Monday-Friday, except for holidays. Call ahead at 619-453-4100 for tour times. 205006159~Museum of Contemporary Art - La Jolla~-9681~-3886~63~79~106~Art is served in La Jolla by the Museum of Contemporary Art, located at 700 Prospect Street right on the ocean. Browse the huge and constantly changing collection of post-1950 paintings and sculpture at this companion to the gallery in downtown San Diego. A cafe, bookstore, and outdoor sculpture garden enhance this beautiful experience. The Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, and closed Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is $4.00, free the first Tuesday of the month. 109000755~Mont-Royal Park~12312~5442~151~117~106~For stunning views of the city, visit Mont-Royal Park and climb the mountain to the observatory. This is a great way to get your bearings in Montreal. The park itself is the largest green space in the city, and great for bird watching. Footpaths and bike trails are popular and well-maintained. TamJam is a very popular spontaneous drum and percussion fest that takes place on Sunday afternoons in the summertime near the Cartier monument on Park Avenue. This public park is open 24 hours a day.<BR>You can reach the base of the mountain by taking the metro to the Mont-Royal Station, then the #11 bus. If you drive, take Mont-Royal Street onto Camillien Houde Road to enter the park. 109000756~Auberge Les Passants du Sans Soucy~12333~5437~187~130~106~Spend the night in the heart of cobblestoned Vieux Montreal right on the St. Lawrence River. Les Passants du Sans Soucy is a nine-room inn located right behind the spectacular neo-Gothic Notre Dame Basilica. A former fur warehouse, many of the rooms feature the original thick stone walls and exposed beams (circa 1723!). The inn features lovely traditional Quebec armoires and beds, with all the modern amenities, too.<BR>Full breakfast is included in the rates, which range from US $70 to US $90. All rooms have private baths. For reservations call 514-842-2634. Note that this very popular inn fills quickly -- reservations must be placed at least three or four months in advance.<BR>To reach the inn, cross the Champlain Bridge heading into town. Take the Bonaventure Autoroute to Centre-Ville. Exit at Vieux Montreal and the inn is right there, directly behind the Notre Dame Basilica. The address is 171 Rue Saint-Paul Ouest. 109000757~Vieux Montreal~12330~5447~180~115~106~When you set out to explore the old part of the city with its narrow cobblestoned streets, fountains, alleys, and squares, make your first stop the Tourist Information Center (Infotouriste) in Old Montreal. Maps and other information are available there to guide you through the numerous historical sites in the area, including the Notre Dame Basilica, Place Jacques Cartier, the Chateau de Ramezay, and the Pointe-a-Calliere Museum. If you hit the Basilica during mass, you can hear Gregorian chants. Stroll through the streets, enjoying the many street performers and outdoor artisans against a backdrop of history and Old World architecture.<BR>The Information Center is open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM during the summer months. The center can be reached at 514-871-1595 from June 20 through Labor Day.<BR>The Tourist Information Center is located at 174 Notre Dame Street East, right in the heart of Vieux Montreal. 109000758~Latin Quarter~12318~5446~165~111~106~Bohemian, trendy, funky. The Latin Quarter is all of these, with its cafes, bars, galleries, restaurants, and beautiful Victorian-era homes. Rue Saint-Denis between Saint-Catherine and Sherbrook Street is filled with students and locals from the Francophone artistic community wandering through bookstores and coffeeshops. An afternoon in this neighborhood should include a people-watching session from an outdoor cafe. Stroll down Prince Arthur Street and have dinner at one of the Greek or Vietnamese restaurants. Soak in the street entertainment.<BR>The Latin Quarter is bounded by Jeanne-Mance to the west, Berri Street to the east, Rachel to the north, and Rene Levesque to the south. Take the metro and get off at the St. Laurent station to begin your trek down Saint-Denis. 109000037~Casino de Montreal~12335~5462~191~87~107~Succumb to the lure of the cosmopolitan Casino de Montreal just off the coast of Vieux Montreal. To see a different side of the city, a sure bet is the fast-paced excitement of this popular casino. Stroll with the crowds through one of the many casino pavilions, and if you are the gambling type, try your luck on one of the slot machines. Be sure to dress appropriately. Shorts, tank tops, and jogging suits are not allowed.<BR>Casino de Montreal is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no admission charge. Phone 800-665-2274 for more information.<BR>Located just off Vieux Montreal in Parc des Iles, the casino is just a few minutes away from downtown by car. Take Autoroute Bonaventure to Exit 2 (Port de Montreal/Pierre-Dupuy Avenue) and then De la Concorde Bridge. Follow the signs to 1 Avenue du Casino. Valet parking is available. 107001812~Beverly Place~9931~3561~164~56~100~Excellently located right in the heart of the action -- close to Chinatown and the Kensington Markets -- this B&B is within walking distance of the best of downtown Toronto's attractions. The three-story Victorian features ten rooms with lovely antiques and breakfast with a secluded garden view.<BR>Rooms with a private bath range from US $60 to US $65. Reservations can be made by calling 416-977-0077.<BR>Beverly Place can be reached from Spadina Avenue by taking College Street west to Beverly Street and turning right. The B&B is on the left side of the street at 235 Beverly Street. 107001813~Kensington Market~9931~3560~158~66~104~Fried bananas, squawking chickens, exotic fruits and haggling shopkeepers await you in this bustling Old World shopping haven. On Saturday morning, stroll over to Kensington Market and wander through the narrow streets with the locals.<BR>Kensington Market is open weekdays and Saturdays. Saturday morning is the most crowded and happening time to cruise through.<BR>Kensington Market is located just north of Dundas between Spadina and Augusta. 107001814~Chinatown - Toronto~9931~3561~164~56~104~The largest Chinatown in Canada, Toronto's is filled with the distinct sounds and smells of the Far East. Wander through the bustling streets bursting with restaurants, grocery stores, herbalists and sidewalk vendors. By now, the smells spilling from the restaurants will have worked their magic, and you'll be ready for lunch. Be adventurous and just follow a local into one of the many food shops, or check out one of the spicy Szechwan dishes at Peter's Chung King.<BR>Lunch for two at Peter's Chung King will run you between US $18 and US $25.<BR>Chinatown stretches between Bay and Spadina on Dundas, and then along Spadina from College Street to King Street. Peter's Chung King is located at 281 College Street, just west of Spadina Avenue on College. 107001815~Bata Shoe Museum~9930~3564~164~56~106~Shaped like a shoe box spilling open, the design of the museum building alone beckons passersby with the promise of rare and fascinating treasures. The Bata Shoe Museum houses the world's largest, most complete collection of shoes and shoe-related paraphernalia. You'll want to spend an afternoon exploring the exhibits featuring exotic footwear such as the silk shoes for Chinese women with bound feet, bear fur shoes worn by Japanese samurai, and French chestnut-crushing boots. A serious as well as entertaining museum, the Bata boasts an expansive research library along with the exhibits. Elvis's blue patent loafers and John Lennon's mod boots are part of the large celebrity shoe collection.<BR>The Bata Shoe Museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; 10 AM to 8 PM on Thursday; and noon to 5 PM on Sunday. Admission is US $4.20 for adults, US $2.80 for seniors and students, and US $8.40 for families. Call 416-979-7799 for more information. <BR>Located at 327 Bloor Street West, you can reach the museum from Spadina Avenue by going north to Bloor and turning right. The museum building is on the southwest corner of George and Bloor. 107000091~CN Tower~9927~3543~151~114~106~The signature landmark of Toronto's skyline, the CN Tower is the world's tallest freestanding structure, as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. Conveniently located in downtown Toronto, one of Canada's leading tourist destinations offers visitors at least one full day of entertainment. <BR>The main level features high-impact visuals and multimedia displays that immerse visitors in a sense of human achievement celebrating the engineering feat of the CN Tower. Featured on this level is the Thrill Zone, where digital animation allows guests the chance to bungee jump and hang glide from the top of the tower.<BR>Going up, the first stop is the Lookout Level, offering breathtaking views as well as delicious fare at the Horizons Cafe. The next level up is the Glass Floor Level, where guests are given the chance to walk on air 1,122 feet (342 meters) above Toronto. If that's not high enough, travel to the very top and the Sky Pod, the world's highest observation gallery at 1,465 feet (447 meters). Be sure to bring your camera to record the breathtaking views. On a clear day the sights include Buffalo and Niagara Falls. While up there, stop at the award-winning 360 Restaurant, which boasts the highest wine cellar in the world featuring a wine list with over 9,000 bottles.<BR>Descending to Main Level, visitors disembark into the Marketplace at the Tower, a 12,500 square-foot shopping center. While there, grab a bite to eat at the fresh market cafe, which features freshly prepared international cuisine. Finally, check out the Tower Underground for active fun including the 144-seat IMAX Maple Leaf Cinema, two motion simulator rides, and the latest action arcade games.<BR>Brunch and lunch at 360 Restaurant are offered only during the summer season. Brunch is offered on Sundays from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM and runs from US $18 to US $28 per person. Dinner is served year-round. For more information call 416-362-5411.<BR>The CN Tower is located at 301 Front Street West, near the lake at the foot of John Street. 107001818~Northern Breweries~7261~4976~37~77~106~On a thirsty afternoon, tour one of Canada's oldest breweries. Taste some samples while you're there. Northern Breweries offers free 45-minute tours through their brewing facilities Tuesday through Friday at 1:45 PM.<BR>Call 1-800-461-2258 for more information. No reservations are necessary.<BR>The Northern retail store where the tours begin is located at 503 Bay Street (right beside the brewery). 107001819~Agawa Canyon Tour~7258~4976~32~77~104~Spend a day snaking through rugged ravines, crossing gorges on towering trestle bridges, and gaping at the awesome granite rock formations from the comfort of a rail car. Get a seat on the left-hand side of the train for the best views. This nine-hour excursion will take you deep into the Agawa Canyon to places accessible only by rail. In the heart of Algoma Country, the train stops for visitors to spend two hours exploring the nature trails, photographing waterfalls, and picnicking on the canyon floor.<BR>Summer tours run daily from June 1 through September 6. Excursion trains depart Sault Ste. Marie at 8:00 AM, returning there at 5:00 PM. Summer fares are US $40 for adults, US $30 for seniors, and US $12 for children. Special dome car tickets (adults only) are available for US $77. In fall, prices increase. Call 800-242-9287 for fall, spring, and winter tour information, and for reservations. Reservations are recommended for all tickets. In summer, call a week or two ahead.<BR>Trains leave from the Algoma Central Railway station located at 129 Bay Street, near the waterfront, next to the Station Mall. 107001820~A Thymely Manner~7259~4977~37~82~106~Despite its appalling name, this is one of Canada's finest restaurants. Perhaps after a long day on the Agawa Canyon tour train, relax with a superbly prepared meal. Try the lamb -- it comes from nearby St. Joseph's Island.<BR>Dinner for two will run from US $50 to US $60. Reservations are a must. Call 705-759-3262.<BR>The restaurant is located at 531 Albert Street East (one block north of Queen Street). 220001498~Boston Duck Tours~14091~3782~138~76~108~Combine your historical tour of Beantown with an opportunity to ride in an authentic World War II amphibious vehicle on a Boston Duck Tour. On land, you'll learn lots of quirky little-known facts as you drive by dozens of historical sites in Back Bay, Beacon Hill, downtown Boston, and the North End. Then your "ConDUCKtor" will take you on the "Splashdown!" into the Charles River for breathtaking views of Boston from the water. This is definitely the most interesting way to see Boston.<BR>Duck Tours leave from the Prudential Center, on the Huntington Avenue side. Tickets are sold inside the Prudential Center from 9 AM to 8 PM (6 PM on Sundays). Tours begin at 9 AM and depart every 30 minutes until an hour before sunset. Adult tickets are $20 and children go for $10. The tour takes 80 minutes. For more information, call 617-723-DUCK.<BR>There is discounted parking at the Prudential Center. To reach the Prudential Center from the turnpike, take the Prudential Center exit and turn right into Parking. 220000078~Faneuil Hall~14103~3792~179~44~106~No trip to Boston is complete without a stop in this tourist-drenched hive of humanity, which features food, shops, and history. The historic marketplace is composed of four buildings around an open cobblestone promenade. You'll find jugglers, mimes, musicians, restaurants, food stalls, clothing, pubs, and souvenirs. Since this area can get extremely crowded and crazy, head down the street for lunch.<BR>The marketplace is open during the week from 9 AM to 10 PM, Saturday from 9 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM. For more information, call 617-338-2323.<BR>Faneuil Hall Marketplace is located in the center of downtown Boston, bordered by Clinton, Chatam, and Commercial Streets. It is easy to reach by taking the MBTA Green Line from the Prudential Center north to Government Center. Faneuil Hall is less than a block from the Government Center stop. 220001499~Harvard Square~14067~3793~68~45~106~For an afternoon of funky bookstore browsing and serious people-watching, head to Harvard Square. Home of National Public Radio's infamous "Car Talk" brothers, Tom and Ray Magliozzi, Harvard Square also features eclectic shops, street musicians, and a rainbow of local color. Challenge the Chessmaster (play him for $2, win your money back if you beat him) or check out the Grolier Poetry Bookshop, allegedly the only bookstore in America which carries just poetry. For the perfect mid-afternoon treat, stop at Toscanini's Ice Cream, where you can savor a scoop of burnt caramel.<BR>Grolier Poetry Bookshop is located at 6 Plympton Street, and is open from noon to 6:30 PM. Phone 617-547-4648 for more information. Toscanini's address is 899 Main Street. They are open from 8 AM to 11 PM Monday through Friday, and 10 AM to midnight on the weekends. Toscanini's phone number is 617-491-5877.<BR>Parking is nearly impossible in this area. Take the Red Line north from Park Street and get off at the Harvard Square stop. Note that Harvard Square is in Cambridge, not Boston proper. 204000020~Jerome~-6676~-3084~112~51~100~This once-bustling copper mining center boasted 15,000 inhabitants in the 1920s. It had the state's largest hospital. Special housing was created to attract respectable single women, while the saloons and bordellos attracted a raucous crowd. But then the copper mines closed and all but the hardiest folk moved away. Another boomtown seemed destined to become a ghost town. Jerome's rebirth began when it was declared a National Historic District in 1967. Artists began to repopulate the abandoned stores and homes. Museums were created, tiny restaurants reopened, and mansions were converted to B&B's. Today the permanent population numbers around 400. <BR>As the town has been rediscovered by tourists, Jerome's lodging options have experienced -- well, what else would you expect in a boomtown -- a boom. While most places are quite small, the Jerome Grand Hotel, opened in 1996, will ultimately have 33 rooms. Carved out of the historic United Verde Hospital, the hotel also has a restaurant and lounge. As the highest point in town, the views here are truly extraordinary. It's just a few minutes walk down the hill to the arts and shopping district (520-634-8200). The Inn at Jerome on Main Street offers eight rooms decorated with antiques and a variety of interesting beds. They have a restaurant serving inexpensive meals downstairs (520-634-5094). Among your many bed and breakfast options are the Surgeon's House, a Mediterranean-style home with two rooms and two suites and fabulous views of the Verde Valley (800-639-1452), Ghost City Inn, with two immense verandas, five rooms and more of those mountain views (520-634-4678), the Rose Garden (520-634-3270), and Hillside House (520-634-5667). <BR>Like everything else here, dining in Jerome is a step back in time. Tiny store fronts and old buildings have been converted to pleasant restaurants and diners. The most highly recommended is also one of the smallest. With only seven tables, House of Joy retains much of the aura of its notorious bordello past. It's only open on weekends; reservations are an absolute must and probably should be made well in advance of your trip (520-634-5339). Other good places for daily grub are the Flatiron Cafe, another tiny storefront on Main Street, the English Kitchen, which claims to have been in continuous service since 1899, and Jerome Market Deli also on Main Street. 204001653~Jerome State Historic Park~-6644~-3097~113~57~100~Just outside of town and heading towards Cottonwood, the Jerome State Historic Park offers insight into why Jerome came into existence and what life was like here during the boom years. It used to be the home and entertainment center of one of the area's leading mine owners. Now it has artifacts, photographs, mineral displays and a nifty 3-D model of the tunnels that traverse the city. It's open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM. (520-634-5381) 204001654~Gold King Mine and Ghost Town~-6665~-3104~118~52~100~If you head south a mile out of Jerome on 89A, don't take the sharp turn that leads to Prescott but keep going straight and you'll come to Gold King Mine and Ghost Town. This is one of the oldest settlements in the region. The museum has numerous mining displays including restored and working mining equipment. You can even walk into an old mine shaft to see what conditions were like for those hard-drilling terriers. It costs $3 for adults, $2 for children and is open from 9 AM to 5 PM daily. (520-634-0053). 204001655~Verde River Canyon Railroad~-6618~-3110~121~58~100~One of the highlights of your trip may be an afternoon excursion on the Verde River Canyon Railroad. This section of the narrow canyon and unspoiled desert are inaccessible by car. The four-hour ride takes you through dramatic landscapes and past Indian ruins. Trains leave from Clarksdale, north of Jerome, at 1 PM every day but Tuesday. The cost is around $33 for adults and $22 for children. Two trips leave on Saturdays. (520-639-0010) 228001729~North Carolina Botanical Garden~11248~-1471~114~64~104~Home to the first state university in the U.S., Chapel Hill is the smallest of the Triangle cities. Start your visit to Chapel Hill just south of town, at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. This 600-acre, forested landscape is the Southeast's biggest botanical reserve. You'll find up to two miles of trails winding through the forest, and a fascinating plant and herb collection. The Botanical Garden is open daily from March through mid-November from 8 AM to 5 PM, and from mid-November through February it's open weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM. Admission is free. (919-962-0522) 228001730~Morehead Planetarium~11247~-1459~112~68~106~Families will enjoy the Morehead Planetarium, North Carolina's first. You can tell the kids that the original Apollo astronauts trained here. Laser-light shows, lessons in how to read the constellations, cool exhibits and lectures about black holes and space exploration are sure to fascinate even those who think space travel and study is run-of-the-mill. The Morehead Planetarium is located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Public shows are given daily except Mondays at 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM. Shows with lectures are given beneath the open sky Fridays at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM. Special kid-oriented weekend matinees are also scheduled. Admissions fees are $3 for adults, and $2.50 for children and senior citizens. (919-962-1236).<BR>Franklin Street, on which the Planetarium is located, is also a great place to find lunch or dinner. Places like Spanky's, located at 101 E. Franklin Street (919-967-2678), or the Golden Dragon, located at 128 E. Franklin Street (919-929-5278) are among many sure to satisfy any appetite. Small shops and knick-knack stores also abound along East and West Franklin. You can spend hours exploring this street.<BR>The Morehead Planetarium is located along E. Franklin Street on the campus of the University of North Carolina. It's about half a block southwest of the intersection of E. Franklin and Raleigh (Raleigh is also displayed as Hillsborough Street depending on which direction you're coming from). Hotel accommodations in the Chapel Hill area include the Windy Oaks Inn, a bed and breakfast located at 1164 Old Lystra Road (919-942-1001), the Carolina Inn, located at 211 Pittsboro Street (919-933-2001), and the Siena Hotel, located at 1505 E. Franklin Street (919-929-4000). 228001731~City Market~11492~-1497~153~70~106~Raleigh is the Triangle's biggest city. Named for Sir Walter Raleigh, the intrepid English explorer who founded the first English colony along the North Carolina coast in 1585, this city blends the past and the present into a seamless, genteel whole. Start your visit to Raleigh at the City Market. You can explore a dense cluster of shops, restaurants, and art galleries. City Market is also home to Playspace, a children's playground. For 10 cents you can take a trolley between Raleigh's downtown area and the City Market at lunchtime. The stores in the City Market are open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. Restaurants are open Monday through Saturday from 7 AM to 1 AM and on Sundays from 11:30 AM to 10 PM. <BR>Places to stay in Raleigh include the Oakwood Inn, located at 411 N. Bloodworth Street (800-267-9712 or 919-832-9712), or the Velvet Cloak Inn, located at 1505 Hillsborough Street (919-828-0333). There are a lot of other places to stay as well.<BR>The City Market is located at Martin Street and Moore Square. 228001732~Oakwood Historic District~11490~-1489~153~70~106~Stroll through the Oakwood Historic District to get a glimpse of Raleigh's Old South charms. You'll see stately Victorian homes in an area bounded by Linden, Jones, Person, and N. Boundary Streets. The Oakwood Historic District is located close to the Executive Mansion in central Raleigh. Places to eat in town include Sam's Restaurant and Wine Bar, located at 3050 Wake Forest Road (919-876-4056), and the Taj Mahal, located at 4520 N. Capital Boulevard (919-875-1113). 228001733~Sarah P. Duke Gardens~11297~-1393~119~51~104~In a curious twist, many people now know Durham, formerly a tobacco-growing center, as the "City of Medicine." Duke University's world-class medical research facilities lent Durham this reputation. In many ways Duke dominates Durham. It employs thousands of the city's residents and sets the city's tone. Start your visit by visiting the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. This 55-acre garden features a gazebo draped with wisteria vines and a Japanese garden. Open daily from 8 AM to dusk, the Sarah P. Duke Gardens are located on Anderson Street, on Duke's West Campus. (919-684-3698)<BR>Places to stay in Durham include the Arrowhead Inn, a B&B located at 106 Mason Road (919-477-8430), and the Blooming Garden Inn, located at 513 Holloway Street (919-687-0801). 228001734~Patterson's Mill County Store~11280~-1444~121~61~100~For a glimpse of Durham's past you should stop in at Patterson's Mill Country Store. This store-museum is considered one of America's finest repositories of mercantile memorabilia. You can see a turn-of-the-century doctor's office as well as an old-timey tobacco and pharmaceutical goods. The original store opened in the 1870s. Local crafts and collectibles are on sale. The Country Store is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM and Sundays from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM. You'll find the store at 5109 Farrington Road (919-493-8149).<BR>There are a lot of great places to eat in Durham. Restaurants of note include Mark's New American Cuisine, located at 1108 Broad Street (919-286-3223); Harman's Steak House, located at 1703 East Geer Street (919-688-7693); and Bullock's Bar-B-Que, located at 3330 Wortham Street (919-383-3211). 236001898~Waterfall at the Rockbridge~8958~561~178~65~104~About 11 miles south of Lancaster, on Rte 33, you'll find the Watkins Farm Market. Now, there's no waterfall here, but you do have a prime opportunity to pick up some picnic supplies. Those will come in handy when you get to the picnicking area for the Natural Rockbridge. To get there, turn off Rte 33 onto Dalton Rd. A well-maintained trail leads to the stone formation and the lovely little waterfalls that cascades into a pool beneath it. Climb the flight of wooden stairs for an alternate route back to the parking area. It's about a one-mile walk. 236001903~Cedar Falls State Park~8965~450~181~80~104~As you might suspect from the name, Cedar Falls State Park offers waterfall aficionados a treat. This spectacular waterfall carries the most volume of all the area's falls and can be relied on to plunge into the pool below for most of the summer. Two trails lead to its base -- one is indirect and gently sloped, while the other is steep and narrow, with numerous steps to climb. The park is located off Hwy 374. 236001899~Cantwell Cliffs~8925~528~173~80~104~Driving Hwy 374 affords an opportunity to stop by the state parks at Cantwell Cliffs and Rock House. Although not especially noted for waterfalls, these two parks will give you a chance to see how water has dramatically carved the surrounding landscape. At Cantwell Cliffs, a deep valley has been etched into the sandstone by Buck Run. Take the East Rim Trail for the best view of the cliffs and rock shelter. <BR>Driving farther south along winding 374, you'll come to the Rock House. A cave with vaulted ceilings, naturally formed arched Gothic windows, and massive columns, Rock House has been a popular attraction and occasional place of lodging for the occasional horse thief or bootleggger. Indeed, at one time the cave was known as "Robbers Roost." 236001900~Conkle's Hollow State Park~8943~482~173~80~104~Steep, narrow and spectacular, Conkle's Hollow is the deepest ravine in Ohio. A half-mile trail takes you through the gorge, past several side falls, and up to the base of the waterfall at the end of the ravine. Down here under cover of the foliage 200 hundred feet up the cliff sides, it's always cool and damp. <BR>Turn off Hwy 374 onto Big Pine Road to find Conkle's Hollow State Park. 236001901~Waterfall off Chapel Ridge Road~8944~449~174~84~104~Along with visiting more "official" waterfalls, take time to hunt for one that most people overlook. On Highway 56, just east of the hamlet of South Bloomingville, you'll see Chapel Ridge Road climbing sharply north. Take the road to the top of the ravine, then stop and get out because you can only see this captivating falls by gazing down the steep sides of the gorge. 236001902~Ash Cave State Park~8958~440~180~84~104~The sheer 90-foot waterfall dropping over the face of Ash Cave is only part of what makes this magical place so spellbinding. Many have described it as a natural place of worship. A paved half-mile trail that is wheel-chair accessible leads into the grotto. It's just off Highway 56. 238001438~Umpqua River Lighthouse~-11629~3963~54~107~104~Located in Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, the Umpqua River Lighthouse was originally built in 1857 and named the Umpqua River Light Station. Only four years later, it was destroyed when the river undercut its foundation. Rebuilt and operating since 1894, the present structure retains its first lens -- and its distinctive red and white beam -- thanks to timely community intervention in 1983.<BR>Once you've toured the lighthouse, check out the adjacent Douglas County Visitor Center and Museum. Marine and timber exhibits offer a surf-n-turf overview of the area. The state park proper contains everthing you'd expect from a fine state park: hiking trails, picnic areas, wildlife, and even a lake with its own beach.<BR>You could spend anywhere from an hour to an entire afternoon here at Umpqua. The lighthouse is open Wednesday through Sunday until 4:30 PM. Opening times vary, so call 541-440-4500 for details. To get here, turn west off Hwy 101 onto Lighthouse Way, then onto Lighthouse Rd, and follow the signs. 238001439~Umpqua Discovery Center~-11560~3984~61~106~106~Enhance your knowledge of the Oregon Coast by paying a visit to the Discovery Center, where you'll find informative displays covering such topics as coastal weather and gray whales. The interactive earthquake display and the theater are worth the hour or so that you'll need to see the center.<BR>Hours are seasonal, but plan on visiting between 10 AM and 4 PM. Admission is $3 for adults, half-price for children 5 to 12 , and free for children under 5. Call 541-271-4816 for more information.<BR>The Discovery Center is located at 409 Riverfront Way in Reedsport. 238000352~Sea Lion Caves~-11505~4236~63~86~104~Some of the world's largest oceanfront sand dunes -- up to 500 feet high and three miles deep -- can be found in Florence. Although a 125-foot-high cave seems small by comparison, the inhabitants of the Sea Lion Cave are anything but. Descend 208 feet and enter the grotto, where as many as 200 massive sea lions live in fall and winter. During summer months, behold the enormous bull lions, weighing as much as 2,000 pounds, lying on the rock ledges outside the cave.<BR>Daylight viewing hours vary, so call 541-547-3111 for recommendations. Admission is $6.50 for adults, $4.50 for children 6 to 15, and children under 6 enter for free.<BR>The cave's official address is 91560 Hwy 101 in Florence. 238001440~Heceta Head Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast~-11485~4291~69~84~100~Despite the illuminating presence of the Oregon coast's brightest light, not to mention an alleged ghost or two, Heceta Head lighthouse is a fine place to spend the night. The keepers, both certified chefs, offer their overnight guests a seven-course gourmet breakfast as well as the latest news from "Rue and John," permanent albeit somewhat evasive supernatural guests.<BR>Your lodgings are in the Keeper's House because the lighthouse proper is still operational. The B&B's driveway turns west off Hwy 101, close to Mile Marker 178, which is about 12 miles north of Florence. <BR>Call 541-547-3419 for B&B information. For information about the lighthouse, call 541-563-3211 or 541-547-3696. The address is 97072 Hwy 101 in Yachats. 238000354~Yaquina Bay Lighthouse~-11389~4592~71~54~100~Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, the second oldest lighthouse in Oregon, allows visitors to take a step back in time. Its first light shone for just three years. After its abandonment in 1874, the ghost of Captain Evan MacClure, whose mutinous crew set him adrift in a rowboat, is rumored to have moved in. MacClure and an alleged apparition named Zina have been reported by many witnesses, including local workers and members of the U.S. Lifesaving Service, over the past 120 years. You'll find this lighthouse in Yaquina Bay State Park. Call 541-265-5679 for seasonal hours. 238000356~Hatfield Marine Science Center~-11380~4581~72~61~106~If you think the Oregon coast looks cool, just imagine what lurks beneath the water's surface. The new Public Wing at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center offers up a 15,000-square-foot, interactive display of the marine world. Say hello to the current resident of the octopus tank as you enter. Experience the patterns of coastal tide pools at the touch tank or sound patterns at the listening station, or learn about marine mammals, or the ocean floor.<BR>The center opens at 10 AM, but call 541-867-0324 for closing times. It's located at 2030 Marine Science Drive in Newport. 238000355~Oregon Coast Aquarium~-11375~4548~75~64~106~Almost 200 species of native Oregon animals inhabit the Oregon Coast Aquarium, making it a must-see for coastal adventurers like yourselves. Keiko the killer whale movie star lived here until early summer 1998, but you can still see plenty of other underwater denizens. From sandy and rocky shore tanks to the coastal water tanks, the aquarium will submerge you into a world of whales, sharks, wolf-eels and jellyfish.<BR>Summer hours are 9 AM to 6 PM, but call 541-867-3474 for winter hours. Admission is $8.50. Senior citizens receive $1 off, and children under 14 are half-price. Children under 3 are free.<BR>You'll find the aquarium at 2820 SE Ferry Slip Road in Newport. 101000648~Bar U Ranch National Historic Site~-6194~7562~98~91~100~Located in the heart of Alberta's Rocky Mountain foothills, you'll find an exciting representation of Canada's living history -- the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site. Established in 1882, the Bar U Ranch was one of a select group of very large corporate ranches in western Canada. From its establishment until 1950, the Bar U was one of the foremost ranching operations in Canada, sharing the economic spotlight with other ranches such as the Cochrane, the Oxley, the Walrond, and the Quorn. In 1991, Parks Canada acquired a 367-acre portion of the ranch in an effort to commemorate the important Canadian ranching industry. While most of the large ranches of the 1880s went out of business in the early 20th century, the Bar U has survived to the present day. Features of this historic site include the original ranch headquarters, consisting of 35 historic structures, and the Visitor Orientation Centre, all situated along Pekisko Creek. Daily activities and roving interpreters help make your visit to the Bar U entertaining and educational. An extensive calendar of events is planned annually, so call them at 403-395-2212 before planning your visit.<BR>The Bar U Ranch is open from 10 AM to 6 PM, roughly May through November. Admission is $3.75 for adults, $2.75 for seniors (65 and up), $1.75 for children (6 to 16), and free for children under six. The Bar U is located just south of Longview on Hwy 22. 101000649~Western Heritage Centre~-6209~8044~98~52~100~The first major attraction in Canada dedicated to the cattle industry and the sport of rodeo, the Western Heritage Centre is housed in an 87,000-square-foot ranch-style building. When you pass through the heavy wooden gates at the top of the hill, you enter a historically accurate microcosm of Canada's frontier past. Inside, you'll discover informative exhibits outlining the past, present, and future of farming, ranching, and rodeo. Make sure to visit the Canadian Rodeo Hall of Fame, where the kids will relish the opportunity to become a rodeo clown or bull rider. Don't forget to call 403-932-3514 before visiting, as the Centre is the scenic locale for many events throughout the year.<BR>The Western Heritage Centre is open from 9 AM to 8 PM daily, Victoria Day through Labor Day; 9 AM to 5 PM Tuesday through Sunday the rest of the year. Admission is $7.50 adults, $5.50 seniors and students, $3.50 children, and free for children under seven. They're located just north of Cochrane on Hwy 22. 101000650~Alberta Boot Company~-6955~7902~41~65~106~What better way to remember your trip to Canada's cowboy country than to dress yourself in the latest western wear? Stop by Alberta Boot Company, Alberta's only Western boot manufacturer. In business since 1978, the Alberta Boot Company will dress your dogs with anything from regular cowhide to exotic alligator. They have over 15,000 pairs of leather boots in stock, as well as hats, shirts, jeans, and buckles. If you can't find a size that fits, have a pair custom-made to hug your heel.<BR>The Alberta Boot Company is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 9 PM, Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM. They're located in downtown Calgary at 614-10 Avenue SW. (403-263-4605) 101000651~Buzzards Cowboy Cuisine~-6055~7902~112~65~106~At the end of a long day a cowboy's best friend was "Cookie," the camp cook, the man in charge of satisfying the appetites of some of the hardest working individuals west of the Mississippi River. A sightseer's best friend come the end of a long day in Calgary is Buzzards Cowboy Cuisine, the city's only authentic cowboy restaurant. Enjoy hearty meals such as BBQ Beef Ribs, T-Bone Steak, Chuckwagon Meatloaf, and the Trail Boss Combo. The restaurant features a rustic decor inside and out, adding a touch of authenticity to the original chuck wagon recipes prepared in the kitchen. If you're more thirsty than you are hungry, head next door to Bottlescrew Bills, where you can order a cold, Calgary-brewed Buzzard Breath Ale.<BR>Buzzards Cowboy Cuisine is open daily from 11 AM to 11 PM. They're located at 140-10 Avenue SW, at the corner of 10th Avenue and 1st Street SW. (403-264-6959) 205006161~Old Trapper's Lodge~-10217~-2869~33~10~106~Back in the 1940s, pioneer scion and innkeeper John Ehn began sculpting concrete figures representing California's Wild West past and used them to embellish the Old Trapper's Lodge, his humble motel near Burbank Airport. The pop-eyed statuary, which include a pioneer engaged in hand-to-hand combat with an American Indian, another Indian spiriting off a scantily clad woman, various miners, pioneers, ladies of the evening, trappers, and an elaborate "Boot Hill" cemetery, graced the site until several years after Ehn died, at the age of 84 in 1981. To avoid the wrecking ball that demolished the motel in the late 1980s, the statues were moved lock, stock, and tombstone to Cleveland Park, part of the Pierce College campus in Woodland Hills, where you'll find them today. Unknown benefactors keep the statues painted and in good repair, and the entire assemblage has been named a California State Historical Landmark. You'll have to look hard for them, however. They are tucked away in an obscure corner of the college's agricultural area, behind the Animal Sciences Building.<BR>To find the Old Trapper's Lodge statues, take I-405 to the Winnetka off-ramp. Drive west for five lights; turn left into the main entrance of Pierce College. Continue on the main campus road until you reach the bottom of the hill, then turn left. You'll see the Animal Sciences Building, an adobe-style structure, on the right. The site is open to the public during daylight hours. 205006162~Ackermansion~-10078~-2946~82~39~106~In 1926, nine-year-old Forrest J. Ackerman bought his first copy of Amazing Stories, a science fiction magazine. The rest, as they say in Tinseltown, is history. Fans of science fiction and horror publications will already be familiar with Mr. Ackerman. Not only has he served as editor of a number of horror and sci-fi movie magazines -- <I>Famous Monsters of Filmland</I> among them -- but he has appeared in more than 50 motion pictures, including <I>Dracula vs Frankenstein</I> (1971) and even <I>Beverly Hills Cop III </I>(1995). Throughout his career, Forry, as he is known to his friends, has amassed the largest collection of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy memorabilia ever assembled. Among the more than 300,000 items on display in his 18-room, four-story home in the hills above Griffith Park are a replica of Ultima (the female-prototype robot from the silent film <I>Metropolis</I>); a model of the Golden Gate Bridge used in the 1955 film <I>It Came from Beneath the Sea</I>; rare sound discs from <I>Frankenstein,</I> <I>The Mummy,</I> and <I>Murders in the Rue Morgue</I>; life masks of Boris Karloff, Charles Laughton, and Vincent Price; hundreds of thousands of movie stills; and tens of thousands of related books and magazines. Not one to keep all this to himself, Forry Ackerman, who is now over 80 years old, still opens his home and his magnificent collection to visitors each Saturday morning between 11 AM and 12 noon, as long as he is in town. Mr. Ackerman charges no entry fee, but requests that all guests call on Thursday before the Saturday tour they wish to attend to confirm that he will be on hand to greet them, and to get specific directions to the site.<BR>The Ackermansion is located on Glendower Ave. in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles. From I-5, take the Los Feliz Boulevard off-ramp and head west to Vermont Ave. From the 101 Freeway, take the Franklin Ave. off-ramp and head east to Vermont. Call 213-666-6326 (213-MOON FAN) for specific directions and for more information. Please note: this is a private phone line, so please be considerate of the time when you call. 205006163~Graveline Tours~-10096~-2948~82~39~106~Ever fallen prey to those guys who lounge in lawn chairs at major Hollywood intersections, touting maps to the movie stars' homes? Ever wished you could dish some of the scandal that takes place behind the doors of the rich and famous, or, more likely, that you could even FIND the doors, using the outdated or even -- gasp! -- spurious corner-bought maps? Well, look no further. On a Graveline Tour, you'll see the sites of major Hollywood scandals, suicides, murders, and even the more mundane of celebrity expirations, and all from the luxurious comfort of a hearse specially modified for your touring comfort! Despite the subject matter, guides offer a surprisingly respectful tour, and even throw in glimpses of the earthly dwelling places of stars who have yet to shuffle off this mortal coil. Your very own map of local celebrity gravesites -- as well as other macabre or salacious points of interest not included on the 2.5-hour tour proper -- is included in the fare.