— J. Pimentel, Scarborough
A: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages a National Wildlife Refuge system, which includes former industrial areas that were once thriving industries such as rice mills, logging and mining camps, salt producers, etc. The remains of these historical enterprises are considered cultural resources and many include interpretive displays for visitors. Some sites are hidden in swamps or other hard-to-reach places but others are more easily accessible.
In the southern U.S. for example, the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge (fws.gov/savannah) covers thousands of hectares of tidal marshland along the Georgia and South Carolina banks of the Savannah River. Near the refuge entrance is the brick foundation of a low country rice mill that predates the Civil War.
The land and waterfowl resources are managed using methods developed by the 19th-century rice farmers. In fact, Savannah Refuge staff have found their predecessors’ handcrafted wooden culverts — called rice trunks — work better than newer metal culverts, which rust over time.
On the Hawaiian island of Kauai, the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge is located on the site of the Ho‘opulapula Haraguchi Rice Mill. The only rice mill left in Hawaii, it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Except for tours on Wednesdays, which are scheduled to in May, this refuge is closed to the public. Reservation are required. To book, contact info@haraguchiricemill.org or 808-651-3399. For information, see haraguchiricemill.org and fws.gov/hanalei.
For more on the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visit fws.gov.
Q: Can you suggest a sun destination for a family trip with two kids that won’t break our bank account?
— G. Smith, Toronto
A: Sun destinations are looking particularly bright right now for a variety of reasons. The first is our strong Canadian dollar, which is making travel, especially to the U.S. and Caribbean very appealing. The second is off-season rates for the Caribbean generally kick-in after Easter and apply until mid-November.
You’ll also find some resorts offering packages where two kids can stay for free. For example, Palladium Hotels and Resorts (fiestahotelgroup.com) has a special online “Kids Stay for Free” offer on reservations made before May 30, for travel to Punta Cana, the Riviera Maya and Montego Bay. Palladium Hotels and Resorts has a Baby Club for children from 1 to 3 years old and a Mini Club for the 4-12 set.
Transat Holidays is offering some family fun in the sun at the five-star Grand Sirenis Mayan Beach in Mexico and the four-star Grand Sirenis Playa Turquesa in Cuba for bookings made between now through Oct. 31. Children under 13 stay and eat free and kids’ clubs are available at both properties. For details, contact Transat Holidays at toll-free 1-866-322-6649 or see your travel agent
Q: While on a quick business trip to Los Angeles in mid-June, I want to visit Pasadena and do some shopping. Do you know of any good spots?
— K. Ogilvie, Mississauga
A: Try the Rose Bowl Flea Market (rgcshows.com), which takes place on the second Sunday of every month at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. It’s jam packed with more than 2,500 booths that, fortunately are colour coded. Antique lovers congregate in the Orange section while the White area is the place to go for vintage clothing. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres has been quoted as saying: “It’s like the end of a rainbow! The best treasure hunt in North America. The best deals and the biggest variety.”
ilona@mycompass.
Lexus Canada Announces Voluntary Recall On 2010 GX460Cure for the summertime blues
