More for your money in a British vacation

Our dollar buys a lot more in Britain these days.

That happy situation quickly became evident during a two-week visit to Wales and England in March.

Whether it stays that way depends largely on the British pound. It's about $1.67 Canadian, and was much lower in March.

I recall buying pounds last year at $2, thinking it was a bargain. But, then, I can also remember being over there in 1970s when it was around $2.75.

In those days, I thought twice about popping into the pub for a pint. In March, I spent a lot of time in pubs. But it was to eat, not just hoist a few.

Times are tough in Britain. The recession hit harder and has lasted longer than here.

So to get people in the door, pubs are pitching specials. Signs touting "a burger and a beer'' for #5 or less are common. Don't fancy a burger? Some offer a curry instead. Don't like beer? They'll substitute wine, a soft drink or fruit juice.

Dishing up good food at prices restaurants have trouble matching works, too.

A vegetarian main course my wife had at the Dragon Bar, a pub-style place in Hastings, was her best meal of the whole trip. It cost #11, about 18.40. I had a thin-crust pizza (#10), and even after splurging on two glasses wine and two bottles of imported beer, the bill was only #40 ($67). And that included a whopping 17.5% sales tax.

Buying in retail stores helped keep the drinks budget under control. A decent New Zealand sauvignon blanc in Marks and Spencer was #6.04 ($10.10). The neighborhood Londis, a chain convenience store, had beer on special. Four 500-ml cans of Fosters lager cost #3.40 (5.70), not much more than a pub charged for one pint.

More prices and money-saving tips:

Getting around A Visitor Oyster Card makes using the London Underground much simpler. You touch the card to a yellow reader at the start and end of a journey and it correctly calculates the fare. We travelled to and from central London and Heathrow Airport with cards pre-loaded with #10 each, and had a bit left over. Visit www.visitbritainshop.com/canada.

Hotel Hoppa provides transportation between Heathrow and several airport hotels for #8 return.

Gasoline is nearly twice what it is at home but the gap used to be much greater. I paid #1.16 per litre ($1.95).

Sightseeing If your trip will include several historic sites, consider buying a one-year membership in organizations such as English Heritage. We visited two of their more than 400 sites, Dover Castle, and Battle Abbey. The senior fee at the castle was #11.40 ($19), at the abbey #6 (10). A one-year membership for two seniors (60 plus) was #52.50 ($88). Visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/membership.

Accommodations Our Heathrow airport hotel was #65 plus tax ($110), about half what some modest hotels in central London charge and considerably more comfortable. But watch for the extras: a local phone call was #2.30 ($3.85), and don't even think of having breakfast in one of these places -- even the airport is cheaper.

Miscellaneous A stamp to mail a postcard to Canada cost 62 pence ($1.05). Be careful buying stamps. Some are valid only for mail within Britain.

Some hotels really gouge for e-mail access. The local library usually charges little, if anything. Or ask around. When a convenience store clerk in Hastings suggested I try a pub called the Pig in Paradise, I couldn't resist. The keyboard felt as though the odd drink had been sloshed on it but the price was right, #1 for an hour. I treated myself to a pint, and the bartender treated me to a second hour on the keyboard on the house.

Doug English can be reached at denglishtravel@gmail.com or by mail c/o London Free Press, P.O.E. Box 2280, London, Ont. N6A 4G1.

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48 hours in Berlin

Got 48 hours to spare in Berlin? The city which proudly bares the scars of the turbulent 20th century history it overcame to become a political and creative powerhouse, bang in the center of Europe, has a lot to offer.

Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help visitors get the most out of a visit to the German capital, this year celebrating 20 years since reunification:

FRIDAY

6 p.m - Berlin has always been a cultural hub so spend your first evening in the historic Jewish quarter of Berlin, home to countless galleries, boutiques and bars.

Start on Oranienburgerstrasse with a visit to Kunsthaus Tacheles -- a ruined department store that is now an artists' squat. Tacheles is just one of many forums for alternative culture in Berlin facing eviction from quirky historical properties which property developers want to spruce up. So check it out now -- before it's too late.

Further down the street, take a moment to admire the golden dome of the Moorish-style New Synagogue, before cutting through a courtyard to reach Auguststrasse, famed for its art galleries and array of international cuisine.

8 p.m. - Have dinner either at Kasbah, a cozy, Moroccan restaurant with Oriental decor serving a delicious lamb-prune tagine; or Monsieur Vuong, famous for its funky vibe, Vietnamese dishes and fruit smoothies.

10 p.m. - Then head to Claerchens Ballhaus, a timeless institution dating back to 1913. People of all ages come to the ballroom seven days a week to dance under a massive disco ball. Don't forget to check out the elegantly dilapidated mirror salon upstairs, harking back to a bygone era of glamour.

SATURDAY

10 a.m. - Get a feeling today for the difference between former Communist east Berlin and west Berlin, which were separated for nearly 30 years by an "anti-fascist protection barrier" that became the symbol of the Cold War.

Start in Friederichshain, a working-class eastern district strewn with bulky Communist buildings that has changed much less since 1989 than the gentrified historic city center.

Have a hearty (and cheap, very cheap) brunch at one of the many cafes peppered around Simon-Dach-Strasse before heading to the weekly market on Boxhagener Platz.

12 p.m. - Next, stroll down to the East Side Gallery, the largest remaining section of the Berlin Wall which was painted with murals by 118 artists from 22 countries in 1990.

Many of the gallery's 106 murals were inspired by the collapse of communism -- keep a look out for one of the most famous, the "Brotherly Kiss", showing former East German leader Erich Honecker kissing ex-Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.

2 p.m. - In the afternoon, head west across the border. The first stop is the appropriately named Kaufhaus des Westens (department store of the west), or KaDeWe -- Berlin's answer to London's Harrods and Paris' Galeries Lafayette.

The highlight of KaDeWe is its gourmet food department, boasting some 3,400 different wines and more than 1,300 cheeses.

Then hit the shops on Kurfuerstendamm. If you visit during Advent, Berlin's famous Christmas markets will be up and running, with mulled wine and roasted nuts aplenty.

4 p.m. - Finally, walk down to the Gedaechtniskirche (Memorial Church), a church that was bombed out in World War Two and was preserved in its ruined state to symbolize the folly of war.