<BR>Tours cost $40 per person and leave each Tuesday through Sunday at 9:30 AM from the east side of Mann's Chinese Theater (6925 W. Hollywood Blvd). There are no tours on Mondays. Although Graveline Tours will add hearses to accommodate overflow crowds, each hearse holds only 7 "mourners," so be sure to make reservations in advance. Call 213-469-4149 or 800-797-DEAD. 205002283~La Brea Tar Pits & George C. Page Museum~-10094~-2976~79~55~108~Between 40,000 and 10,000 years before city planners sought to bury Los Angeles under ribbons of asphalt, the gooey, tar-like substance was already wreaking havoc on the local population, which at that time consisted of at least 200 species of Ice Age birds, reptiles, insects, and mammals. As rain fell, the water would cover the asphalt seeps, disguising them as harmless freshwater ponds. When animals came to drink, they were mired in the sticky stuff, caught for posterity. Paleontologists are still freeing their bones from the tarry muck. Today, you can wander the area of the tar pits, preserved as a park and adorned with sculptures of the most gigantic mammal species unearthed there. Be sure to take in the George C. Page Museum of La Brea Discoveries, located on the site. There you can watch researchers in their ongoing study of the fossils, test your strength against the power of the tar, and see numerous skeletal remains of saber-toothed cats, giant ground sloths, mastodons, one human female, and an entire wall of dire wolf skulls.<BR>Located at 5801 Wilshire Boulevard, LA. From I-10, take the Fairfax Ave off-ramp and proceed north on Fairfax to Wilshire. Turn left on Wilshire; the parking lot is located behind the museum off of Curson Ave. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM; closed on Mondays. Admission is $6 for adults, $3.50 for seniors 62+ and students with valid ID, $2 for children aged from 5 to 10, and free for members and children under 5. Admission is also free on the first Tuesday of each month. Parking is $5 with validation from the museum. Call 213-936-2230. 205006164~Museum of Jurassic Technology~-10145~-2989~58~54~106~A self-proclaimed "educational institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the public appreciation of the Lower Jurassic" (whatever THAT may be!), the Museum of Jurassic Technology is a captivating, albeit rather mind-boggling, assemblage of dioramas and displays that seeks to mirror for modern eyes the eclectic collections exhibited in the Wonder Cabinets of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. <BR>Permanent exhibits housed behind this Culver City storefront include "Megolaponera Foetens: The Stink Ant of Cameroon," "The Deprong Mori of the Tripiscum Plateau" (a solid block of lead supposedly encasing the body of a bat that flew straight into it), intricate fruit-stone carvings, and a horn that grew from the head of Mary Davis of Saughall. Other equally extraordinary exhibits grace the other three halls; a fifth hall is under construction. You're sure to come away puzzled: Do they really believe this stuff, or is it just a grand but lovingly executed hoax? Is this place for real?<BR>Whatever your conclusion, you can find the Museum of Jurassic Technology at 9341 Venice Boulevard, Culver City. Take the Robertson off-ramp from I-10 (the Santa Monica Freeway) and head south on Robertson to Venice Boulevard. Turn right on Venice and drive to Bagley Avenue. The museum is just east of the intersection, on the north side of the street. Open Thursday from 2 PM to 8 PM and Friday to Sunday from 12 noon to 6 PM. Closed Monday through Wednesday, and on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and the first Thursday in May. Suggested Donations: $4 for adults; $2.50 for children aged 12 to 21, full-time students with valid ID, seniors 60+ years of age, and unemployed persons; $1.50 for disabled persons and active-duty, uniformed service personnel. Children under 12 are admitted free of charge. Call 310-836-6131 or fax to 310-287-2267. 205006165~Watts Towers~-10071~-3064~88~87~106~Many people remember the Watts district of South Los Angeles as the center of violent 1960s race riots, but this neighborhood also boasts one of the most lyrically and bizarrely beautiful assemblages of folk art in the whole U.S. Built single-handedly by Simon Rodia, an Italian immigrant and tile-layer who devoted every bit of his free time between 1921 and 1954 to the project, the eight Gaudiesque towers are made of concrete over a slender framework of steel. Embedded in the concrete are seashells, shards of dishware and tiles, and other objets trouves. City officials tried to prove the structures unsafe in a 1959 stress-test; the towers, the tallest of which rises nearly 100 feet into the sunny California sky, stood their ground. Today, they are preserved as Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park. Be sure to stop by the adjacent Watts Towers Art Center, a museum featuring African-American artists. The towers hum with the sounds of jazz each September during the Watts Towers Jazz and Arts Festival.<BR>The state historic park is located at 1765 E. 107th Street; you'll find the Watts Towers Art Center next door at 1727 E. 107th Street. From I-105, take the S. Wilmington off-ramp and proceed north on S. Wilmington to E. 108th St. Go left on E. 108th and turn right onto S. Willowbrook. Watts Towers are one block further north at E 107th St. Call 213-847-4646 for more information. 205006166~Tail o' the Pup~-10130~-2960~68~48~106~This famous food stand, which has been turning out some of L.A.'s tastiest tube steaks since 1946, is shaped like -- you guessed it! -- a hot dog in the bun! You've probably seen pictures of it featured in numerous music videos and even on a few album covers. Moved from its original La Cienega location to make way for the swank Ma Maison Hotel, Tail o' the Pup now serves 'em up at 329 N. San Vicente Blvd in West Hollywood. They're open daily for breakfast and lunch. From I-10, take the La Cienega off-ramp and drive north on La Cienega to San Vicente, where you'll veer to the left and you're nearly there! Call 310-652-4517. 205006167~Randy's Donuts~-10096~-3043~81~79~106~Any time of the day or night, you can get your donut fix at Randy's Donuts in Inglewood. You can't miss it, either. Perched atop the rather modest stand is a giant donut with the words "Randy's Donuts" written around the hole. It's not far from the freeway and it's open 24 hours every day, so why not stop in for a dozen sinkers when you're in the neighborhood? Take I-110 to the Manchester Avenue off-ramp, then take a short drive west on Manchester to its intersection with Hoover St. Call 310-645-4707. 205006168~Hollywood Celebrity Hotel~-10100~-2944~82~39~106~Los Angeles has no dearth of hostelries, from humble to luxurious. If you're looking for a reasonably priced, well-placed, atmospheric place to hang your hat while you tour the city of angels, look no farther than the Hollywood Celebrity Hotel. Odds are you won't find a lot of celebrities here (try Chateau Marmont for that, and be sure that money is no object), but you will find 38 pleasant, spacious, Art Deco-styled guest rooms to choose from, and a complimentary continental breakfast waiting for you each morning. And it's only half a block from Hollywood Boulevard, and half-a-block from Mann's Chinese Theater.<BR>The hotel is located at 1775 Orchid Ave. From the 101 (Hollywood) Freeway, take the Highland Ave off-ramp and continue south on Highland to Hollywood Blvd. Turn right onto Hollywood and drive west to Orchid. Turn right on Orchid. Call 213-850-6464, 800-222-7017 (outside CA), or 800-222-7090 (in CA). FAX 213-850-7667. 110000309~Turner Curling Museum~-1703~6547~74~51~106~Curling is a way of life for Don and Elva Turner, so it wasn't surprising when they turned their basement into the first-ever museum dedicated to the sport. After outgrowing the space afforded by the Turner's basement, the City of Weyburn agreed to give the collection a permanent, 2,660-square-foot home in the city's Leisure Centre. Avid fans of the sport, as well as curious visitors, can enjoy browsing this rare collection of historical curling pieces, including a rare set of circular curling irons used in the Ottawa Valley circa 1800. Other exhibited items include curling stones, brooms, some 18,000 curling pins, a curling stone sharpener dating from the 1920s, and more.<BR>The museum's regular hours are from 2 to 5 PM, Saturday and Sunday. If you'd like to make an appointment for a guided tour at a time convenient for you, just call Don Turner at 306-842-3604. Admission is free. The museum is located 530 Fifth Street NE in Weyburn. The museum phone number is 306-848-3283. 110000310~Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum~-1982~7095~55~21~106~Opened in 1966 under the name Molson Sports Hall of Fame, the renamed Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is dedicated to recognizing the contribution of sport to the lives of the people of Saskatchewan by celebrating individual and team achievements and traditions in sport. In other words, the Hall of Fame is the place to go to discover the who's who of the Saskatchewan sporting world. Individual inductees such as Norm Balderston (curling), Paul Dojack (football), and Robert "Mac" Game (weightlifting) come to life through portraits and citations. You'll also enjoy various exhibits detailing Saskatchewan's sport culture.<BR>The museum is open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and weekends and holidays, 1 to 5 PM. Admission is free, although there is a donation box. They're located at 2205 Victoria Avenue in Regina. (306-780-9232) 110000311~Taylor Field~-2017~7095~55~21~106~Taylor Field is ground zero for the Saskatchewan Roughrider's brand of hard-hitting football action. It's not unusual to find almost all of Taylor Field's 27,732 seats filled during Roughrider regular season games. With a rich football history that dates back to the late 19th century and includes two CFL Grey Cup Championships, Saskatchewan's football team has acquired a steady following of gridiron groupies.<BR>The Roughrider season roughly spans the months July through October. Taylor Field is located at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina. Tours of the stadium are available upon request. Call the Roughrider at 306-525-2181 for more information. 110000312~Queensbury Downs~-2016~7092~55~21~106~Live harness racing takes place April through July at Queensbury Downs, one of Canada's most luxurious racetracks. The track has a 1,500-seat, glass-enclosed grandstand, as well as the Crown Room, a terraced dining room that overlooks the track and serves an elegant buffet dinner on live race nights.<BR>Queensbury Downs is located within Regina Exhibition Park, at the intersection of Lewvan and 11th. Call 306-781-9233 for more information. 110000313~Regina Agridome~-2017~7092~55~21~106~To agribusiness professionals, the Agridome is home to important traveling trade shows. To ice hockey fans, the Agridome is home to only one important entity -- the Regina Pats. Canadian ice hockey fans take their national pastime seriously, and the cross-checking action of the Regina Pats has entertained hockey-lovers since its debut during the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's inaugural season in 1966. Now part of the Western Hockey League, a mother lode so far as NHL scouts are concerned, the Pats remain dear to the thousands of fans who pack the Agridome during home games.<BR>The Regina Pats' season runs September through April. The Agridome is located within Regina Exhibition Park, which is at the intersection of Lewvan and 11th. Call 306-522-5604 for more information. 205000134~Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park~-10789~407~164~85~104~This is where the whole thing started, on January 24, 1848. James Marshall, in the process of building a lumber mill to supply building materials to John Sutter for the settlement that would become Sacramento, plucked some gold nuggets out of the tailrace (the stream that carries water away from a mill). The two men decided to keep the discovery a secret, but to no avail. Soon the word was out, and it seemed the whole world was on its way in to find the mother lode. The site of Marshall's discovery and about 70 per cent of the surrounding town of Coloma is now preserved as a state historic park. A full-sized replica of the mill (the vandalized ruins of the original were destroyed in an 1850s flood), a miner's cabin, an old schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, and the Wah Hop Chinese store are some of the buildings on display. Other attractions include the Gold Discovery Museum, a monument to James Marshall, and several picnic grounds. You can try your hand at panning gold in the creek, right across from the mill.<BR>Located in Coloma, the park is open daily from 8 AM to dusk with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day; the buildings are open from 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission is $5 per vehicle. (530-622-3470) 205002596~Auburn~-10862~499~165~76~100~Born as a gold-rush boomtown, Auburn survived long after the gold strike played itself out. It was ideally located as a supply center for miners, and when the transcontinental railroad came through in 1865, Auburn's future was secure. The wide range of architectural styles that grace the town testify to the community's prosperity. Stroll the streets of Auburn to see styles from Queen Anne and Eastlake to Craftsman and WPA Modern. The crowning glory is the Placer County Courthouse, a grand Classic Revival building topped with a Renaissance Revival dome. Opened as a museum in 1994, the courthouse is the place to get maps for a walking tour of town and take in a number of local history exhibits. While you're in town, don't miss the Gold Country Museum, where you dip your gold pan into an indoor stream, watch a working stamp mill, and see all types of mining equipment.<BR>Placer County Courthouse is located at 101 Maple Street in Auburn. It's open Thursday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Call 530-889-6500. Gold Country Museum is located at 1273 High Street, and is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 3:30 PM, and on weekends from 11 AM to 4 PM. Call 530-889-4134 or 530-889-6500; FAX 530-889-6501. Auburn Visitor Center can be reached by phone at 530-887-2111. 205006170~Gold Bug Mine~-10746~369~172~85~108~Placerville began life as a "Dry Diggins," but became known as "Hangtown" after a triple necktie party took place there in 1849. Today, it takes its name from gold panning, which is formally referred to as "placer" mining. The town's main attraction, however, features a different type of mining. At the Gold Bug Mine, the only municipally owned mine in the country, you can wander into the hard-rock mine, tracing the gold-bearing veins of quartz 300 feet into the mountain. The surrounding 61-acre park also contains the Hendy Stamp Mill, a museum, and a gift shop.<BR>The Gold Bug Mine is located off Bedford Avenue, about a mile north of Placerville. Turn right onto Gold Lane to reach the park. The mine is open for self-guided tours daily from 10 AM to 4 PM. Adult admission is $2. Call 530-642-5232. 205002612~Grass Valley~-10810~701~166~56~100~Leading a new life as a center for craftspeople and artists, this lovely gold-rush-era town has long been a history buff's mecca. It was here in 1850 that a rich vein of gold-bearing quartz was discovered. The resulting Empire Mine operated until 1956 and pulled about 5.8 million ounces of gold from 367 miles of tunnels beneath Grass Valley, making it the richest hard-rock gold mine in California history. It was also the first. The 748-acre site includes a museum, a 3-D scale model of the tunnels, and access to the adjoining estate of the mine's owners. Access to the mine itself is currently limited to the first 30 feet of tunnel, but plans for an underground train ride are underway. In addition to the Empire Mine, visitors to Grass Valley can enjoy the charming architecture and visit the Grass Valley Museum (housed in an old orphanage). Be sure to drop by the Grass Valley Visitor Center, too. It's located in the former home of the notorious Lola Montez, celebrated beauty and gold-rush-era heart-breakers. Her wooden bathtub sits out on the porch, serving as a flower planter.<BR>The Empire Mine State Historic Park is located at 10791 E. Empire Street in Grass Valley. It's open from September 5 through April from 10 AM to 5 PM, and from May through September 4 from 9 AM to 6 PM. Adult admission is $3. Call 530-273-8522. Grass Valley Museum is located in Old St. Mary's Academy at the intersection of Church and Chapel Streets in Grass Valley. It's open Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM, year-round; on weekends from June through October it's open from noon to 3 PM. Call 530-272-4407 or 530-272-4725. The Grass Valley Visitor Center is located at 248 Mill Street. It's open Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 4:30, and on Saturdays from 10 to 3. Call 530-273-4667. 205006171~Holbrooke Hotel~-10811~702~166~56~100~George Washington never slept here, but that was only because he was born too early. When you stay overnight at Grass Valley's historic Holbrooke Hotel, which first opened its doors in 1851, you'll be sharing its hallowed halls with the likes of U.S. presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, James A. Garfield, and Grover Cleveland. Authors Mark Twain and Bret Harte, boxer Gentleman Jim Corbett, femme fatales Lola Montez and Lotta Crabtree, and bad man Black Bart have also signed the guest register. Each antique-filled room has a private bath, and many boast claw-footed bathtubs. Continental breakfast is served each morning in the library, and the hotel is also famous for its renowned brunch, lunch, and dinner offerings. The Golden Gate Saloon, one of the longest continually operating watering holes west of the Mississippi also beckons with fine spirits or, if you choose not to indulge, in espresso drinks.<BR>The Holbrooke Hotel is located at 212 W. Main Street in Grass Valley. Call 530-273-1353 or 800-933-7077. FAX: 530-273-0434. 205002624~Nevada City~-10780~730~166~56~100~Nevada City has hard times to thank for its well-preserved historic area. When the Empire Mine in nearby Grass Valley closed in 1956, there were precious few funds available to "improve" the community, and almost all the old buildings were spared any sort of "urban renewal." As a result, the town has a warm, authentic look about it, and an extensive central district steeped in history. Stop by Firehouse Museum #1, an elaborate concoction of Victorian gingerbread, to see displays that include an introduction to the culture of the local Maidu, the American Indians who were displaced by the onrush of miners; relics of the Donner Party; and items taken from the Joss House, central to the Chinese portion of town as it stood in the 1880s.<BR>The Firehouse Museum #1 is located at 214 Main Street in Nevada City, and operated by the Nevada City Historical Society. Hours of operation vary seasonally; call 530-265-5468 for details. 205006172~National Hotel~-10784~725~166~56~100~Founded in the 1850s, this historic hotel was once the finest overnight accommodation one could find along the entire mother lode. When guests checked into the National, they were greeted with fine food, a well-stocked saloon, and a comfortable room. Modern guests receive the same treatment and a few modern amenities. The National Hotel features 42 antique-filled guest rooms, cable TV, a spacious veranda, dining and drinking facilities, and a swimming pool.<BR>The National Hotel is located at 211 Broad Street in Nevada City. Call 530-265-4551; FAX 530-265-2445. 205006173~Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park~-10709~795~178~42~100~When the placer miners couldn't wash anymore surface gold out of the river silt that swirled through their pans, some decided to help the rivers along a little bit. They took up hydraulic mining, forcing water through huge hoses and nozzles and scouring the soil and gravel off the mountains until the bedrock would yield no more debris. The silt was then sifted through giant troughs to separate the gold from the tailings. Then the tailings were released downstream. Malakoff Diggins, and the town of North Bloomfield that sprouted nearby to support the miners, was the largest, richest hydraulic gold operation in the world. Legislation that forbade miners to pollute waters downstream made the process virtually illegal, and Malakoff Diggins was abandoned. Today, the picturesque town and the mind-bogglingly huge pit are preserved as Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park. Be sure to check out the 7,847-foot tunnel, carved through bedrock, that drained the waste water.<BR>Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park is located 16 miles northeast of Nevada City, off Highway 49 on North Bloomfield Road. It's open daily from 9 AM to 4:30 PM from June through September, and on weekends only, from 10 AM to 4 PM, from October through May. Admission is $5 per vehicle. Call 530-265-2740. 219000894~Savoy's Music Center~4435~-6182~69~54~106~A veritable who's who from the Cajun music world is likely to show up for the Saturday morning jam session at Savoy's Music Center in Eunice. This downhome record store is a place to sit and listen to the Cajun sounds being played by masters of the form. If you want to feel all warm and friendly-like, bring a box of beignets (doughnuts) or some boudin (sausage) to share. The live music takes over every Saturday morning from 9:30 AM to noon. Savoy's Music Center is on the east side of Eunice, on the north side of Highway 190 E. (318-457-9563) 219000895~Fred's Lounge~4386~-6095~49~21~106~If you're in Mamou on Saturday morning, take advantage of the once-a-week opportunity to visit Fred's Lounge. It's only open from 9 AM to 1 PM, when the live music is broadcast on the radio and the dancers cluster on the tiny dance floor. It's a great mix of locals and out-of-towners, with prizes given to those who have come from the farthest distance away. Fred's Lounge is at 420 Sixth Street in downtown Mamou. (318-468-5411) 219000896~Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum~4403~-6191~55~65~100~Hardcore Cajun fans won't want to miss the Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Eunice. The great stars of the past and present are celebrated here with exhibits, instruments, and memorabilia. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM. It's at 230 South CC Duson Drive. Head for the intersection of Highway 190 and Highway 13, then go two blocks south to Park Avenue. (318-457-2167) 219000897~Dup's Lounge~4384~-6143~51~39~100~Make Dup's your stop for live Cajun sounds on Saturday afternoons when WEUN-AM 1490 broadcasts the lively proceedings from this former feed store-turned-dancehall. It's four miles north on Highway 13, midway between Eunice and Mamou. (318-457-9162) 219000898~Liberty Theatre~4394~-6191~55~65~106~Saturday night the place is jumping, and it's all being broadcast live from the Liberty Palace in Eunice. "Rendez-vous des Cajuns" is the name of the show, a kind of Cajun Grand Ol' Opry, mixing stories, advice and all the Cajun music you could ask for while the audience takes to the dance floor in front of the stage. The Liberty Theatre is two blocks south of Route 190, one block west of Route 13, at Second Street and Park Avenue. (318-457-6540) 219000043~Acadian Village~4635~-6350~145~116~100~Uncover the roots of the Cajun lifestyle at Acadian Village in Lafayette. The restored buildings, including houses, stores and a chapel, are furnished in an authentic style, demonstrating bayou community life as it originated in the mid-19th century. It's at 200 Greenleaf Drive. (318-981-2364) 219000393~Lafayette~4648~-6345~151~118~112~The cultural heart of Cajun country, Lafayette offers myriad opportunities to explore Cajun music, food, and history. You can visit both Acadian Village and Vermilionville to learn more about the origins of Cajun life. Chretien Point Plantation offers a French plantation home with a rich history encompassing the pirate Jean Lafitte, buried treasure, ghosts, and the Civil War. The town is also home to the University of Southwestern Louisiana. <BR>Accommodations are plentiful in Lafayette as well. The Best Western Acadiana at 1801 West Pinhook Road (318-233-8120) and Central Holidome Holiday Inn at 2032 NE Evangeline Thruway (318-233-6815) come highly recommended. More budget-minded travelers could try the Quality Inn at 1605 North University (318-232-6131). <BR>A wealth of dining opportunities greets the hungry traveler in search of authentic Cajun cuisine. Local favorite Enola Prudhomme's Cajun Cafe is run by the sister of chef Paul Prudhomme and offers outstanding shrimp, catfish and alligator dishes. It's at 4676 NE Evangeline Thruway (318-896-7964). Randol's Seafood Restaurant offers both traditional Cajun cooking and authentic Zydeco music and dancing in an informal atmosphere at 2320 Kaliste Saloom Road. Call 318-981-7080. 101000653~Fort Macleod Museum~-5894~6975~107~100~100~Home to the famous North West Mounted Police, predecessors of the renowned Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Fort Macleod Museum houses the official museum of this scarlet-coated force. Visit during July or August when riders in 19th-century uniforms mount horses several times a day for a Mounted Patrol Musical Ride. They perform synchronized precision movements to music on horseback. The museum also features Mountie paraphernalia and a large collection of local Indian artifacts.<BR>The museum is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM in May, June, September and October; and until 8:00 PM in July and August. Musical rides are scheduled from July through August at 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 2 PM, and 3:30 PM, weather permitting. Admission to the museum is US $3.15 for adults, US $1.75 for children, and US $9.80 for families. Call 403-553-4703 for winter hours and further information. 101000654~MacKenzie House B & B~-5890~6972~107~100~106~If you're spending the night in Fort Macleod, stay in this historic bed and breakfast. Spend some time enjoying the grounds and gardens. Children are welcome. The two rooms on the second floor each have a private bath. <BR>A private room with a bath is US $40. Call 403-553-3302 for reservations and more information. <BR>MacKenzie House is located at 1623 Third Avenue in Fort Macleod, at the corner of Third Avenue and 17th Street. 101000069~Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Center~-6035~6956~90~105~100~Spend a morning exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site, the world's oldest and largest buffalo jump. Used by the local Indian tribes for over 5,500 years, this site is where herds of buffalo where driven over a cliff and butchered at the bottom; the center gets its name from a tale about an overly curious boy who got too close and stood under the cliff as the buffalo were coming over. Tours through the interpretive center and across the outdoor walking paths are conducted by a staff of local Peigan and Blood Indians. Have a buffalo burger for lunch in the restaurant at the site. <BR>Open seven days a week, the interpretive center is open from 9 AM to 7 PM in the summer. Admission is US $4.55 for adults, US $2.10 for children, and US $10.50 for families. Call 403-553-2731 for more information. <BR>Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is located 16 kilometers west of Fort Macleod on Highway 785. 101000655~Frank Slide Interpretive Centre~-6343~6974~66~97~100~When 82 million tons of limestone crashed down from the summit of Turtle Mountain in the spring of 1903, it buried a large part of the town of Frank. Visit the site of the rock slide to learn about the catastrophe: an avalanche spread over a square mile in less then a minute and a half. The award-winning video "In the Mountain's Shadow" is a must-see at the center, as are the views from the outdoor trails. <BR>The Frank Slide Interpretive Centre is open daily from May 15 through Labor Day from 9 AM to 8 PM. Admission is US $2.80 for adults, and US $1.40 for children. Call 403-562-7388 for more information and winter hours. <BR>Follow the signs to the Centre located in Crowsnest Pass just off Route 3. 101000656~Alberta Birds of Prey Centre~-5561~6936~132~105~104~While you're in Alberta, be sure to stop at this beautifully landscaped, 70-acre conservation center featuring hawks, falcons, eagles, and owls from around the world. This one-of-a-kind facility also offers live flying shows. <BR>The Birds of Prey Centre is open daily from May to mid-October from 10:30 AM to 5 PM. Admission is US $3.50 for adults, US $2.80 for children, and US $9.10 for families. Phone 403-345-4262 for further information and that day's show times.<BR>The Centre is located in Coaldale at 2124 Burrowing Owl Lane, just 10 minutes east of Lethbridge. From Lethbridge, take Route 3 to Coaldale. Turn north on Burrowing Owl Lane and go north three blocks. 205006175~Indian Springs Spa and Resort~-11673~474~103~45~106~Sam Brannan's original Calistoga resort, opened in 1861, is now known as Indian Springs. It boasts a 1913 bathhouse, built in the Victorian style, where you can experience the standard Calistoga routine -- mud bath, mineral-water soak, steam room, and full-body massage. Treatments begin at $60, with massage weighing in at $45 to $120, depending on time allotted. They also offer facials, manicures, and pedicures. If you'd prefer not to immerse yourself in mud, take a leisurely dip in the warm, Olympic-sized, geyser-fed swimming pool. If you care to stay overnight, bungalows are available and start at $160.<BR>Located at 1712 Lincoln Avenue in Calistoga. The pool is open every day from 11 AM to 6 PM: $10 for adults; $7.50 for children; free with spa treatment and to overnight guests. The spa is open daily from 9 AM to 8 PM; reservations are strongly recommended, and weekend reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. (707-942-4913) 205006176~White Sulphur Springs Resort~-11669~413~99~55~104~If you enjoy your mud bath in a secluded, woodland setting, plan to visit White Sulphur Springs Resort near St. Helena. The oldest resort in California, opened in 1852, White Sulphur Springs lies in the midst of 330 acres of redwood, oak, and madrone forest. In addition to the standard spa procedures, White Sulphur Springs offers many of its amenities in outdoor settings. You can luxuriate in a natural sulfur pool beside a waterfall, get your massage under a sheltering oak tree, or participate in their outdoor "mud adventure," a seasonal option. Lodging is available in cottages and motel accommodations for between $85 and $165. In keeping with the relaxing, natural atmosphere, there are no telephones or televisions in the guest rooms. <BR>The resort is located three miles from St. Helena at 3100 White Sulphur Springs Road. Call 707-963-8558 or 800-593-8873 (CA and NV only); FAX 707-963-2890. 205002347~Old Faithful Geyser of California~-11677~475~103~45~104~Geysers put Calistoga on the map. At Old Faithful Geyser, you can witness one showing off its geothermal splendor, and it won't keep you waiting! Not for long, at least. You can count on it giving a repeat performance every 40 minutes or so. It's one of the few predictable geysers in the world, akin to its more famous cousin in Yellowstone National Park. Put any waiting time to good use by taking in displays about geothermal research on the geyser's earthquake-predicting powers -- something Olga Kolbek, owner of the property, can attest to. She's been monitoring changes in the geyser's schedule for years, and usually has a bit of warning before a temblor, including the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. There are also animal displays and a snack bar to appease impatient kids. The show is worth the short wait. What begins as a gentle burbling amid some stones in a small, rather unremarkable-looking pond becomes a powerful column of steaming water shooting at least 60 feet straight into the air. The eruption lasts about four minutes.<BR>Located at 1299 Tubbs Lane in Calistoga, the geyser is open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM, May through September, and from 9 AM to 5 PM the remainder of the year. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors 60 and over, and $2 for children from 6 to 12 years of age. Call 707-942-6463; FAX 707-942-6898. 205006177~Petrified Forest~-11689~477~103~45~104~The volcanic activity rumbling beneath Calistoga, producing the punctual geysers and hot springs, also created an unusual fallen forest of petrified redwoods that has been a roadside attraction since the very first roads came through. Millions of years ago, a massive volcanic eruption flattened the surrounding forest, and the ashfall from that event deeply blanketed the toppled trees. In 1857, the forest, now turned to stone by the work of time and seeping minerals, was discovered. The attraction's first proprietor, known to locals as "Petrified Charlie," began to excavate the trees in 1871. Charlie and his trees were described by Robert Louis Stevenson in his account of his Napa Valley days, <I>The Silverado Squatters</I>. The park is still privately owned, and subsequent proprietors have continued Charlie's work, unearthing such wonders as the Giant, 60 feet long and 3 feet wide at the top, and the Monarch Tree, the world's largest intact petrified tree. It's 105 feet long and 6 feet thick, with incredibly detailed, ribbed bark and knotholes. A 20-minute stroll on the park trail will steer you by most of the trees, and a guided meadow hike held every Sunday at 2 PM takes you to the Ash Fall, where you can still find evidence of that ancient eruption.<BR>The Petrified Forest is located near the border of Napa and Sonoma counties on Petrified Forest Road outside of Calistoga. It is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM between mid-May and mid-October, and from 10 AM to 5 PM the remainder of the year. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors 55 years old and over, and $1 for children between the ages of 4 and 11. (707-942-6667) 205006178~Mount St. Helena~-11672~524~98~32~104~Want to really earn that Calistoga mud bath? Take a hike to the top of 4,343-foot-high Mt. St. Helena and reward yourself with views that, on a clear day, extend to Lassen Peak and Mount Shasta to the north, the Sierra Nevada to the west, Mount Diablo and San Francisco Bay to the south, and the rolling Coast Range to the west. The lush vineyards of the Napa Valley are right at your feet. Budget plenty of time for this trek; the trail is ten miles round trip, gains about 2,300 feet in elevation from trailhead to summit, and takes about six hours to complete. <BR>The trailhead is located off of Highway 29 in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, about eight miles north of Calistoga, near the ruins of the old mining town of Silverado. Call 707-942-4575 (RLS State Park) 205006179~Calistoga Glider Rides~-11673~472~103~45~104~Do you crave a bird's-eye view of the Napa Valley without having to hoof it to the top of a mountain? Well, fork over the dough, and you can soar over the vineyards in a glider! Rides last 20 or 30 minutes, and accommodate one or two passengers. The glider swoops over the Palisades Mountains as well as the verdant valley.<BR>Located at 1546 Lincoln Avenue in Calistoga. Open from 9 AM to sunset daily, weather permitting. A two-person ride will set you back $110 for 20 minutes; $150 for 30 minutes. Single passengers can expect to spend $79 for a 20-minute ride and $110 for the full 30 minutes. Children must be at least 5 years old or weigh 40 pounds or more. (707-942-5000) 205006180~Chateau Montelena Winery~-11679~487~103~36~100~As long as you're in Wine Country, why not visit the vineyard that started all the hoopla? The vineyards surrounding Chateau Montelena were first established in 1882. Not until 1976, however, when Chateau Montelena's 1973 Chardonnay beat out the best France had to offer in a blind tasting, did the world's wine connoisseurs sit up and take notice. Suddenly, California was a player in the international vinters' game. If you drop by to taste what made Napa famous, drink in the ivy-covered, chateauesque winery building and Chinese-inspired landscaping that surrounds Jade Lake, as well.<BR>Located at 1429 Tubbs Lane in Calistoga. Public tours are offered daily at 11 AM and 2 PM; reservations are encouraged and are absolutely necessary on weekends. Open for tastings from 10 AM to 4 PM daily, with the exception of major holidays and the third Saturday in July. There is a $5 tasting fee that can be credited to any wine purchase exceeding $20. (707-942-5105; FAX 707-942-4221) 205006181~Calistoga Inn~-11673~471~103~45~106~Has all that high-toned wine made you yearn for a down-to-earth, heady mug of beer? Look no further than the Calistoga Inn, Restaurant, and Brewery. In addition to being a historic local hostelry -- it opened its doors to travelers in 1882 -- Calistoga Inn pioneered the microbrewery renaissance in the Napa Valley. In 1987, it began brewing what has grown to an award-winning selection of wheat ale, red ale, pilsner, and porter. This is the place to sample their wares and to feast on some of the valley's best cuisine. Wood-grilled meats, fish, and vegetable entrees, prepared on the riverside patio, head the menu in summer; in winter, hearty roasted entrees are the house specialty. And, of course, there is an extensive wine list. The Calistoga Inn has 18 guest rooms available with sink and mirror. In keeping with the original European style of the hotel, shared toilet and bathing facilities are located down the hall. Guests are served a daily continental breakfast. Reservations for guest rooms are strongly recommended, with a one-month advance notice suggested for weekend or holiday stays. Rates begin at $49 and are higher on weekends and holidays.<BR>Located at 1250 Lincoln Avenue in Calistoga. For overnight reservations, call between 8 AM and 4 PM daily. (707-942-4101; FAX 707-942-4914) 205006187~Mount Shasta City Park~-11120~2216~110~38~106~Located at the base of the mountain for which it is named, Mount Shasta is a charming little town prepared to help you enjoy the area's natural splendor. Fuel up with huevos rancheros or bagels and fresh fruit at The Bagel Cafe and Nature Bakery, 105 E. Alma St.<BR>At the north end of town you'll see the headwaters of the Sacramento River at Mount Shasta City Park. The River, which flows 270 miles from here to the Golden Gate in San Francisco, originates in the ice-cold waters of Big Spring issuing from a lava tube deep within Mt. Shasta. That water flows into Cold Creek here in the park, the Sacramento River's most northerly feeder stream.<BR>The park has hiking trails, picnic tables, playgrounds, and public rest rooms, all free. From Lake Street drive north on N. Mt. Shasta Blvd to Nixon Rd. Cross the railroad tracks and turn right into the Park. For more information, call 530-926-2494. 205006188~Everitt Memorial Highway~-11104~2218~112~33~104~Set out on a scenic drive on Everitt Memorial Hwy (A-10). You can get about halfway up the slopes of the mountain by car. Vista points along the way provide plenty of photo opportunities to capture breathtaking views of the Sacramento River canyon to the southwest, the Eddy Mountains to the west, and glimpses of Mt. Lassen to the south. Stretch your legs at the Everitt Vista Turnout with a short hike through the forest, where you can see the McCloud valley from a lava rock outcropping. The highway ends about 14 miles from town at Old Ski Bowl Vista and Panther Meadow, where more spectacular scenery awaits. Hiking trails begin nearby for those interested in a longer, more challenging jaunt.<BR>Shasta Mountain Guides, 1938 Hill Rd., offers jeep trips up the mountain, as well as courses in rock and ice-climbing. Call the Mr. Shasta Ranger of the U.S. Forest Service (540-926-4511) for wilderness permits, maps, and more information.<BR>To reach Everitt Memorial Hwy, drive east on Lake Street past the high school. Continue uphill on the paved, 2-lane road. 205000120~Mount Shasta Ski Park~-10994~2142~118~49~101~No matter what the season, this ski area offers great outdoor activities at reasonable prices on the southern slope of Mt. Shasta. Cross-country enthusiasts head out from the ski center (lessons and rentals available) onto 25 km of groomed trails. Alpine skiing and snowboarding are of course quite popular. When you're not on the slopes, you can explore the Alpine town with its lodging, shops and restaurants. <BR>The fun doesn't end when the snow melts. Enjoy magnificent alpine scenery on a chair lift ride, or mountain bike over the ski runs that are converted to marked trails for the summer. A pass is $16, and bikes are available to rent at $8 a day. The park also has an artificial tower for climbing.<BR>Mt. Shasta Ski park is near McCloud on Hwy 89. Call 530-926-8610 for details and current conditions. 205006189~Lake Shastina~-11114~2342~115~24~104~Mount Shasta is loaded with outfits ready and willing to get you started on a fishing or boating adventure in the region. Take advantage of the abundant rainbow, lake and brown trout in the rivers, streams, and high alpine lakes that dot the area. River season begins April 30 on the McCloud and Sacramento Rivers. Get a lesson, hire a guide, or buy or rent equipment for a day of fly fishing at Mt. Shasta Fishing Guide (530-926-0296), Jack Trout Fly Fishing (530-926-4540), Hart's Guide Service (530-926-3431), or Ted Fay Fly Shop (530-235-2969).<BR>Lake Shastina, one of several area lakes that remain relatively uncrowded, is blessed with a boat ramp. Fishing and water skiing are permitted. If you don't have your row boat to float, check out Fun Factory Watercraft Rentals. They offer two- and three-person watercraft and wakeboard rentals at Lake Shastina's public access area. Call for reservations at least 24 hours in advance at 530-842-8585. Lake Shastina is ten minutes north of Mount Shasta. Take I-5 to Hwy 97, Big Springs Rd. to Jackson Ranch Rd. 205006190~Shasta Sunset Dinner Train~-10935~2131~127~48~106~Bring a brimming Mt. Shasta day to a perfect conclusion aboard the Shasta Sunset Dinner Train. The 40-mile, three-hour journey winds through forests and hills with incredibly beautiful vistas, from Mt. Shasta to the spires of Castle Crags to the rugged Trinity Alps. Enjoy a delicious gourmet meal in a restored vintage rail car as you drink in the beauty of a glorious sunset over the mountains. <BR>The Shasta Sunset Dinner Train departs from McCloud on Thursday through Sunday in the summer, with a more limited schedule in the winter months. Call 800-733-2141 for reservations. To reach McCloud from Interstate 5, take the McCloud/Reno exit and travel east ten miles on Hwy. 89, turning left on Colombero Ave. Follow Colombero into town, cross the tracks, and turn right on Main Street. 205000131~Mammoth Mountain Ski Area~-9967~-557~152~91~101~Ski on a volcano! Mammoth Mountain, an 11,050-foot-high volcanic peak perched on the southwest rim of the Long Valley caldera, is one of the prime skiing spots in the high Sierra. In an average season, their downhill ski slopes (30,000 feet in total) are open from November to June. Cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and other winter recreational activities are available, too. In summer, the slopes become prime mountain bike runs. The resort's proximity to other local attractions makes it a great base of operations for any visit to Mammoth Lakes. Even those who don't ski can take the gondola up to the summit of Mammoth Mountain for the great Sierra vistas. There are three day lodges, four ski shops, tow rental repair shops, and three on-hill snack shops. Ski schools are available for all levels, as well as special schools for children and teens, and day care is available. Mammoth Mountain Inn, located near the main lodge, and a number of other hotels and condominiums provide overnight accommodations. <BR>Located on Minaret Road west of Mammoth Lakes. Call 760-934-0745 or 888-462-6668. For ski conditions, call the hotline: 760-934-6166. FAX: 760-934-0603. 205006192~June Lake Village~-9998~-454~152~91~104~About fifteen miles north of Mammoth Lakes, Route 158 (also called the June Lake Loop) diverges from Highway 395. This 14-mile loop road leads to four pristine, azure lakes: June Lake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake, and Grant Lake. Anglers converge here each summer to try for some of the largest trout around, including the legendary unhookable "ol' Moe." The regions is also a haven for hiking, mountain biking, sight-seeing, and just plain relaxing. In winter, the local slopes come alive with skiers who flock to the June Mountain Ski Area. It boasts one of the steepest slopes in the U.S.A. June Lake Village provides the perfect, friendly, small-town setting for excursions into the local mountains. The loop drive itself provides wonderful views of the mountains, Mono Lake, and Mono Craters.<BR>June Lake Village is located on Route 158, three miles west of its southern junction with Highway 395. For more information, contact the June Lake Chamber of Commerce at 760-648-7584. 205006196~Hot Creek~-9963~-618~152~91~104~Tired and sore from a long day of hiking, skiing, sight-seeing, or shopping? Why not take advantage of the volcanic activity that simmers beneath the Mammoth Lakes region and soak in a natural hot spring? The area around Mammoth Lakes is dotted with natural and man-made tubs where the world-weary can soak their troubles away; some even have a mountain view! Although one of the favorite local pastimes is swimming at Hot Creek Geological Site, managed by the Inyo National Forest, soaking in the warm creek, fed by hot springs and fumaroles that burble and spurt only a few yards away, this is not a recommended activity. Be warned, water temperatures are not constant, and scalding is always a possibility. Placards at the site explain the geothermal phenomena (which are fueled by magma a mere three miles below the surface) and help identify local wildlife. Hot Creek is also a prime trout fishing stream, and attracts its share of anglers, as well. Consult guidebooks, available locally, for directions to other nearby hot-spring soaking tubs.<BR>Hot Creek is located six miles south of Mammoth Lakes, on a road that diverges from Highway 395. Watch for signs. Open during daylight hours. For more information, call the National Forest Service's Mammoth Lakes Visitor Center at 760-934-2505. 205000137~Bodie State Historic Park~-9919~-180~152~91~100~Established in 1861 and named for William S. Body (also known as Waterman Body), the prospector who staked his claim here in 1859, Bodie, in its heyday, surrendered up 32 million dollars in gold and at least 6 million dollars in silver. The town, whose name was changed to avoid mispronunciation, was notorious for its rough living (there were about 65 saloons and bawdy houses to service a population of around 10,000) and its crime: legend has it that in the two years between 1879 and 1881, an average of one murder a day occurred in the bad town of Bodie. Legend also has it that a little girl, learning that her family was moving to the infamous community, wrote in her diary "Good-bye, God, I'm going to Bodie." Upon hearing the story, the editor of the local paper declared that she actually wrote "Good, by God! I'm going to Bodie." As gold and silver became harder to find, Bodie suffered a string of devastating fires, the last of which, in 1932, destroyed 90 percent of the town. Today, the remaining 10 percent is preserved as a California Historic Park, and maintained in a state of "arrested decay." It is one of the finest ghost towns in the West, its boards, streets, and 65 buildings worn to a rusty, warm patina by the wind and weather of the eastern Sierra. There are no concessions here; modern rest room facilities are available only in the parking lot and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch.<BR>To find Bodie, take Highway 395 to State Route 270, seven miles south of Bridgeport. Proceed east on 270 for approximately 13 miles; the last three miles are unpaved, but generally passable (in summer months) by most passenger vehicles. Call ahead for road conditions (especially in winter, as there are no towing facilities anywhere nearby and the snowy road is impassable to just about any car or truck). The park is open in summer (from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend) from 9 AM to 7 PM daily. The remainder of the year it is open from 9 AM to 4 PM, or as posted. Admission fees are $2 per person, with children under 6 admitted for $1. You may bring dogs in for $1 each, but they must be on a leash at all times. For more information, call 760-647-6445. 205006197~Tamarack Lodge Resort~-9987~-560~145~123~100~For a romantic, rustic-yet-elegant mountain getaway, you can't do better than the Tamarack Lodge on the shores of stunning Twin Lakes. This vintage mountain resort, opened in 1924, boasts split log walls and a large fireplace fashioned from local stones. Accommodations range from basic guest rooms with shared bath facilities to large, three-bedroom cabins. Summer guests enjoy fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and local sight-seeing, while the resort features its popular Cross-Country Ski Center each winter. The elegant Lakefront Restaurant offers continental dining paired with local favorites, such as trout and elk.<BR>Tamarack Lodge Resort is located on scenic Lake Mary Road, two-and-a-half miles west of Mammoth Lakes. Rates vary according to season, but range from a low of $45 (room with shared bath, spring and fall) to $360 (3-bedroom cabin on a winter holiday). For more information, call 760-934-2442. 205006199~Restaurant at Convict Lake~-9913~-602~157~121~100~Convict Lake, one of the most lovely of the Alpine lakes that grace the Mammoth Lakes region, got its rough-and-tumble name from an 1871 gun battle between convicted fugitives and a sheriff's posse. You're not likely to find much gun-play there today, especially not at the plushly rustic Restaurant at Convict Lake. If price is no object, plan to dine here. This, the most acclaimed eating establishment in the region, has won a host of accolades. Prices range from $6.25 for a salad appetizer to about $30 for a venison entree. Specialties of the house include duck, rack of lamb, local trout, and beef Wellington, one of the restaurant's most popular dishes. <BR>The restaurant is located about 11 miles from Mammoth Lakes. Take Highway 395 south about nine miles to Convict Lake Road, then head west about two miles from the junction. For reservations or additional information, call 760-934-3803. 205006207~Mammoth Stonehouse Brewery & Restaurant~-9966~-567~152~91~106~Have all your Mammoth Lakes activities got you thirsty for a good glass of beer? Head to Mammoth Stonehouse Brewery for a taste of their locally made product. Enjoy great food in this lodge-like, smoke-free establishment, as well. If you're after some lively evening entertainment, just head upstairs to the sports bar, where you can play pool and dance to local rock bands each weekend.<BR>Located at 361 Old Mammoth Road in Mammoth Lakes. Call 760-934-6196. 205002325~Pacific Asia Museum~-9982~-2940~117~31~100~Located in the historic Grace Nicholson Treasure House, the museum has one of the only two authentic Chinese-style courtyards in the country. The art and culture of Pacific Asia are featured in the museum's renowned permanent collections and changing exhibitions. Entertainment, food samples, arts and crafts workshops, and children's programs are all offered during Family Free day, which is the third Saturday of each month.<BR>When you leave the museum, turn right and cross Union Street -- you'll see the Fuller Seminary, a sprawling, gabled structure featuring Higher Grounds, the perfect stop for a coffee break and a browse of the Seminary's bookstore. Walk down Los Robles Avenue, through the arcade just past the Doubletree and enter the Plaza las Fuentes, home of the lovely domed Civic Center, site of Pasadena's municipal government. Wander the plaza, enjoying the gardens, fountains, and whimsical sculpture. Who says Southern California isn't paradise?<BR>The Pacific Asia Museum welcomes visitors from 10 AM to 5 PM Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $3. 205006209~Old Pasadena~-10001~-2929~108~28~106~Smack in the middle of town is Old Pasadena, 12 blocks of lovingly restored storefronts dating from the 1880s and '90s. The area features outdoor plazas nestled behind facades reminiscent of an Edward Hopper painting, a lively mix of over 100 stores and boutiques, and 80 restaurants. <BR>Choose from a veritable United Nations of lunch venues, among them Johnny Rockets Hamburgers, Ernie Jr's Taco House, or Kansai for delicious and healthy Japanese noodles. Turn left off of Union Street into Smith Alley to watch people baking bread available at the Il Fornaio Italian restaurant just ahead of you. Whimsical, lifelike sculptures such as The Giant Porcelain Blacksmith, the Glass Water Repairpersons, and a brass dog adorn the area.<BR>Reconnoiter the smaller boutiques for the avant-garde California styles the rest of us will be wearing a few years hence. Rizzoli's, Barnes and Noble, Book Alley Used Bookstore and Distant Lands Travel Bookstore are among the many Old Pasadena spots where book-browsing is a fine art. 205000335~Norton Simon Museum of Art~-9990~-2937~110~35~106~No trip to Pasadena is complete without a visit to the Norton Simon Museum. Simon, a corporate lion, amassed an incomparable collection of European and Asian masterpieces, which is beautifully displayed in this gem of a museum. Such renowned works as Picasso's "Woman with a Book," Degas' bronze "The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer," and Rembrandt's "Self Portrait" are in residence. Works by Goya, Manet, Monet, Renoir, van Gogh, Cezanne, and Rousseau as well as a major collection of South Asian sculpture make this one of the world's most prestigious art museums.<BR>The Museum, located at 411 West Colorado Blvd., is open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 6 PM. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students with I.D. 205000337~Huntington Library~-9983~-2954~116~39~106~The Ellesmere Chaucer (a 15th-century illuminated manuscript of <I>The Canterbury Tales</I>), a Gutenberg Bible, and a folio edition of Shakespeare's plays are among the treasures on display in the Huntington Library. The collection includes Gainsborough's "The Blue Boy," Edward Hopper's "The Long Leg," and Mary Cassatt's "Breakfast in Bed." When the gallery lighting gets to you, head outside to 150 acres of breathtaking botanical gardens. Camellia and palm gardens, jungle and desert gardens, a Zen garden, lily ponds, and a Japanese garden are among the botanical masterpieces. Enjoy English high tea in the Rose Garden Tea Room , a well-deserved treat after a long afternoon's excursion. <BR>The Huntington is located about two miles north of Pasadena at 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino, CA, 12 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, noon to 4:30 PM, and Saturday & Sunday, 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed Mondays and major holidays. <BR>Admission is free for members and on the first Thursday of every month. Non-members pay $8.50 per adult, $7 per senior (age 65 and older), $5 per student (age 12 and older), free for children under 12. 320000037~Museo de Historia Mexicana~-178~-9640~41~101~106~One of the most recent additions to Monterrey's Gran Plaza, the Museo de Historia Mexicana (Mexican History Museum) takes its jagged, pyramidal design from nearby Saddle Mountain. Opened in 1995, and expanded to include a riverwalk and boat rides in 1996, this exciting multimedia museum makes visitors feel like participants in the major events of Mexican history. During the Revolution of 1910, you ride a railcar taking troops of rebels into battle while period newsreels describe the events of the day. Other exhibits highlight Mexico's cafe society at the beginning of the 20th century, early manufacturing, and impressive pre-Columbian Huastec artifacts. The museum is open Tuesday through Thurday from 11 AM to 7 PM, and Friday through Sunday from 11 AM to 8 PM. Admission costs $1.50. It's located on the south end of the Gran Plaza at Dr. Cross 445 Sur. (8-345-98-98) 247000574~Blue Flamingo Consignment Shop~12676~4837~114~119~106~For a funky shopping experience, head for the Blue Flamingo Consignment Shop. Specializing in '40s, '50s, and '60s kitchenware, furniture, toys and more, this 4,000-square-foot store will keep you oohing and ahhing as you wander the aisles and check out relics of the not-so-distant past.<BR>Hours are 10 AM to 5 PM Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday; 10 AM to 6 PM on Friday; and Sunday, noon to 5 PM. The phone number is 802-658-5055.<BR>The Blue Flamingo is located at 184 Battery Street on Lake Champlain in Burlington. 247000575~Butler's Restaurant~12768~4875~133~110~100~Treat yourself to lunch prepared by the world-class chefs of the New England Culinary Institute and their students. Butler's, at The Inn at Essex, offers an innovative and distinctive menu in a newly renovated dining room. Be sure to try the specials -- they are created and prepared by the students for classroom credit.<BR>Lunch is served from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Entrees range from $5 to $8. Reservations can be made at 800-727-4295.<BR>Butler's is located at 70 Essex Way, just off Vermont 189's Exit 10. 247000576~The Cook's Garden~12675~4851~114~119~104~Walk off lunch in the demonstration gardens of The Cook's Garden. Explore the acres of exquisite floral gardens and vegetable plots. Wander through waves of daisies and towers of beans and take home some inspiration for your own backyard. You can also take home the seeds used to create the gardens, sold at the Gardener's Supply retail shop located right next door.<BR>The gardens are open to the public at all times. There is no admission charge. The phone number for Gardener's Supply is 800-863-1700. They can answer questions concerning the demonstration gardens.<BR>From Burlington, take Williston Road (known downtown as Main Street) to Prospect Street, which crosses Riverside to become Intervale Rd. The Garden is at 128 Intervale. 247000577~Ben & Jerry's~12918~4822~155~127~100~Peanut Butter Cup, New York Super Fudge ChunkÖ, Vanilla Caramel Fudge, Cherry Garcia«. It's okay! Give in! A trip to the Burlington area is not complete without a tour of the Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory. The tour includes a short movie, a visit to the Production Room, and a free sample in the Flavor Room. Of course, the Scoop Shop at the end of the tour serves 34 flavors, and the Gift Shop offers a selection of "MeMOOrabilia."<BR>Tours are given seven days a week (though the Production Room is closed on Sundays) and take 30 minutes. Call 802-244-TOUR for hours, as they are open at different times depending on the month. Cost is $2 per person, children 12 and under are free.<BR>You'll get to Ben & Jerry's Waterbury manufacturing facility by taking Exit 10 off I-89. Go north on Route 100 towards Stowe. The factory is on the left, about a mile up the road. 247000578~Church Street Marketplace~12677~4837~114~119~100~Start your morning with a cup of coffee at an outdoor cafe in the Church Street Marketplace. Stroll the brick-paved streets among historic buildings, fountains and boutiques. In the heart of downtown Burlington, this European-style thoroughfare is a great spot for people-watching as well as shopping.<BR>Church Street Marketplace is located in the downtown business district. It runs for four blocks along Church Street, about four blocks from the lake. Several parking garages surround the area. For more information, call 802-863-1648. 216001026~James Dean Memorial Gallery~7278~841~180~140~100~Though he appeared in only three Hollywood films during a very brief career, James Dean ranks right up there with Elvis and Marilyn in terms of cult status. Dean's enduring magnetism still sells heaps of licensed merchandise and draws crowds to Fairmount, his hometown and final resting place. The James Dean Gallery features an exhibit with movie posters and other Dean memorabilia from around the world, an archive and library, exhibits of personal items from his life and career, oodles of novelty and commercial items that have been produced since the 1950s, and a souvenir shop.<BR>The James Dean Gallery is located at 425 Main Street, just south of State Road 26. It's open seven days a week from 9 AM to 6 PM. You can call 765-948-3326 for more details. 216001027~Fairmount Historical Museum~7277~840~180~140~100~Named one of Indiana's "seven hidden treasures" by Governor Frank O'Bannon, this otherwise typical small-town historical society devotes itself largely to two hometown heroes: movie idol James Dean and cartoonist Jim Davis, creator of Garfield the Cat. The Dean exhibit contains an abundance of commercial and personal memorabilia, much of it donated by the Dean family. The Garfield exhibit features original cartoon drawings, the first talking Garfield doll, and more. The museum also sponsors an annual James Dean Weekend, held the last weekend of September, which features a classic car show, a '50s dance, a James Dean look-alike contest, and other events.<BR>From March through November, open 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 Sundays; by appointment only December through February (call 765-948-4555). The Historical Museum is east of the intersection of Washington and Main streets, south of State Hwy 26. The address is 203 E. Washington. 216001028~Lincoln Museum~7463~1319~207~59~100~Kentuckians may claim his birthplace, but Hoosiers are quick to point out that the young Abraham Lincoln called Indiana home during the years 1816 to 1830. And the city of Fort Wayne proudly plays host to the Lincoln Museum, regarded by Lincoln scholars as the world's largest privately owned collection of Lincoln memorabilia. Through numerous interactive and audiovisual exhibits, as well as showcased artifacts, this modern hands-on facility covers Lincoln's life and achievements in depth, demonstrating the effect that pop culture has had on the Lincoln legend.<BR>Open 10 AM to 5 PM Tuesday through Saturday, 1 PM to 5 PM Sunday at 202 E. Berry. Take the US 27 exit heading into downtown Fort Wayne. The museum is located just east of the intersection of Berry and Clinton streets. A small admission fee is charged. Call 219-455-3816 for more information. 216001029~Carole Lombard House~7455~1317~207~59~100~Spend the night at Carole Lombard's, an 1895 shingle-style Queen Anne Victorian with an elegant 1930s decor. Overlooking the Carole Lombard Memorial Bridge on Fort Wayne's Main Street, this charming bed and breakfast was the family home of young Carole Jane Peters before her transformation into Hollywood's premier comedienne in the 1930s, her legendary marriage to Clark Gable, and her untimely death in a plane crash in 1942. The owners provide a full breakfast, complimentary tickets to the Lincoln Museum, and plenty of expert advice on the best local eateries and attractions.<BR>Located at 704 Rockhill, just west of downtown, near the intersection of Rockhill and Main. Call 219-426-9896 for information. 216001030~Dan Quayle Center and Museum~7305~1162~186~89~100~During Dan Quayle's vice presidency, citizens of his hometown set up an odd display of Quayle family artifacts in the local library, including a lock of his baby hair and some less than inspiring grade school report cards. The exhibit, aided by an unexpected barrage of glib national media coverage, quickly sent Huntington's tourism figures through the ceiling. Local movers and shakers, sensing a strong public appetite for Quayle under glass, quickly established the Dan Quayle Center and Museum, a repository of memorabilia from his life and political career. In addition to permanent exhibits on Quayle and U.S. vice presidents generally, the museum presents exhibitions on loan from presidential libraries and other museums, and also mounts shows of its own.<BR>Just 25 miles southwest of Fort Wayne at the corner of Warren and Tipton in downtown Huntington, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday 1 to 4 PM. Call 219-356-6356 for information on current exhibits. If visiting mid-day, you might try a "Quayleburger," the house specialty at nearby Nick's Kitchen, one of Dan's former haunts -- it's also a stop in the "Quayle Trail" sightseeing brochure supplied by the museum. 216001031~Recreational Vehicle Hall of Fame~6987~1651~136~15~100~Learn everything you'll ever need to know about mobile homes and trailer culture in Elkhart, the town where the RV and manufactured housing industry originated and continues to thrive. If approaching Elkhart on a two-lane road, prepare yourself for the likelihood you'll be stuck behind a slow-moving "wide load." Your patience will be rewarded with exhibits of RVs, tent campers, and mobile homes dating back to 1913, including the very first camper ever made. Sponsored by numerous local firms in the industry, the Recreational Vehicle/Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame also contains an 8,000-volume library.<BR>The Hall of Fame is located on one of Elkhart's main drags, at 820 Benham Avenue. Open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM; call 219-293-2344 for weekend visits by appointment. 210000219~John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park~12058~-8742~149~99~105~The first underwater sanctuary in the nation, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is named for the Miami Herald newspaper editor who fought for its preservation. It protects the only living coral reef within the continental bounds of the United States. Almost 54,000 acres of the park lie underwater, and the adjacent Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary extends the protected underwater area to 103 square miles. <BR>This is the perfect place for scuba divers and snorkelers, expert and novice alike. There are many different areas to dive, and both depths and shallows teem with colorful fish and coral. Concessionaires lead scuba and snorkeling classes and expeditions, offer glass-bottom boat tours, and rent canoes, motorboats, and kayaks. Please note that jet ski and wave runner use is discouraged. Snorkeling and scuba equipment rentals are also available through the park concession. Popular underwater sites include the reconstructed wreck of a Spanish galleon, several real shipwrecks, sunken cannons close to shore that harbor schools of parrot fish, and the famous Christ of the Deep statue, one of the world's most photographed underwater subjects. <BR>Two man-made beaches, protected by mangroves, offer visitors a chance to swim and fish from shore, and both picnicking and camping are allowed. Restrooms are available at the park. Don't miss the 30,000-gallon aquarium at the visitor center. <BR>The park's campground offers 47 gravel, back-in sites with electric and water hookups. A dump station, restrooms, and showers are available on site, and there is a snack bar nearby. Campers may stay a total of 14 days, at a rate of $24 to $26 per day.<BR>You'll find the park in Key Largo, at Mile Marker 102.5. (305-451-1202)<BR>Pets: No pets are permitted in the campgrounds.<BR>Reservations: Florida is scheduled to implement a state-wide reservation and information system in the future. If you cannot reach this park at the listed phone number, please call the Florida Division of Recreation and Parks at 850-488-9872.<BR>Campsite fees do not include tax. 210003886~Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center~12004~-8825~143~110~104~The Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center in Tavernier is just what its name suggests, a rehab center for the winged walking wounded. You can spend the better part of a day in the fun and educational confines of the Rehabilitation Center. Just as other Florida Key parks offer exceptional access to nautical life, the Rehabilitation Center lets you see pelicans, ospreys, spoonbills and other species of the Keys' diverse bird life up close.<BR>The Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center is located at Mile Marker 93.6. (305-852-4486) 210000207~Long Key State Park~11852~-8997~132~121~104~A visit to this recreation area plunges you into the distant and not-so-distant past. Natural historians will appreciate the 100,000-year-old ancient coral reef remains that stand as evidence of a time when the sea level was up to 30 feet higher. Social historians will enjoy the story of the Florida Coast Railroad, which was destroyed by a hurricane in 1935. Remains of the railroad, which predated the Overseas Highway, can still be glimpsed on Long Key.<BR>Then plunge into the present-day wonders of the Atlantic Ocean. This park has a shoreline on the ocean side of Long Key, but no true sandy beach. The park is most popular for its camping; campers and day visitors wade, sunbathe, and picnic at the shore. The water is very shallow for 400 feet out. Shoreside has restrooms, picnic tables, canoe rental and grills.<BR>Visitors come year-round, though the busy season is January through April. Midsummer temperatures run in the 80s. Visitors may enjoy the campfires on Friday nights during season. Park closes at sundown and opens at 8:00 AM. Admission to the Area is $3.25 per vehicle and 50 cents per person. It's located at Mile Marker 68.<BR>Reservations: Florida is scheduled to implement a state-wide reservation and information system in the future. If you cannot reach this park at the listed phone number, please call the Florida Division of Recreation and Parks at 850-488-9872.<BR>Campsite fees do not include tax. 210003887~Dolphin Research Center~11719~-9085~122~129~108~The Dolphin Research Center is one of three Florida Keys-based interactive dolphin centers -- the only ones of their kind in the continental U.S. The Dolphin Research Center offers the "Dolphin Encounter" and "Dolphinsight" programs, structured interactive sessions during which you get up close to the Center's charming Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Call at least 30 days in advance for information about program reservations, hours, and admission fees. <BR>The Center is located at Mile Marker 59 on the bay side of Grassy Key. (305-289-1121) 210000100~Bahia Honda State Park~11599~-9153~111~133~104~Bearing a name meaning "deep bay" in Spanish, Bahia Honda encompasses 524 acres and boasts one of South Florida's most beautiful beaches. This park's far-southern geographical location is responsible for a natural environment found nowhere else in the continental United States. The park contains several biological communities: beach dune, coastal berm, mangrove forest, tropical hardwood hammock and submerged marine habitats. If you're traveling with children, call ahead to see whether the Educational Center will be open. Geared toward kids, the center offers tons of information about this unique areas. Because it's located on a coral key, Bahia Honda has beaches on both sides -- on the Atlantic Ocean and in the Florida Bay. Water sports are very popular: swimming, snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking, and fishing. Two boat ramps have 19 slips available for rent. Other facilities include rental furnished cabins equipped with kitchens, developed campsites, campfire circle, picnic areas, and a nature trail. Park staff members offer snorkeling tours and trips to Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary.<BR>The park is located 12 miles south of Marathon, and is open from 8 AM until sunset.<BR>Reservations: Florida is scheduled to implement a state-wide reservation and information system in the future. If you cannot reach this park at the listed phone number, please call the Florida Division of Recreation and Parks at 850-488-9872.<BR>Campsite fees do not include tax. 210003888~Audubon House and Tropical Garden~11279~-9292~87~144~104~The Audubon House and Tropical Garden is an ambitious restoration project housed in and around the 19th-century home of Captain John H. Geiger. It is named in honor of the famed ornithologist and painter John James Audubon, who visited the Florida Keys in 1832. Twenty-eight first edition Audubon works are housed in the mansion. A self-guided tour of the gardens offers you a close look at the tropical flora, which includes orchids, bromeliads, and herbs. The Audubon House and Tropical Garden is open daily from 9:30 AM to 5 PM. <BR>The Audubon House is located at 205 Whitehead St, on Key West, about seven blocks north of the Overseas Highway. If you're coming from the east along US 1 take a right on Palm Avenue and follow it. It becomes Eaton Street, which you can follow for seven or eight blocks until it hits Whitehead. Take a right at Whitehead. (305-294-2116) 226000661~Blues Archive at Ole Miss~5773~-3437~122~58~100~True blues fans will discover a gold mine of information at the University of Mississippi's Blues Archive. Opened in 1984, the Archive houses the world's largest collection of records, books, photographs, posters, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia dedicated to the blues. Among the Archive's holdings is the personal record collection of B.B. King, featuring over 7,000 albums, 45s, and 78s ranging from jazz and soul to pop and rock. Another draw is the Blues Archive Photograph Collection, with over 20,000 photographs from decades of <I>Living Blues </I>magazine, as well as from top blues photographers. If you're looking for the obscure, this collection features some of the only known existing photographs of many musicians.<BR>The Blues Archive is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM and is located at 340 Farley Hall on the University of Mississippi campus. (601-232-7753) 226000369~Clarksdale~5224~-3612~78~71~112~Head to downtown Clarksdale and the corner of Issaquena Avenue and 4th Street, close your eyes, and imagine the sights and sounds of a stompin' Saturday night back when sharecroppers came to town to shop, socialize, and party to <I>their</I> music played in "juke joints" lining the streets. On the surface, Clarksdale today looks like any other hard-working, Cotton Belt town. But for blues fans, the stops in and around town make up a huge chapter in a blues history lesson. 226000318~Delta Blues Museum~5210~-3610~78~73~100~Established in 1979 by the Carnegie Public Library, the Delta Blues Museum is today visited by thousands of people from around the world. The museum houses an extensive collection of books, recordings, videos, rare photographs and memorabilia tracing the roots of blues from its origins in the cotton fields to the expanding business it is today. Several exhibits examine the development of the blues. You can also get your picture with Muddy Waters, or at least a life-size wax figure of the guitar legend who died in 1983. Stop by the Gift Shop & Bookstore for an incredible source of rare recordings and publications. You might want to plan your trip around the regular seminars, programs, and monthly live music performances produced by the Museum. Or better yet, visit the annual Delta Blues Museum-sponsored Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival held every August. Before departing, make sure you ask the knowledgeable curator about who's playing where throughout Clarksdale.<BR>To get to the museum, find yourself north of State Street and across the train tracks. In the middle of and parallel to Riverside and DeSoto Avenues, you'll find Delta Avenue. Look for the museum at 114 Delta. (601-627-6820) 243001568~Graceland~5450~-3018~79~141~100~Graceland is much more than the King's Memphis castle. It is an entire complex of attractions, including a museum housing a number of Elvis' colorful automobiles and motorcycles; a tour of his airplanes, the Hound Dog II and the Lisa Marie; a museum of memorabilia; a film documenting Elvis' life and career; several restaurants; numerous gift shops; and, of course, the mansion. Graceland's exterior is surprisingly modest by today's standards of superstar excess, but just step inside the doors. A taped audio tour will lead you through the first floor, where you'll take in the mirrored living room, the dining room, the kitchen (where a deep-fried peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich -- Elvis' favorite -- waits poignantly on the stove, never to be ingested), and the bedroom occupied in turn by Elvis' parents, his grandmother, and his aunt. The tour then proceeds to the basement where the TV room, the pool room, and the awe-inspiring "jungle room" replete with a shag-carpeted ceiling, a fountain, and tiki-inspired furniture greet incredulous visitors. Alas, no one is allowed upstairs to glimpse the site of the King's actual demise. Instead, the tour continues around the grounds and includes outbuildings that house an office, a racquetball court, and Elvis' "trophy room," full of gold records, stage costumes, awards, and the accolades of fans from around the globe. The tour ends in the Meditation Garden, where Elvis, his parents, and his grandmother rest in peace.<BR>Located at 3746 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis. Open daily year-round; the mansion is closed on Tuesdays from November through February, and the entire complex is closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Ticket booth hours from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day are 7:30 AM to 6 PM, and 8:30 to 5 PM the rest of the year. Attractions remain open for approximately two hours after the last ticket is sold to assure that everyone can finish their tour. Tickets to the various institutions are sold as packages and individually, in a fascinating array of combinations and prices. Please call 901-332-3322 or 800-238-2000 for the details. 226000663~Blues Crossroads~5210~-3609~78~73~106~According to the Delta Blues Museum, the most happenin' juke joint in Clarksdale is Blues Crossroads. All the best blues and R 'n' B bands in Clarksdale are regulars including Frank Frost, who plays the harmonica on the sound track for the legendary blues documentary <I>Crossroads,</I> Big Jack Johnson, Sam Carr, Lonnie Pitchford, Rufus Johnson and many more. You can be sure of live blues every weekend, but weekdays are hit or miss; more hit than miss during the summer months. The food menu reads like a history book of delicious Delta delicacies and includes barbecue chicken and ribs, baked beans, cole slaw, and dessert. If you're a fan of mixed drinks, BYOB because the bar only serves beer.<BR>Blues Crossroads is located at 224 Sunflower Avenue -- north of State Street and the railroad tracks, and between Riverside and DeSoto Avenues. To confirm kitchen hours and for other information, call 601-624-8261. 226000664~Riverside Hotel~5212~-3615~78~73~106~If you're hard-core blues to the bone, stay overnight at the Riverside Hotel. More of a boarding house than a hotel, this establishment offers more legend than luxury. You won't find a swimming pool or room service, but you will find an important chapter in blues history. Fact is, the building that today is the Riverside Hotel used to be the hospital where blues queen Bessie Smith died back in 1937. Depending how adventurous you are, you can choose to stay in the very room in which she died. For a more conventional night's stay, there are number of chain accommodations in the area including a Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Hampton Inn.<BR>Located at 615 Sunflower Avenue, the Riverside Hotel is north of State Street and the railroad tracks and between Riverside and DeSoto Avenues. The best way to reach them is to try 601-624-9163, although this seems to be a "hit or miss" situation. 226000665~Cotton Factor~5475~-4041~100~104~106~Any trip to Greenwood should include a stop by the Cotton Factor, a first-rate juke joint located in the center of town. Serving up a delicious menu of barbecue chicken, steaks, and seafood, this establishment also features some of the hottest blues musicians live every weekend. While you're sitting there sipping a tall cold one, look around and notice the endless pieces of blues memorabilia that cover the walls, including a guitar signed and donated by B.B. King.<BR>Located at 101 Main Street in downtown Greenwood. (601-453-3579) 226000666~Robert Johnson Memorial(s)~5417~-4131~93~113~100~Much uncertainty clouds the life of Robert Johnson, the man who, legend has it, loved his music so much that he struck a deal with Old Scratch and exchanged his soul for the ability to play a mean guitar. Known as a loner, Johnson spent much of his life on the road playing in towns around the Delta. When he did travel with others, the group of companions was small and select, and included Son House, Howlin' Wolf, Johnny Shines, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Elmore James -- not a bad crowd! He was only recorded twice, but his amazing guitar-playing ability is spoken of with reverence. For the blues fan, a trip to Robert Johnson's gravesite is worth a pilgrimage.<BR>The obscurity that hung haze-like around Johnson's life failed to lift when he died. Today, two separate markers claim that Johnson lies six feet under. As you might suspect, one is considered more "legit" than the other. This one is located at Morgan City's Mount Zion Baptist Church. If you're curious about the second site, travel up Hwy 7, north from Morgan City until you get to Quito. Look for Payne Chapel, the site's location. 249001738~Miller Brewing Company~5886~2419~96~35~100~Now that Pabst, the granddaddy of all Milwaukee's breweries is gone, Miller has assumed the mantle of oldest survivor of the Milwaukee brewing tradition. The company dates back to 1848, and the oldest building still in use dates to 1892. The brewery is the second largest in the United States, producing slightly under 50 million barrels a day. Free tours are given at various times every day Monday through Saturday, from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Tours last one hour and require walking outdoors and upstairs, so dress for the weather. Strollers are not permitted. Call 414-931-2000 for more information. The Miller Brewery is located at 3939 West Highland Boulevard. Take I-94 west to Route 41 North. Take Route 41 to the Highland Boulevard exit. 249001741~Wisconsin Brewing Company~5872~2418~91~39~106~Located in the western suburb of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Brewing Company is one of the latest additions to the microbrewery scene. The company offers both craft beers and root beer. The tours cost from $3 to $7, depending on what kind of souvenir you want to walk away with. Tours are given on Saturday afternoons from noon to 4 PM. They are located at 1064 North 63rd Street, Wauwatosa. (414-443-9278) 249001742~Sprecher Brewing Company~5902~2460~105~20~106~Founded in 1985, Sprecher is one of Milwaukee's newer microbreweries. A few years ago they moved to a former elevator car factory, where they put out a dozen specialty beers and gourmet sodas. They aren't without a sense of history though -- their tours include historical Bavarian brewing scenes and artifacts. Tours are given Saturday afternoons at 1, 2 and 3 PM. They're located at 701 West Glendale Avenue in Glendale. Take I-43 North to Exit 77A, then go west on Glendale Avenue. (414-964-2739) 249001743~Lakefront Brewery~5912~2430~109~34~106~Like other fellow Milwaukee microbreweries, Lakefront Brewery also began in 1985. It's still in its original location, on the north side of the city, along the banks of the Milwaukee River. They specialize in handmade beers and a premium root beer. Tours are given every Saturday at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 PM. You'll find them at 1872 North Commerce Street. (414-372-8800) 211001731~Thomasville Welcome Center~9208~-5332~68~111~100~Consider kicking off your visit to Thomasville with a stop at the Thomasville Welcome Center. There you'll find a host of resources to guide you during your tour. Brochures offer detailed information about local attractions, bed and breakfasts, places to eat, and organized tour schedules. Be sure to pick up a local map, available for $1. Welcome Center hours are Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM, and Saturdays from 9 AM to 4 PM. (800-704-2350 or 912-227-7099)<BR>The Thomasville Welcome Center is located at 135 N. Broad Street at the intersection of N. Broad Street and N. Boulevard. 211001732~Pebble Hill Plantation~9187~-5381~68~111~100~Pebble Hill Plantation is located in the piney woods 5 miles south of Thomasville. This graceful plantation house and property dates from the 1820s. It was built to serve as the home of Thomas Jefferson Johnson, one of Thomasville's founders. For many decades it was a cotton plantation, but then the owners sold it to a wealthy Ohio industrialist in the 1890s. Tours of Pebble Hill Plantation showcase historic artifacts owned by the house's various residents over the years, the stables, a collection of old carriages, and beautifully maintained grounds. Pebble Hill Plantation is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday 1 to 5 PM. The last tour of the day begins at 4 PM. The Plantation is closed from Labor Day to October 1, Christmas Day, and Thanksgiving. Admission fees for the grounds are $2 for adults and $1 for children. Admission to the house is $5 for adults. Please note that children under 12 are not admitted to the house. (912-226-2344)<BR>The Pebble Hill Plantation is located 5 miles south of Thomasville along Highway 319. It's easy to spot, on the west side of the highway. 211001733~Lapham-Patterson House State Historic Site~9213~-5333~68~111~100~A quintessential Victorian home, the beautifully crafted Lapham-Patterson House was built in 1884 for C. W. Lapham, a Chicago shoe merchant. When first built it was state-of-the-art, with indoor cold- and hot-water plumbing, gas lighting and a double flue chimney. The Lapham-Patterson House is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 AM to 5 PM, and Sundays from 2 PM to 5:30 PM. (912-225-4004)<BR>Lapham-Patterson House State Historic Site is located at 626 N. Dawson Street near the intersection of N. Dawson Street and E. Calhoun Street. 