6 p.m. - Grab a bite at one of the bustling restaurants around Savigny Platz then hop in a cab to the Philharmonie to attend a concert by the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra, one of the world's most prestigious and conducted by Britain's Simon Rattle.

SUNDAY:

Spend a day walking around Berlin's historic center, tracing the many layers of its turbulent past.

10 a.m. - Start at Alexanderplatz, a vast square in East Berlin famous for its landmark Fernsehturm (television tower). Then walk down past the giant statues of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, over the Spree river onto the "Museum Island".

Pay a visit to one of the many internationally renowned museums, such as the Neues Museum which was restored and reopened last year, and is full of famous antiquities such as a bust of the ancient Egyptian Queen Nefertiti.

12 p.m. - Carry on down the majestic Unter den Linden avenue, past the Humboldt University, the State Opera House and the plush Hotel Adlon Kempinski -- where the late singer Michael Jackson dangled his infant son out of a third-floor window.

Stop off for lunch at Cafe Einstein along the way, or at restaurant Theodor Tucher on Pariser Platz by the Brandenburg Gate -- a square that was flattened during the war and became a No Man's Land during the division of Germany.

Don't be fooled by the boxy facade of some of the buildings on the square - check out the interior of DZ Bank, designed by star architect Frank Gehry. In the atrium, a bulging filigree roof and a curved glass floor bring to mind an enormous fish.

2 p.m. - Pass through the Brandenburg Gate and turn left to the Holocaust Memorial -- a monument to Jewish victims of the Holocaust made of 2,711 huge slabs visitors can wander through.

Then head to Potsdamer Platz area, where what was once a tract of wasteland near the Wall has become a web of futuristic buildings housing business and entertainment complexes.

4 p.m. - Walk to the revamped Reichstag parliament building with its glass dome designed by British architect Norman Foster.

Skip queues by booking a table at the roof restaurant in advance and taking their private lift to enjoy "Kaffee und Kuchen" (coffee and cake) with a panoramic view over Berlin.

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Cruising Europe's Nordic countries

Consider the cost and complexity of visiting in 10 days, these seven beautiful cities: Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallin, Gdansk and Oslo. That's the reason we chose a cruise.

My wife Barbara and I went by ship with Princess line. It was a way to travel with manageable cost and efficiency, and included city tours by guides who knew them intimately and could provide intelligent commentary in clear language.

Along the cobblestone lanes of Stockholm's timeworn old town, guide Inga was proud: "Our medieval city plan is a major reason to see Stockholm."

In Helsinki, Pasi, a sturdy physical education expert took us hiking and spoke about his city's architecture and economy.

Then in fabled St. Petersburg, Melitina led us through the renowned Hermitage, a museum so rich in artifacts you could spend years and still not see everything. "The building is so beautiful," she said, "it's worth visiting apart from its artifacts." So it went later in Tallin, Gdansk and Oslo.

The ship, Star Princess, was itself a destination. That's why the founder of Princess Cruises, Canadian-born Stanley MacDonald, is called "the father of modern cruising."

Put simply it's because Princess ships have all the amenities. Ours carried 2,600 passengers and 1,100 crew. But behind its amenities were people. And they had high standards. They interested me. So with help from ship Hotel Manager Sheila Griffin I met the man at the top and the man in the kitchen, both key to the operation of any cruise ship.

It's not often you get a chance for a private interview with the Captain.

He's William Kent, from Lincolnshire, about 120 km. north of London. There at 16, he began his long climb -- lots of classroom hours ashore, lots of cadet hours at sea -- until in 1986 he attained the rank of captain.

Kent has held the top job on almost a dozen Princess ships and now as senior captain, he's been aboard Star Princess for almost two years. He's a soft-spoken man. But with instant credibility.

"As senior captain," he told me, "it's as if you almost feel proprietor of the ship, and with that comes great responsibility."

He's at sea three months, at home three months. Does he wish he was home more often?

"Actually, I may see more of my family than some men ashore who have so many company obligations."

When he is home as he says: "it's quality time 24/7." And his family can join him at sea anytime.

I asked his biggest satisfaction: "Navigating safely in and out of a challenging port, but also passenger satisfaction ratings. They're always in the 90s. That's very good and very rewarding."

Preparing three meals a day for thousands of Princess passengers and crew seems like a daunting task.

But for Executive Chef Norbert Sommerhalter, "It's all about organization."

The tall, easygoing man from the German south oversees a staff of roughly 220 and seven restaurants aboard the Star Princess.

"You have to be in the kitchen but not always; you must move about to see all's well in each restaurant. So first of all it's organization."

Sommerhalter has a top-of-the-line culinary background: He worked at five-star hotels in Europe and the U.S. before, in 1995, joining Princess, where he's been chef on at least five of its ships.

"I know some cruise chefs wonder if it might be nice to own a small country restaurant. It has its appeal, but so does this challenge -- whatever is on your plate, the team and I stand behind it," he says.

For information on the Princess Baltic Cruise, princesscruises.com.

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Golfing in Mont-Tremblant

As you're teeing off at one of Mont-Tremblant's wonderful golf courses, mountains serving as a majestic backdrop, there's a sense of serenity that can't even be wiped out if your drive veers off the lush green fairway.

There's no need for an F-bomb ... you just hop into the golf cart, track down your golf ball and hit your next shot. Tremblant is a place to go to get away from the rat race -- to get close to Mother Nature.

With flights from Toronto now up and running, getting to Tremblant, an hour and a half north of Montreal, is much simpler and quicker than a seven-hour road trip.

Porter Airlines is now offering summer service to Tremblant, with two flights per week, until Sept. 6, between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Mont-Tremblant International Airport.

"It really is the summer's best-kept secret," says Catherine Lacasse, public relations and communications supervisor for Tremblant, which has built itself a reputation as an outstanding ski resort. "It's like an outdoor playground. People think we are just skiing, but there really is so much to do. And it really fits all types of budgets."

Le Giant and Le Diable are the golf course crown jewels. For variety, there's also La Belle and La Bete. And nearby Le Maitre is an extraordinary Club Link course.