211001734~Thomas County Historical Society Museum~9212~-5333~68~111~100~The Thomas County Historical Society Museum is dedicated to the preservation of Thomasville's Gilded Hotel Age, that period of the town's past when wealthy magnates and industrialists came to winter in the region's healthful piney regions. Photos, memorabilia, and artifacts including period clothing from the mid-19th century abound. Museum hours are daily from 10 AM to 12 PM and 2 PM to 5 PM. Tours last from one and a half to two hours, and the last tour begins at 3:30 PM. (912-226-7664)<BR>The Thomas County Historical Society Museum is located at 725 N. Dawson Street near the intersection of N. Dawson Street and E. Webster Street. 211001735~Big Oak~9214~-5336~68~111~100~You'll find some living history at the intersection of Monroe and Crawford in Thomasville. Gaze up at the nearly 70-foot-tall, 310-year-old oak known simply as "The Big Oak." The Big Oak has a circumference of 24 feet and was first registered in the venerable National Live Oak Society in 1936. <BR>The Big Oak is located at the intersection of E. Monroe and N. Crawford Streets. 239001945~Duquesne Incline~10092~1381~102~69~100~Enjoy the spectacular view from a hundred-year-old cable car as you travel up the side of Mount Washington on the Duquesne Incline. Originally built to haul freight and passengers up the mountainside, the cars are now working museums that carry commuters as well as visitors. At the upper station, enjoy the panorama from the new observation deck, then saunter down Grandview Avenue and choose from a variety of fine restaurants with a breathtaking view of the city.<BR>The Duquesne Incline operates 365 days a year, Monday through Saturday from 5:30 AM through 12:45 AM (Sundays and major holidays they start at 7:00 AM). Fare is $2 roundtrip for adults, and $1.00 for children. Free parking is available directly across the street from the Lower Station. Call 412-381-1665 for further information.<BR>The Incline is on the southern bank of the Monongahela River. Just south of the Fort Pitt Bridge is an exit off Route 279 onto West Carson Street. The Lower Station is less than a block west of the expressway off-ramp. 239001946~Priority Inn, The~10099~1392~113~52~106~Check into a former Benedictine monastery restored and transformed into a European-style hotel. Filled with antiques and old-world charm, the Priory offers amenities such as a fine breakfast, the weekday paper, and wine in the afternoon. The Priory's North Side location is only five minutes from downtown, close to the Andy Warhol Museum.<BR>Weekend rates range from $100 to $130 a night. Call 412-231-3338 for more information. The Priory is located at 614 Pressley Street, nestled just northwest of the bend in Route 279. 239000777~Andy Warhol Museum~10098~1389~113~54~106~Seven stories attempt to capture the corpus of Andy Warhol. Each floor follows a decade of his life and art. In addition to the Pop Art collection (Campbell's Soup Cans) and portraits (Elvis, Marilyn, Jackie Kennedy) the museum also features archival material. Archives include over 600 "time capsules," which Warhol compulsively filled with everyday things including party invitations, letters, shoes, toys, and anything else he felt like throwing in. The cafe is a great place for lunch.<BR>The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Otherwise it opens at 11 AM, and closes at 6 PM on Wednesdays and Sundays, and at 8 PM on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Admission is $6 for adults, and $4 for children. Call 412-237-8300 for more information.<BR>The Warhol Museum is located on the North Side at 117 Sandusky Street. You'll find the museum on the corner of Sandusky and General Robinson. 239001947~Mattress Factory, The~10092~1394~103~47~106~Located in an old warehouse, this museum shows contemporary art pieces commissioned specifically for this site. Artists in residence come from all over the world to create and show their work at this unusual venue. In addition to catching travelling or temporary exhibits, don't miss the distinctive permanent collection.<BR>The Mattress Factory is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. It is closed during the month of August. Adult admission is $4, children under 12 are free. The phone number is 412-231-3169.<BR>The Mattress Factory is located at 500 Sampsonia Way, on the North Side. You'll find parking at 505 Jacksonia, just a short walk away. 239000163~Carnegie Institute - Museum of Natural History~10125~1392~156~53~106~Spend a few afternoon hours strolling under an Apatosaurus, sizing up a Diplodocus, or meditating on a Tyrannosaurus rex. World-famous for its Dinosaur Hall, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History has ten dinosaur skeletons on display. But life doesn't stop at the Mesozoic Era. From the Paleozoic to the present, and from the North Pole to the South, this museum has life on Earth covered. Maintained by the Carnegie Institute, the Museum of Natural History is housed in the same museum complex as the Carnegie Museum of Art, which features a permanent collection of antiques, pottery, Oriental art, and much more.<BR>The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. Admission is $6 for adults, and $4 for children. For more information, call 412-622-3131.<BR>The museum is located east of downtown Pittsburgh, out at 4400 Forbes Avenue. 218000875~American Cave Museum & Hidden River Cave~7472~-1317~108~86~100~An in-depth look at the fascinating world of caves awaits visitors to the American Cave Museum. Learn how nature sculpts subterranean netherworlds and discover how Native Americans used caves for shelter, food storage, and mineral extraction. Other exhibits include "The Story of Floyd Collins," the spelunker whose entrapment and subsequent death caused a media frenzy in 1925; a "Photo Gallery of American Caves"; "The Cave Wars," exploring Kentuckians' early 20th-century race to promote private caves as tourist destinations; and "Modern Cave Exploration," documenting technique and personal feats. Stop by the gift shop for a piece of Cave Country to take home with you.<BR>A trip to the American Cave Museum isn't complete until you've taken a tour of Hidden River Cave, also known as the "greatest cave success story in America." Hidden River Cave was nearly lost to the world when its subterranean river and rare eyeless fish were greatly damaged by groundwater pollution. A decade-long conservation project resulted in the cave's restoration. Guided tours leave every 60 minutes from the American Cave Museum to lead groups beneath the Town of Horse Cave. A well-lit walkway overlooks the Hidden River, a roaring waterway that flows more than 100 feet below the streets above.<BR>Admission prices for the museum and cave are $6 for adults and $3 for children 6-12; $3 for the museum only. The American Cave Museum and Hidden River Cave are open year-round from 9 AM to 5 PM and 9 AM to 7 PM on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. Located two miles from I-65, exit 58 at 131 Main St. in Horse Cave. (502-786-1466) 218000876~Kentucky Caverns~7458~-1304~105~85~105~Marvel at the unique onyx formations, massive columns, delicate coral, and constant 60-degree temperature found throughout the underground chambers of Kentucky Caverns. Guides place special emphasis on groundwater conservation and the important interdependence between surface and subsurface in karstic worlds. If you're more interested in the spectacular and rarely viewed scenery, just ignore the scientific babble and gawk at the natural beauty around you. Guides welcome questions and comments during the 45-minute tour. Tours leave at the top of each hour.<BR>Kentucky Caverns is open year-round with the exception of Christmas and New Year's Day. Open 8 AM to 6 PM April through October and 9 AM to 4 PM November through March. Located at 3700 L & N Turnpike Rd, off of I-65 at exit 58. (502-786-2636) 218000877~Horse Cave Theatre~7475~-1317~108~88~106~Established in 1977 to help bring cultural and economic growth to the region and promote tourism, Kentucky's Professional Festival Theatre is today nationally known for its excellent productions of comedies, classic dramas, and new works. Although its scope allows for traditional works by Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, and other household names, Horse Cave Theatre also provides a venue for works by Kentucky playwrights. The season, which roughly spans the months of June through October, generally features six productions.<BR>The theater is located on Main St. (Hwy 218) in Horse Cave. Leave I-65 at exit 58 and head east at the end of the ramp. Pass over the railroad tracks, and proceed to the stoplight, then continue on to the corner of Main St. and 31W. (502-786-1200) 240000109~Benefit Street~14042~3401~136~90~100~Take a stroll down Benefit Street, home to one of the finest collections of colonial houses in the U.S. This "Mile of History" rolls past beautifully restored buildings once home to merchants and sea captains. Because of the dedicated preservation in this area, Benefit Street is considered to be one of the nation's premier living historic neighborhoods. Stop at the Providence Preservation Society to pick up more information. (401-831-7440)<BR>To reach the Benefit Street area and the Preservation Society (at 21 Meeting Street), exit Route 195 at Wickenden Street. Benefit intersects Wickenden east of the interstate. Look for street parking. 240000275~Museum of Art (Rhode Island School of Design)~14043~3398~135~95~106~In the historic Benefit Street district, the art museum at the Rhode Island School of Design houses a comprehensive collection of exhibits ranging from textiles to Japanese prints to French Impressionist works. Admission includes entry to the Pendleton House, a replica of a turn-of-the-century house with period furnishings.<BR>The museum is open in the summer months from noon to 5 PM Wednesday through Sunday. Though the museum is free on Saturdays, there is a $5 admission charge during the rest of the week. Call 401-454-6500 for more information.<BR>The museum is located at 224 Benefit Street, right in the historic district. 240000276~Hemenway's Seafood Grill~14044~3396~139~91~106~Enjoy lunch outdoors at Hemenway's, specializing in seafood from around the world, as well as steak and regional dishes.<BR>Lunch ranges from $6 to $10 and is served from 11:30 AM to 3 PM. For information call 401-351-8570.<BR>Located at 121 South Main Street, Hemenway's is on the river, just one block east of historic Benefit Street. 240000277~Johnson and Wales Culinary Archives and Museum~14059~3374~143~98~100~From colonial cook stoves to Japanese tongue scrapers, the Johnson and Wales Culinary Archives and Museum houses an amazing assortment of gastronomic artifacts and antiquities. The history of food and food preparation is recounted here through cooking utensils from the third millennium BC, presidential culinary autographs, hotel and restaurant silver, and a gallery of famous chefs throughout the ages. Take a guided tour through what may be the most complete collection of gastronomic artifacts in the world.<BR>The museum is open from Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday 10 AM to 3 PM. Admission is $5 for adults, and $1 for children. Call 401-598-2805 for more information and to make the required reservations for a tour.<BR>The museum is located at 315 Harborside Blvd. From I-95, take Exit 19 to Thurbers Avenue. Thurbers deadends into Allen. Turn right about a mile and a half at the Shell station, then left at Northrop Street. Northrop becomes Harborside Blvd. 243000023~Jack Daniel Distillery~7419~-2600~122~114~100~In 1863 at the age of 13, Jasper Newton (Jack) Daniel of Lynchburg, Tennessee purchased the local whiskey still (situated on the Louse River) from Dan Call, a Lutheran minister whose congregation convinced him that his talents were better used cleansing spirits rather than selling spirits. Today, the name Jack Daniel is synonymous with Tennessee Whiskey. The oldest registered distillery in the country, Jack Daniel's continues to follow its founder's age-old distilling process as well as his motto, "Each day we make it, we will make it the best we can." The distillery is open to the public seven days a week from 8 AM to 4 PM. Tours leave approximately every 15 minutes and last about an hour. There is no age restriction for tours, in part because Moore County has been dry since Prohibition (sorry, no taste tests).<BR>The Visitor's Center is located off of Highway 55 on the north side of Lynchburg. 931-759-6180. You can't get lost in Lynchburg -- less than 400 people live there. 243001378~Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House~7416~-2608~124~115~100~A symbol of Southern hospitality since the days when Jack Daniel enjoyed many a noonday meal there, Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House began as a traveler's hotel back in 1867. Miss Mary and her husband Jack began the famous Bobo Hotel in 1908 after acquiring the building from a Lynchburg doctor. She ran the establishment until her death in 1983. Now run by Lynne Tolley, the great-grandniece of Jack Daniel, Miss Mary's thrives on a reputation based primarily upon its outstanding Southern cuisine. Although no longer available as an overnight accommodation, Miss Mary's still serves its meals "boarding house style." The dinner bell rings each day at 1 PM (an 11 AM seating is held if demand is sufficient) and guests sit down to a family-style dining experience that features delicacies such as Jack Daniel Tipsy Sweet Potatoes, Southern Fried Chicken, and Chocolate Chesse Squares topped with Jack Daniel Caramel Sauce.<BR>Prices change yearly, but hover around $12 per person (price includes tax). A white house with a white picket fence, it's located on Main Street in downtown Lynchburg, halfway between Elm and Highway 55. Reservations are a must, so make sure you call ahead. (931-759-7394) 243001379~George Dickel Distillery~7469~-2499~130~97~100~Located miles from any interstate, the George Dickel Distillery continues to produce Tennessee whiskey by hand, step-by-step according to George's original recipe. A walking tour of the facility provides a unique glimpse into the hand-made process that is becoming more difficult to find as mass production sweeps over the whiskey-distilling industry. Tours are free, leave every 45 minutes, and last about a half-hour. The Country Store across the street sells gifts and souvenirs, and the visitor's center offers exhibits showcasing the rich history of George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey. Visitors under 21 must be accompanied by an adult.<BR>Located at 1950 Cascade Hollow Rd, the Distillery is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM. It's not open on the weekend. To get there, leave I-24 at exit 105 and take a right onto Hwy 41A south. Go approximately two miles to the George Dickel sign at Blanton Chapel Rd. Stay on Blanton Chapel Rd. until you come to a stop sign at Lyndell Bell Rd. Turn left on Lyndell Bell Rd, then go past Normandy Lake until you see another George Dickel sign. Turn right on Frank Hiles Rd. to the town of Normandy. Take the small road (Cascade Hollow Rd.) to the left of the railroad tracks marked "Dickel Plant" for about one and one-half miles to the distillery. (931-857-3124) 243001380~Parish Patch Farm & Inn~7435~-2469~129~89~100~A night's stay at Parish Patch Farm & Inn offers a perfect mixture of country charm and modern convenience. Each of the 21 rooms and suites is individually decorated and privately situated for personal comfort and relaxation. The George Dickel and Jack Daniel rooms pay homage to two renowned whiskey distillers, but don't worry if you have to choose from any of the 19 other rooms -- they're all perfectly suited for a smooth, mellow night's stay. Remember that relaxation need not mean boredom as swimming, fishing, hiking, birdwatching, bicycling, and jogging are favorite activities at the Inn. Dinner at Cortner Mill, part of the 230-acre Parish Patch Farm & Inn, will satiate even the most fearsome appetite and features entrees such as Cornish game hen, Cortner Dam rainbow trout, river bank frog legs, and Carolina country quail. With sunrise comes the delicious anticipation of a "made-from-scratch" country breakfast including whole wheat cinnamon waffles, blueberry pancakes, country ham, fresh fruit, and, if the season permits, scrumptious pumpkin bread.<BR>Located at 1100 Cortner Road in Normandy, where Bugscuffle Road dead-ends. Call 931-857-3017 for reservations. 243001381~Tennessee Walking Horse Museum~7355~-2476~119~99~100~This unique attraction showcases the grand history of the only horse named for its home state -- the Tennessee Walking Horse, famous for its mild temperament, princely manners, and smooth gait. Although there are no horses, a visit to the museum offers a glimpse at the past, present, and future of this stately breed through a state-of-the-art interactive video, fascinating three-dimensional displays, and informative exhibits.<BR>The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM and again from 1 to 5 PM. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under. Located at 721 Whitthorne Street in Shelbyville, a few blocks north of Route 41-A (Madison St). (931-684-0314) 243001382~National Walking Horse Celebration~7354~-2478~119~99~106~Shelbyville has played host to The National Walking Horse Celebration since 1939, when 40,000 visitors came out to christen what has become a world-renowned event. Held the 10 days prior to Labor Day each year, this exciting event today combines family fun with prestigious competition. From a barn decorating contest and dog show to a trade fair and delicious food vendors, this is the annual Labor Day gathering of choice for over a quarter million people. The main draw, of course, is the equine competition.<BR>Held at The Celebration Grounds off of Madison Street. Call 931-684-5915 for ticket information. 243001383~Walking Horse Hotel~7413~-2442~110~99~100~According to local lore, a horse trainer named Carothers spied a majestic beast pulling a plow through the rocky field of a local farm. Carothers purchased the horse, named Strolling Jim, and coached him to the first ever Tennessee Walking Horse world champion title in 1939. Today, visitors can visit the solemn burial site of Strolling Jim during a night's stay at the Walking Horse Hotel. The Hotel's first floor is the Strolling Jim Restaurant, featuring tuna steak, blackened catfish, a 10-oz. ribeye steak, and grilled chicken fettuccini. The gift shops on the second floor offer antiques and collectibles, while the beauty salon comes complete with manicurist and tanning booths. For your night's stay, choose between one of six deluxe suites situated on the third floor. Each suite comes complete with a queen size bed, cable TV, phone, and private bath.<BR>The Walking Horse Hotel is located at the corner of Hwy 64 and Spring St. in downtown Wartrace. A one-night stay costs $64. (931-389-7050) 221000362~Peale Museum~11972~1038~169~34~100~Shrunken heads and mastodon skeletons are only part of the eclectic collection awaiting you at Baltimore's Peale Museum. Founded in 1814, the Peale is the oldest museum in the U.S. Stroll through the 18th-century "cabinets of curiosities" and other oddities that have always appealed to the public's sense of the bizarre. A variety of anthropological tidbits make this an intriguing destination.<BR>The Peale Museum's hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sundays from noon until 5 PM. Admission is $2. For more information call 410-396-3523.<BR>Located at 225 Holiday Street in the "downtown" area, the Peale Museum is just a couple of blocks west of Route 83, near the corner of East Lexington and Holiday streets. 221000795~American Visionary Art Museum~11975~1032~164~40~100~The American Visionary Art Museum houses a fascinating collection of "outsider" art. Pieces created by farmers, homemakers, the homeless, and neurosurgeons combine to bring the marginal into the mainstream. Embroidery, tattoos, and toothpicks take on new life as celebrations of the protean vitality of the human imagination. The vision of the outsider is celebrated in seven galleries in Baltimore's Inner Harbor complex.<BR>Admission is $6. Galleries are open from 10 AM to 6 PM Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Mondays. Phone 410-244-1900 for updates on current exhibits and for other information.<BR>The American Visionary Art Museum's address is 800 Key Highway, and it is located in the Inner Harbor complex. Inner Harbor is easy to reach from either I-83 or I-95. Signs will guide you to easy parking right at the complex for $3 a day. 221000062~Harborplace & the Gallery Shopping Centers~11976~1035~166~34~106~For lunch, wander through the glass-enclosed pavilions that make up Harborplace. The heart of the famed Inner Harbor, this upbeat waterside market features a variety of food stalls, cafes, restaurants, and shops. Sit at a raw bar and watch the knife-wielding oyster shuckers perform with amazing speed, or enjoy a famous Maryland crab cake as you watch the yachts bobbing by the dock outside.<BR>Harborplace is open from 10 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday, and until 6 PM on Sunday. Some restaurants open earlier and close later for the night-owl crowd. Call 410-332-4191 for more information.<BR>Harborplace sits on the waterfront at the western end of Inner Harbor. 221000796~Water Taxi to Fells Point~11971~1034~170~38~106~Hop aboard one of the water taxis that ply the Inner Harbor waters for a trip to Baltimore's oldest and liveliest quarter. Well-known for its lively night life district, Fells Point is also home to eclectic shops, coffee houses, funky restaurants, and lots of local color. Wander through the many bookstores, and check out the local music scene at music stores or live performances. The hometown of schlock filmmaker John Waters (creator of cult classics such as <I>Pink Flamingos</I> and <I>Polyester</I>), local shops offer fans all sorts of Divine memorabilia. Nearby City Recreation Pier is the primary filming site for the TV show<I> Homicide, Life on the Street.</I> Relax in a waterfront pub with a cold beer before jumping back on the water taxi to head home.<BR>Water taxis make stops at 17 landings along the waterfront including Harborplace and Fells Point. The one-time boarding fee of $3.50 is good for all day. The taxis run from 11 AM to 9 PM Tuesday through Sunday. For more information call 410-563-3901. 248001214~Rocky Reach Dam~-9211~6062~89~75~100~Known as the "Apple Capital of the World," Wenatchee, Washington is located in a valley carved by the Columbia and Wenatchee rivers. Apples aside, one of the city's primary draws is Rocky Reach Dam, located seven miles north of Wenatchee on the Columbia River. While an eye-level view of underwater migration at the fish ladder is one surprise here in the Northwest, the dam's unexpected treat is a three-part museum, offering up displays of local geology, Native American culture and, best of all, the history of electricity. Children and adults will find many interactive delights at the Gallery of Electricity, where a variety of obsolete electrical inventions await.<BR>You may spend two hours at Rocky Reach Dam. The museum opens at 8 AM, but call 509-663-8121 for seasonal closing times. Admission is free. 248001215~Chief Joseph Dam~-8856~6313~118~53~104~Bridgeport is home to one of the Pacific Northwest's hydroelectric marvels. Rising 236 feet from bedrock, Chief Joseph Dam is a link in the chain of dams harnessing the power of the Columbia River. Capable of producing more than 2.6 million kilowatts, Chief Joseph Dam is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' largest power-generating dam, stretching more than one mile across and humming with 27 generators. The dam is located on Highway 17. Stop in at the Visitor Center, located inside the powerhouse, to see the turbines in action. <BR>If you're looking for a place to unpack that picnic lunch or let the kids loose, head south of the dam on Hwy 17 to Bridgeport State Park. Bring swimsuits and fishing poles for your few hours along Rufus Woods Lake's Shores.<BR>Call 509-686-5501 and ask for the park ranger for specific information about Chief Joseph Dam. 248000454~Riverfront Park~-7941~5925~186~85~104~A long, lazy afternoon of fun awaits Pacific Northwest travelers at Spokane's Riverfront Park. Perhaps the best part of the park is the river itself. Paths run next to, over, and beside the Spokane River, and one footbridge yields an up-close look at thunderous Spokane Falls. Gondola rides whisk you up and over the rapids. Thanks to the 1974 World's Exposition, Riverfront offers more than your run-of-the-mill waterfront activities. From an IMAX four-story movie screen and a park tour train to miniature golf courses and a hand-carved wooden carousel, Riverfront Park has enough space and activities to keep you busy. At night, the concert pavilion brings entertainment to center stage.<BR>The park is located off I-90 at Spokane Falls Boulevard and Howard Street. Admission varies, depending on the activities, so call 509-456-4FUN for particulars. On the downtown side of the park, you'll find the Skywalk, a unique second-story walkway connecting 15 blocks of shops and restaurants.<BR>If your long afternoon turns into a ravenous evening, consider treating yourself to an extravagant dinner at Patsy Clark's Mansion. Occupying a turn-of-the-century house, the restaurant features steak, seafood, lamb and veal. From Riverfront Park, take 2nd Avenue west about 20 blocks to a residential area. The address is W. 2208 2nd Ave. Reservations are recommended. Call 509-838-8300. 213000999~Future Birthplace of Captain Kirk~4216~1180~65~69~106~What makes people go mad for Star Trek? It's anyone's guess, but the townsfolk of Riverside gladly play host to the thousands of "Trekkies" who gather here every year on the last weekend in June to geek out on their idol Captain Kirk, who in one episode of the late-'60s sci-fi TV show alluded to his birth here in the year 2228. A concrete marker on a downtown street denotes his future birthplace, a plaque on a pool table at Murphy's Bar and Grill commemorates his future conception, and giant imitation of the USS <I>Enterprise</I> (rechristened "Riverside" to avoid legal hassles with Paramount) dominates the town square. Nearby businesses borrow Star Trek themes, and locals love to indulge visitors with fictitious but convincing stories about Kirk's ancestors. <BR>Riverside is on Highway 218, just 20 miles south of Iowa City. 213001000~Cornbelt Cosmopolis~4050~847~39~119~106~Local folks freaked out at first when Maharishi Maresh Yogi, world leader of the transcendental meditation movement, bought the deserted Parsons College campus in the 1970s and thousands of his devoted followers from all over the world took up residence in nearby Fairfield. Today all live in harmony. The tiny burg of 10,000 boasts nearly 30 eateries, among them Thai, Laotian, Indian, Mexican, upscale French desserts, and vegetarian -- perhaps the most eclectic dining scene in the entire state. Remarkably, the town has also become an entrepreneurial capital of sorts, with several computer-related and marketing companies, and is home to one of the state's largest concentrations of millionaires. With its golden domes, the campus attracts an international student body and occasionally hosts demonstrations of and competitions in the art of "yogic flying," which to the uninitiated looks suspiciously like hopping (call 515-472-7000 if you want more than just a cursory campus tour). <BR>You'll find Fairfield on US 34, about 50 miles west of Burlington. 213000359~Snake Alley Historic District~4496~756~109~136~100~Locked in a dead heat with San Francisco over who has "the crookedest street in the world," the town of Burlington believes its winding, hilly Snake Alley deserves the honor over the former's famed Lombard Street. Although Ripley's Believe It or Not declares Burlington the champ, a difference in steepness and the length of the curves makes a direct comparison impossible. This 1894 landmark brick-paved street, in a charming neighborhood of Victorian homes, was designed by citizens of German ancestry after the fashion of winding vineyard paths in Europe, and rises 58.3 feet over a distance of 275 feet.<BR>Snake Alley is otherwise known as North Sixth Street, between Washington and Columbia Streets in Burlington. 213001001~EconoLodge FantaSuites~4494~1183~109~71~106~At Muscatine's noted EconoLodge, overnighters get to sip champagne in a Jacuzzi, afternooners get a guided tour, and virtually everyone comes away with giddy memories of the 17 deluxe "FantaSuites" at this otherwise ordinary motel. Among the bizarre collection of unusual interior decor schemes, you can expect to find "Henry VIII," "Sherwood Forest," "Geisha Gardens," "Space Odyssey," and "Northern Lights" (in which occupants sleep in an igloo).<BR>Located at 2402 Park Avenue, Muscatine. Public tours of the suites are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 3 PM. 211001737~Visitor's Center and Savannah History Museum~10684~-4211~148~39~100~You may wish to start your visit to Savannah with a stop at the Savannah Visitor's Center at 301 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard for maps and tourist information (912-944-0455). If you want to relax and take a bus tour instead of driving, tours depart regularly from the Visitor's Center and from area hotels. Contact the Visitor's Center for information. The Savannah History Museum is the best place to start your historical tour. Housed in a converted railway station, it's adjacent to the Visitor's Center and serves as a great introduction to Savannah's rich legacy. A mural in the lobby will clue you in to some seminal Savannah events. Further in you'll find exhibits and artifacts that include information on the region's prehistory (including a spear point that dates to 8000 BC!); its settlement by the English in 1733; and the 1779 Siege of Savannah, during which colonial forces tried to retake the city from the British. Two special-effects theaters in the museum feature dramatic renderings of the city's settlement and of the siege. The museum is open 8:30 AM to 5 PM. You can stop in for lunch in one of the converted dining cars on the premises. (912-238-1779)<BR>The Savannah History Museum is adjacent to the Visitor's Center at 303 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (end of I-16). 211001738~Colonial Park Cemetery~10689~-4210~148~39~100~Savannah, Georgia, settled in 1733, was the first English settlement in Georgia. Colonial Park Cemetery was colonial Savannah's second cemetery and the burial place of eminent Georgians from about 1750 to 1853. In 1896 the cemetery was made into a city park. Tree-lined and shaded paths lead through this picturesque old cemetery. The most famous plot is that of Declaration of Independence signer Button Gwinnett who was killed in a duel on nearby St. Catherine's Island in 1777. Rain and wind have worn down many of the tombstone inscriptions, but informative plaques are set up so that you can read about Georgians buried here.<BR>The Colonial Park Cemetery is bounded by Oglethorpe, Habersham, Liberty, and Abercorn Streets. 211001739~Bonaventure Cemetery~10709~-4227~148~39~100~John Berendt's <I>Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil</I> may have been a godsend to Savannah's tourist industry, but it's had its downside as well. The cover of the book's hardback edition features a haunting photograph of a tombstone figure, a girl holding two bowls in Bonaventure Cemetery. After multitudes of tourists trampled adjacent graves in their quest for the bowl-holding girl, the statue was removed. Once the site of a plantation destroyed by fired, this gorgeous, haunting cemetery is the resting place of soldiers, statesmen, and favored sons and daughters. The Cemetery is open from dawn until dusk. <BR>The Bonaventure Cemetery is off the beaten path. Take Wheaton Street east out of Savannah's downtown area. This will lead you to Bonaventure Road. Leave plenty of time for your visit since the cemetery closes at dusk. 211001740~Laurel Grove Cemetery~10682~-4219~139~56~100~The Laurel Grove Cemetery may by the oldest continuously used black cemetery in the U.S. It was dedicated in 1852 as a burial site for "free persons of color" but served as a burial place long before that. The pioneer Baptist preacher Andrew Bryan is buried here, as are many of Georgia's leading African-American citizens. Laurel Grove is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM. (912-651-6772)<BR>The fastest way to get to Laurel Grove Cemetery is to drive south on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, and take a right on Anderson Street. The prominent cemetery is located along Anderson Street. 211001741~Green-Meldrim House~10687~-4214~148~39~100~One of the turning points of Savannah's history was the siege laid by Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman during his "March to the Sea." Sherman burned nearly everything in his path starting with Atlanta, but when he got to Savannah he found it too pretty to destroy. Instead, he sent a letter to Abraham Lincoln and "gave" the Great Emancipator the city as a Christmas gift in 1864. Green-Meldrim House is the house where Sherman stayed while his Union forces occupied the city. This beauty of antebellum architecture was built in 1853 for a cotton magnate. Tours of the Green-Meldrim House are given Tuesdays, then Thursday through Saturday. It's closed on holidays and for the two weeks before Easter. (912-233-3845)<BR>The Green-Meldrim House is located in the Historic District at 14 W. Macon St., on the west side of Madison Square. It's just a few blocks away from two great places to eat: the Crystal Beer Parlor, at 301 West Jones Street (intersection of West Jones and Jefferson), which serves burgers, sandwiches, and other hearty fare (912-232-1153); and Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, one of Savannah's most famous breakfast and lunch eateries (they don't serve dinner there). Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room does not accept credit cards. (912-232-5997) 211001742~Wormsloe State Historic Site~10711~-4270~190~129~100~Wormsloe State Historic Site is an eight-mile excursion southeast of Savannah. You can expect to spend a good part of a day at this monumental historic site. Wormsloe lies on the Isle of Hope, along the Skidaway River, on land that originally belonged to Noble Jones, an early colonist who carved an impressive plantation out of the Georgia soil in the 1730s. Jones' original hope was to breed silkworms and grow the mulberry trees whose leaves silkworms eat. This apparently is how the plantation got its name. The site consists of a 1.5-mile, oak-lined avenue. The ruins of the house, which remained in the Jones family for 250 years, still stand. Like many houses along the Georgia and South Carolina coast, this one was built using a cement that is a mixture of sand, water, lime, and oyster shells -- typical coastal materials. This special cement makes Wormsloa a "tabby" house. The Site is open daily except for Mondays; Sundays it doesn't open until 2 PM. (912-353-3023)<BR>Wormsloe State Historic Site is located 10 miles southeast of Savannah along Skidaway Road. The address is 7601 Skidaway Road, 31406. If you don't want to drive, contact the Savannah Visitor's Center for information about bus tours to the site. 215001814~Steppenwolf~6138~1687~164~81~106~Steppenwolf is the most successful of all basement theaters and the model for what many young companies aspire to become. The virtually unlimited technical capacity of the multimillion dollar facility they opened in 1991 is a far cry from the suburban church space where the company began its life in the mid-1970s. While Steppenwolf made a name for itself performing down-and-dirty productions of works by Sam Shepard and Lanford Wilson, today you might see anything from medieval morality plays in modern dress to the latest works of British and American authors. Occasionally, the company's big-name stars such as Gary Sinise, John Malkovich, Laurie Metcalf, and John Mahoney return to perform or direct. Steppenwolf shows tend to be popular and are frequently sold out. The theater is at 1650 North Halsted Street. (312-335-1650) 215001815~Shakespeare Repertory~6148~1681~172~92~106~Have a yen for the Bard? Fans will find only his works being performed in handsomely mounted productions at Shakespeare Repertory. The company has grown remarkably since its inception in 1986 and frequently earns rave reviews from local critics. Three plays are staged each season, drawing from both the familiar and lesser-known Shakespearean canon. Shakespeare Rep performs at the Ruth Page Theatre at 1016 North Dearborn. (312-642-8189) 215001816~Raven Theatre~6117~1749~147~30~106~If you're looking for solid productions of classic American works from the last 50 years, you can do no better than Raven Theatre. The company has been producing in its intimate, 70-seat space on Chicago's far north side since 1985. Its productions have included such long-running hits as <I>You Can't Take It With You,</I> <I>The Crucible,</I> and <I>Six Degrees of Separation.</I> This is also a great place to take your younger kids for weekend matinees. The company's original adaptations of works by Aesop, Hans Christian Anderson, and others are performed at noon on Saturdays and Sundays. Raven is located at 6931 North Clark Street. (773-338-2177) 215001817~Lifeline Theatre~6121~1749~147~36~106~Lifeline Theatre's productions are frequently aimed at the teenage and young adult audience. <I>Mike Mulligan and His Steamshovel</I> and <I>Lizard Music</I> are among their hit adaptations of the best of modern imaginative literature. Lifeline is at 6912 North Glenwood. (773-761-4477) 215001818~Griffin Theatre~6122~1731~149~51~106~Look for original scripts, lively low-budget interpretations of Shakespeare, and new adaptations of children's and adult literature in the Griffin Theatre's attractively renovated space in the Andersonville neighborhood. They're at 5404 North Clark. (773-769-2228) 215001819~European Repertory Company~6138~1704~161~68~106~With hit shows like the long-running <I>Agamemnon,</I> the members of European Repertory Company have proved themselves masters of a highly visual and physically demanding performance style. Part of what makes their work so exciting is the challenge of overcoming the limitations of the barn-like Baird Hall at 615 West Wellington. (773-248-0577) 215001820~National Pastime Theatre~6132~1717~161~68~106~A company specializing in a highly physical and expressionistic performance style, National Pastime's productions are nicely complimented by the theater's unusual two-tiered space in an authentic Prohibition-era speakeasy. You'll find them at 4139 North Broadway. (773-327-7077) 215001821~Neo-Futurarium~6122~1728~152~52~106~One of Chicago's great late-night theater traditions, <I>Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind,</I> a lickety-split rendition of 30 ever-changing mini-plays in just 60 minutes, has been playing since 1988 and shows no signs of going away. The Neo-Futurists, who invented this lively, almost anarchic evening, perform other original works as well. <I>Too Much Light...</I> plays Friday and Saturday nights at 11:30 and Sundays at 7 PM. It's at 5153 North Ashland. (773-275-5255) 215001822~Theatre Building~6130~1705~159~75~106~The three medium-sized performance spaces in the Theatre Building are likely to hold anything and everything. The city's many itinerant theater companies (those with good funding anyway) rent space here for comedies, dramas, musicals and children's shows. You can expect an eclectic crowd to be meeting in the lobby before the curtain goes up. Head to 1225 West Belmont. (773-327-5252) 215001823~Bailiwick Repertory~6130~1706~161~68~106~Bailiwick Repertory's annual Pride Series has established itself as Chicago's most reliable producer of theater with gay and lesbian themes. With three performance spaces, Bailiwick also frequently hosts many of the city's otherwise homeless theater companies. They are at 1229 West Belmont. (773-883-1090) 215001824~Footsteps Theatre Company~6123~1729~161~68~106~Footsteps concentrates on shows with all-women or nearly all-women casts. It has gained particular renown for its all-female productions of Shakespeare. Their tiny upstairs space is at 5230 North Clark Street. (773-878-4840) 215001825~Shattered Globe Theatre~6136~1702~161~68~106~Shattered Globe features high-quality productions with exceptional technical values in a space that sometimes feels like a good-sized walk-in closet. It seats about 50 and you won't be disappointed. They're at 2856 North Halsted. (773-404-1237) 236001797~Fort Meigs~8153~1758~120~76~100~This massive log-and-earth fortification a few miles upstream from Toledo was the site of a vastly important yet little-known battle during the War of 1812. General William Henry Harrison's victory here against a superior British force in 1813 secured the northern territories for the United States and drove the British back into Canada. Reconstructed in 1965, the ten-acre fortification includes block houses, artillery batteries and storage areas. You'll hear the story of Fort Meigs from costumed guides and experience the sights and sounds of military life in the early 1800s through reenactments and demonstrations. It's open Wednesdays through Sundays in the summer and on weekends in the fall. Admission costs $5 for adults, $1.25 for children. You'll find the fort at 29100 West River Road (Route 63), west of Perrysburg. (419-874-4121 or 800-283-8916) 236001798~Wolcott House Museum~8153~1769~120~70~100~Wolcott House, a stately mansion overlooking the Maumee River, has been restored to depict life in the mid-19th century. The five other historic buildings surrounding it have been furnished in the style typical of the people who would have used and lived in them. You'll find a church, depot, saltbox farmhouse, village home, and rustic log cabin. The museum complex is open from 1 to 4 PM, Wednesday through Sunday, from April to December. It's at 1031 River Road in Maumee. (419-893-9602) 236001799~Willis B. Boyer Maritime Museum~8202~1831~140~48~100~In the heart of Toledo's downtown shipping center, the SS <I>Willis B. Boyer</I> sits permanently docked at International Park. At 617 feet, this massive freighter has been restored and dedicated as a tribute to the history of shipping on the Great Lakes. It's open year-round for tours from 10 AM to 5 PM (closed Sundays and Mondays from October to May). Admission costs $5 for adults, $3 for students. (419-936-3070) 236000116~Maumee Bay State Park~8274~1864~168~34~104~If after a day of urban adventure, you'd like to take a little time to get away from it all, drive out to Maumee Bay State Park. This 1,800-acre retreat is only eight miles from downtown Toledo. Features include a lodge, cabins, a fully equipped family campground, an 18-hole golf course and two swimming beaches. The inland lake, where most of the swimming takes place, offers lifeguards, concessions, and boat rentals. The other beach, on Lake Erie, is a wading beach that is a half-mile long and consists of six coves -- three for boaters exclusively and three protected by buoys but not by lifeguards. Attractions include a bike trail, a Nature Center, and a two-mile boardwalk.