Le Diable, put together by Michael Hurzdan and Dana Fry is a "grip it and rip it" kind of course. Just don't go left, with waste bunkers lining that side. The fairways snake through the heart of a huge red pine forest, creating an Arizona type of feel. Le Diable, named Score Magazine's Best Public Golf Course in 2003, also hosted the 1999 Skins Game, with John Daly, Mike Weir, Fred Couples and David Duval.

Le Giant, a Thomas McBroom creation, is more for the social golfer. There's plenty of scenery and some wildlife. Don't be surprised if you encounter deer, who have grown quite accustomed to golfers. The course is tight in spots, so leaving the driver in the bag is an option worth considering at times. In 2003, Score rated the 18th hole the best par-4 in Canada.

"The golf courses are among our biggest assets," says Lacasse. "You can see that the quality of the courses is very good. And they have that outside-the-city feel to them."

There is a mini putt course in the Tremblant village which is a replica of Le Giant. A recent addition to the area is the Casino de Mont-Tremblant, which you can access by a gondola, with a panoramic view of the mountain, or buses, which leave regularly from the village.

The nightlife is vibrant with entertainment a regular part of the village life. You can go alone, take your buddies, make it a romantic getaway or take the family.

And there are plenty of choices of places to stay, with a price point to fit every budget.

Flights from Toronto will begin again on Dec. 21, with 12 a week, for skiing season.

For more info, check out tremblant.ca.

tim.baines@sunmedia.ca

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New York most bedbug infested city

New York has more unwanted nocturnal guests than other urban areas and has been named the most bedbug infested city in the United States.

It surpassed Philadelphia, Detroit, Cincinnati and Chicago, which rounded out the top five cities, according to extermination company Terminix, which compiled the list based on call volume to its offices around the country so far this year.

"In the past, offices might get a couple of calls a month for bedbug eradication," said spokesman Clint Briscoe. "Now, some of them are getting several dozen a week."

The company blamed international travel for the bugs' return 60 years after they were thought to have been eradicated in the U.S. But it said the appearance on its list of smaller cities shows the insects that live in furniture, clothing and luggage, are getting a grip on the U.S. heartland.

"It's the bedbug problems in cities like Dayton and Louisville that prove bedbugs are back and can pop up anywhere," said Paul Curtis, the etymologist for the company, referring No. 8 and No.13 on the list.

Briscoe said over the last three years the company's commercial bedbug business has more than doubled, while calls from householders are significantly higher.

New York City Councilwoman Christine Quinn admitted last month that the Big Apple had been hit hard by the blood-sucking insects after the city announced it would spend $500,000 raising aware about the pests, which don't carry disease but are difficult to eliminate.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has battled an outbreak at his Harlem office, along with lingerie outlet Victoria's Secret, teen clothing store Hollister and countless hotels which have lost thousands of dollars in revenue fighting the bedbug.

Terminix said the bugs tend to hitch a ride from one location to the next, so are particularly fond of hotels, airplanes and cruise ships.

People who suspect they have bedbugs were advised to check mattresses for dark blood spots, and to avoid picking up used mattresses or furniture left out on the street.

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Florida's shrine to golf

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- While St. Andrews is considered the Home of Golf and the Old Course its mecca, it's fitting that a shrine to the game lies on the outskirts of America's oldest city.

Just a short drive from the heart of this historic community, the tower of the World Golf Hall of Fame is a beacon for golf lovers travelling the I95, and it is only natural that visitors from Niagara/Ontario are drawn to seek out our local link supplied by Marlene Stewart-Streit -- the first Canadian inducted into the Hall.

But they'll be surprised to find that the Fonthill phenom, who was inducted in 2004, isn't Canada's only presence. And most Americans, including many staff and volunteers at the Hall of Fame, are also surprised to learn that the man considered the Father of American Golf was Canadian by birth. Although that is how is he listed in the guidebook.

In fact, Charles Blair Macdonald, who was inducted into the Hall in 2007 in the Lifetime Achievement category -- as a Canadian -- entered the world on Nov. 14, 1855, in Niagara Falls, Ont., the son of a Scottish immigrant father and a Canadian (part-Mohawk) mother.

His folks moved on to Chicago and, when he was 16, the younger Macdonald was sent to Scotland to live with his grandfather and study at St. Andrews University. Needless to say, the allure of golf and the famed Old Course captured him and he learned the game at the hands of Old Tom Morris and regularly played with Young Tom Morris.

When he returned to Chicago two years later, there was not a single golf course in the U.S. After laying out a seven-hole course in conjunction with the 1892 Chicago World's Fair, Macdonald was asked to design another two, the latter of which, in Wheaton, Ill., became the Chicago Golf Club. While these were not the first golf courses in the United States, these two were the first 18-hole courses in America.

Macdonald, by brunt of what biographers describe as an outsized ego and personality, helped give birth to what later became the United States Golf Association. This evolved when in 1894 two early American golf clubs, Newport and St. Andrews, attempted to conduct national amateur championships. When Macdonald did not win either, although he came close in both attempts, he claimed each was not a true national championship because of inconsistent rules and they were not conducted by a true national body. As a result of the outcry he created, five prominent clubs came together later in the year to form the USGA'S predecessor Amateur Golf Association of the United States.

The next year, Macdonald won the first U.S. Amateur to become America's first true national champion.

Macdonald died on April 21, 1939, remembered as a giant in U.S. golf history, but a Canadian and a Niagaran for all that.

Marlene Stewart-Streit, of course, is still active in the sport and her accomplishments as an amateur are well recognized in Florida.

The pathway surrounding the lake overlooked by the World Golf Hall of Fame bears commemorative brickwork honouring some of the greats of the game, and there, between the challenging 18-hole putting course and the entrance to the hall itself, is a section paying homage to her. The centrepiece is a stone from "Family and Friends of Hall of Famer Marlene Streit." It is surrounded by bricks bearing the names of those who wanted to pay tribute. The names range from that of her mentor, the late Gordie McInnis, to fellow members of golf courses and organizations, to those who chronicled her exploits -- including The Standard's former sports editor Jack Gatecliff and CKTB Radio's sports broadcaster Rex Stimers.

Inside the Hall of Fame itself, after a fascinating stroll through the game's historic roots and personalities, including the chance to play an 1800s-style green using a hickory-shafted putter and a gutta percha ball, comes Shell Hall, housing the Wall of Fame bearing the bronze relief plaques of the 130 members.

At the top left of one six-plaque grouping is the image of Stewart-Streit, right next to another female phenom, Annika Sorenstam. They are joined in the grouping by PGA greats Payne Stewart and Curtis Strange, and Louise Suggs -- the first female inductee into the Hall of Fame who won 58 LPGA tournaments, including 11 major championships, and J.H. Taylor, the Englishman among the great golfers from the 19th century.

Pretty good company for the kid, who at 15 would ride her bicycle to Lookout Point Golf Club to caddy, using the money she earned to pay the $25 junior membership fee and putting her under the tutelage of local legend Gordie McInnis Sr.

The bicycle rides signalled the start of a stellar amateur career. Only a year after taking up the game, she finished runner-up in the Ontario Junior Girls' Championship and in 1953 she made her mark on the international stage by capturing the 1953 British Women's Amateur.

Her career spanned more than five decades with at least one major amateur victory in each, including 11 Canadian Ladies Open Amateurs, nine Canadian Ladies Closed Amateurs and four Canadian Ladies Senior Women's Amateur tournaments. Most significantly, she is the only woman ever to win the Canadian, British, American, and Australian amateur titles.

And in 2003, at age 69, she became the oldest woman to win a USGA championship when she defeated Nancy Fitzgerald with a par on the fifth extra hole in the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur. The following year, she became the first Canadian member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and today is still active in the promotion of the game.

Naturally, there is much, much more to the Hall of Fame both inside and out, including its two golf courses -- The King and The Bear and The Slammer and The Squire -- and a day's visit might just not be enough for aficionados of the game.

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Beach-hopping in New Brunswick

FREDERICTON, N.B. -- Though it's sometimes seen as a drive-through province by those en route to other Atlantic provinces, beach lovers know better. Few places in Canada can top New Brunswick's seaside pleasures, whether it's swimming in the warm waters of Northumberland Strait or hiking along clifftop trails above the ocean.

Summer may be winding down but it's still not too late to discover the kilometres of sandy beaches -- many of them located in provincial or national parks, which offer a wealth of other activities. Here's just a small sample of the possibilities:

Swimming with seals

Be prepared for a close-up encounter with a diverse habitat on the 600-metre-long boardwalk that leads to Kellys Beach in Kouchibouguac National Park.

The path traverses sand dunes, lagoons, salt marshes and Acadian forest, and ends at one of the nicest beaches in the Atlantic provinces. Kellys Beach is a gorgeous 6-km-long stretch of sand with the warmest water north of Virginia.

Swim in a supervised roped-off area or walk (90 minutes) to the south end of the sand dunes and swim with the seals! A colony of about 150 grey seals can be found here during the summer. You can also see the animals on a new three-hour Voyageur canoe excursion to offshore sandbars.

Other activities in this national park include hiking (10 trails from .7 km to 11.3 km), canoeing, kayaking, camping and cycling on the 60-km of flat bikeway. Bring your binoculars to increase your chances of seeing the endangered Piping Plover, which nests there. It's one of 223 species of birds that have been recorded in the park. There's also a puppet theatre, and a wigwam where you can learn about Migmag culture (Sundays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m.).

The park is located on the east coast, 100 km north of Moncton on the Northumberland Strait. There are lifeguards at the family friendly beach. Entry $7.80 per adult, $3.90 per youth or $19.60 per family. Check Parkscanada.gc.ca/kouchibouguac.

Been there, dune that

At the Irving Eco-Centre, northeast of Moncton, you can swim at a beach that backs the 12-km-long Dune de Bouctouche, described as "one of the great sand dunes on the northeastern coastline of North America." After lazing on this calm, warm water beach for a while, you may want to check out the interpretive centre with displays on local flora and fauna, or walk along the 2-km-long boardwalk above the dunes. The slender marram grasses have roots that stabilize the shifting sands.

From a lookout tower there's a good view of the winding boardwalk and the long sand spit that juts out into the Northumberland Strait. There's also a 12-km-long hiking-cycling trail through an Acadian forest from the dune into the town of Bouctouche.

Be aware that to protect the ecologically sensitive nature of the area, only the first 2,000 visitors to arrive each day during July and August are allowed onto the boardwalk. Entry free. For more check jdirving.com.

Walk on Water

Visitors driving to Parlee Beach Provincial Park for the first time, no doubt, arrive with high hopes after seeing the sign near the entrance describing it as "New Brunswick's Favourite Beach Destination." It's easy to see why it's so popular. A wide beach that slopes down from a dune, Parlee is about 1-km long with fine grain sand, and because it's on the Northumberland Strait (like Kellys Beach), the water temperature ranges between 18C and 24C in the summer -- perfect for swimming.

And here's something you can't do at most other beaches -- walk on water!

Okay, it's a bit of an illusion, but it's still fun. Just locate the particular sandbar that stretches about 15 metres out from shore, (it's a few centimetres below water level) then impress your friends with your seemingly magical feat!

During a recent visit, I was surprised to find people on the beach as late as 8 p.m. Children were building sand castles, a woman in a lawn chair was reading a book, while others walked along the shore against the backdrop of a spectacular sunset.

The beach is really the park's main attraction but nearby there are volleyball courts, a playground, picnic area and campground. Services include canteens, a restaurant, welcome centre, and boutique with an Olivier Soapery outlet. Parlee is located at Pte-du-Chene, 1 km from Shediac and the beach is supervised.

Entry $10. Check parleebeach.com or nbparks.ca.

A chilly beauty

Mother nature decides when you can visit Pangburn Beach. The water is cold, the shore is composed of golf ball-sized rocks, and to top it off, getting there involves some advance planning. So why bother going you ask? For those with a sense of adventure, who are dazzled by scenic beauty, it's worth the effort.

To truly appreciate the stunning surroundings of this south coast beach, view it first from the Fundy Trail. That's the easy part.

As for getting to Pangburn on foot, that's only possible at low tide, and even then you can't access the beach directly. First make your way down to neighbouring Melvin Beach, then walk around the base of the steep cliff to Pangburn, where you'll likely have the place all to yourself. Just don't forget to leave before the tide rolls in!