<BR>Pets: Leashed pets are permitted in park and campgrounds but not in any beach areas. Ohio state parks charge a nominal fee for each pet brought into a campground. There is no fee for pets belonging to day-use visitors. <BR>Reservations and restrictions: No reservations are taken for individual campsites; they are first-come, first-served. Reservations for cabins and lodges may be made by calling the toll-free state park information number: 800-282-7275. Group camping reservations may be made by calling the individual parks. Ohio enforces an alcohol ban in all of its state parks. 223001927~Henry Ford Estate~8267~2294~108~112~100~Fair Lane, the palatial estate of auto pioneer Henry Ford, is surprisingly modest as 56-room mansions go. It was built in 1914, only a few miles from the farm where Ford was born. Ford requested that building costs not exceed $250,000. We don't know how disappointed he was when the final price came in at nearly ten times that amount. Guided tours are given Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM and on Sundays from 1 to 4:30 PM. Admission costs $7. An additional $2 is charged during summer months to tour the grounds. After your tour, you can have lunch in the Pool Restaurant housed in the wing where the indoor swimming pool used to be. It's open from 11 AM to 2 PM, Monday through Friday. The estate is located on the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus, at 4901 Evergreen Road. Take Hubbard Drive onto the university campus -- it's straight ahead. (313-593-5590) 223001928~Fisher Mansion~8397~2353~157~88~100~Lawrence Fisher, founder of Fisher Body Works and president of Cadillac Motors, built his spectacularly ornate mansion in 1927 on the Detroit waterfront. A blend of Italian Renaissance and high Hollywood styles, the villa's rooms are gilded in silver leaf and pure gold, and decorated with artwork from around the world. It's surrounded by acres of elegantly sculpted gardens and grounds. Tours are given Friday through Sunday at 12:30, 2, 3:30 and 6 PM. Admission costs $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $4 for children. The mansion is located at the north end of the Detroit River near East Jefferson Avenue and Dickerson at 383 Lenox. (313-331-6740) 223001929~Edsel and Eleanor Ford House~8422~2418~167~63~100~Henry Ford's only son, Edsel, built his English Cotswold-style mansion in 1925 on an 87-acre estate on the shores of Lake St. Clair. A few years later, he built a 3/4-scale, Tudor-style "playhouse" on the grounds for his seven-year-old daughter. Your kids are going to beg you to build one, too. The 60-room mansion, with much of its original furnishings and artwork in place, is open for tours Tuesday through Sunday. Hours are from 1 to 4 PM during January, February and March, and from 10 AM to 4 PM the rest of the year (noon to 4 PM on Sunday). Admission costs $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for children. After your tour, you can have lunch in the Tea Room from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. The estate is located east of I-94 in the suburb of Grosse Pointe Shores at 1100 Lake Shore Road. (313-884-4222) 223001930~Meadow Brook Hall~8238~2543~98~16~100~John Dodge's wealth bought him an enormous $4 million dollar mansion with 100 rooms, 24 fireplaces, and 39 chimneys on top. Unfortunately, he didn't live to see it built. His widow and her second husband had Meadow Brook Hall completed in 1929. Then they had the area's first all-electric home, Knole Cottage, built nearby. It's a 2/3-scale "playhouse" intended for their 12-year-old daughter. You can see the cottage and the mansion with its original artwork and luxurious appointments for the admission price of $6 for adults and $3 for children. Tours are given at 1:30 PM Monday through Saturday and at 1:30 and 3:30 PM on Sundays. It all stands on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester near the intersection of Walton Boulevard and Adams Road. (810-370-3140) 242000559~Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village~966~2498~188~52~105~Occupied more than a thousand years ago, this buried community has only begun to yield the secrets of its inhabitants' ways of life: a diverse diet from agriculture, hunting, gathering, and fishing; the use of thousands of dogs both as beasts of burden and livestock for food; the housing of its population of 1,000 in 80 earthen lodges; and much more. To date more than 1.5 million artifacts have been excavated from small portions of the 22-acre site, many of which are displayed in an onsite museum. A new archeodome, a combination laboratory and visitors center geared toward people of all ages, straddles an active dig site and allows guests to view finds from the uncovered strata below, and to participate in their handling and cleaning.<BR>Located on Indian Village Road in Mitchell. Take Highway 37 north from I-90 and follow the signs. Open 8 AM to 6 PM daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day; 9 AM to 4 PM daily the rest of the year. You may want to grab a bite at downtown Mitchell's landmark Depot, a converted rail station with model trains and a family-friendly atmosphere. 242000560~Black Hills Institute of Geological Research~-1729~2668~50~46~104~Noted for its many outstanding dinosaur discoveries, the Institute provides museums throughout the world with fossil specimens, on loan or for sale, as well as expertly prepared cast replicas. Exhibits change frequently at the Institute's Hill City facility, with major new discoveries featured and loaners, such as the museum's famed Tyrannosaurus rex named "Stan," coming home for return engagements. See numerous dinosaurs, including such species as Triceratops and duckbilled dinosaurs, in addition to extensive collections of other animal fossils and a very large section devoted to minerals.<BR>Located at 217 Main Street, Hill City. Open daily from May through September, Monday through Friday the rest of the year (call 605-574-4289 for hours). 242000252~Mammoth Site~-1707~2316~49~66~104~This museum straddles an enormous dry sinkhole where Ice Age mammoths and other creatures, in search of water fed by ancient hot springs, fell to their deaths. The sediment that later filled the sinkhole preserved their remains, which were first discovered in the 1970s. In addition to Columbian and woolly mammoths (ancestors of the modern elephant), the site contains precursors of the bear, camel, llama, coyote, and many other species. Following numerous exhibits and a ten-minute video presentation, the museum provides a 30-minute guided tour of the sinkhole, where visitors can see the fossilized skeletons as they were found embedded in the ground. Visitors during the month of July may see actual excavations of newly discovered remains.<BR>Located at the southwest edge of the town of Hot Springs, just an hour from Rapid City on Highway 79. Open daily year round (call 605-745-6017 for museum hours, which vary by season). 242000561~Villa Theresa Guesthouse~-1697~2334~54~64~100~Originally built as a gambling house, this 1891 octagonally shaped Victorian inn on the National Register of Historic Places sits on a high bluff overlooking historic Hot Springs. Each of the seven uniquely themed guest rooms has a private bath. Operated as a B&B, it serves an elegant full breakfast and is open twelve months a year. Be sure to ask the owners about the nearby wild horse sanctuary, where visitors may see ancient Indian petroglyphs.<BR>In Hot Springs, at 801 Almond Street; phone 605-745-4633. 225001405~Pony Express Museum~2646~-93~130~88~100~Housed in the stables once redolent of Pony Express transportation, the Pony Express Museum offers visitors a detailed overview of the legendary mail system. View the 70-foot-long, 3-D diorama that shows the different trail conditions Pony Express riders endured. The museum also features a recreated relay station, where riders would stop, change horses, and continue on their way. A variety of hands-on exhibits and a gift shop complete your visit, which should last about an hour.<BR>The Pony Express Museum is located at 914 Penn St. in downtown St. Joseph. Penn Street is north of Hwy 36. From April through September, the museum is open 9 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 6 PM Sunday. From October through March, it's open 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 PM Sunday. Admission is $3 adults, $2.50 seniors, $1.50 7-18 years, and free six and under. (816-279-5059)<BR>For a perfect picture opportunity, track down the Pony Express Monument. The people of St. Joseph dedicated this larger-than-life bronze statue in 1940 to commemorate the pioneer spirit exhibited by the courage and toughness of Pony Express riders. It's located at 9th and Frederick streets. Go north on 9th off Hwy 36 until you meet Frederick Ave. It comes in diagonally, one block north of Felix St. 225001406~Patee House Museum~2647~-93~130~88~100~Patee House is the only original Pony Express building left in St. Joseph. Built as an elegant 140-room hotel back in 1858 to serve the ever-expanding west, this National Historic Landmark is today remembered largely for its role as headquarters of the Pony Express. The Museum houses the restored office of Pony Express founders Russell, Majors & Waddell, as well as the locomotive engine of the Hannibal-St. Joseph Railroad, which was used to transport mail across northern Missouri from Hannibal to St. Joseph and the popular post-carrying "ponies." A variety of other attractions include a western art collection, saloon, transportation gallery, ice cream parlor, and an all-inclusive gift shop showcasing unique souvenirs that focus on the Pony Express and Jesse James (next door to the house where James was shot and killed). The Pony Express-Jesse James Weekend is held each April.<BR>Located at 12th St. and Penn in downtown St. Joseph. Go north on 9th or 10th off of Hwy. 36, then go east on Penn. The museum is open daily from April through October; the rest of the year, it's open only weekends. Admission is $3 adults, $2.50 seniors, $1.50 students, and free under six. (816-232-8206) 217000685~Koester House Restaurant~1721~-75~60~84~100~Pony Express riders would have scarce believed their eyes had they run across the menu that's offered today at the Koester House Restaurant. Built by a wealthy local banker as a gift to his son, this 103-year-old, three-story Victorian home offers elegant yet casual dining. The menu ranges in price from $6 to $13 and includes items such as Chicken Baton Rouge, Roast Pork Loin, Grilled Gulf Shrimp, and Prime Rib, as well as a full bar.<BR>Located at 908 Elm St. in Marysville. Go south on 9th St. off of Hwy 36. The restaurant is at the corner of 9th and Elm. Open for lunch Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, and Sunday 11 AM to 1:30 PM. Open for dinner Tuesday through Thursday 5:30 to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 5:30 to 9 PM. (785-562-2279) 217000686~Pony Express Barn Museum~1716~-83~60~84~100~Besides being the oldest building in Marshall County, this is the only original Pony Express home station remaining on its original site along the Pony Express route. Built in 1859, this barn was only a year old when it began leaving the lamp lit for weary post riders. Today, the barn houses regional memorabilia including Pony Express, Native American, and pioneer exhibits. There is also a 15-minute video that explores the history behind the Pony Express. Before leaving, pay a visit to the gift shop for some take-home treasures. The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<BR>Located at 106 S. 8th St. in Marysville, the Museum is open 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 PM Sundays. (785-562-3825)<BR>For a great photo opportunity stop by the Bronze Pony Express Horse Rider monument. You might think if you've seen one bronze Pony Express monument, you've seen 'em all. But this one carries the title, "Midwest's Largest Sculpture of its Kind." We can only wonder where the <I>country's</I> largest sculpture of its kind resides. The sculpture was dedicated in 1985 at the 125th anniversary of the Pony Express.<BR>You'll find this monument on Hwy 36/77, the western edge of Marysville, just before the Big Blue River crossing. 217000687~Hollenberg Pony Express Station~1607~-39~48~83~100~This is the only remaining original, unaltered Pony Express relay station left in the United States. Built in 1857 at the crossroads of the Pony Express route and the Oregon Trail, this station relayed riders, sold provisions, and provided shelter for weary westward travelers. Today, this Kansas State Historic Site provides visitors a chance to learn about life during the 1860s, when thousands headed west equipped with plenty of hope and little by way of possessions. Interactive exhibits in the visitor's center include a working telegraph, a development of communications exhibit, and information about the items traded at the station. The Station also provides themed tours and traditional skill demonstrations.<BR>Located on Kansas 243 near Hanover. Go north on KS 148 off of Hwy 36. Go east on KS 243. The Station is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday, 1 to 5 PM. (735-337-2635) 244003564~Route 66 Antiques and Neon Soda Saloon & Cafe~-1395~-3146~26~78~100~A classic example of the storefront that has everything in a place that otherwise has nothing, this emporium lures visitors in with its well-advertised "Grapes of Wrath" truck parked outside, looking like something akin to the vehicle used on television's Beverly Hillbillies. Inside, you'll find tons of Route 66 souvenirs, a museum displaying original road signs, and a soda fountain chock-full of soft drink memorabilia, old neon signs, and restored gas pumps.<BR>Located in Landergin on Old Route 66, just 36 miles west of Amarillo. An authentic mom-and-pop operation, days and hours may be irregular, so call 806-267-2719 to make sure it's open. Between here and Bushland, the old road is mostly the north frontage road along the interstate; between Bushland and Amarillo, it becomes Indian Hills Road. 244003565~Cadillac Ranch~-1080~-3203~26~78~100~This hippie-era art installation by the illustrious Ant Farm Collective has become an American icon -- a row of ten half-buried vintage Cadillacs planted nose-first with their flared fannies in the air. The display traces the gradual rise and fall of the trademark Cadillac tail fin from the '40s to the '60s, and several of the cars sacrificed for the effort were once immaculately kept gems that, in today's market, might have fetched a fortune. An interactive art piece, this one welcomes visitors to use it as a canvas for graffiti. You may want to bring a can of spray paint.<BR>Located on the south frontage road of I-40, a quarter of a mile east from the Arnot Road exit, it's unstaffed and open to visitors at any time. If you're hungry -- really hungry -- you might try the famous Big Texan Steak Ranch, whose specialty of the house is a 72-ounce monster steak that's free to any customer who can suck it down in an hour. It's at 7701 I-40 East in Amarillo; phone 806-372-7000. Also worth a look is the town's Route 66 historic district, a bonanza of antique stores lining Sixth Street between Georgia and Western. 244003566~Devil's Rope Museum/Texas Route 66 Museum~-331~-3193~26~78~100~Occupying a former Sears bra factory are two even more unlikely institutions: a museum of barbed wire and one of the better museums of Route 66 memorabilia. The former includes balls and bales of razor wire in its many forms, as well as a machine for making it; sometimes the proprietor demonstrates or gives visitors instructions. On the other side, the Route 66 display contains such eclectic items as a kitschy giant steer from a defunct Route 66 restaurant, an abundance of the famous rhyming Burma Shave signs, a replica of a typical '50s cafe, and more. Nearby, visitors will find a beautifully preserved classic filling station from the 1920s -- a Phillips 66 (the name of which, incidentally, derived originally from the famous road).<BR>The museums and gas station may be found on Old Route 66 in McLean; hours are 10 AM to 4 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and by appointment at other times by calling 806-779-2225. Between McLean and Amarillo, Old 66 follows frontage roads along I-40, except for the "Jericho Gap," where travelers must use the interstate between the towns of Jericho and Alanreed. 246001639~Royal London Wax Museum~12707~-459~113~72~106~The Royal London Wax Museum in Virginia Beach was created by Josephine Tussaud's studios in London, England, that famed purveyor of wax figures from across the Atlantic. Here, you'll see 100 wax figures ranging from such heroic figures as Martin Luther King, Jr., and Joan of Arc to the Beatles. If you have a strong stomach and an armchair enthusiast's fascination with the dark and grotesque, you might dare to enter the Wax Museum's "Chamber of Horrors." The Museum is open year-round. Hours are 10 AM to 10 PM between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Call the Museum for time schedules between September and May. Admission is $3.95 for adults, and $2.95 for children ages 6 to 12. Kids under 5 get in free. (757-491-MUSM).<BR>The Royal London Wax Museum is located at 1606 Atlantic Avenue about a block from the beach at the intersection of 16th & Atlantic Avenue. 246001640~Norwegian Lady Statue~12705~-454~111~73~100~Virginia Beach is home to one of America's biggest naval bases. Evidence of its rich maritime history can be seen nearly everywhere you turn. The Norwegian Lady Statue commemorates the tragic wreck of the Norwegian ship <I>Dictator</I> off the shores of Virginia on March 28, 1891. Eerily, the ship's wooden figurehead washed ashore after the wreck. It served as a memorial for over half a century until the Norwegian city of Moss replaced the wooden figurehead with a nine-foot bronze as a gift. The statue you'll see has stood at its present location since 1962. The Statue is in public view, so there are no fees or restricted viewing hours. <BR>The Norwegian Lady Statue is located at the intersections of Oceanfront and 25th Streets. 246001641~Francis Land House~12651~-475~90~82~100~The Francis Land House is one of many stately manor houses that hark back to Virginia Beach's history. An imposing Georgian-style brick building, the Francis Land House stands as testament not only to the wealth and affluence of the Land family, which owned the house from the 1700s to the early 1800s, but also to a way of life. You will see rooms that preserve the decor of long-gone eras, as well as exhibits and gardens. The Francis Land House is open year-round from Tuesday through Sunday. From Tuesday to Saturday, visit between 9 AM and 5 PM; Sundays it doesn't open until noon and closes at 5. The last tours start at 4:30 PM. (757-340-1732)<BR>The Francis Land House is located at 3131 Virginia Beach Boulevard. Just head west along Virginia Beach Boulevard. It's less than three miles from the oceanfront. 246001642~Farmer's Market~12658~-519~91~98~104~The Farmer's Market in Virginia Beach is a local favorite. Here you'll find everything from meats, produce, and baked goods, to gardening supplies, local crafts, and fine custom furniture. The Farmer's Market is also the site of a number of seasonal special events such as craft shows and flea markets. There's no admission fee to the Farmers Market, but you might want to bring along plenty of cash. The Farmer's Market is open year-round from 9 AM to 6 PM. If you get hungry while visiting, there's a convenient country restaurant on the premises. (757-427-4395) <BR>The Farmers Market is located at 1989 Landstown Road. To get there from the central resort area, go south on Pacific Avenue to General Booth Boulevard to Dam Neck Road, and then turn right. Follow Dam Neck Road until it runs into Landstown Road. The Farmer's Market at the intersection of Landstown Road and Princess Anne Road. 246001643~Battle off the Capes Monument~12673~-410~98~53~100~The Battle off the Capes Monument commemorates a key event in America's War of Independence. In September, 1781 a French fleet led by Admiral Francois Joseph Paul attacked and defeated a fleet of British ships off the coast of Virginia. The damaged British fleet limped north to New York instead of bringing much-needed reinforcement to Lord Cornwallis' troops at Yorktown. In 1976 the French government presented the monument as a tribute to the centuries-long alliance between the United States and France. The monument sits in Fort Story near the First Landing Cross that commemorates the arrival of European colonials. Admission is free, and access to the monument is year-round.<BR>The Battle off the Capes Monument is located in Fort Story. Go north on Atlantic Avenue, and turn right at the sign indicating the east gate of Fort Story. 246001644~Old Cape Henry Lighthouse~12670~-411~96~57~100~Fort Story, home of the Battle off the Capes Monument, is also the location of the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse. This venerable old lighthouse was the first federal public works project authorized by the United States government. Its construction was ordered by George Washington in 1792. You can climb to the very top and look over the Atlantic Ocean. The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse is open daily from April through October, 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is $3 for adults; and $1 for seniors and students. (757-422-9421)<BR>The Old Cape Henry Lighthouse is located in Fort Story very near the Battle off the Capes Monument. Follow Atlantic Avenue north until you reach Fort Story. Follow the signs to the lighthouse. 246001645~Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge~12755~-545~132~107~104~If you head a little ways south of Virginia Beach's resort area, you'll find the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This 7,700-acre wildlife refuge protects an amazing variety of migratory birds. The best time to see some of the rarer birds, such as falcons, and eagles, and swans, is in December and January when they're all headed south. The scenic expanse of woodland beachfront and marshland makes this a great place to spend part of a day. Admission to the Refuge is $4 for cars, and $2 for bicycles or walk-ins. The refuge is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. The Visitor Contact Station is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM; and Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM. The refuge is closed on Saturdays from December to March. (757-721-2412)<BR>The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located at 4005 Sandpiper Road, south of the Virginia Beach resort area. Take Pacific Avenue south to General Booth Boulevard, turn left on Princess Anne Road, left again on Sandbridge Road, and then take a right on Sandpiper Road. Follow Sandpiper Road until you reach the refuge. 251000013~University of Wyoming~-2802~967~48~55~106~Take a stroll around the University of Wyoming's pleasant, 780-acre campus and you'll find a mix of traditional and modern architectural styles. Outside the Geological Museum (307-766-4218), you'll discover a copper-clad Tyrannosaurus rex; inside are lots of assembled dinosaur skeletons, including an Apatasaurus. A recent campus addition, the Centennial Complex, houses the American Heritage Center and the Art Museum. The campus gates are at 9th and Ivinson streets. (307-766-1121) 251000506~University of Wyoming Art Museum~-2807~960~48~55~106~Be sure to spend time at the University of Wyoming Art Museum. Its diverse collection of over 7,000 objects is particularly strong in European and American paintings, Japanese prints, Persian and Indian miniatures, and modern photography, as well as African and Native American artifacts. Best of all, admission is free. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sundays from noon to 4 PM. It's located in the University's Centennial Complex at 2111 Willett Drive. (307-766-6622) 251000507~Laramie Plains Museum~-2808~962~48~55~100~When it was built in 1882, Edward Ivinson's mansion was the toast of Laramie. The house "with them fancy glass winders" has been restored to its original Victorian splendor and is open for tours from 9 AM to 7 PM during summer months and from 1 PM to 3 PM the rest of the year. The grounds include a one-room log cabin school and a carriage house. Admission costs $4 for adults, $2 for children. The museum is at 603 Ivinson Avenue. (307-742-4448) 251000033~Wyoming Territorial Prison and Old West Park~-2829~971~48~55~100~While it seems like you can't find room to swing a cat in Wyoming without hitting a Wild West museum, Laramie's is one of the biggest and best. Its centerpiece is the restored Territorial Prison, originally built in 1872 and for two years the unaccustomed home of badman Butch Cassidy. The nearby Frontier Town offers plenty of opportunities to interact with colorful Old West characters. The National U.S. Marshals Museum features exhibits from the first 200 years of the service and helps put the Old West in perspective. Was it the romantic adventure often depicted in films and TV, or was the reality a good deal more harsh and cruel? After a day of adventure and discovery, you can kick back a relax with a good meal and a show at the Horse Barn Dinner Theatre. They present an original evening of music, laughs and melodrama Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. <BR>Frontier Town is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day every day from 9 AM to 5 PM. The museums stay open until October. General admission of $2 gets you into Frontier Town. The Territorial Prison and Marshall's Museum cost an additional $5.50 for adults, $3.25 for children aged 6-12. The whole thing is located at 975 Snowy Range Road. (307-745-6161) 227000703~Havre Beneath the Streets~-4354~5981~118~45~106~Havre Beneath the Streets gives visitors a fascinating look into the unique underground life of a small railroad town at the beginning of the 20th century. A dozen subterranean businesses rediscovered in the 1990s have been restored using artifacts found on the site. Stop by the Chinese laundry where local cowboys would take a bath and pick up the fresh going-to-town clothes they'd left to be cleaned. In the opium den, you'll see bunk beds carved out of the earthen walls. A bordello has mysterious numbers painted above each bed. Guided tours are given Monday through Saturday, from 9 AM to 5 PM from spring to fall. Sunday tours are also available upon request. The tour costs $5 for adults and $3 for students and starts under the historic Pepin Broadwater block on First Street. (406-265-8888) 227000704~Clack Memorial Museum~-4366~5980~118~45~100~You'll find archaeological, geological and historical exhibits detailing the history of the northern plains at the Clack Memorial Museum. Of special note is the extensive collection of horse-drawn farm equipment. A large portion of the museum displays relics from the Wahkpa Chu'gn Archaeology Site. It's open from 9 AM to 5 PM from May to September. Admission is free. The museum is on US 2 West at the fairgrounds. (406-265-7121) 320000038~Parque Plaza Sesamo~-161~-9636~41~1010~104~Located on the same vast grounds as the impressive Cintermex convention center, the Plaza Sesamo theme park sprawls across the Parque Fundidora, two miles east of the Gran Plaza. The three regions of the park will delight both young and old. The huge waterpark section offers dozens of water slides and toboggan runs, pools, and river floats. Video games (non-violent ones at that!), computers and Internet hookups are featured in the second section, and live stage shows, restaurants and musical performances make up the third part of the park. You may have a hard time pulling your kids away if you try to leave before closing. The park doesn't open until 3 PM; it closes at 9 PM during the week and at 10 PM on weekends (closed Mondays). It's located at Calle Agricola 3700-1 Oriente in Parque Fundidora. (8-354-54-00)<BR>You'll find plenty of inexpensive places with good food in the center of town. Two to try are the justly famous El Rey de Cabrito, where the outstanding roast kid goat is the order of the day (817 Constitucion, tel. 8-343-55-60), and Sanborns, the national chain restaurant known for burgers and tacos (Ecobedo 920 at Plaza Hidalgo, tel. 8-343-18-34). For a more elegant adventure in eating, head for Luisiana, where the waiters wear tuxedos, the food is divine, and the price still moderate. It's at Hidalgo Ote. 530. (8-340-21-85 or 8-343-15-61) 229000350~Sullys Hill National Game Preserve~551~5381~123~102~104~If you're looking for North America's native big game, head for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve on the south shore of Devils Lake. Established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, the 1,674-acre park is one of four refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for American bison and elk. Remember to keep your distance, as bison are notoriously unpredictable. You'll also find white-tailed deer, prairie dogs, turkeys, and other native wildlife among the wooded, glacial moraines and native grasslands. Fort Totten, one of the country's best preserved 19th-century military outposts is also visible from the scenic overlook. The four-mile auto tour opens at 8 AM, with various closing times, from May through October. The nature trail is open year-round. The preserve is off Route 57, 13 miles south of the town of Devils Lake. (701-766-4272) 229000141~Fort Totten State Historic Site~490~5376~123~102~100~With 17 buildings still standing, Fort Totten is one of the best-preserved frontier outposts of the Old West. Built to protect the overland route to Montana, the fort later became a Native American boarding school. Exhibits at the Pioneer Daughters Museum interpret both military and Indian life. The site is open daily from 7:30 AM to dusk. Admission is free. It's located south of Devils Lake on Route 57. (701-766-4441) 229000351~Roosevelt Park and Zoo~-575~5538~62~94~104~Surprise! Not all of North Dakota's wildlife roams free nor is it all of the native variety. At the Roosevelt Park and Zoo in Minot, you can see such exotic species as Bengal tigers, white tigers, monkeys and giraffes. There is also a towering 360-foot water slide, gardens and picnicking areas. The park is open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM, May through August, and 8 AM to 4 PM during the rest of the year. It's at 1219 Burdick Expressway SE. (701-852-2751)<BR>Minot offers some of your best choices for overnight lodging. The big chain motels are represented by Days Inn at 2100 4th Street SW (701-852-3646) and Fairfield Inn at 900 24th Avenue SW (701-838-2424). If you'd like to keep with the wildlife theme, you can try the Best Western Safari Inn, which has a jungle motif in its courtyard and is located at 1510 26th Avenue SW. (701-852-4300) 229000136~Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge~-724~5797~60~83~104~Encompassing over 32,000 acres on the Souris River, including the 20-mile-long Lake Darling, Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge witnesses annual migrations of over 350,000 waterfowl during spring and fall. You may see tunda swans, redheads, buffleheads, cormorants and great blue herons as well as much smaller birds like LeConte's sparrow and Sprague's pipit. You have the option of driving along a 3.5-mile auto tour or canoeing on several designated routes. The refuge is open daily from 5 AM to 10 PM. The visitors center is open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. To get there, take U.S. Route 52 to Foxholm, then go seven miles north on County Road 11. (701-468-5467) 229000352~Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge~-935~5845~49~76~104~A wide variety of habitats, including lakes, prairies and wooded coulees, draws hundreds of different species of bird to the 19,500-acre Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge along the Des Lacs River. Giant Canada geese commonly nest here, producing upwards of 200 young each year. Another highlight is the opportunity to observe the delightful courtship dances of the sharp-tailed grouse and western grebe. Two auto tour routes wind along the river and marshlands. The refuge headquarters are one-half mile west of Kenmare, on County Route 1A. (701-385-4411) 229000353~Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge~-1081~5814~35~83~104~Waterfowl scoping out North Dakota nesting opportunities prefer prairie potholes. When the last glaciers receded 70,000 years ago, they scooped tiny lakes into Earth's surface. Now the prairie potholes speckle the North Dakota prairie, making this area a prime nesting area for waterfowl. Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge preserves one the best mixed-grass pothole lands in the U.S. Gadwalls, avocets, and phalaropes are among the hundreds of waterfowl you'll find in the wetland areas. The auto route passes numerous habitats including a mating ground (called a "lek") for the courtship dance of the sharp-tailed grouse. The refuge is open from dawn to dusk from April through September. Refuge headquarters are on State Route 8, 21 miles north of Stanley. (701-848-2722) 228001744~North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame~10332~-1884~82~25~106~Located in Mooresville, or "Race City, USA," the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame is one part museum, one part art gallery, one part gift shop, and one part race fan utopia. The Museum features a display of over 35 cars, including Rusty Wallace's first Winston Cup ride, the 1980 Chevrolet Impala #16, and his last, the #2 Pontiac Grand Prix, as well as a Richard Petty Chevrolet Winston Cup car. The display not only includes stock cars, but also Indy, drag racing, and rare muscle cars of the '60s. While in the Museum, stop by the Goodyear Mini-Theater to relive racing's greatest moments, or test your high speed driving skills in the Indy Simulator. <BR>In the Art Gallery, you'll find the original work of motorsport's top artists, including Jeanne Barnes, Sam Bass, and Gary Hill. Reproductions of their work can be purchased in the Gift Shop, which is the official headquarters of "Race City, USA" and NASCAR merchandise. The Gift Shop offers a full lineup of shirts, hats, jackets, die-cast and collectible models, and more.<BR>The Hall of Fame is open Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Admission is $3.75 for adults, $1.75 for children and seniors, and free for children five and under. The Hall of Fame is located at 119 Knob Hill Road in Mooresville. Exit I-77 going east on NC 150. Take a left on the first street, and head right on Knob Hill Road to the Hall. (704-663-5331) 228001745~Backing Up Classics Motor Car Museum~10443~-2040~124~82~106~Take a pit stop at this 18,000-square-foot space, filled to the max with over 48 classic and current race cars creatively displayed with period memorabilia. After browsing the display room, motor off to the extensive gift shop, which sells just about any kind of racing souvenir you can think of. From uniform shirts to a life-size cardboard model of Richard Petty, this gift shop offers thousands of racing-related items.<BR>Backing Up Classics is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM, Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Located adjacent to Charlotte Motor Speedway at 4545 Highway 29 in Harrisburg. Exit I-85 and head east on Speedway Boulevard to Highway 29. (704-788-6464) 228001746~Hendrick Motorsports Complex~10465~-2037~132~88~106~The Hendrick Motorsports Complex houses the shop of the DuPont-sponsored, Winston Cup Champion team driven by Jeff Gordon, as well as the shops of teams driven by Ricky Craven, Terry Labonte, and Jack Sprague. For race fans, the most attractive part of the complex is the 15,000-square-foot museum, which highlights the history of racing and Hendrick Motorsports. Home to the 1995 Winston Cup Champion trophy, the museum also includes displays, videos, various historically significant race cars, and a 40-foot window that allows you to view the Budweiser race team hard at work preparing future victory-lappers. A small gift shop sells Hendrick Motorsports merchandise and many unique items from each of Hendrick's sponsors.<BR>The Hendrick Motorsports Complex is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM. They're located one mile from Charlotte Motor Speedway at 4411 Papa Joe Hendrick Boulevard in Harrisburg. (704-455-0340) 228000742~Charlotte Motor Speedway~10447~-2038~119~90~104~Charlotte Motor Speedway opened its doors June 19, 1960 with the first-ever running of the World 600. Since then, this track has become the "hub of stock car racing" and the focal point for race fans the world over. With a total seating capacity of 135,000, Charlotte Motor Speedway serves as one of the region's largest tourist attractions, offering racing, as well as non-racing, events some 250 days each year. The longest Winston Cup race on the NASCAR circuit, the Coca-Cola 600 roars in each May, trailed by a flurry of racing revelry. During your visit, be sure to get an inside glimpse of this racing mecca by taking a 45-minute tour. You'll walk around the track, tour the garages, pit area, and infield, and view an informative 10-minute video. Tours cost $4 and leave at a quarter to every hour, seven days a week. Information about the tour can be found in the Winston Gift Shop, where you'll also discover a treasure trove of souvenirs.<BR>For more information, call the Winston Gift Shop at 704-455-3204. The track is located just off of Highway 29 at the corner of Morehead Road. Exit off of I-85 at Speedway Road and head east to Highway 29. (704-455-3204) 251000580~Thermopolis~-3987~2627~98~90~100~The city of Thermopolis exists because of water's healing powers. Its name is derived from Greek words meaning "hot city." This is the home of Hot Springs State Park, thought to be the largest single mineral springs in the world. The city, also valued for its outstanding hunting and fishing opportunities, is the northern gateway to the spectacular Wind River Canyon. With the discovery of vast dinosaur fields here in 1993, Thermopolis became a hotbed of paleontological interest and the Wyoming Dinosaur Center opened for study, exploration, and public exhibitions. <BR>Lodging options in Thermopolis include motels like the Holiday Inn of the Waters near the gates of the state park (307-864-3131) and the Best Western Moonlighter Motel downtown (307-864-2321). If you prefer the charms of a bed and breakfast, try the Broadway Inn B&B at 342 Broadway (307-864-2636) or the Out West Bed & Breakfast at 1344 Broadway (307-864-2700). 251000581~Hot Springs State Park~-3986~2630~98~90~104~Bighorn Hot Spring flows at the astonishing rate of around 30 gallons <I>per second </I>or somewhere around three million gallons each day. Bighorn is the largest of several springs that make up Hot Springs State Park. Although it emerges at a temperature of 135 degrees F, the water is channeled into cooling pools and then piped into the State Bathhouse, where you can soak for up to half an hour in mineral-laden waters that are kept at a safe and healthful 104 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also enjoy a variety of recreational rides and swimming in pools and hot waterfalls. <BR>Although most Wyoming state parks charge a small admission fee, the terms of an 1896 treaty with the Arapaho and Shoshone insured that the hot springs would always be free to the public. Hot Springs State Park is open daily year-round (including holidays) from 6 AM to 10 PM. It's on the northeast side of town on US 20. The park's headquarters are located where Hwy 20 peels off to the north from Park Street, just west of the river and railroad. (307-864-2176) 251000582~Wind River Canyon~-3988~2623~98~90~104~Between Shoshoni and Thermopolis, the Wind River has cut a spectacular canyon 20 miles long and up to 2,000 feet deep. Equally spectacular has been the human challenge of taming the canyon. The construction of Route 20, which courses right through it, required making massive cuts and blasting out three tunnels from solid rock. This journey of a few minutes by car takes you through eons of geologic time. Road signs along the way point out the geologic strata and interesting rock formations. <BR>After you've driven through the canyon, you may wish to take to the water itself for a soaking good time. Rafting adventures of various lengths and difficulty are offered by Wind River Canyon White Water. You can take half-day, all-day, and overnight trips. Depending on conditions, rapids on the river can reach Class IV status. They also offer gentler scenic tours for those who don't want to get wet. Their office is located at 210 Highway 20 South. (307-864-9343) 251000583~Wyoming Dinosaur Center~-3980~2613~98~90~108~The 1993 discovery of fossils on Warm Springs Ranch turned Thermopolis into a major center of dinosaur research and led to the creation of the Wyoming Dinosaur Center. In addition to its 12,000 square feet of exhibitions covering the prehistoric record from around the world, the center is headquarters for the paleontologists who are working in the 40 surface sites and two quarries that have been opened so far. <BR>You can visit both the museum and the dig sites, which are a few miles away. Rates vary according to which features you'd like to see. The combination of both museum and dig site costs $14.50 for adults, $9 for kids, students and seniors, or $40 for a family of four. Best of all, you can also participate in the on-going recovery efforts. The Dig for a Day program allows you to work side-by-side with scientists who are collecting Jurassic dinosaur fossils from the ancient sandstone riverbed. Participation in the program costs $100 per day or $250 for a family of four. <BR>Although access to the dig site is limited during winter, the museum is open seven days a week year-round. To get there, go to the intersection of Route 20 and Broadway and follow the dinosaur tracks. The Wyoming Dinosaur Center is located at 110 Carter Ranch Road. (307-864-2997 or 800-455-3466) 251000584~Hot Springs Historical Museum~-3993~2614~98~90~100~Fans of the Old West will want to drop by the Hot Springs Historical Museum to lean against the same bar used by Butch Cassidy and the Hole-in-the-Gang. Other displays include period rooms, a main street exhibit, Indian artifacts, and geology, agriculture, and railroading exhibits. You'll find a little bit of everything here. It's open from 8 AM to 5 PM, Tuesday through Saturday. Admission costs $2 for adults, $1 for children, or $5 for the whole family. The museum is at 700 Broadway, in greater downtown Thermopolis. (307-864-5183) 250000419~Tamarack~9846~-483~104~90~106~Tamarack is one of West Virginia's most popular tourist destinations. Located in southern West Virginia, just north of Beckley, this craft-oriented shopping center is devoted to West Virginia's artisan traditions. You could spend most if not all of a day wandering among the textiles, glassware, metals, wood, toys, pottery, jewelry, books, baskets, clothing, and souvenirs at Tamarack. In addition, there are frequent craft demonstrations so you can see how the fine crafts are created. If you get hungry while visiting Tamarack, there are plenty of specialty foods available in the dining room. Tamarack is open 9 AM to 9 PM year-round except for Christmas Day. (304-256-6843 or 88-TAMARACK)<BR>Tamarack is located at 1 Tamarack Road in Beckley, West Virginia. Take I-77 West Virginia Turnpike and get off at Exit 45. You can't miss Tamarack's multigabled red roof. 250000420~Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine~9859~-492~100~96~108~Beckley, West Virginia is the home of one of the more unique sites you'll ever see. The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, which is listed on the National Register of Historical Sites, comprises over 1500 feet of a subterranean coal mine that dates from the late 19th century. Visitors take a guided tour of this low seam coal mine in a special car and learn about the evolution of the coal-mining industry in the region. The staff recommends that you bring a jacket or wrap because the temperature within the mine remains a constant, cool 58 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Sites of interest at the Exhibition Coal Mine include the Superintendent's House, the Coal Company House, the gift shop, the community church, and the Wildwood House museum. The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is open from April 1 to November 1. Tours are run from 10:00 to 5:30. (304-256-1747)<BR>Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is located in New River Park in Beckley. Take 1-77 to Exit 44. Turn east on Route 3 and follow it to Ewart Avenue. Make a left at Little General and go one-quarter of a mile to the New River Park entrance. 250000421~Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia~9858~489~109~41~108~The Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia is a great place to get a panoramic view of the region's history. While its name suggests the Youth Museum is aimed at a younger audience, both adults and kids will find their visit to the museum enjoyable and informative. In the museum's Heritage Center you'll find reproductions of a period mountain homestead, a moonshine still, a blacksmith ship, and a country store. The youth museum features a number of hands-on exhibits and also has a planetarium. From September through May the Youth Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and from June through August it's open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM and on Sundays from 1 PM to 6 PM. (304-252-3730)<BR>The Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia is located in New River Park, Exit 44 off I-77. 250000212~Bluefield~9912~-828~108~112~112~Bluefield, known as the "Capital" of the West Virginia coal region, lies on the edge of the massive Pocahontas Coal Fields that stretch into the state of Virginia. The city's Victorian architecture harks back to another era. A self-guided tour of central Bluefield will take you past such landmarks as the Old City Hall, the Opera House Building, and the People's Bank of Bluefield building, considered one of the finest Victorian Romanesque structures in West Virginia. The Bluefield Historic District offers a wealth of Appalachian crafts and small shops. Visit Bluefield's Municipal City Park, where you'll find the Davidson pioneer log cabin and the #7 steam locomotive of the old Norfolk & Western Railway. Stop in at the Craft Memorial Library, at 600 Commerce Street and check out the Eastern Regional Coal Archives, which features exhibits and photographs.(304-325-3943 or 304-325-5442) 235003066~Sharon's Bed and Breakfast Lake House~10303~3015~114~119~100~Enjoy spectacular views of Lake Erie from either of the two rooms in this delightful lakefront bed and breakfast. Rooms feature elegant furnishings, ceiling fans, private baths, and cable television. This scenic, historic property is located just ten miles outside of Buffalo.<BR>Rooms range from $100 to $110 a night, including a gourmet breakfast and afternoon tea. Call 716-627-7561 for reservations.<BR>The B & B is located in the small town of Hamburg. To get there, take Route 90 and get off at Exit 57. Turn right at Camp Road (also called Route 75) then go left onto Lake Shore. Sharon's Lake House is at 4862 Lake Shore Road, at the end, on the lakeside. 235003067~Original American Kazoo Company~10314~2942~119~129~108~If you are a music lover, you owe it to yourself to spend a few hours at the Kazoo Capital of the World. Established in 1916, the original metal kazoo factory features the world's largest metal kazoo on the roof. A tour allows visitors to watch kazoos being made on the factory's original machinery. The museum highlights kazoo history and trivia. It houses kazoos of all shapes and sizes, and the gift shop offers the instruments you'll need to start your own kazoo band.<BR>The Original American Kazoo Company is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday from noon until 5 PM. Get there before 3 PM on weekdays to catch the factory tour. There is no admission charge. Call 716-992-3960 for more information.<BR>The factory museum is located in Eden, New York at 8703 South Main Street. From Route 90, take Exit 57A, go through the toll and immediately veer left. Go three miles on the winding road, and at the red light (South Main, also called Route 62) go right. The Factory Museum is located about a block and a half down on the left. 235003068~Burgwardt Bicycle Museum~10366~3056~125~109~108~Climb aboard an antique high wheel bicycle, or check out the cool marine bicycle housed at the world's largest all-bicycle museum. Over 300 bicycles and thousands of cycling-related memorabilia are exhibited, including many unique and rare pieces. The museum traces the history of the bicycle, placing special emphasis on its social impact and cultural influence.<BR>The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM, and Sundays from 1:30 PM to 5 PM. Admission is $4.50 for adults, and $2.50 for children. Call 716-662-3853 for more information.<BR>In Orchard Park, New York, the museum's address is 3943 North Buffalo Road (also called Route 240/277). From Route 90 West, take Exit 56, turning left onto Route 179. At the sixth signal, turn right at Route 240/277. The museum is on the left about one half-mile after the first signal. 235003069~Toy Town Museum~10433~3061~139~114~108~This museum highlights rare and one-of-a-kind toys and also a children's interactive center. Exhibits feature lead soldiers, 1940's plastic toys, Barbie, pedal cars, and a collection of Fisher Price toys dating back to 1930. In addition, the museum has a rotating exhibit area with varying toy collections.<BR>The museum is open from 10 AM to 4 PM Monday through Saturday. There is no admission. Call 716-687-5151 for more details.<BR>Toy Town Museum is located at 636 Girard Avenue in East Aurora. From Route 90, get off at Route 400 going towards East Aurora. Turn right onto Maple Street. At the first stop sign, turn left onto Girard. The museum is part of the Fisher Price complex. 235003070~Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum~10271~3198~110~87~108~Relive childhood memories aboard one of two operating Allan Herschell carousels. This museum features a full size, three-abreast machine manufactured in 1916, and a children's carousel made in the 1930s. These restored beauties complete with Wurlitzer band organs will tickle young and old alike. Though the factory no longer produces carousels, the former site is operated by the Carousel Society of the Niagara Frontier, Inc., and a group of dedicated enthusiasts.<BR>During the summer months, the carousel factory museum is open every day from 11 AM to 5 PM; the rest of the year it opens at 1 PM. Admission is $3 for adults, $1.50 for children, and includes one carousel ride. Additional rides are $.25 each. Phone 716-693-1885 for more information.<BR>Located north of Buffalo in North Tonawanda, the museum's address is 180 Thompson Street. From Route 290, take Exit 1 and go north on Delaware until it turns into Main. At Thompson, take a right. 217000743~Garden of Eden~765~-631~97~108~106~Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this most peculiar assemblage of stone and concrete depicts the wild Biblical and political musings of eccentric Civil War veteran S.P. Dinsmoor, whose exhibited corpse is one of the site's featured attractions. Begun in 1907 when Dinsmoor was in his sixties, this folk art environment on an ordinary residential lot contains a stone rendition of a log cabin which Dinsmoor used as a dwelling, the crypt where both he and his wife are entombed, and the garden where, among 150 bizarre sculptures, Labor is crucified, Lady Liberty impales Big Business on a sword, and a giant Eve proffers an apple to visitors.<BR>Located at the corner of Kansas and Second Streets in Lucas, the Garden of Eden welcomes visitors daily from 10 AM to 5 PM April through October, and from 1 to 4 PM November through March, for a small admission fee; phone 785-525-6395. 217000744~Grassroots Art Center~760~-629~97~111~100~Dedicated to preserving and displaying naive art as part of the Midwest's cultural heritage, this museum boasts the locally famous Inez Marshall collection of limestone sculpture in its permanent collection. Over a period of 50 years this Kansas woman carved enormous slabs of rock into such things as a 1914 Ford Model T with an engine, trunk, and working headlights. Other permanently displayed local artists include Ray Stark, whose stone U.S. map is constructed with rocks from every state, and M.T. Liggett, known for his found-object creations depicting politicians and celebrities with their heads inside old toilets. The center features rotating exhibits of works from throughout the state and beyond.<BR>The Grassroots Art Center is located at 213 S. Main Street in Lucas, phone 785-525-6118. Open daily from May through September, hours are 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday and 1 PM to 5 PM Sunday. During the rest of the year, the center closes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and operates until 4 PM. Admission is charged. 217000745~World's Largest Ball of Twine~807~-326~97~93~106~Though other towns claim theirs is bigger, Cawker City's celebrated ball of sisal rope gets fatter with each year's Twine-a-thon, held the third Saturday of every August, when the public comes out in droves to wrap on several thousand more feet. Donated to the town by a local farmer who began the project in 1953, the twine ball weighed in at two and a half tons by 1957, stood eight feet high, and contained more than a million feet of rope. Much enlarged in the ensuing decades -- it's now nearly nine tons -- it has already outgrown two shelters and is fast filling up the large, specially constructed pavilion it occupies today.<BR>So big you can't miss it, the twine ball is located on the south side of Wisconsin Street just west of Lake Drive and is open to the public any time. The Cawker City Community Club arranges special "twine-around" events for especially large groups of visitors; call 913-781-4713. 217000746~Gallery of Also Rans~57~-114~58~83~106~This exhibit predates the unsuccessful presidential bid of the area's favorite son, Bob Dole, whose 16 x 20-inch picture and biography now accompany those of numerous others whose highest aspirations were dashed by an unwilling electorate. Modeled after a similar exhibit mounted by the Smithsonian during presidential election years, this display in the mezzanine of the local bank was begun in the 1980s by the bank's now-retired president, and also includes a collection of elephant figurines and another of lighted ceramic houses.<BR>The Gallery of Also Rans is located in the First State Bank of Kansas at 105 W. Main Street in Norton, phone 785-877-3341. Hours are 9 AM to 3 PM Monday through Friday and 9 AM to 11:30 AM on Saturday. Admission is free. 217000747~LandMark Inn at the Historic Bank of Oberlin~-268~-120~43~86~106~This picture-postcard town with redbrick streets and authentic frontier storefronts is home to the winner of the 1996 Kansas Historic Preservation Award -- a creatively readapted Victorian bank building that now serves as a bed-and-breakfast inn. All rooms feature private baths and beautiful antique furnishings, as well as such modern conveniences as online computer jacks. In addition, the teller area has been converted into a charming restaurant, and guests are encouraged to try out the inn's remarkable exercise facility furnished with antique workout equipment.<BR>The LandMark Inn is located at 189 S. Penn in the town of Oberlin, where U.S. Highways 83 and 36 intersect; phone 913-475-2340, or toll-free at 888-639-0003. 217000748~Prairie Dog Town~-435~-594~34~110~108~Though the highway billboards hype the star attraction as an 8,000-pound prairie dog -- which turns out to be a monstrous concrete sculpture on its haunches -- the real celebrities here are the freakish animal anomalies, some live and some mounted. Penned up in a dusty field behind this old gas station among 200 or so other inmates -- coyotes, badgers, and buffalo, to name a few -- are two cows with extra legs. Inside you'll find the stuffed heads and butts of various malformed animals, including a two-headed calf. Amid this circus wild prairie dogs pop in and out of their burrows and scamper about underfoot.<BR>Located on U.S. Highway 83 just south of I-70, Prairie Dog Town charges admission and is open for business from May through October, 8 AM to 8 PM daily; phone 785-672-3100. 217000750~Big Brutus~2685~-1745~132~29~108~Tall as a 16-story building and wide as a six-lane highway, 11-ton Big Brutus is the world's largest electric shovel -- still in existence, anyway. Though retired from service in 1974, today the 11-ton leviathan stands as a memorial and museum dedicated to Kansas coal mining. In its heyday, when picking up and dropping bites of earth as big as a house, the "thunder" it caused could be heard 15 miles away, 24 hours a day. Visitors are welcome to tour Big Brutus' innards and sit in the enormous control room. Ages 13 and up may scale the crane's 160-foot boom and take in an expansive prairie view.<BR>Located at 6509 N.W. 60th Street in West Mineral, Big Brutus welcomes visitors year-round. Days and hours vary seasonally; call 316-827-6177 for information. 217000751~Iron Horse Museum~2521~-1717~104~28~106~Dedicated to preserving the memory of the defunct "Katy" line (nickname of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas or MK&T Railroad), this replica of a small-town railroad depot houses numerous artifacts and memorabilia including the brass bell from an early 1920s steam engine, Pullman blankets, glassware and dishes used in dining cars, and much more. Outside is a 1940s locomotive, the first diesel engine ever used by the Katy line, and a 1920s caboose.<BR>The Iron Horse Museum, located at 18th and Corning in Parsons, is open from 1:30 PM to 5 PM Friday through Sunday. 217000752~Dalton Museum~2337~-1927~76~60~100~In addition to paying tribute to famed baseball pitcher Walter "Big Train" Johnson and presidential also-ran Wendell Wilkie, this museum commemorates the fateful day in 1892 when four of the five fearsome frontier bandits known as the Dalton Gang met their deaths at the hands of Coffeyville's outraged citizenry. In addition to the museum's photos and mementos of the event, a walking tour guide shows visitors to the Condon Bank, where the famed shootout began, "Death Alley," where the gang's corpses were put on public display, and more.<BR>The Dalton Museum, at 113 E. Eighth Street in Coffeyville, is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM (7 PM Memorial Day through Labor Day); phone 316-251-5944. 217000753~Emmett Kelly Museum~2039~-1880~35~52~100~Located in a Victorian opera house, this museum pays homage to the town of Sedan's favorite son, the popular circus clown Emmett Kelly, best known for his sad-faced "Willie" character. The collection includes photos and memorabilia from his circus career, as well as that of clown "Sparky" Washburn, who hailed from the nearby community of Chanute. The museum also contains the town's collection of memorabilia from the Civil War and World Wars I and II, as well as an assortment of Jim Beam whiskey decanters.<BR>Located at 202 E. Main Street in Sedan, the Emmett Kelly museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 1 PM to 5 PM from May through September, and by appointment the rest of the year. Be sure to note Sedan's "Yellow Brick Road," where the sidewalks are paved with yellow bricks, some bearing the names of celebrities who've passed through town. 205006227~Lake Merritt~-11636~-69~87~13~104~In the heart of Oakland, a sparkling blue saltwater lake breathes life into the concrete and steel downtown area. You can rent a boat, settle in to watch the many birds that rest here on their migrations, or try walking, running or cycling the three-mile path that circles the lake. Bring the kids and visit the Children's Fairyland at Lakeside Park on the Lake's north shore. Pony rides, nursery rhyme programs, and puppet shows provide plenty of fun for the younger set. 205002322~Oakland Museum of California~-11646~-61~72~100~106~Opened in 1969, this lovely building houses California's only museum exclusively focused on the state's history, art, and ecology. Each subject merits a separate level of the building. Don't miss the impressive ecology diorama that simulates a tour through the various natural habitats of California, from its seacoast in the west to the high Sierra Nevada Mountains in the east. Have a look at the extensive collection of California artifacts such as the guitar played at Woodstock by Berkeley native Country Joe McDonald, a 19th-century California Mud Wagon, and the Dream on Wheels diorama with its 1950s shiny red car, drive-in restaurant sign, and jukebox. Take in the Bay view from the rooftop garden atop the museum, then have lunch at the Museum cafe, or enjoy a picnic in the Great Court. <BR>The Museum is located at Oak and 10th Streets, and is open from 9 AM to 5 PM Wednesday through Saturday, and noon to 7 PM Sundays. Admission is free every Sunday from 4 PM to 7 PM. 205002626~Oakland~-11648~-48~57~78~112~History, nature, and the most ethnically diverse population in the U.S. make this a fascinating city to visit. In Jack London Square, on the waterfront, Oakland keeps alive the 19th century when London, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Edwin Markham lived here. London's favorite "watering hole," Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon, still serves patrons. Visit the Jack London Museum and the Ebony Museum of African Art and enjoy the many shops and restaurants. You can also just sit or stroll in the sun and enjoy the views of San Francisco and the giant cargo ships at the Port of Oakland, or rent a canoe or kayak and explore the bay. <BR>Here are some other must-see places in Oakland:<BR>A mix of high-rise office towers and restored Victorian structures adorn the Oakland downtown area. Get a feeling for the area by joining a walking tour offered most Wednesdays and Saturdays by the Oakland Tours Program. Call 510-834-1852 for meeting place and time. Don't miss a visit to the Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway in downtown Oakland. This Art Deco masterpiece hosts classic Hollywood movies complete with newsreels, cartoons, and short subjects on selected Friday nights. Tours of the Paramount are offered Saturdays at 10 AM for $5.00. Victorian Row is the recently renovated 19th-century business district. Join the throngs at the Friday Outdoor Market along Ninth Street west of Broadway, and the Housewives' Market at Clay and 9th, where a variety of ethnic foods are the big attraction. Enjoy a weekend "Pasta Opera" dinner at Rattos, at 821 Washington Street, where the management serenades the customers with true Italian gusto. <BR>Got a yen for Oriental cuisine? Oakland's Chinatown beckons a block east of Broadway (between Seventh and Ninth) with a host of authentic restaurants from which to choose. Though not as well known as its San Francisco counterpart, this bustling area is the fifth-largest Chinatown in the US. 205000086~University of California - Berkeley~-11625~-21~98~35~119~Be ready for hills when you visit Berkeley. Free 90-minute, student-led campus tours are held Monday through Saturday at 10 AM and Sundays at 1 PM. You can also pick up a self-guided tour brochure at Visitor Services at the corner of University Ave. and Oxford Street. The University Art Museum, the Hearst Museum of Anthropology, and the Sather Campanile Tower (modeled after the Piazza San Marco in Venice) are among the sites you won't want to miss. Take the elevator to the top of the Campanile for a bird's-eye view of the campus as well as the entire Bay area. Listen to the bongo music, catch street musicians' acts, and remember the days of your youth as you watch the pageant of student life unfold in Sproul Plaza. 205006240~Telegraph Avenue~-11631~-30~94~54~104~Any visit to Berkeley demands a visit to Telegraph Avenue, a four-block stretch with one of the highest rates of bookstores and coffee shops per capita on Earth. This is the Berkeley of the collective imagination, with ideas flowing as fast as the coffee and the colorful magic of the hippie scene still to be savored. Cody's Books, Comics and Comix, Moe's Books, Shakespeare and Company, and Shambala Booksellers are among the merchants to check out. You can browse to your heart's content without a hint of hassle.<BR>All this browsing can scare up an appetite. Try the Blue Nile at 2525 Telegraph Ave. to sample exotic Ethiopian cuisine. No forks allowed! Fingers and a special Ethiopian bread called injera are the utensils of choice. Other Telegraph Avenue ethnic options include Mario's La Fiesta for Mexican, Blondie's Pizza, Genova Delicatessen and Ravioli Factory, and Cafe Mediterraneum. 205002350~Judah L. Magnes Museum~-11636~-24~82~45~106~About a mile from the UC-Berkeley campus, you'll find California's largest museum of Jewish art and culture, the Judah L. Magnes Museum. The permanent collections include over 12,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings by such artists as Marc Chagall, Chana Orloff, and Max Liebermann as well as artifacts of Jewish ceremonial and folk tradition. <BR>Visit the Magnes Sunday through Thursday from 10 AM to 4 PM. It is located at 2911 Russell Street. A small donation ($3 adult) is suggested. 205002343~Lawrence Hall of Science~-11628~-19~98~35~106~Up the hill from the main UC-Berkeley campus, on Centennial Drive, are two delightful satellites of the university: the Botanical Garden and Lawrence Hall of Science. As you stroll the Botanical Garden paths, you'll enjoy a variety of different garden themes, such as an orchid house, cactus garden, Asian, African, European, and South American gardens. Visit the Garden any day but Christmas from 9 AM to 4:45 PM.<BR>A little farther uphill, Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) sits near the crest of the hill. Outdoors there's a panoramic view over the bay. Indoors, lose yourself in excellent exhibits and learning experiences designed to show that science is something everyone can do and enjoy. Check out the Just Build-It exhibit with its Gravity Wall, the Earthquake Exhibit including a working seismic recorder, and play the world's most popular games at Math Around the World. <BR>LHS is open daily from 10 AM to 4:30 PM. Admission is $5.00. 205006242~Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park~-10829~-2507~85~70~104~At Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park you can glimpse preserved examples of Native American art dating back to the 1600s. Several caves scattered about the park display intriguing pictographs that may have been religiously significant to the Chumash people. Painted Cave State Historic Park offers a rare chance to see artifacts of Chumash civilization in their original, remote setting rather than in a museum.<BR>The Park is three miles south of the San Marcos Pass. Turn east off Hwy 154 onto Painted Caves Road. The main cave is located on the left, about two miles up a steep, narrow road. The parking area is limited to one or two cars at a time, and cannot accommodate trailers and RVs. 205006249~Santa Ynez Wineries~-10973~-2419~63~56~104~An accident of geography -- a coast and mountains that run east to west rather than north to south, unique in the Americas -- provides the key to successful viticulture in the Santa Ynez Valley. The mountains trap Pacific fog and breezes to produce perfect conditions for growing grapes. Plan to spend at least a few hours driving through this lovely country and tasting some of the wines it produces. Bring your lunch, or stop at Los Olivos Cafe (2879 Grand Ave., Los Olivos CA), where you can buy deli items or a pre-packed picnic basket to enjoy at one of the picnic areas that all of the wineries provide. <BR>Near the town of Santa Ynez you'll find the Santa Ynez Winery, where tours, tasting, sales, and gifts are available to visitors from 8:30 to 6 daily. The Sunstone Vineyards and Winery also offer tasting and wines for sale daily from 10 to 4. The largest vintner in the region is Firestone Vineyard, noted for its Rieslings, Chardonnays, and Merlots. The Fess Parker Winery, Brander Vineyard, Carey Cellars, and Gainey Vineyard are among the 30-plus winemakers you might want to visit in the valley . <BR>The wineries are located off of Hwy. 154, northwest of Santa Barbara. Call or visit the Santa Barbara County Vintners' Association in Santa Ynez, 805-686-5881, for information and wine touring maps/brochures. 205006292~La Purisima Concepcion and Lompoc Valley~-11152~-2343~30~46~100~If you drive along Rte. 246, you'll come upon La Purisima Mission State Historic Park about three miles northeast of Lompoc. Of the 21 Spanish missions in California, this is the one to see if you really want to get a feel for life as it was lived by the padres and the Indians of the early 19th century. Artisans employed by a Depression make-work project faithfully restored the ruined mission to its former state, using authentic period methods and tools right down to paint colors extracted from native plants. After you've toured the church and the priests' quarters, stroll any portion of the 12 miles of trails that twine throughout 900 acres of parkland. Fruits, herbs and vegetables of the period grow in the gardens. On summer weekends, "living history" days feature volunteers dressed as Indians and padres re-enacting life as it may have been at the mission.<BR>La Purisima Mission State Park is open daily from June through August from 8 AM to 6 PM, and September through May from 9 AM to 5 PM. Admission is $5.00 per car. 205002661~Lompoc~-11174~-2353~30~46~112~If you find yourself near Lompoc, known as "the flower-seed growing capital of the world," you must take the 19-mile "Valley Flower Drive" (May through September) to see the valley and surrounding hills magnificently splashed with the colors of hundreds of flower varieties later harvested for their seeds. The Lompoc Valley produces more than half the flower seeds in the world.<BR>Contact the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce, 111 South I St. for a map of the flower fields. Visit the display garden at the Civic Center Plaza, between Ocean Ave. and C Street in Lompoc, to learn the names of the various flowers. 241001015~Aiken County Historical Museum~10135~-3314~130~70~100~The Aiken County Historical Museum is dedicated to the preservation of Aiken county's history. You'll find a wealth of historical artifacts here including Native American archaeological artifacts, old firearms, a restored early-20th-century drugstore, a log cabin dating from 1808, old firearms and a restored one-room schoolhouse. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 5 PM. (803-642-2015)<BR>The Aiken County Historical Museum is located at 433 Newberry Street in southwest Aiken. 241001016~Hopeland Gardens and Rye Patch~10143~-3316~130~70~104~You'll find a little bit of Eden in Aiken's Hopeland Gardens and Rye Patch. Designed in 1969, then bequeathed to Aiken by a longtime resident, this oak-, cedar-, and magnolia-thick public garden is a popular visitor's stop. Lazily curving paths, terraces, and reflecting pools make this a must-see. The Hopeland Gardens has a Touch and Scent path with Braille markers for the visually impaired. The Hopeland Gardens are open from sunrise to sunset year-round and admission is free. Special Monday evening concerts are offered on the Garden's Performing Arts Stage between July and August. (803-642-7630)<BR>When you get hungry during your visit to Aiken, try the curiously named No. 10 Downing Street. Located at 241 Laurens Street, this restaurant is housed in a mid-19th-century Southern Colonial house and serves Italian and French cuisine. (803-642-9062)<BR>The Hopeland Gardens are located at the corner of Dupree Place and Whiskey Road in Aiken. 241001017~Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame~10143~-3317~130~70~100~The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame is located on the same 14-acre estate that houses the Hopeland Gardens. You shouldn't be too surprised at the presence of this museum in a modest South Carolina town. After all, the Hall of Fame preserves one of the deeper and more passionate strains in South Carolina's heritage -- a love of horses and horse racing. Here you'll find a variety of vintage horse-racing paraphernalia, exhibits, photographs, trophies, and owner's silks. Such names as Pleasant Colony, the 1981 Kentucky Derby winner and Kelso, a famed horse of the 1960s are celebrated in the Racing Hall of Fame. The Hall is open Tuesday through Sunday from 2 to 5 PM. (803-649-7700)<BR>The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame is located on the grounds of the Hopeland Gardens at the corner of Dupree Place and Whiskey Road in Aiken. 241001018~Abbeville Opera House and Historic District~9705~-2973~96~43~106~Abbeville lies 30 miles northwest of Aiken along SC 28. This small town may at first appear rather quiet and perhaps a little quaint, but Abbeville is a true gem of South Carolina history. The Abbeville Historic District preserves a number of Greek Revival and Victorian era 19th-century homes. Among the most notable structures is the Opera House. This three-story, brick structure located on Town Square dates from the early 1900s, when minstrel shows and theater troupes performing Shakespeare stopped overnight in Abbeville to entertain audiences. Today the Opera House has been restored to its turn-of-the-century splendor and houses a repertory theater. Reservations for shows are taken Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM. (864-459-2157)<BR>The Opera House is located on Town Square in central Abbeville. 241001019~Burt-Stark Mansion~9702~-2969~96~43~100~This antebellum showpiece can't help but recall South Carolina's Civil War heritage. It was in this house, built during the 1830s, that Jefferson Davis and others met for the last Confederate Council of War on May 2, 1865 and officially disbanded the Confederate armies. (803-459-2157)<BR>You'll find this history-filled house at North Main and Greenville Streets in downtown Abbeville. 241001020~Abbeville County Museum~9705~-2970~96~43~100~The good citizens of Abbeville County established this museum to preserve the history of the Abbeville region. The museum houses a fine collection of historic artifacts in an old, converted three-story jailhouse that dates from 1853. A log cabin sits on the grounds and you can even see the graffiti that prisoners scribbled on the jailhouse walls. (803-459-2696 or 803-459-2740)<BR>The Abbeville County Museum is located at 215 Poplar Street at the intersections of Poplar and Cherry Streets. <BR>Though not particularly in keeping with the regional theme, a good place to eat while you're visiting Abbeville is Yoder's Dutch Kitchen located along US 72. Yoder's serves Pennsylvania Dutch home cooking. (803-459-5556) 246001780~Ash Lawn-Highland~11244~-40~104~93~100~A perfect follow-up to a visit to Monticello, nearby Ash Lawn-Highland was the home of James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States. Thomas Jefferson actually chose the site and served as the intermediary for the purchase of Ash Lawn-Highland while Monroe was on a diplomatic mission in France. He also planted the orchards, the first crop of what Monroe hoped would be a working farm. Monroe and his family lived in Ash Lawn-Highland off and on between 1799 and 1826. Much as Jefferson wished to retire and live in serenity at Monticello, Monroe hoped to retire to Ash Lawn after his two terms as president. Unfortunately, debts forced him to sell the stately house. The College of William and Mary now owns and operates the house, and has undertaken an ambitious restoration project in expectation of the 200th anniversary of Monroe's purchase. Guided tours are offered daily, allowing you to see the interior with much of its period furnishings. Ash Lawn is open from 9 AM to 6 PM, March to October; and from 10 AM to 5 PM from November to February. It's closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Admission is $7 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, and $3 for kids aged 6 to 11. (804-293-9539)<BR>Ash Lawn-Highland is located less then three miles southwest of Monticello along Route 795. 246001782~Pavilion Gardens~11209~-20~94~92~104~Thomas Jefferson is famed as much for his intellectual accomplishments as for his statecraft. Monticello and the Declaration of Independence stand as monuments to his brilliance. But Jefferson's restless mind ranged widely over any number of given subjects. The Pavilion Gardens located at the University of Virginia are a legacy of Jefferson's obsession with botany and gardening. The gardens are divided into a West Pavilion and an East Pavilion, and are today a favorite haunt of UVA students. Jefferson, who founded the University, intended the gardens to be as much an object of study as a place to study. Plants and trees as diverse as magnolias, pecans, peonies, and ash trees line the walks in classical symmetry. Contact the University of Virginia for information about campus tours. (804-924-3239)<BR>The Pavilion Gardens are located on the campus of the University of Virginia -- "Mr. Jefferson's University." 246001781~Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center~11227~-35~95~100~100~A great place to get some sense of Thomas Jefferson's life, character, and accomplishments is the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center. The Visitor Center shows two films about Jefferson and provides information about area attractions and lodging. You can also get special discount combination tickets if you plan to visit Monticello, Ash Lawn-Highland, and Michie Tavern. (804-293-6789)<BR>The Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center is located on Route 20 off Interstate 64.<BR>Stop in at the Boar's Head Inn & Sports Club for lunch or dinner during a day trip to the Charlottesville area. The inn's old historic section is still standing, and the Old Mill Room affords great views of the outlying countryside that made this region such a favorite with great men. The Boar's Head Inn is located on Route 250 West. (800-476-1988) 233000966~White Sands Missile Range Museum~-3368~-4638~122~81~100~The shifting serenity of White Sands National Monument is surrounded by the White Sands Missile Range, the military's premier weapons test grounds. It's famous for being the location of the world's first atomic explosion (see the Great Southwestern Atomic Tour for more information). Here scientists led by Werner von Braun tested the German V-2 rocket and others that eventually took America into space. The White Sands Missile Range Museum, located on the grounds of the base, commemorates these exploits. Outside the museum, Missile Park contains over three dozen missiles and rockets with plaques describing each one. A short walk away, you can see an authentic V-2, one of only a handful still in the world today. The museum is open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Missile Park is open 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM every day. Admission is free. Note that to get a visitors pass to enter the base, you will need to show your vehicle registration, driver's license proving U.S. citizenship, and proof of auto insurance. (505-678-8824)<BR>Alamogordo offers a healthy number of motels. Try the All American Inn (505-437-1850) or Best Western Desert Aire (800-528-1234) for good value. New Mexico is the place for Mexican food. The El Camino is reputed to have some of the best in town. If you prefer Italian cooking, head over to Angelina's. 233000336~Space Center~-3346~-4639~122~81~106~Built on the hillside overlooking Alamogordo, the Space Center is an ultra-modern, three-in-one facility consisting of the International Space Hall of Fame, the Clyde Tombaugh Planetarium, and the IMAX Dome Theater. Go to the top of the cube-shaped center and work your way down. You'll find numerous interactive exhibits celebrating human achievement in space and exciting films documenting space travel. The center is open seven days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM. Separate admission is charged for the museum and the theatre. (800-545-4021 or 505-437-2840) 233000402~Roswell~-2541~-4355~185~61~112~If you'd like to ponder the possibilities of intergalactic flight, take a drive over to Roswell. It's about 120 miles further east. Interest in the "Roswell incident" of 1947 continues to grow with each passing year. Get the whole story at the International UFO Museum and Research Center. Exhibits cover everything from government cover-ups to extraterrestrials. The museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM seven days a week. There is no admission charge but donations are gratefully accepted. 235003077~Thousand Islands Inn~11392~4314~56~115~106~Check into one of the most popular inns in the historic fishing village of Clayton. Located across the street from the St. Lawrence River, most of the 14 rooms in the Thousand Islands Inn have a river view, from which you can see oceangoing freighters from around the world. A country-style inn, the Thousand Islands has been completely renovated in authentic late 1800's decor. The inn features an award-winning restaurant. Home of the famous Thousand Island Dressing, the dining room is a favorite with visitors and locals alike. Reservations are recommended. The inn is within walking distance the historic downtown area, the Antique Boat Museum, and Clayton's Muskie Hall of Fame.<BR>Double rooms at the inn range from $70 to $75 a night. All feature private baths and ceiling fans. The Thousand Islands Inn dining room offers an extensive menu with gourmet specials ranging from $10 to $18. Contact the inn at 315-686-3030 (315-686-3390 before May 22) for reservations and more information. 235003078~North Country Helicopter Tour~11456~4395~65~105~108~You might want to begin your stay with a gull's eye view of the Thousand Islands. This is the very best way to see the island communities and get your bearings. A variety of helicopter tours are available. You'll fly over castles, into Canada, over huge ocean-going vessels, and past island mansions. If you bring your camera, the pilot will position the craft for the best shots.<BR>North Country Helicopter flights leave from Alexandria Bay, a short, thirty-minute drive from Clayton. Flights last between ten and thirty minutes, and cost between $35 and $85 per person. For reservations call 315-482-5722. 235003079~Capt.'s Landing~11446~4396~65~105~106~While in Alexandria Bay, lunch on the deck at Capt.'s Landing, the only floating restaurant in the Thousand Islands. Enjoy spectacular views of Boldt Castle and the passing boats while you dine. This is a truly unique Thousand Islands experience.<BR>Capt.'s Landing offers hearty lunchtime fare. For reservations call 315-482-7777. 235003080~Boldt Castle~11439~4401~65~105~100~This six-story, 120-room mansion was modeled after a Rhineland castle. George C. Boldt began building it on Heart Island at the turn of the century as a gift to his wife. When she died before its completion, all work stopped and it has since then stood as an unfinished monument dedicated to her. You might spend the afternoon touring the massive castle, towers, garden terraces, and gazebo. Picnic grounds and a concession area make the popular landmark very visitor-friendly.<BR>Heart Island is accessible by water shuttles that leave every 30 minutes from either Alexandria Bay or Clayton (across the street from the Thousand Island Inn). Castle admission is $3.75. 235003081~Thousand Islands Boat Cruise~11442~4385~65~105~108~Don't let your Thousand Islands stay go by without a boat cruise that crosses the international boundary into Canadian waters. You'll pass spectacular island mansions and glide under spans of the Thousand Islands International Bridge. Choose from a variety of tours that originate across from the Thousand Islands Inn at Uncle Sam Boat Tours.<BR>Tours last from two to three hours. Some offer lunch or dinner on board. Prices start at $13.00 per person. For more information on specific tours and departure times, call 1-800-253-9229. 249000611~Peninsula Players Theatre~6043~3855~118~68~104~Many of Door County's visitors make the Peninsula Players' open-sided theater the focus of their journey. The Theatre-in-a-Garden on the cedar-lined shores of Green Bay has been presenting the highest caliber professional theater for over 60 years. The sun goes down over the water, the lights come up, and the magic begins. Performances run from late June through mid-October. Head north on Highway 42 from Fish Creek to Peninsula Players Road. (920-868-3287) 249001922~Door County Auditorium~6056~3851~119~76~106~One of the area's newest cultural centers, Door County Auditorium presents year-round performances by the top names in jazz, pop, and folk, as well as dance, puppet and special children's shows. The classically oriented Peninsula Music Festival is presented here in August. You'll find the auditorium as you round the corner on Highway 42 just north of downtown Fish Creek. (920-868-2728) 249001923~Birch Creek Music Performance Center~6056~3798~125~83~106~Young music students come here to study with some of the best artists in their field. During the summer months, the center opens its doors to the public for symphonic and big band jazz concerts in the 100-year-old barn/concert hall. The center is located at 3821 County Highway E in Egg Harbor, about a half-mile east of the intersection of Memorial Drive and County E. (920-868-3763) 249001359~Door County Maritime Museum - Sturgeon Bay~6007~3649~112~107~100~This state-of-the-art museum, one of two locations for this institution (the other being in Gills Rock), contains exhibits depicting the history of Door County's shipbuilding industry and the area's rich maritime heritage. The museum features four large galleries, two lobbies, an education/conference room, and a library/archive. The museum sponsors two annual events -- the Door County Lighthouse Walk in May and the Door County Maritime Museum Classic Wooden Boat Show in August.