Aside from hiking to beaches, you can also bike, kayak or join an interpretive walk on the Fundy Trail, which follows the Bay of Fundy on the south coast, east of Saint John. Entry $4 adults. For more, check fundytailparkway.com.

Swim in a headpond

Many consider this spot in Mactaquac Provincial Park the best beach near Fredericton. Known as Mactaquac Lake by some, technically it's a headpond, created after a dam was built on the St. John River in 1968. Though the sand isn't as nice as Kellys or Parlee beaches, it does have plenty of shade, something lacking at the other two spots.

The water is calm, warm and clear, and, because it's a freshwater beach there's no need to worry about jellyfish, which appear for a few weeks in July at the saltwater beaches. Swimming is just one of the activities available at this 500-hectare multi-use park -- a favourite with campers (303 sites).

There's also an 18-hole golf course, hiking paths, an aerial adventure called Treego, and a recreation centre. Located 30 km northwest of Fredericton. Entry $7 per car. Check nbparks.ca or TourismNewBrunswick.ca or call 1-800-561-0123.

writer@interlog.com

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'Familymoon' the ticket for whole family

Dreaming of a couple's getaway but leaving the kids at home isn't an option? Elegant Hotels "familymoon" package may be just the ticket to fun for everyone with a little romance on the side for mom and dad.

Familymoons are offered at four of the company's five properties in Barbados -- Colony Club, Crystal Cove, Turtle Beach and the new Tamarind (formerly Tamarind Cove), which opens Nov. 1. The five-night package includes one half-day and one evening of child care, a romantic dinner for two on the beach, daily breakfast and round-trip airport transfers. Family friendly activities include complimentary tennis, stand up paddle boarding, snorkelling -- even waterskiing and banana boating at some resorts.

Packages must be booked by Sept. 30 for travel Nov. 1 through Dec. 18. Rates are based on two adults and one child and vary depending on the hotel selected. At Tamarind, the five-night package starts at $1,495 US per room. For details, contact eleganthotels.com or 1-888-996-9948.


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Niagara Falls salutes Elvis

The summer of Elvis sightings continues, shifting to Niagara Falls, in what would have been the "King of Rock 'n' Roll's" 75th birthday year.

The Niagara Falls Elvis Festival will attract 25 "tribute artists" from next Thursday through Sunday (Aug. 19-22).

With an outdoor venue having the Falls as the dramatic backdrop and indoor events, the festival is put on by Niagara-area native William Maurice, an Elvis tribute artist and his company, Universal Media Group International.

Being presented in "the world's most spectacular place," the festival pays tribute to the anniversary of Elvis' birth, he said. Expected to attract 4,000 to 6,000 people, it occurs 33 years after Elvis' death.

What's important is "the Elvis factor" -- that is the "fans that travel extensively throughout the world to relive the life and times of the King of Rock 'n' Roll," Maurice said.

As one of the artists in the lineup, Maurice has performed for Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family of Morocco, "doing the thing I love - giving tribute to Elvis Presley." (www.williammaurice.com) As well, he has assisted with the creation of the Collingwood, Blackpool, England and Porthcawl, South Wales Elvis festivals.

There will be performances at Oakes Garden Theatre overlooking the American and Horseshoe falls along with the Niagara Centre for the Arts. As well, events are planned at Boston Pizza Plaza on Clifton Hill and the Hard Rock Cafe.

Performing at the arts centre is Ronnie McDowell and his band on Friday (Aug. 20) and the original Elvis TCB (Taking Care of Business) band for two shows on Saturday (Aug. 21).

"This will be the very first time performing at an Elvis festival for both Ronnie McDowell and the TCB band with Terry Mike Jeffery," Maurice said.

After Presley's death in 1977, McDowell "came out of nowhere to dazzle the world with his heartfelt and self-penned tribute, The King Is Gone," he added.

Jeffery was musical director and starred in Elvis -- An American Musical, a New York-produced, multi-media show organized by the producers of Grease and Beatlemania.

The TCB Band worked with Elvis from 1969 through August 1977 for all of his tours.

The festival will have Rudy and the Angels as the backing band for the various Oakes Garden Theatre showcase performances while the rock-and-roll dance party will feature Geri and the Koasters.

Events include a street dance on Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m.; a tribute artist classic car drive-by from 9 a.m., Saturday; renewal of wedding vows on Sunday at 11 a.m.; and an inspirational Elvis gospel event, Sunday at 1 p.m.

Family events will include performances by Fluffy the Clown with balloon animals while the Dance Heads "allows all of us to complete the fantasy of being a rock or country singing sensation."

The festival is supporting the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.

Rock of Ages Festival

The third annual Rock of Ages Festival and Tribute Artist Contest takes place Aug. 27 to 29 in Brantford.

Joan Minnery of Memphis Motion and an Elvis tribute artist, said there will be a "whole lotta fun for everyone."

The fest honours "rock icons, country legends and pop idols," including Elvis, Michael Jackson, Jim Morrison, Martina McBride, Patsy Cline, Tom Jones, John Denver and Buddy Holly.

It's held at the Best Western Hotel, 19 Holiday Drive, Brantford from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; $50 for a weekend pass. www.memphismotion.com; (519) 752-1694.

The Fab Four remembered

In Orillia, the city where the downtown has 50 "super-sized (seven-foot-tall) guitar sculptures painted by local artists this summer, the fourth Beatles Celebration takes place on Sept. 17 and 18.

The theme is "The Magical Mystery Tour" with the McCartney Years at the Orillia Opera House along with street dances both nights. The event includes buskers, tribute bands, karaoke, Beatles memorabilia and non-stop music.

About 17,000 people are expected to attend. www.orilliabeatlescelebration.com

To learn more about the Guitars on Parade: orilliastreetsalive.ca

--- --- ---

If you go

Niagara Falls Elvis Festival

Details: www.niagarafallselvisfestival.com; 1-866-473-9751; E-mail: admin@niagarafallselvisfestival.com; Daily passes are $45 ($5, ages six to 12; younger, free); weekend passes, $90 ($15, six to 12; younger, free).

Tickets for the Ronnie McDowell show are $30 to $45 and for the TCB Band performance, $35 to $50.

Hotel packages are available at the Days Inn and Suites, and the Olympia Hotel (access through the web page).

Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com.

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Disney cruise the happiest place at sea

THE CARIBBEAN - As a company established between two world wars and matured during the height of the Soviet scare, it made sense for The Walt Disney Company to create places well removed from the unknown threats of the world for both parents and children: Disneyland and Disney World.

However, on this side of the 21st century, Disney has grown beyond simply theme parks into a vacation partner that promises safe travels for those ready to expose their kids to more than their own backyard.

Innovations like Disney’s Vacation Club combine opportunities like walking the Great Wall of China or scaling Mayan ruins with kid-friendly accommodations and tour guides who can turn the unknown into a secure and memorable family experience.

In 1995, Disney launched its own cruise line with the objective of letting families experience enchanted lands without the fear that can follow when travelling with young children. With options like an 11 night Mediterranean voyage or a 14 night transatlantic crossing, Disney recommends starting with the “bread and butter” experience: the four night Caribbean cruise.

The magic began before we even boarded the Disney Wonder, a 10 deck vessel designed specifically for families. As cruisers with tenure, we expected incredible lines of frustrated patrons managed by stressed out employees. To our surprise, the only substantial line was for pre-boarding pictures with Mickey and Minnie, as well as a much smaller assembly for those wanting to register for children’s programs. The genius of the Disney embarkation process is in the large boarding window. Cruisers can arrive as early as 11:45 a.m., enjoy a welcome aboard buffet, then wander the ship to get oriented before the programs begin and the ship is ready to sail.

Once out at sea, Disney knows how to take it to the next level. Their award winning Broadway-bound shows like “Toy Story - The Musical” and “Disney Dreams - An Enchanted Classic,” are technically beyond anything seen on other cruises. Disney ships are also the only ones to show films still in theatres, like “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.” Their fleet similarly has the distinction of being the first to dazzle with fireworks at sea — a truly inspiring display when gliding through a warm Caribbean evening.

Another experience that seems like a vacation all on its own is the stop at Disney’s exclusive island paradise Castaway Cay. Featuring amusing landmarks like The Flying Dutchman (the ship from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies) and prehistoric whale bones for the junior paleontologist in the family to discover, the island offers comfortable amenities you’d expect to find only on the ship. Free child care at Scuttle’s Cove or programs at the private Teen Beach area allow parents to wander up the island for drinks and some leisure time of their own. For those really wanting to get away from younger crowds, Serenity Bay offers adult-exclusive indulgences like open air massages, yoga classes and a private beach.

As one may imagine, Disney’s kids clubs leave the competition behind. Aligned with Disney’s core values, there are no casinos on board their vessels, so the extra space is devoted to a second children’s area. Disney’s Oceaneer Club is set for fun, with slides, movies and visits from characters like Snow White who teach young dancers to do-si-do. Disney’s Oceaneer Lab is for those wanting to explore, combining science experiments like making “flubber” with educational games and crafts.

But after experiencing the innovations one would expect from a company that changed the way entertainment is made, the Disney difference really is in the staff. The waiters made children want to come to dinner, and, dressed in pirate uniforms or “animated” clothing, would often perform magic tricks and hold limbo contests. Waiters would also help parents with mealtime chores by cutting toddlers’ food into smaller bites or feeding reluctant young eaters by negotiating vegetables into open mouths with the promise that Mickey was watching. These waiters were found in an array of restaurants like Parrot Cay or the multi-million dollar Animator’s Palate, which grows more “colourful” as the night progresses, but they didn’t just stay in the dining rooms. To our children’s delight, waiters would pop up pool side during the day with ice cream and slushies, or seek out families during the morning buffet to ask if they would like anything to make their breakfast more comfortable.

Adults find paradise all for themselves at Serenity Bay, on Disney's private island paradise, Castaway Cay. This secluded part of the Disney Cruise Line island offers adult guests a private beach, food and beverage area and private massage cabanas overlooking the sea. (Courtesy The Walt Disney Company)

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Top 5 restaurants in Vietnam

The Miele Guide to Asia’s finest restaurants is written by food experts who know and love the region (www.mieleguide.com).

This is the Miele Guide’s list of the top 5 restaurants in Vietnam. It is not endorsed by Reuters.

1. Square One, Ho Chi Minh City

Dinner at Square One is a dramatic feast for the senses. The main attraction is chefs in action in five show kitchens, cooking up a storm of authentic Vietnamese and western cuisine, fanning a roaring grill flame and wrapping fish in enormous pandan leaves. Around this centrepiece are the glass-encased selection of wines, a wine bar, juice bar and flower-lined outdoor terrace. After 9pm, the chill lounge music gives way to a funkier tempo and the crowd gravitates towards the wine and cocktail menu.

- MF Park Hyatt Hotel, 2 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Tel: +84 8 3824 1234

2. Temple Club, Ho Chi Minh City

The Temple Club is an incredibly beautiful restaurant. This colonial villa has been refreshed with hardwood furniture, polished lacquer and folding screens. Its formal dining room is an Indochinese Art Deco oasis of pristine white tablecloths and antique silver, while the wooden bar lends a touch of old world charm. The menu is a geographical survey of Vietnam, with favourites such as Hanoi cha ca fried monkfish, Long Va grilled fish, grilled beef on lemongrass skewers, and a homemade Hue cake in “secret sauce.”

- 29/31 Ton That Thiep Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Tel: +84 8 3829 9244

3. ZanZbar, Ho Chi Mingh City

One of the latest entrants into the city’s circle of sleek nightlife venues, ZanZBar is a great place to sit back with a Lemongrass Collins and enjoy live music. But what also makes it popular throughout the day is the elegant dining that combines Mediterranean and European classics with a more casual Australian twist. The menu ranges from generous pancake-and-eggs-breakfasts to hearty pizzas, tapas, and comforting classics such as grilled sea bass and tenderloin topped with foie gras. - 41 Dong Du Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Tel: +84 8 3822 7375

4. Cepage Wine Bar and Restaurant, Ho Chi Minh City

This trendy restaurant’s best-selling menu is known as The Black Box - a three-course mystery lunch created daily by German chef Andreas Ertle, who combines western and Asian techniques. In the evenings, the selections from the towering glass wine cellar or sake martinis can be taken at the bar with tapas or paired with courses such as yellow-fin tuna ceviche with sansho pepper, herb and mustard crusted lamb rack, or Tasmanian salmon with a yuzu crunch. The week rounds out with Cepage Chargrill Sunday, which features U.S. dry-aged beef and local seafood on the grill.

- GF Lancaster Building, 22 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Tel: +84 8 3823 8733

5. Quan An Ngon, Hanoi

Quan An Ngon is a great concept for anyone eager to sample the best of authentic Vietnamese fare in one place. Rustic stalls manned by uniformed vendors are sprawled throughout a large courtyard and offer everything from rice paper wraps and spring rolls to noodles, seafood and desserts. You place your order and when the food arrive, you can devour it in the comfort of one of the large dining rooms, on the balcony in the adjoining villa, or in the courtyard under a canvas marquee. You’d be paying twice what you would at any other street stall, but the portions are generous and the hygiene level a lot more reassuring.

- 18 Phan Boi Chau Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam. Tel: +84 4 3942 8162/8163

2011 Porsche Panamera V6 Goes On Sale This WeekendAmerica’s coolest cities

America's coolest cities

What do the Big Apple and Sin City have in common? According to a recent survey, they're both among the hippest places in the world.

In fact, New York City and Las Vegas are the two coolest cities in the United States, tied for the No. 1 spot in our annual measure of America's Coolest Cities.

Full List: America's Coolest Cities

To compile the list, market research company Harris Interactive conducted an exclusive poll for Forbes. In July Harris asked 2,104 adults from across the U.S. which of the 40 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the country were "the coolest."

New York wins with singles
New York, NY, has topped the list of coolest cities for three years running--it's sharing the top spot for the very first time. The fact that it attracts 47 million visitors annually shows that Americans regard the metro highly. New York isn't only the country's largest city; it's the one with the most restaurants, museums, sports venues, bars and theaters. Few could deny that it generates buzz around the globe.

It turns out that what you think is cool may be influenced by whether there's a ring on your finger. Of the single people polled, the largest percentage thought New York was the coolest city, but married people gave the title to Vegas.

Vegas bucks the trend
Times have been tough in Las Vegas, NV, and the city is suffering a real estate crash that's among the worst in the country. But the entertainment mecca still welcomes 36 million tourists per year--and the city's relaxed laws around gambling and other vices add to its sense of danger and excitement.

Las Vegas has a reputation for attracting pensioners who come to while the day away at slot machines. But in fact, respondents between 18 and 34 years old thought Las Vegas was cooler than New York. A full 11% of that age group gave Sin City the "coolest" badge. Still, while they might imagine it to be a happening place, trendy young folks don't account for the majority of visitors to the city. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the average age of vacationers in 2009 was 50.

The heat is on in Miami
Impressions about how hip a place is are tough to change. Most of the cities on our list have seen their coolness ranking change little over the past four years. But 5 of our 10 coolest cities--Las Vegas, Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami--saw perceptions improve over last year.Miami took the biggest big leap in coolness, moving from 19th place in 2009, to ninth place this year. In the past decade, the city has increasingly been recognized for its cutting-edge art scene, and hip galleries have proliferated. The 2002 introduction of Art Basel, an annual contemporary art festival that originated in Switzerland has helped force art-lovers around the world to grudgingly acknowledge the city's status as a high-culture taste-maker.

It's not clear whether recent news about basketball superstar LeBron James' defection to the Miami Heat did anything to affect the city's coolness factor--but if the team goes on to perform as well as many observers suggest, it can only help the city's reputation.

Coolness is a state of mind
Coolness is elusive and hard to define. To see whether perceptions of coolness matched up with reality--or at least how much fun a city offered--we compared coolness rankings against the number of bars, nightclubs, restaurants, museums, galleries, live theater venues and sports stadiums in each city, using data from AOL City Guides.

Many of the cities perceived to be cool have one thing in common: an abundance of things to do. And in a lot of cases, a city's coolness ranking aligned nearly perfectly with the number of venues: The Minneapolis–St. Paul metro, for example, ranks 12th for the number of nightlife venues, and 14th on our coolness list. But there were notable exceptions to this trend.

San Diego made the No. 7 spot, even though it has only just over half as many nightclubs, bars and restaurants as Philadelphia, which came in at No. 24. Boston, Dallas and Atlanta didn't make the top 10, even though they rank 5th, 8th and 9th respectively for the number of museums, theaters, stadiums and arenas. And Detroit came in near the bottom of the list for coolness, at 36, even though the city is flush with galleries and concert venues--458 of them, to be exact.

But the biggest disconnect between the amount of available entertainment and how cool a city seems is found in Las Vegas. While it won out on coolness, the city only comes in 25th for nightlife, 27th for galleries and concert venues and third from last for museums and live theater venues.Full List: America's Coolest Cities

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JetBlue Guy: Hollywood's most wanted

LOS ANGELES - It was perhaps inevitable that the world’s most famous flight attendant would enlist a Hollywood publicist.

Jetblue jumper Steven Slater’s flak? Howard Bragman, whose clients have included tabloid fodder such as Monica Lewinsky and Oksana Grigorieva as well as gay celebrities including Meredith Baxter and Martina Navratilova.

Bragman told The Hollywood Reporter that Slater didn’t hire him to come out publicly; the flight attendant is openly gay with a boyfriend.

“I know that people find the concept of a gay flight attendant shocking, but it’s true,” Bragman joked. “The fact that I’ve represented many gay clients merely helped Steven feel comfortable working with me. We actually went together last weekend to Las Vegas to see Barry Manilow.”

Although Bragman believes that Slater has the potential to have more than 15 minutes of fame, he said his first job is to help his client deal with the pending criminal charges against him, then sift through the offers of reality shows, interviews and books.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO REPRESENT STEVEN SLATER?

I think that he’s hit something in the Zeitgeist, and I think that I understand what he’s hit. So I’m doing the media relations and also acting as manager.

WHAT TYPE OF OFFERS ARE YOU GETTING?

We’re getting a huge response from every level. People are reaching out. Our first job is to get beyond the criminal charges and to deal with that. You’re definitely not going to see some reality show next week. Our first job is to handle these very serious criminal charges against Steve and then to get as good a resolution as possible. After the criminal charges are handled, we’re going to evaluate things.