<BR>Open seven days a week year-round, the Sturgeon Bay museum hours are 9 AM to 5 PM June through Labor Day, and 10 AM to 5 PM starting in September. Admission costs $5 for adults, $2.50 for children, or only $12 for the whole family. (920-743-5958) 249001361~Door County Maritime Museum - Gills Rock~6121~3962~133~56~100~This museum, one of two branches of this institution (the other being in Sturgeon Bay), features artifacts portraying the commercial fishing industry of Door County, artifacts from and models of shipwrecks, a navigation exhibit, and a life-saving exhibit. The museum also houses the <I>Berylune,</I> a fully restored pleasure boat.<BR>Located at the tip of the peninsula, the museum is open from May to October. Admission is only $2.50 for adults, $1 for children, and $5 for the whole family. (920-743-5958) 249000745~Washington Island~6166~4051~137~40~112~Six miles off the tip of the peninsula, across the straits forbiddingly called Death's Door, lies tranquil Washington Island. The permanent home of 650 hardy souls, the island is known as the nation's oldest Icelandic community. The auto ferry departs from the peninsula towns of Gills Rock and Northport at various times throughout the year. Call 920-847-2546 or 800-223-2094 for rates and schedules. You can tour the island by car or bicycle or take the 90-minute narrated Cherry Train tram ride. (920-847-2039) 249000181~Rock Island State Park~6211~4071~150~34~102~Some people insist on going all the way to the end of the line and on the Door County peninsula, this is it. For a break from fast-paced car culture, hop the passenger ferry, Memorial Day weekend thru mid-October, and travel from Washington Island's Jackson Harbor to Rock Island State Park, where no wheeled vehicles are allowed. LaSalle and Hennepin visited this Lake Michigan island in 1679, and it was later the private retreat of millionaire Chester Thordarson, an inventor who erected several massive stone buildings here in the early 20th century. Today, you can tour his boathouse and Viking Hall. There are 40 primitive campsites available on the island, and visitors can swim, canoe, and fish in the lake, hike the park's ten miles of trails, or visit Wisconsin's oldest lighthouse. 239002162~Cameron Estate Inn~11862~1564~25~79~104~If you're staying overnight in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, you can't do better than one of the area's most elegant and historic bed and breakfast establishments. The Cameron Estate Inn is located on 15 acres of formal gardens, lawns, woods, and trout streams, about 20 minutes from downtown Lancaster. When you arrive, stretch your legs with a stroll through the private woods. Return to the inn in time for afternoon tea, or for cocktails on the spacious verandah. You'll stay in one of 17 beautifully restored guest rooms boasting private baths, fireplaces, and spectacular views of the grounds. Hosts can recommend one of several nearby restaurants for dinner (including Country French, contemporary, or Pennsylvania Dutch). Plan on a full breakfast in the glass-enclosed sun porch in the morning.<BR>Rooms at the inn range from $120 to $175 a night including afternoon tea and full breakfast. Make your reservations and get directions by calling 888-7-CAMERON. 239002163~Central Market~12000~1564~77~71~104~In existence for 250 years, Central Market is still the place to take in the bustling excitement of Saturday morning market day. Breathe in the smell of fresh-baked whoopie pies, snickerdoodles, and shoofly pie. Admire the home-grown produce and the 100-pound blocks of cheese. Check out Charles Lang's grate-as-you-wait horseradish stand. And don't leave without tasting the sweet Lebanon bologna and the hefty soft pretzels (please pass the mustard). Collect goodies for lunch from the most tempting stands and take your picnic outside to Penn Square to watch the comings and goings while you enjoy your lunch. After you eat, take some time to stroll through Penn Square's winding alleyways and charming courtyards. Check out the Heritage Center Museum beside the market building.<BR>Central Market is located on the square in downtown Lancaster. Saturday market hours are 6 AM to 2 PM. 239002164~Amish Buggy Ride~12077~1585~113~63~104~Take a ride through the scenic Amish farmlands in an actual Amish buggy. You'll see the world as the natives see it, at nine miles an hour. The three-mile tour takes about half an hour, passing through covered bridges and rolling countryside. Afterwards, explore the back roads of Bird-In-Hand on your own. Be sure to stop at some roadside stands to check out the local produce and crafts.<BR>Aaron & Jessica's Buggy Rides leave from the Plain & Fancy Farm in the town of Bird-In-Hand. They are open Monday through Saturday, from 8 AM until dusk. For details and directions, call 717-768-8828. No reservations are necessary. 239002165~Red Caboose Motel~12083~1543~115~80~106~If you're willing to give up the life of the country squire and ready for a change of pace, check into the Red Caboose Motel to stay in a restored caboose for the night. Choose from a variety of different cabooses -- half-car or full-size cars are available. All the rooms have private baths and cable TV. Located in historic Strasburg, the Red Caboose is close to the old town square for easy access to quaint shops, railway museums, and restaurants.<BR>Weekend rates range from $69 to $99 a night. Call 717-687-5000 for reservations and directions. Pennsylvania Dutch style meals are available at the Red Caboose Restaurant, next door to the motel. 239002166~Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania~12081~1542~109~88~108~Strasburg's Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania houses one of the most significant railroad collections in the world. Exhibits feature the early history of railroading with many unique cars, an outdoor restoration, and exhibit yard. Don't miss the large HO layout on the second floor.<BR>Museum admission is $6. July 1 through September 6, the museum is open from 9 AM to 7 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and from noon to 5 PM on Sunday. For more information, call 717-687-8628. 239002167~Strasburg Railroad~12070~1546~109~880~108~Take the "Ride to Paradise" (Paradise, PA that is) aboard one of America's oldest steam trains. You'll journey back in time as you travel through Pennsylvania Dutch farmland and scenic villages. Book a seat in the luxurious Lee Brenner Dining car when you purchase your ticket, and enjoy lunch as you survey the scenery. The trip takes about one hour.<BR>Train tickets are $9. Lunch runs between $4.95 and $7.95 and is served on the trains running on the hour between noon and 3 PM. Call 717-687-6486 for more details. 222000973~Monhegan-Thomaston Boat Line~14605~5063~189~48~104~Watch for whales on the ten-mile boat ride to Monhegan Island from Port Clyde. As you pass Seal Rock look for the seal families basking in the sun. Enjoy smooth sailing from the glassed-in cabin or on the open-air deck. The boat to Monhegan Island leaves Port Clyde at 10:30 AM, arriving on the island about 11:30 AM. Arrive early in Port Clyde to explore the shops and galleries in this quiet harbor town. Return trip leaves the Monhegan dock at 4:30 PM. <BR>Reach Port Clyde by taking Coastal Route 1 to Thomaston, and then take Route 131 south. The Monhegan Boat is 12 miles down the peninsula. The boat ride costs $25 per adult round-trip ticket, and $12 for each child under twelve. Reservations are required, and will be held until one hour and 15 minutes before the 10:30 AM departure. Call 207-372-8848 for reservations. Parking at the dock in Port Clyde is $4 for entire day. 222000974~Monhegan Hiking Trails~14619~4957~199~63~104~Starting from the village, well-maintained footpaths draw the hiker across meadows, through forests, to surf-pounded cliffs. Don't miss the ethereal beauty of Cathedral Woods. Located on the northern flyway for migrating birds, Monhegan is well-known among birding enthusiasts for rare bird sightings. Bring your binoculars. Before starting your walk, stop at the Monhegan House to pick up a hearty and delicious trail lunch (vegetarian selections are available). Flour for the bread is actually ground on the premises. Savor your picnic perched on the cliffs overlooking the crashing surf, or plunked down in a meadow of wildflowers. <BR>The Monhegan House is near the dock. Walk up the hill and turn right at Lupine Gallery. Monhegan House is on the left just past the General Store. 222000975~Monhegan Museum~14614~4951~197~71~100~Don't miss this delightful lighthouse museum housed in the old keeper's quarters near the center of the island. Local residents have donated most of the displays, including antique ice cutting and fishing equipment. Early Indian and settler exhibits provide a unique window to the former inhabitants' way of life. Also, be sure to visit artist studios located near the village. About 20 artists summer on the island, and many welcome visitors during posted hours. <BR>The museum is open from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM between July 1 to September 10. 222000976~Island Inn Afternoon Tea~14612~4948~191~71~106~After a day of hiking and strolling through the village, treat yourself to afternoon tea at the Island Inn. They serve a variety of teas, finger sandwiches, scones with cream, and cakes. Located above the Monhegan Harbor, the dining room offers a picturesque view of the boats on the water. Tea is served from 3:00 to 5:00 PM and is $15 per person. Call 207-596-0371 for details. 206001726~Dining and Lodging in Colorado Springs~-2516~-713~144~42~106~The resort city at the foot of Pikes Peak is Colorado Springs, home to the Air Force Academy and numerous military installations. The many motels, hotels and inns make this a fine place to find lodging. Of course, the famous Old World charms of the sprawling Broadmoor resort are here (719-634-7711). If you're looking for the pleasures of a bed and breakfast, the Hearthstone Inn at 506 North Cascade Avenue offers a veritable Victorian maze of rooms (719-473-4413) and the Holden House at 1102 West Pikes Peak Avenue has two rooms and three suites in another historic Victorian home (719-471-3980). Dining options run the gamut from chic to funky. Zeb's (719-473-9999) has good steaks and pork ribs. Railroad buffs should try the Italian cuisine at Giuseppe's Old Depot (719-635-3111) in a restored station of the old Denver and Rio Grande Railroad at 10 South Sierra Madre Street. 206000527~Garden of the Gods~-2556~-689~130~27~104~Take your first official look at Pikes Peak from the Colorado Springs city park called Garden of the Gods. Bizarre sandstone formations, balancing rocks, and eroded pinnacles dot this 1,350-acre preserve near Manitou Springs. Tarantulas, honey ants, rattlesnakes, mule deer, magpies, hawks, and bighorn sheep share this park in the shadows of towering sandstone rock formations. The park offers many trails to explore, a new visitor's center with multimedia presentations, and a 1920s Pueblo-style trading post. Best of all, admission is free. 206001727~Manitou Springs~-2554~-696~129~33~104~The pleasures of this Alpine village at the base of Pikes Peak have been recognized by tourists and artists for decades. Shop at a wide variety of charming galleries and boutiques. This is also where you'll catch the Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway train to the top of the mountain. After your climb, you can have dinner at a couple of Colorado's finest restaurants: The Stagecoach Inn (719-685-9400) or Craftwood Inn (719-685-9000). Reservations are recommended for each. If you like theater with your dinner, head for the Iron Springs Chateau, where exciting western melodrama accompanies the all-you-can-eat meal. (719-685-5104) 206001728~Pikes Peak~-2618~-702~101~38~104~Dominating the Rocky Mountain skyline at 14,110 feet, Pikes Peak is one of America's most photogenic mountains. The summit is accessible in summer by train, toll road, or hiking trail. At the top you can get fast food and souvenirs at the Summit House. The Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway has been hauling people up the mountain since 1891. Trains leave twice a day from April to November with more frequent trips during summer months. The round trip takes about 3-1/2 hours and costs $23 for adults and $11 for children. Call 719-685-5401 for reservations. The toll road, Pikes Peak Highway, is open from April to October, though it occasionally closes due to heavy snowfall. It costs $10 per adult to drive the 38-mile round trip, which climbs nearly 7,000 feet. Toll road information is available at 719-684-9383. <BR>To find the Cog Railway, turn west off of US 24 onto Manitou Avenue. After 1.5 miles, turn left onto Ruxton Avenue. The railway is at the end of Ruxton. 206000608~Cripple Creek~-2693~-762~74~63~112~Drive around behind Pikes Peak to the historic gold mining community of Cripple Creek. Although dominated by galleries, boutiques and restaurants, the aura of a roaring camp town still lingers here, abetted by the town's newest attraction -- limited stakes gambling. Take the Mollie Kathleen Mine Tour to get an inside look at the industry that drove the town for 50 years (719-689-2465). The four-mile Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad offers a scenic tour past old mine workings in the district. (719-689-2640) The Imperial Casino Hotel, the last of the town's original way stations, offers a triple threat: old style lodging, good food, and the nightly melodrama performed in the Gold Bar Theater. (719-689-2922) 206001729~Royal Gorge~-2760~-935~51~127~104~Highly commercialized but still enjoyable in its awesome natural splendor, Royal Gorge cuts through a 1,000-foot deep canyon near Canon City. Park by the toll bridge and walk up to the edge for a free look. You can also spend lots of money riding the tram, the train, or the helicopter. The kids will probably get a kick out of Buckskin Joe's, the theme park next to the gorge. (719-275-5149) 234000716~Nevada Northern Railway~-7667~126~70~118~100~Often called the "best preserved shortline in North America," the Nevada Northern Railway in Ely was one of the last great mining railroads built in the early 20th century. Completed in 1906 by the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company, the Nevada Northern stretched from Ely to the Southern Pacific Railroad line in Cobre, 130 miles north. Initially built to haul millions of tons of copper ore from Ely mines, the train later provided regular Pullman passenger service until 1920, and carried local residents to work and play until 1938. The railroad ceased regular freight operations in 1983, when it was donated to the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation to operate as a working museum.<BR>The museum offers daily guided walking tours of the railroad facility from May through October. You'll see the whole operation as it appeared when the facility opened in 1907, including the general office, depot and dispatcher's office, the roundhouse, machine and blacksmith shops, and a rolling stock of vintage steam, diesel, and electric locomotives.<BR>You'll also have a chance to ride the legendary Nevada Northern behind one of two classic locomotives. Choose to ride in an original 1890 Pullman coach, a 1907 baggage/RPO, or an open-top flat car with benches. Tickets run up to $14 for adults, $12 for juniors (12-18) and seniors (65 and up), and $6 for children (5-11). Trains run on Saturday and Sunday only.<BR>The museum and gift shop are open Tuesday through Sunday from around 9:30 AM to 4 PM (closed Monday). The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is located at 11th Street and Avenue A in East Ely. (702-289-2085) 234000717~Ruth Copper Pit~-7723~113~62~123~100~Testimony to Ely's rich past, the Ruth copper mines are considered one of the world's largest open pit mine systems. Called "glory holes" by local miners, these open pit treasure troves produced nearly one billion dollars in copper, gold, and silver during the first half of the 20th century. Today, the most visible aspect of the mines lies above ground -- the huge mounds of waste rock removed to uncover the valuable ore.<BR>Located five miles east of Ely, the mines offer a glimpse at the bedrock of the copper mining industry. 234000718~East Ely Railroad Depot Museum~-7666~127~70~118~100~In 1990, the State of Nevada received East Ely's historic Depot Building and Freight Barn, which it quickly converted into the East Ely Railroad Depot Museum. The museum focuses on Nevada's industrial development, especially the area's massive copper production. You'll find exhibits highlighting Nevada's mining and transportation industry, from its inception to the present day.<BR>The East Ely Railroad Depot Museum is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to around 4:30 PM. It's located in the historic East Ely Depot, 1100 Avenue A -- the end of Main Street. (702-289-1663) 234000719~Steptoe Valley Inn~-7667~125~70~118~100~An oasis in America's Great Basin, the Steptoe Valley Inn offers weary visitors an opulent overnight opportunity. Originally built in 1907 as the Ely City Grocery, the Steptoe Valley Inn was completely reconstructed in 1990. Spruce and fruit trees on the beautiful grounds shade an old-fashioned rose garden complete with a gazebo, swing, and croquet court. Each of the five uniquely decorated guest rooms is named after an Ely city pioneer and includes an individual air conditioning/heating unit, cable TV, lace curtains, and a private bath.<BR>A night's stay costs about $85, which includes a full homemade breakfast. The Steptoe Valley Inn is located at 220 East 11th Street in Ely. It's only open June through September (If you're travelling during the rest of the year, there are a number of other suitable accommodations in the area). For reservations, call 702-289-8687 from June through September, and 702-435-1196 during the off-season. 234000720~Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Site~-7708~69~62~123~100~Built in the mid-1870s, these six, 30-foot-tall, beehive-shaped kilns were built to provide charcoal for smelters at the nearby Ward mining camp. Each oven has a 27-foot diameter and a capacity of about 35 cords of wood that, if burned for a 12-day period, produced about 50 bushels of good, solid charcoal per cord. To fill an oven required the total tree crop from five or six acres of land. During the late 1870s, the hills and mountains in a 35-mile radius around the mining camps were completely stripped of all timber. The ovens fell dormant after railroads penetrated west bringing in coke (made from eastern coal), which replaced charcoal in the smelting process.<BR>To reach the Ward Charcoal Ovens, head five miles south of Ely on US 93 and then 11 miles west by graded dirt road. For more information, call the Nevada Division of State Parks at 702-728-4467. 234000721~White Pine County Public Museum~-7670~121~70~118~100~For a glimpse at the mining and railroading lives of Ely's early settlers, stop by White Pine Public Museum. This overstuffed institution with its copious collection of local memorabilia, is like poking around Grandma's attic. Noteworthy are the Hesselgesser Doll Collection, with over 1,000 dolls, as well as various Native American artifacts, a dinosaur track, and information on local wildlife.<BR>The museum's hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. But make sure you call 702-289-4710 ahead of time as the museum hours could change. It's located at 2000 Aultman Street in Ely. 217000762~Wheels & Spokes Classic Auto Display~358~-732~73~132~100~The auto industry's comeback kid, Chrysler has gone through a few near-death experiences in its history, as well as several distinct periods as the unmatched trendsetter of Detroit design. This museum, heavily weighted toward Chrysler's celebrated "muscle car" era from 1966 to 1972, as well as the "flitesweep" era of the late 1950s, features 60 vintage vehicles. Among these are several rare models, such as one of the three 1970 Dodge Daytonas ever produced, and the exotic 1968 factory prototype of the Plymouth Duster. Enthusiasts will also find a large number of Hemi 'Cudas, SuperBees, SuperBirds, GTXs, Roadrunners, and a fair number of finned 'fifties Furies.<BR>Located at 383 Mopar Drive in Hays, near the intersection of U.S. Highway 183 and I-70, the Wheels & Spokes Classic Auto Display is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 6 PM, and on Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM; phone 785-628-6477. Admission is charged. 217000763~Geodetic Center of the Continental U.S.~682~-374~97~104~100~A town whose claim to U.S. centrality actually carries some scientific clout, Osborne is located near the beginning point of reference for land surveying. When surveyors check property lines anywhere in North America, they are checking the position of the property in relationship to an inaccessible spot just outside of Osborne, in the middle of a farm field. Though the public cannot go there, visitors celebrate their arrival at the center of the U.S. in a nearby park containing picnic tables and a commemorative marker.<BR>The Geodetic Center of North America (for visitors, anyway) is located in the park southeast of the intersection of U.S. Highways 24 and 281, just north of the town of Osborne. 217000764~Geographic Center of the Continental U.S.~727~-120~100~85~100~Some 40 miles north of the town that's the "geodetic center" of the lower 48 states, a distinction that takes into account Earth's curvature, the town of Lebanon considers itself to be at the nation's geographic center. Lebanon honors itself at a hillside park maintained by a group of local citizens known as the "Hub Club." A limestone obelisk marks the spot. Nearby are picnic tables, a funky-looking 1950s motel building, and a grassy knoll containing the "Center Chapel" -- a tiny church reputedly fashioned from a U-Haul trailer that has a big steeple and room inside for about four people.<BR>The Geographic Center of the Continental U.S. is located one mile west of Lebanon on State Highway K191. 230000261~Harold Warp's Pioneer Village~525~342~80~52~100~Similar in concept to Henry Ford's Greenfield Village, this 20-acre assortment of Americana assembled by plastics magnate Harold Warp contains 50,000 artifacts representing all manner of human invention since the year 1830. Numerous historic buildings surround a village green; these are among the 26 facilities jam-packed with household items, toys, machinery, and more, all of which are arranged in the chronological order of their development. Outstanding here is a collection of 350 vintage cars that traces automotive evolution from 1898 to the 1960s and includes such specimens as the first Corvette, the world's oldest surviving Buick, and the world's second-oldest Cadillac.<BR>The entrance to Harold Warp's Pioneer Village is located at the northeast corner of the intersection of U.S. Highways 6 and 34 and State Road 10. Open daily and year round, hours of operation are from 8 AM to sundown. Call 308-832-1181, or toll-free at 800-445-4447, for information. 230000687~Chevyland~326~469~68~38~100~Inspired by the 1972 book <I>Sixty Years of Chevrolet,</I> which chronicled the evolution of the brand from its 1912 inception, Nebraskan Monty Hollertz decided to create an actual display representing the same period and began buying and restoring old Chevies. Today Hollertz' collection, considered one of the best anywhere, spans the period from 1914 to 1975, with only five model years lacking representation. The 110-car exhibit contains some exquisite Nomad and Corvette specimens, as well as plenty of original Chevrolet literature and memorabilia.<BR>Located at 7245 Buffalo Creek Road near the Elm Creek exit (Exit 257) from I-80, Chevyland is open daily 8 AM to 5 PM from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and by appointment only the rest of the year; call 308-856-4208 for information. 230000688~Geographical Center of Western Civilization~727~752~100~14~106~Tiny Dannebrog, otherwise known as the Danish Capital of Nebraska, has also staked its claim as the "geographical center of western civilization." The honor was actually bestowed by Dannebrog's most famous resident, hayseed humorist Roger Welsch. Perhaps best known as one of Charles Kuralt's sidekicks on CBS, Welsch began a "Liar's Wall of Fame" at the local Silver Dollar Bar and planted a gold brick in the center of the floor to proclaim the town's eminence. As an annual ritual, he sends out press releases about the town and its important place in the scheme of things. A great place to stop for refreshment after checking out nearby Chevyland.<BR>The Silver Dollar Bar (for years known as Eric's Tavern, though the sign has never been changed) is located at 115 Mill Street in Dannebrog; hours are 4 PM to midnight daily. 233000347~Acoma Pueblo~-4165~-3291~12~102~100~Sixty miles southwest of Albuquerque, a massive sandstone mesa rises 367 feet above the valley floor, its sides steep and almost impossible to scale. Acoma Pueblo (pronounced with the accent on the first A) sits atop this natural fortress. At its foot you will find the Acoma Visitors Center and Museum. A permanent exhibit, "One Thousand Years of Clay: Pottery, Environment and History," tells the story of Acoma and its highly prized pottery. Fine examples of the pottery, renowned for its thin, strong walls and delicate decoration, are on display and can be purchased at craft stalls. <BR>The center has a snack bar and is open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM and until 7 PM from April to October. (800-747-0181 or 505-470-4966) Tours to the pueblo and photography permits can be arranged at the visitors center.<BR>Acoma has been permanently inhabited since at least the 12th century. Although many Acoma people live in other towns and villages around the reservation, today the "Sky City" still has over a dozen families as year-round residents of its one- and two-story adobe houses. The views across the valley to other mesas and distant mountains are breathtaking. You may wish to schedule your visit to coincide with one of the ceremonial events that are open to the public. Note that photography is strictly forbidden on ceremonial days. The most popular event is the feast of the pueblo's patron saint, Saint Estevan, held in September.<BR>Today's residents of Acoma keep careful watch over the Franciscan mission church of San Esteban del Rey, which was established in 1629. Wood and stone for the church, completed in 1640, had to be hauled up the difficult path to the mesa top. The church still holds remnants and relics from the 1600s through the 1800s. The mission and the entire pueblo have been declared a National Historic Landmark. 233000001~Indian Pueblo Cultural Center~-3651~-3130~91~78~100~Acoma is the oldest of 19 individual pueblo communities found in central New Mexico. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in nearby Albuquerque offers an excellent introduction to the rich heritage and history of pueblo life. The center's museum and galleries display early photographs, artifacts, and the work of contemporary native artists. In addition, exciting traditional dances are regularly performed by groups from each of the pueblos. The restaurant will give you a taste of traditional fare. <BR>The center is open from 9 AM to 5:30 PM and is free except for the museum, which charges a small admission. (800-766-4405 or 505-843-7270). It's located one block north of Interstate 90, on 12th Street. 245000799~Ophir~-6223~665~104~33~100~Twenty miles south of Tooele, in the Basin and Range country west of Utah Lake, the near-ghost town of Ophir is on the verge of a comeback. This silver mining community, named for the Biblical mines of King Solomon, once was home to over 6,000 people. That was over 100 years ago. Somehow a dozen residents have managed to hang on through the years. Now you can see new homes being built among the ruins of the old. Some places refuse to die. 245000800~Mercur~-6206~620~100~36~100~Just south of Ophir on Route 73, you'll find a sign marking what's left of Mercur. This town bounced back so many times, you almost want to wait around just in case it happens again. Mercur first died when the silver deposits ran out around 1880. Then a prospector found gold, but when it proved to expensive too extract the gold from the mercury deposits, the town died again. Wealthy financiers poured money into the task, succeeded, and helped Mercur to take off once again. Fire burned the town down twice. It was rebuilt and kept booming until 1913, but by 1925 the town was once more deserted. Wouldn't you know, someone found gold in a side canyon in 1934. The ore turned Mercur into Utah's second leading gold-producing town one more time. It all came to an end -- its most recent end -- in the 1950s. 245000801~Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn State Park~-6150~588~102~43~100~Take a few moments to see the commissary and cemetery at the Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn State Park on Route 73. Thousands of soldiers were once stationed here to contain a feared revolt by Mormon settlers. You can check out the exhibits at the restored hotel that once was a way station for the Overland Stage and Pony Express route. (801-768-8932) 245000802~Eureka~-6177~389~105~53~100~While not technically a ghost town, Eureka offers much of the same eerie charm of one. Once the state's ninth largest city, the town has about 700 residents with many occupied buildings among the abandoned ones. The Tintic Mining Museum tells the town story. Call 801-433-6842 and one of the volunteers will come over and open it for you. The Summit Diner on Main Street is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner (801-433-6959). If you plan ahead, you can even spend the night at tiny Carpenter Station. They have four doubles that go for $35. Call 801-433-6311. 245000803~Delta to Milford~-6485~12~91~71~100~The lonesome, 70-mile stretch of Route 257 from Delta to Milford passes the ruins and remnants of three pioneer settlements. A mile south of Deseret, you can stop for a picnic near the crumbling mud walls of Fort Deseret. Fifteen miles further south, Clear Lake used to be on the west side of the highway. Look close because all that's left is the ornamental shrubbery. Black Rock lies to the east of the highway about 33 miles further south. The shells of a few buildings still remain. 245000805~Frisco~-6956~-522~66~98~100~Found 16 miles west of Milford on Highway 21, Frisco is one of Utah's finest examples of a true ghost town. Once the bustling home of 6,000 people, Frisco suffered a devastating mine cave-in in 1885 that sealed the town's fate. There are many buildings still standing though they are in a precarious state of disrepair. Take caution as you explore. Look for the wooden headboards in the cemetery. 245000365~Cedar City~-6884~-1062~71~125~100~Cedar City is anything but a ghost town. This vibrant tourist and culture center has all the amenities, plenty of motels and places to eat. Stop at the Iron Mission State Park for information on the early mining communities and a neat collection of dozens of horse-drawn vehicles, from buggies to a hearse. Often called the Festival City, Cedar City is especially noted for the Utah Shakespearean Festival under the stars each summer. Hunters come to track in the Dixie National Forest and skiers to enjoy the slopes of Brian Head Ski Resort. 245000058~Silver Reef~-7087~-1323~59~138~100~The once prosperous town of Silver Reef is another place being overtaken by new development. Large homes and estates are springing up all around the historic town center. In the late 1800s, Main Street was a mile long. It had 2,000 people, two dance halls, two newspapers and a thriving Chinatown. Today you can once again get a meal at the restored Cosmopolitan Restaurant (801-879-2978). The old Wells Fargo Express office has been converted to a museum and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM. (801-879-2254) 233000974~Los Alamos~-3410~-2641~117~46~104~Located 33 miles west of Santa Fe and 90 miles north of Albuquerque, the once "Secret City" of Los Alamos still has about it a shroud of mystery. The city has only two entrances, although you no longer need to show a pass to get in. Los Alamos began as a boys' ranch but became home of the Manhattan Project and the Los Alamos National Laboratory during the 1940s. Your first stop might be the two buildings in the historic town center that preserve the history of those early days: the Fuller Lodge and Bradbury Science Museum. 233000975~Fuller Lodge Art Center & Museum~-3413~-2639~117~46~100~Fuller Lodge, now displaying works by New Mexico painters and sculptors, is where boys once romped and scientists later ate their meals. It's open from 10 AM to 4 PM Monday through Saturday. (505-662-9331) <BR>While you're at Fuller Lodge, stop by the Los Alamos Historical Museum. It contains artifacts from Anasazi people who lived in this region a thousand years ago as well as such modern artifacts as memos from J. Robert Oppenheimer and examples of leaflets that were once dropped on Japan. Hours vary but the museum is open seven days a week year-round except for major holidays. (505-662-6272) 233000976~Bradbury Science Museum~-3409~-2638~117~46~100~At the Bradbury Science Museum, you'll get an official introduction to Los Alamos National Laboratory. The museum has many interactive exhibits on the Laboratory's history, defense mission, and research. It's open year round (except Christmas and New Year's Day) from 9 AM to 5 PM Tuesday through Friday, and 1-5 PM Saturday through Monday. Admission is free. (505-667-4444) 233000977~Los Alamos National Laboratory~-3410~-2637~117~46~100~Today covering some 43 square miles, the Laboratory saw the development of the atomic bomb that ended World War II, and is still the site of experiments involving plutonium, tritium, and nuclear fission. Much of it is strictly off-limits but you can drive around a 25-mile loop past a variety of facilities. The road also passes a number of fascinating ancient pueblo and cliff house ruins, an eerie reminder of how civilizations can flourish and then mysteriously disappear.<BR>A good plan might be to stay in Los Alamos for the night. Try the Los Alamos Inn (505-662-7211) or Hilltop House (505-662-2441). 233000978~National Atomic Museum~-3601~-3181~91~131~100~The National Atomic Museum, the only "official" atomic museum in the U.S., is located on Kirtland Airforce Base in southeast Albuquerque. Be sure to have your driver's license, proof of auto insurance, and vehicle registration on hand. Once you get on the base, you'll see an amazing array of nuclear weapons at the museum -- warheads, artillery rounds, and bombs, including replicas of the only two nuclear weapons ever used in wartime -- and the delivery systems used to get the weapons to their targets -- B-29, B-52, and F-105 aircraft, the 280 mm atomic cannon, and rockets and missiles like the Redstone, Jupiter, Polaris and Minuteman. Other exhibits cover the history of atomic research and the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Be sure to see the 1963 film about the Manhattan Project, "Ten Seconds That Shook The World" The museum is open from 9 AM to 5 PM every day of the year except New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. (505-845-6670) 233000980~White Sands Missile Range - Trinity Site~-3367~-4637~117~46~104~Sixty miles south of Albuquerque you'll find the northern reaches of WSMR (pronounced "Whiz-Mer"), the vast White Sands Missile Range that extends for another hundred miles south and is the largest military installation in the U.S. Since the 1940s, WSMR has been the testing site for nearly all the weapons of the U. S. military. Trinity Site is where the first atomic bomb was exploded on July 16, 1945. Twice a year, on the first Saturday in April and October, the public is allowed through the White Sands Missile Range Stallion Gate from 8 AM to 2 PM to visit the site that changed the course of human history. You'll see the restored ranch where the bomb was assembled, old cable used in monitoring the explosion, and remnants of the base of the vaporized tower where the bomb was perched. Aside from the pretty green pebbles of Trinitite, which are highly radioactive byproducts of the explosion and shouldn't be touched despite their allure, radiation levels are said to be safe at the site. While cameras are permitted here, they are strictly forbidden anywhere else on WSMR.<BR>You'll want to tour the Missile Range Museum and Missile Park as long as you're at the Range. Both are free; the Museum is open 8 to 4:30 Monday through Friday, while the park is open 8 to 4 every day (please refer to the separate "White Sands Missile Range Museum" entry in TripMaker). The Stallion Gate is located five miles south of Hwy 380. You'll find the turnoff 12 miles east of San Antonio and 53 miles west of Carrizozo as you drive along 380. Be sure to have your driver's license, proof of auto insurance, and vehicle registration. You'll need these items to pass through the guard station, your newly acquired Visitors Pass safely in hand.<BR>If you arrive when the site is open, you can buy food at concession stands. Otherwise, you'll find good home cooking at the Owl Bar, off I-25 in San Antonio, and at Armijo's Mexican Restaurant in Socorro. 245000373~Vernal~-4841~559~149~89~112~This increasingly popular tourist town has plenty of places to eat and sleep. You don't have to stay at a place with a dinosaur theme but, since this is dinosaur country, you might want to give it a shot. Try the Dine-a-ville Motel (801-789-9571) for bargain rates or the Dinosaur Inn (801-789-2660) downtown. For good food, look into the Golden Corral, the Cracked Pot, or the Great American Cafe. 245000059~Utah Field House of Natural History State Park~-4851~558~145~85~108~Vernal is the home of the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park and Dinosaur Gardens. It's a great place to get familiar with the history and prehistory of the area. You'll find geologic exhibitions of vertebrate and invertebrate fossils, murals depicting both prehistoric and more modern scenes, and, in Amerindian Hall, artifacts from the Fremont culture and Ute Indian ceremonial regalia. <BR>The real kids' treat, however, is in the Dinosaur Garden, where sculptor Elbert Porter has created life-sized replicas of 16 denizens of the Mesozoic Era. All your favorites are here including the giant Diplodocus, the spiked and armored Stegosaurus, and, of course, the fiercest of them all, Tyrannosaurus rex. <BR>The park is open from 8 AM to 9 PM during summer months and from 9 AM to 5 PM the rest of the year. Admission fees are $2.00 per person age 6 and over, or $5.00 per vehicle (up to 8 people). (801-789-3799) 245000033~Red Fleet State Park~-4811~629~135~79~104~North of Vernal you'll find footprints in the sands of time -- footprints made by dinosaurs -- at Red Fleet State Park. The park is a fine place for boating, fishing and swimming, but your real goal will be the hundreds of three-toed dinosaur tracks along the shoreline. To get up close, you can either take your boat or walk the one-and-a-quarter mile trail. Ask the ranger for directions. These tracks were only discovered in 1987 and many people still go swimming nearby and never notice them. <BR>The park is open for day use from 6 AM to 10 PM from April to November and from 8 AM to 5 PM the rest of the year. Admission costs $4 per vehicle. Camping is available for $9 per day. (801-789-6614) 245000060~Dinosaur Quarry~-4732~496~160~98~104~Fossilized dinosaur bones -- nearly 2,000 of them -- have been left sticking out of the wall exactly where they were discovered nearly a hundred years ago. The wall is now enclosed as a permanent part of the Quarry Visitor Center of Dinosaur National Monument, about 15 miles east of Vernal. This is the world's largest known Jurassic Period dinosaur boneyard. More complete skeletons have been recovered here than anywhere else. At this working scientific site, you can watch paleontologists perform the delicate job of chipping away at the sandstone to remove more fossils, and laboratory procedures where the remains are cleaned and preserved. <BR>The Quarry Visitors Center is open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM and until 7:30 PM during the summer months (801-789-2115). Take UT 149 north out of Jensen. It's about seven miles up the road. 248001452~University of Washington Arboretum~-10087~6338~128~52~104~Seattle's University of Washington Arboretum, located in Washington Park, contains 200 acres of plants from around the world, and one of the park's boulevards is open 24 hours a day. Picnic in or cycle through the rhododendron collection, recognized as one of the best in the world. If you're looking for variety, you'll find more than 40,000 trees, shrubs, and vines, some of them very rare. The Japanese garden provides an extraordinary example of Asian design, including a teahouse where Chado tea demonstrations are offered. Plan to spend half a day here.<BR>You'll want to start your tour of the Arboretum at the Graham Visitors Center, located at 2300 Arboretum Drive East. For specifics on what's blooming, call 206-543-8800. For information on tea demonstrations, call 206-684-4725. Some areas have fees; others don't. 248000057~Woodland Park Zoo~-10108~6376~120~36~108~If you'd like to take a quick trip around the world without leaving Seattle, visit the Woodland Park Zoo. Its numerous awards recognize the park's ongoing efforts to integrate horticulture with the naturalistic exhibits. Around 300 species of wildlife roam 92 acres that feature eight bioclimatic zones. From the Tropical Asian exhibit's elephant barn and Thai logging outpost to the Northern Trail exhibit's tundra and resident mountain goats, Woodland Park offers a climate for everyone.<BR>Plan to spend a couple of hours here. The zoo is open from 9:30 AM to dusk year-round. Admission is $7.50 with a variety of discounts available. Take the Interstate 5 exit 169. Use the west entry at N 55th St. and Phinney Ave. N. For more information, call 206-684-4800. 248001453~Hiram M. Chittenden Locks~-10128~6378~113~26~104~Each summer steelhead and salmon migrate from Puget Sound to Salmon Bay via the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks' fish ladder. Through windows and from boats, onlookers watch the fish launch themselves up the 21 steps. While you wait for the locks to fill, stroll the seven acres of botanical gardens that make Chittenden Locks a beautiful gateway to Salmon Bay, home of the Northwest's largest fishing fleet. Small trawlers dock amidst the large ships that travel from California to Alaska.<BR>The locks are located in Seattle's northern Ballard neighborhood. You should be able to see everything in one or two hours. If you have cooking facilities available, stop at Fisherman's Terminal, east of the locks beside NW 15th Avenue's Ballard Bridge, on the south side of Salmon Bay, for some fresh-caught fish. 248001454~Roberta's Bed & Breakfast~-10097~6350~118~46~106~Plan an overnight stay at Roberta's Bed and Breakfast. A Seattle native, Roberta is always happy to help her guests with directions or daily planning. Be sure to ask her any questions you might have about your trip. Five tastefully decorated rooms make this turn-of-the-century home one of the most precious buildings on historic Capitol Hill. After a solid night's sleep, you'll awake to morning coffee or tea served at your door. Then sit in the antique furniture and read one of the B&B's many books while you wait for Roberta's hearty, homemade breakfast.<BR>Depending on the season, rates run roughly from $95 to $125 a night for double occupancy. Call 206-329-3326 for more information. The B&B is located near Volunteer Park at 1147 16th Ave. East. 248000458~Point Defiance Park~-10252~6137~65~126~104~This spectacular waterfront park contains approximately 700 acres of old-growth forest, clay cliffs, driftwood-covered beaches, and formal gardens (miniature roses, irises, and native Northwest plants each merit their own). There is something for everyone at Point Defiance Park. Activities include boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and picnicking. Nearby is historic Fort Nisqually, a reconstructed Hudson's Bay Co. fur trading post where you can explore on your own or on a guided tour (reserve in advance). Living history events and reenactments are held about once a month; call 206-591-5339. The park also contains a zoo aquarium featuring beluga whales, a steam train ride, and Never Never Land, where 32 exhibits portray storybook characters.<BR>Hours and fees vary depending on the attractions that you choose to see. Point Defiance Park is located on the peninsula between the Narrows and Commencement Bay. 245000809~Promontory Point~-6239~1226~69~78~104~Golden Spike National Historic Site (a separate TripMaker entry) is the official spike-driving venue, but you can do better. If you're really in the mood to pursue obscure desert sights, take a side trek down into the great lake itself. Promontory Point, where the history books said the driving of the spike took place, is actually a bit further south. It's both a mountainous finger of land extending 40 miles into Great Salt Lake and the tiny town located at the end of Box Elder County Road. The views of the lake and Wasatch Mountains beyond it are worth the trip but don't expect to find any place to stop for food or gas -- there are no services along the road. 245000810~Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge~-6152~1481~109~32~104~If you're in the Brigham City vicinity, stop off at one of the most important (and obscure) migratory bird grounds in the West. Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge occupies 74,000 acres of mudflats and marshland where thousands of songbirds, waterfowl, and shore birds take refuge on their long migratory flights. The 12-mile loop road that takes you through the marshes is generally deserted, except for the birds. The refuge receives its peak visitation from August through November. It's open daily from sunrise to sunset. (801-723-5887) 245000811~Brigham City~-5993~1423~133~48~104~In addition to the spectacular Mormon Temple, which is well worth a look, Brigham City also has some good places to eat. Try the Idle Isle on Main Street (435-734-2468); it's a quaint and inexpensive place with an old-fashioned soda fountain. J&D Family Restaurant, a few blocks further south on Main (435-723-3811), has a kid's menu to complete its American menu. Two miles south on Route 89 in Perry, look for the Maddox Ranch House (435-723-8545) and their western ranch-style dining. Each place is closed Sunday and Monday. 223002135~Old Mackinac Point~7135~4461~109~23~100~Construction of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957 made this 1892 lighthouse obsolete, for ships could then navigate by the lights of the bridge. Notice the keeper's cottage and the beige brick tower. Is this a farmhouse or a castle? It's now part of the Mackinac State Historic Parks. To get there, take exit 339 off I-75 and park in the Colonial Mackinac visitors area. Call 616-436-5563 for more information. 223002136~Cheboygan Crib Lighthouse~7285~4400~120~34~100~Just shy of Lake Huron, the old Crib Lighthouse now sits on a downtown pier on the west side of the Cheboygan River. Originally the 25-foot white tower stood in the bay, but when its crib foundation settled and fell over, the townspeople brought it to shore and re-erected it on the pier. To get to it, take Huron Street from Route 23 and drive straight to the lake. (616-627-7183) 223002137~Cheboygan Point Light~7309~4409~126~29~100~While some abandoned lighthouses are rescued and restored, this turn of fortune was denied the Old Cheboygan Lighthouse. It was abandoned in 1930. You can witness its sad ruins by driving to Cheboygan State Park on the east side of Duncan Bay. The state park is four miles east of Cheboygan off Route 23. (616-627-2811) 223002138~Forty Mile Lighthouse~7555~4330~148~35~100~Traveling Route 23 along the Lake Huron shore, you'll find Forty Mile Lighthouse with its handsome, 53-foot square tower that rises straight up out of the living quarters. By taking a short walk along the sandy beach nearby, you'll find wreck of a ship that was unable to heed the lighthouse's warning. Presque Isle County Tourism Board has information at 517-734-2577. Lighthouse Park is six miles northeast of Rogers City, right next to Hoeft State Park. 223000681~New Presque Isle Lighthouse and Museum~7787~4248~165~44~100~At Presque Isle, you'll find lighthouse buildings you can enter and one that still performs its age-old function. The northernmost of the two, the New Presque Isle Lighthouse, dates from 1871 and is still in use. The 113-foot tower is open to the public only twice each year -- on Saturdays during the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends. Nearby, the keeper's house has been turned into a maritime museum with period furnishings. This museum features artifacts, shipwreck exhibits, and period furniture. You'll also see 35 steam whistles from freighters, tugboats, and other ships, all in working order, on display outside the museum. It's open from May to October seven days a week from 9 AM to 6 PM (517-595-2059).<BR>A mile to the south, the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse has also been converted to a museum. It is said to be haunted by the spirit of a lighthouse keeper's wife who went mad from the solitude. How else to explain light coming from the 25-foot tower that has been out of use since 1871? You can visit the cottage and climb the tower from May to October. It's open seven days a week from 9 AM to 6 PM. (517-595-2787) 223000791~Alpena~7828~4087~162~58~112~Located on Thunder Bay, this city is a center for recreational boating and fishing. Jesse Besser Museum features exhibits on local history, geology, and natural history. There is also a planetarium and a reconstructed avenue of 1890 shops and businesses. North of the city is the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse and Museum, and south is Dinosaur Gardens Prehistorical Zoo.<BR>Alpena has no lighthouse but it is a fine place to find a room. Try the Best Western (517-356-9087), Holiday Inn (517-356-2151), or Fletcher Motel (517-354-4191). For a good, roadside diner-style meal, head for The Grove. It's part of the Fletcher Motel on Route 23 and has the same number. 223002139~Sturgeon Point Lighthouse~7957~3873~179~75~100~Sturgeon Point Lighthouse is both a working lighthouse and a museum. The two-story keeper's house has numerous exhibits concerning life on Lake Huron and is furnished as it would have been in 1913. It's open from May to October from 10 AM to 4 PM during the week and from noon to 4 PM on weekends. Sometimes you can climb the 85 steps up the winding cast-iron staircase to the lantern room. Take Sturgeon Point Road from Route 23 four miles north of Harrisville. (517-724-6297) 223002140~Tawas Point Lighthouse~7929~3551~170~98~100~The working lighthouse at Tawas Point still serves as private living quarters for the local Coast Guard Commander. The 67-foot white tower was rebuilt in 1872 after shoreline build-up placed the original tower a mile inland. Access to the lighthouse is limited but the surrounding Tawas Point State Park provides miles of sandy beach, picnicking and camping areas, and nature trails. Take Tawas Beach Road from Route 23. (517-362-5041) 223002141~Point Aux Barques Lighthouse~8259~3463~201~105~100~Swinging all the way east around Saginaw Bay, you'll find Point Aux Barques, or "Point of the Little Boats," on the very tip of the Michigan thumb. The Point Aux Barques Lighthouse, built in 1857, still warns shipping of the dangerous waters at the entrance to the bay. The museum in the keeper's cottage is open from 11 AM to 6 PM daily from May to September (517-428-4749). Take Lighthouse Road from Route 25. Point Aux Barques is about ten miles east of Port Austin, in a county park.<BR>About one mile northwest of the Point Aux Barques Lighthouse, Huron City Museum is a unique pioneer village that was reconstructed after fire destroyed the town in 1881. It includes a Victorian mansion, log cabin, life saving station, general store and other buildings. The seven-acre site is open from July through Labor Day from 10 AM to 5 PM. Tours cost $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for youth, free for children under 10. Take Huron City Road from Route 25 midway between Port Austin and Port Hope. (517-428-4123) 250000424~Cheat River~10408~803~80~37~104~The Cheat River in northern West Virginia is, along with the New and the Gauley rivers, one of West Virginia's top three most popular whitewater rafting rivers. The Cheat River cuts a 12-mile path through remote and wondrously beautiful territory. The Cheat's a bit moody, and conditions on the river change seasonally. The rough time, when the rapids reach designations of II to V+, is springtime, from April to early June when snowmelt and rainfall raise the water level. Later in the summer the river calms down and names of particularly challenging sections along the way like Big Nasty, Even Nastier, Decision, and High Falls seem not so menacing. Cheat River Outfitters Inc. specializes in whitewater trips along the Cheat River (410-489-2837 or 304-329-2024). 250000425~New River~10041~-530~52~136~104~The New River offers whitewater fun and scenic splendor. The oldest river in the Western Hemisphere, the New River winds northward across the Virginia-West Virginia border and enters southern West Virginia to become the New River Gorge National River. The New River is massive and in sections measures a mile across, winning it the title "Grand Canyon of the East." Ancient rock walls vault above you as you meander down the 14-mile length of this popular whitewater rafting river. The New River gets gradually more challenging as you travel northward. The first third requires no experience and makes for a leisurely voyage. The latter two-thirds, though, get increasingly more challenging as the river drops over 240 feet. If you want a calm trip you can bail out after the first third. For those looking to learn some paddling and boating skills, the II- and III-class stretches in the middle of the New River are good places to serve your apprenticeship. Good outfitters to contact if you choose to make your whitewater adventure on the New River include New & Gauley River Adventures Outfitters (1-800-SKY-RAFT or 304-574-0436), and New River Scenic Whitewater Tours Inc. (800-292-0880 or 304-466-2288). 250000426~Greenbrier River~10040~-540~52~136~104~The Greenbrier River winds just a little distance east of the New River Gorge National River in southern West Virginia. This relatively calm river stretches a sinuous 150-plus miles, some of it through the spectacular Monongahela National Forest. The Greenbrier is a class I to III river, affording novice rafters a great chance to enjoy wonderful scenery along the ambitiously long route. If you happen to have a canoe along, don't hesitate to put in and dip your paddles -- the Greenbrier is a favorite canoeing river. The path of the Greenbrier will take you past many state parks and the remnants of old logging communities. Think about starting your Greenbrier adventure where the Greenbrier and New rivers diverge, just below the dam near Hinton. Several outfitting companies are based in Hinton, and they can give you ample information about floating or canoeing the Greenbrier. 211002243~Double-Barrel Cannon~9186~-3214~~~100~Head to City Hall at the center of town to see the first of Athens' certified quirky things. The double-barrel cannon was meant to fire two balls, linked by a chain, that would mow down the advancing enemy troops. A great idea if you can fire two cannons simultaneously ... but you can't. It was never used in battle. The test firing produced pandemonium and the project was, as they say, "shelved." This is the only one of its kind. It's on the mall in front of City Hall at College Ave and Hancock St. 211002243~Double-Barrel Cannon~9186~-3214~~~100~Head to City Hall at the center of town to see the first of Athens' certified quirky things. The double-barrel cannon was meant to fire two balls, linked by a chain, that would mow down the advancing enemy troops. A great idea if you can fire two cannons simultaneously ... but you can't. It was never used in battle. The test firing produced pandemonium and the project was, as they say, "shelved." This is the only one of its kind. It's on the mall in front of City Hall at College Ave and Hancock St. 211002244~Church-Waddel-Brumby House~9185~-3214~~~100~Not to be outdone by downtown Athens' double-barrel cannon, this is an historic home with a triple-barrel name. Church-Waddel-Brumby, the oldest house in Athens, dates from 1820. It's a fine example of Federal-style architecture and houses both a museum and the Athens Welcome Center. You'll find it at 280 E Dougherty Street. It's open from 10 AM to 5 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and from 2 PM to 5 PM on Sunday. (706-353-1820) 211002245~Milledge Avenue~9178~-3217~~~104~Stroll this main thoroughfare for a good look at the antebellum mansions that give Athens so much of its classical flair. On the stretch between Five Points and Prince Avenue particularly, you'll find a variety of architectural styles lining both sides of the street. Five Points is notable for its array of interesting shops and specialty boutiques. For good eats nearby, try the cozy Lumpkin Cafe at 1700 S Lumpkin Street. 211002246~Morton Theatre~9185~-3215~~~100~Stop by the beautifully restored Morton Theatre to get a flavor of Athens nightlife in the early years of the 20th century. Pink Morton, the African-American impresario, constructed this vaudeville house in 1910. Listen close and you can still hear the jumping rhythms of Bessie Smith, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington echoing down the years. It's at 95 W Washington St. (706-613-3770) 211002247~State Botanical Garden of Georgia~9189~-3238~~~104~Free fun in Athens can be found at this forest and garden preserve covering over 300 hundred acres on the banks of the lovely Oconee River. You'll find five miles of nature trails winding through 11 different botanical collections. Check out the new International Garden for some insight into the importance of plants in world cultures, medicine, and even exploration. The gardens are open daily from sunrise to sunset. The visitors center closes at 4:30 PM. It's at 2450 S Milledge Avenue. (706-542-1244) 211002255~Georgia Museum of Art~9197~-3215~~~106~Take time for some serious culture at this 8,000-piece collection of paintings, prints and drawings, located on the University of Georgia campus. The permanent holdings focus on 19th- and 20th-century American works, with some European and Oriental pieces for good measure. Traveling exhibitions round out the regular displays. It's open daily until 5 PM and it's free. You'll find it on the east side of the campus at 90 Carlton Street. (706-542-4662) 211002248~U.S. Navy Supply Corps Museum~9171~-3215~~~100~Sounds strange, doesn't it? But you can find a museum for almost anything, and in Athens it's the Navy Supply Corps. The Navy Supply Corps School is here, you see, and the museum's exhibits depict the corps' development and growth. If you're interested in models of ships, uniforms, naval artifacts, equipment, and photographs, this is the place for you. It's open from 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. You'll find it on the historic school campus at 1425 Prince Avenue. (706-354-7349) 211002249~The Tree That Owns Itself~9182~-3219~~~104~Possibly Athens' quirkiest spot is this oak tree, so beloved by its owner that he bequeathed ownership of the tree and its surrounding plot to the tree itself in his will. It's been in Ripley's, so you know it has to be real. Sadly, the original tree has itself since passed on. But, proving that "the acorn never falls far ... ," the new occupant was grown from an acorn that came from that first mighty oak. Call it Son of Tree That Owns Itself. Go to the intersection of Dearing and S Finley streets and you can't miss it. 211002251~Museum of the Hills and Fantasy Kingdom~8899~-2751~~~104~Helen's history is based on two worlds -- one historical and one largely imaginary. At the Museum of the Hills, you can witness Georgia mountain life at the turn of the century through scenes recreated in wax. Then, stroll into a dreamlike setting where castles and cottages bring the fairy tales of the Old World to life.<BR>It's located in the center of town on Main Street. (706-878-3140) 211002252~Historic Gold Mines~8904~-2757~~~100~Long before the timber industry took off, Helen was part of the United States' first gold rush in 1836. It was generally a short-lived affair, but you can still pan for gold at the Historic Gold Mines of Helen and tour the remains of a mineshaft left over from that period. You'll find the mine behind the Comfort Inn on GA 75. (706-878-3052) 211002253~Fred's Famous Peanuts~8901~-2747~~~108~How do you like 'em? This country store devoted to Georgia's most famous product has goober peas boiled, fried, roasted, and raw, as well as peanut brittle and peanut butter. Plenty of other mountain products are on sale, too. It's on Route 356 just north of Helen. (706-878-3124) 211002254~Anna Ruby Falls~8904~-2745~~~104~This rare double falls is created from two separate rivers, the Curtis and the York, that come pouring down the mountainside. A paved, half-mile footpath winds from the parking area through the pine and laurel woods to the foot of the falls. The visitors center also sells Appalachian crafts and paintings. Parking costs $2 per car. The area is open from 9 AM to dusk year-round. To get there, take GA 75 north from Helen one mile to GA 356. Turn right for 1.5 miles, then left on the road to the falls. 204001853~Robson's Mining World~-7251~-3489~~~104~It's not a real town, but it sure looks like one. Charles and Jeri Robson have been collecting old mining equipment for decades. They finally plunked it all down in the desert and built themselves a monument to miners and mining. This is the real thing. Stamp mills and oar cars, winches and mercury stills, and on and on and on -- all of it salvaged from real mine sites. The Robson's claim to have the largest collection of antique mining equipment anywhere. Some of it is enormous. The largest single-drum mine hoist ever built, for instance. They've added some original buildings from abandoned mining towns (a barber shop, a newspaper office, and a saloon, among others), and thrown in their own new hotel and restaurant. Somehow even the new buildings look old. Throw in some vintage automobiles to line the street, and you have a new "old" town with a real lived-in feel. <BR>Like any good mine site, it's pretty much out in the middle of nowhere. To get there, take US 60 to Aguila, 25 miles west of Wickenburg. Turn north on AZ 71, go seven miles, and look for the signs. Robson's Mining World is at the end of a dirt road. It's open from October 1 through May 1, weekdays from 10 AM to 4 PM and weekends from 8 AM to 6 PM. Admission costs $5. Children under 10 are admitted for free. 204001854~Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum~-6729~-3705~~~104~This is no ghost town. With costumed interpreters going through their daily chores, it's a fine place to get to know the everyday life of the Old West. This living history museum has over 20 buildings (some real, some reconstructed) and the people to go with them. You might watch the blacksmith pounding horseshoes on his anvil, meet the schoolmarm in the one-room school house, or talk with the manager of the stagecoach station. They also have a church, a mansion, and an opera house, among the other buildings.<BR>You'll find it at 3901 W. Pioneer Road. Look for the Pioneer Road exit off I-17 about 20 miles north of Phoenix. It's open from Wednesday through Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM, from October to June. Admission costs $5.75 for adults, $4 for children aged 4-12. (602-993-0212) 204001855~Cave Creek~-6637~-3728~~~104~At the end of a day of reliving the life of the Old West, stop off in Cave Creek, Arizona, where the early days are very much alive. This town hangs on to tradition through its numerous saddle shops, leather goods, and gun stores. Restaurants here are especially prone to serving cowboy-size steaks with all the trimmings. Try Harold's Cave Creek Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road (602-488-1906), Crazy Ed's Satisfied Frog, 6245 E. Cave Creek Road (602-253-6293), or Tara's Mine Shaft, 6025 E. Cave Creek Road (602-488-4657). 236002328~Blakeslee Log Cabin~9521~2221~~~100~At one time, every presidential aspirant had to claim he was born in a log cabin. Since more presidents have come from Ohio than any other state, it seems fitting that this is the place to find out what real log cabin life was like. Going on 200 years old and still standing, the Blakeslee Log Cabin remains on the very spot it was built around 1810. Its two and a half stories of hand-hewn wood retains 90% of its original materials and design. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and you'll find it just north of I-90, off OH 11 at 441 Seven Hills Road. The site is open to the public Saturdays and Mondays from 9 AM to 3 PM and by appointment at other times. (440-993-7846) 236002329~Great Lakes Marine and US Coast Guard Museum~9499~2256~~~100~The museum is attractively housed in the clapboard duplex where Ashtabula's two lighthouse keepers and their families lived in the early years of the 20th century. You'll find models, paintings and artifacts in addition to hundreds of photographs of harbors and ships. The museum is located on the Ashtabula waterfront at 1071 Walnut Blvd. It's open from Memorial Day through October, they have picnicking facilities, and it's free. (440-964-6847) 236002330~Conneaut Historical Railroad Museum~9611~2302~~~100~This charming railroad museum occupies the old New York Central Depot, built in 1900. You can tour a caboose and locomotive that originally came from the Nickel Plate Railroad and the Bessemer & Lake Erie Line. Telegraphy equipment, railroad lanterns, old railroad stock certificates, and various scale model railroads round out the collection. It's open daily during the summer from noon to 5 PM. It's just off OH 20 on Depot Road in Conneaut. Admission is free. (440-599-7878) 236002331~Victorian Perambulator Museum~9544~2148~~~100~A perambulator is a fancy, and old-fashioned, word for a baby carriage. Fitting, since this collection concentrates on Victorian strollers. The wicker baby carriages of the era could be particularly fanciful. Some of the best here look like antique cars and even an Italian gondola. Toys, games, dolls and other children's things from the 19th century are also on display. Your little ones might be surprised to know that some kids didn't grow up with video games. It's at 26 E Cedar St off OH 46 in Jefferson. Admission costs $3 for adults, $2.50 for children. The hours are 11 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays only from September to May, Wednesdays and Saturdays from June through August. (440-576-9588) 236002332~Erieview Park~9422~2209~~~108~If you need some traditional thrill rides on a day off, try this traditional family amusement park on the shores of Lake Erie. The park has 18 rides. It's open daily during the summer from noon to 10 PM. You can pay by the ride or buy an all-day pass. A ticket costs $11.50 for the all-day combo. They're open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and located at 5483 Lake Road in Geneva-on-the-Lake (440-466-8650)<BR>If you're at the end of a day of galavanting about, you can enjoy a meal at one of the area's several wineries. Try the Old Firehouse Winery located in, yes, the old firehouse in Geneva-on-the-Lake at 5499 Lake Road. The cuisine here is regularly supplemented with various ethnic celebrations such as Irish and Italian heritage days. (440-466-9300). A little bit farther away from the lake, try Ferrante Winery & Ristorante. They offer Italian cuisine to complement your choice of wine, and they're located at 5585 Route 307 in Geneva. (440-466-8466) 244004859~Tyler Municipal Rose Garden~2645~-5069~~~104~Some 38,000 rose bushes bloom here from May through October. The spectacle includes more than 500 varieties of roses planted throughout an enormous 22-acre site. Gazebos, archways, and winding paths add to the aesthetics of these immaculately maintained grounds that include a tropical greenhouse and camelia gardens. The gardens are open every day from 8 AM to 5 PM. You'll find them on Rose Park Drive at 1900 West Front Street. No admission is charged. (903-531-1212)<BR>If you're looking for a place to eat, try Cace Seafood at 7011 S Broadway (903-581-0744), part of chain offering New Orleans-style delectables, or Oxford Street, a cozy pub-style place with a wide-ranging menu and several dining areas at 3300 Troup Hwy (903-593-2655). 244004860~Caldwell Zoo~2649~-5055~~~108~The world's two great easts, East Africa and East Texas, receive the star treatment at Tyler's Caldwell Zoo. Natural habitats for each region feature the native and exotic wildlife you might find on safari or camping in the piney woods. Wooden walkways guide you through natural settings where wild creatures lurk by jungle pools amidst exotic plants and flowers. The zoo is open year-round except for major holidays. Summer hours are 9:30 AM to 6 PM; winter hours are 9:30 AM to 4 PM. It's at 2203 Martin Luther King Blvd. No admission is charged. (903-593-0121) 244004861~Goodman Mansion~2664~-5045~~~100~Tyler's premier stately mansion houses a fascinating collection of 18th- and 19th-century artifacts and furnishings. Early medical equipment from the settlement period serves as a particularly poignant reminder of the rigors of pioneer life (and death). The museum is at 624 N. Broadway. It's open from 1 PM to 5 PM, Wednesday through Sunday (March to November) and Monday through Friday (December to February). No admission is charged. (903-597-5304)<BR>Architectural devotees will also want to visit the McClendon House, a few blocks to the southeast. This fine example of the Victorian style known as Eastlake-Bracketed is located at 806 W. Houston. Admission is free. (903-592-3533) 236000793~Professional Football Hall of Fame~9350~1478~~~100~This hall includes more than the modern NFL. The greats of the game in all its professional incarnations dating back to the 1920s are enshrined here. You'll find row upon row of bronze busts, each in its own niche recounting the hero's exploits and accomplishments. The five-building, 83,000-square-foot complex includes the multimedia GameDay Stadium where "The 100-Yard Universe" takes you through a complete season from field preparation to the final moments of the Super Bowl. You'll also find displays on the history of the game, prize-winning photography, a theater showing NFL films, the obligatory store museum, and interactive exhibits where you get to call the play. Admission costs $9 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for children. Open daily from 9 AM to 8 PM during the peak travel days from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9 AM to 5 PM in the off-season. It's at 2121 George Halas Drive just off I-77 at Exit 107A. (330-456-8207) 236002334~Greater Canton Amateur Sports Hall of Fame~9367~1480~~~108~One of Canton's best kept secrets, this local hall of fame celebrates the otherwise unsung heroes of local football and 13 other sports. Exhibitions on three floors in an historic mansion cover such wide-ranging subjects as basketball, wrestling, swimming, bowling, and even billiards. They're open from noon to 4 PM, Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free and donations are gratefully accepted. The hall is located at 1414 N. Market St. To get there from I-77, take US 62 east for one and a half miles, exit at Market Avenue and go south for one mile. (216-453-1552)<BR>If appreciating all these athletic endeavors has worked up an appetite, try Kapp's at 236 Clarendon Avenue (330-453-1484) for heaping plates of family favorites, or if you're in the mood for seafood, Bender's Tavern is a local landmark that also serves burgers and steaks at 137 Court Ave SW (330-453-8424). 236002335~Warther Museum~9344~1274~~~108~Looking for something a little bit different? If you've had enough sports in the home of halls of fame, head a little farther south of Canton to the small town of Dover. Talk about a pro. Ernest Warther (1885-1973) was a carver without peer. His walnut, ebony, ivory, and pearl steam engines have as many as 11,000 working parts. One day "Mooney," as his friends called him, decided to carve a pair of pliers out of a block of wood. Hard enough, but then he thought he could carve another pair into the handle of the first. It just kept multiplying from there. Given a large enough block to start with, Mr. Warther carved 500 pliers, all interlocking, from a single chunk a wood! It is a sight to behold. And Mrs. Warther collected buttons (73,282 of them!), so she was able to add something of her own to this highly original museum. Admission costs $7 for adults, $3 for students. It's open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. In Dover, take the Tuscarawas Avenue exit off I-77, follow the signs, and turn right on Ninth St. (330-343-7513)) 210004745~International Sport Aviation Museum~10689~-6985~~~104~This museum and research facility displays approximately 50 small aircraft, including home-built planes, antiques (both original and replicas), military planes, and several ultra-lights. You'll also find aviation memorabilia, aircraft engines, and exhibits on the history of flying. The research facility includes a collection of 30,000 magazines and books. The museum is open from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, and until 4 PM on weekends. Admission costs $4 for adults and $2 for children. It's located on the southwest corner of Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. To get there from I-4, take County Line Road (Exit 15) south to Medulla Road and turn left (east). (941-644-0741)<BR>Each spring, the airspace over the museum comes to buzzing, roaring life as the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In brings thousands of personal aircraft to Lakeland. This week-long convention sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association is widely acknowledged to be the second largest fly-in event in the world. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to see the daily air shows and to admire close-up the show planes, antiques, classics, warbirds, helicopters, seaplanes, and homebuilts flown in from all over the United States, Canada, and several other countries. (941-644-2431) 210004746~Fantasy of Flight~10797~-6877~~~108~At this state-of-the-art aviator's playground, you can experience the thrill of flying without ever leaving the ground. In addition to a large collection of historic aircraft (including the world's last airworthy four-engine flying boat, the Short Sunderland), the museum features eight Fighter Town flight simulators. You can also walk through a thrilling multimedia presentation that immerses you in the history of flight from man's earliest attempts through the dogfights and bombing missions of World Wars I and II. If you need to get airborne, you can soar to 500 feet aboard a huge hot air balloon for an expansive view of the surrounding Florida countryside. Fantasy of Flight is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Admission costs $22 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $11 for children. You'll find it just off I-4 at Exit 21 in Polk City. (941-984-3500)<BR>If all this flying has worked up an appetite, you can chow down at the Compass Rose Diner, an attractive family restaurant with the Art Deco appearance of 1930s airports. It's right there at Fantasy of Flight. 244004863~Wichita Falls Waterfalls~812~-4080~~~106~The new Wichita Falls is a manmade cascade on the south bank of the Wichita River. At 54 feet, it's ten times the height of the original, which disappeared under flood waters in the late 19th century. Nearby, you can enjoy the trails, trees, pool, and pavilion at Lucy Park. The falls and park are just west of I-44 and north of Seymour Drive downtown. (940-761-7490) 244004864~Wichita Falls Railroad Museum~819~-4078~~~100~Wichita Falls was born when the railroad arrived, so it is only fitting that this museum commemorates its transportation roots. Located at the site of the old Union Station, the museum's displays include equipment from six Texas railroads. Most impressive is the large collection of rolling stock from the famous Katy Railroad, formally known as the Missouri-Kansas-Texas line. The museum is only open on Saturdays, from noon to 4 PM. It's at 501 8th Street. (940-723-2661) 244004865~Wichita Falls Museum and Art Center~817~-4102~~~106~With hands-on science exhibits, a discovery center, and "Imagination Texas," a permanent exhibit for children, this is a great place for both youngsters and adults. Adjoining Midwestern State University, the museum features exhibits on art and history as well as science. The planetarium offers star shows on weekend afternoons. To get there, take Midwestern Parkway west from Route 79 to the campus. The museum is at 2 Eureka Circle. It's open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. (940-692-0923) 244004866~The Plex~813~-4106~~~108~Take the kids to this family amusement facility featuring go-carts, bumper boats, and two 18-hole miniature golf courses. It also has a video arcade, kiddie rides, and what is reputed to be the largest outdoor batting cage in Texas. It's located at 4131 Southwest Parkway. (940-696-1222)<BR>When it's time to rustle up some grub, try McBride Land & Cattle Co, a family-oriented place with a rustic, Old West feeling at 501 Scott (940-692-2462); Hacienda Hernandez for Tex-Mex cuisine, 1105 Broadway (940-767-5932); or for Mexican food in an Art Deco atmosphere, try the new El Chico at Southwest Parkway and Kemp (940-692-1415). 246002001~McIlwaine House~11899~-400~~~100~Any tour of this lovely and historic town should start at the Petersburg Visitors Center, located in the impressive McIlwaine House. The house was built after Petersburg's devastating 1815 fire by Mayor George Jones. You can get maps and information as well as the Petersburg Pass, which is good for admission to the major sites in town. The center is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. You'll find it on the riverfront at 425 Cockade Alley, near the corner of Old Street. (804-733-2400) 246002002~Centre Hill Mansion~11902~-401~~~100~Petersburg's grandest mansion combines Federal architecture and Greek Revival interior detail. Built in 1823 and remodeled in the 1840s, the home's outstanding woodwork and ornate decoration is complemented by period furnishings that include a grand piano from the famous Knabe Art collection. The mansion is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. It's the big house at One Centre Hill Court; you can't miss it. (804-733-2401) 246002003~Trapezium House~11898~-401~~~100~This highly unusual house has neither parallel walls nor right angles, the idea being that this would help ward off evil spirits. Owner Charles O'Hara built it in 1817, apparently under the influence of a slave who had been abducted from the West Indies. The house is open from April to October. It's at 244 N. Market Street. (804-733-2402) 246002005~Siege Museum~11900~-401~~~100~During the Civil War, Petersburg endured the longest siege in American history as General Grant's Union forces encircled the city for ten months in the crucial final stages of the war. This museum commemorates the struggle of a citizenry that saw its well-to-do lifestyle crumble into the bitter dust of desperation. The museum is located at 15 W. Bank Street. It's open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. (804-733-2404) 246002006~Old Blandford Church~11912~-402~~~100~Although the church itself dates from 1735, its exceptional Tiffany stained glass windows created in the early 20th century are dedicated to the memory of the Confederate dead. In 1886, the first Memorial Day was commemorated here at the cemetery where 30,000 soldiers are buried. The church is at 321 S. Crater Road. It's open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. (804-733-2396) 216001384~Brown County Art Guild~7098~-3~~~100~One of several artists' headquarters in Nashville, the Brown County Art Guild features the work of local and regional painters. You may even find an artist or two working on new canvases while you watch. The Guild is located in the historic Minor House at Main and Van Buren streets. It's open daily until 5 PM (weekends only in January and February). Admission is free. (812-988-6185) 216001385~Brown County Historical Museum~7096~-2~~~100~You'll find an 1850s pioneer cabin, the 1879 log jail, a doctor's office, blacksmith shop, and loom room for spinning and weaving at this collection of authentically furnished historic structures. You can get a guided tour on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, between 1 PM and 5 PM, from May to October. Tours cost $1.50. The buildings can always be viewed from the outside for free. You'll find them on Museum Lane, one block east of the county courthouse in Nashville. (812-988-4153) <BR>When it's time to find a meal, Nashville is filled with charming family restaurants offering traditional hearty dining. A few of the most popular of Nashville's many eating eastablishments are the Brown County Inn at the intersection of State Routes 135 and 46 (812-988-2291); the Hob Nob, a colorful former apothecary with wooden booths and a genuine soda fountain at the corner of Main and Van Buren streets (812-988-4114); and the Nashville Inn, which has been a town tradition since 1859 at 15 S. Van Buren (812-988-4554). 216000118~Brown County State Park~7085~-53~~~102~The approach to this state park south of Nashville is through a double-barreled covered bridge built around 1838. It's the only one of its kind in Indiana. Founded in 1929, the park is the largest in the Indiana state parks system. The panoramic view of heavily forested hills and valleys from the lookout tower atop 1,058-foot Weedpatch Hill goes a long way towards explaining the appeal this landscape has had for painters for over 100 years. The park has campsites that range both in use and in facilities. Half are first-come, first-served, while the other half require reservations .In the park's southern part, you'll find sites devoted to the equestrian camping for which this park is well known. All of the campgrounds at Brown County have electric hookups, dump stations, rest rooms, and showers. The Abe Martin Lodge has 84 rooms, a dining room, and a concession. If you'd like a roof over your head but also want privacy, the park has several cabins situated throughout the area.<BR>For recreation the park offers cultural and interpretive nature programs, a nature center with exhibits, tennis courts, playgrounds, a swimming pool, and hiking trails. Equestrian trails wind throughout the park with trailheads at the equestrian campground. The saddle barn located within the park offers guided horse trail rides and horse rentals. You can enjoy fishing, picnicking and wildlife watching here. In winter you can enjoy skiing at Ski World Ski Area, and ice fishing on the park's two lakes. Call the park for cabin and lodge reservations. Nearby attractions include Yellowwood State Forest, Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve, and T. C. Steele State Historical Site.<BR>The park is open year-round during daylight hours; campground water supplies are shut off between October 31 and April 1. A vehicle admission charge is levied. The northern entrance to the park is off Route 46, a little east of Nashville. You can reach the park at 812-988-6406.<BR>Pets: Leashed pets are permitted in park and campgrounds but not in lodge or cabins.<BR>Reservations: For Indiana state parks, reservations are accepted only by mail or walk-in. Call the specific site to have a reservation form sent to you. Phone reservations are not accepted. 216001386~T.C. Steele State Historic Site~7050~-54~~~100~Landscape painter Theodore C. Steele (1847-1926), the most highly respected of Indiana's regional painters, moved to Brown County in 1907. You can tour his home and studio and visit the adjoining nature preserve. The site is open from March to December, Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 1 to 5 PM. To get there, head west from Nashville on Route 46 for about eight miles and turn south on T.C. Steele Road. (812-988-2785) 216001387~Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame~7091~30~~~100~The father of bluegrass music, Bill Monroe, spent much of his life in tiny Bean Blossom, five miles north of Nashville. The museum occupying his former home features memorabilia from the greats of bluegrass and country and western music collected during Monroe's 60 years as a performer. On the grounds, you'll find a 5,000-seat outdoor theater where music festivals are held throughout the summer. Both primitive and modern camping facilities are also available. The museum is five miles north of Nashville on State Road 135. It's open from May through October, Monday through Saturday, from 9 AM to 5 PM. (812-988-6422)