WHAT HAS STEVEN’S RESPONSE BEEN TO THE CRIMINAL CHARGES?

Anybody who has charges hanging over their head is concerned. He’s handling the situation with intelligence and humor and integrity.

WHAT SPECIFIC OFFERS HAS STEVEN GOTTEN SINCE THE INCIDENT?

I’m not going to talk specifics because I’ve been on board for 12 minutes and haven’t seen everything, but he’s gotten offers for a reality show, hosting, endorsements, books and personal appearances. There’s been a huge array of things.

WHAT ABOUT THE OFFER OF A REALITY SHOW FROM PRODUCER SCOTT STONE?

I did get a call from Scott Stone, and he said that he had interest and that he’d love to present an idea at the right time. I haven’t seen the offer yet. Lots of people in the reality world have reached out.

THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS THAT THE MORNING NEWS SHOWS ARE SO EAGER FOR AN INTERVIEW THAT A PRODUCER ACTUALLY JUMPED IN STEVE’S CAR.

I don’t know about that yet. I just know that everybody has been very aggressive. We’re not talking about the morning shows yet. I know there’s been a lot of interest, and as long as he doesn’t talk, there will be plenty of interest when he finally does.

WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE SO INTERESTED IN HIM?

I think it’s because he’s hit three things in the Zeitgeist. First, Steven’s situation touched on something we all understand. We all talk about unemployment and how it’s hurt people, but it’s also affected those still in the work force. Those people are working harder for less money.

Everyone is stressed, squeezed, and we all share and understand that. We all understand how hard we’re working and how we don’t seem to be getting ahead or being able to pay our bills. And we’re all still worried for our jobs.

It also touched on the lack of basic manners and decency in society. When people yell out during State of the Union and congressional things — they yell, “Liar” — we’re looking at a loss of basic civility and manners. And that troubles a lot of people. They’re concerned about that loss.

Then, of course, there’s the whole airline experience today. Steven said to me, “I used to supply Chateaubriand for people going to Europe on TWA, and now I throw a bag of Cheetos at someone who can’t be bothered to take a shower before they get on an airplane.”

He captured those things in the zeitgeist and epitomized those things. He started a really interesting dialogue in society, and I think it’s a healthy dialogue.

WHAT IS THE REAL STORY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT PLANE?

All I can say is that we’re going to deal with that in the appropriate forum. We’ll deal with that in the justice system. Steven is building his legal team, and he’s represented by Howard Turman in New York.

DOES STEVE STILL WANT TO BE A FLIGHT ATTENDANT?

It’s been one week today. It’s still very surreal to him. He’s got a lot of things to consider right now.

DO YOU THINK STEVEN’S NOTORIETY WILL BE FLEETING?

I’m seeing a lot of interest. I think he’s an interesting character, and I don’t think America knows him. I think they’re going to like this guy. He’s very charming and very intelligent. I think there is real potential in him, but that’s secondary. Our first responsibility is the charges. If I didn’t believe in this guy, I wouldn’t be here.

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Putting in an Albertan paradise

BANFF, Alta. -- With scenery this spectacular, it's easy to forget a bad golf game.

Maybe that's what legendary Canadian course designer Stanley Thompson had in mind in 1928 when he carved out what is arguably the country's most scenic track at Banff Springs Golf Club.

Measuring 7,083 yards from the pro tees, Thompson's original 18 holes wind along the Bow River in the Rockies, under the mindful watch of snow-capped Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain.

"If you build a mountain golf course today, this is the template," says course marketing director Evan Winter. "And the layout has never changed." Banff Springs G.C. may be 82 years young but the area has not developed as a golf destination until recently.

"We find in the golf world, there's a lack of knowledge about the golf side of things here in Banff," says Winter. "The area has always been marketed as an outdoors adventure destination, but golf is taking off."

An adventure it is with sightings of elk, lynx, wolves and bears not uncommon.

Rocky Mountaineer includes a round at Banff Springs with its Gold Leaf-themed Golf Adventure.

Also on the slate is Predator Ridge golf resort in Vernon, B.C.

The gem of the Okanagan Valley, host to the World Skins Game twice, built its reputation with the toothy Predator Course, featuring tricky undulations and deep greenside bunkers framed by rolling hills.

The resort reaches super stardom this summer with the opening of The Ridge course designed by Doug Carrick. The signature hole on the new track is the fourth, with a stunning ridgetop view over Lake Okanagan.

Between rounds, the full-scale, four-season resort offers luxury accommodations in lodge, cottages and villa settings, with full kitchens, dining areas and fireplaces.

Rounding out the golf trek is The Harvest in Kelowna, a forgivingly wide layout that meanders through a hillside orchard laden with fruit trees and vineyards.

RIDE AND PLAY PACKAGES

The full Golf Adventure (Vancouver-Kamloops-Banff-Calgary) includes two days on the Mountaineer with Gold Leaf service, three nights accommodation at Fairmont hotels, four nights of deluxe accommodation in the Okanagan, seven breakfasts, four lunches, seven dinners paired with wine, services of a concierge, private bus transfers, two rounds of golf plus optional rounds, private limo to the train in Vancouver, choice of golf or activity in Banff, transfers from Banff to Calgary, luggage handling, a National Parks pass and an exclusive attractions pass. For a complete list of Rocky Mountaineer adventures, visitrockymountaineer.com or call 1-800-665-7245.

GOLFING THE ROCKIES

Are you "up" for a challenge? Check out the courses at harvestgolf.com, predatorridge.com and banffspringsgolfclub.com.

WINING AND DINING

Some suggestions along the way: Gray Monk Estate Winery (graymonk.com) in the Okanagan, run by George and Trudy Heiss who spearheaded the renaissance of B.C. wines; award-winning Summerhill Pyramid Winery (summergill.bc.ca) in Kelowna where all food and drink is 100% certified organic.

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Pets on holiday

Airlines may charge a small fortune to transport animals in noisy cargo holds, but pets vacationing with their owners are finding that when they deplane, there's a room with a treat waiting for them.

"It costs $200 one-way to transport your pet as checked baggage," said Genevieve Shaw Brown, senior editor at Travelocity. "On the other hand, there are plenty of hotels that are pet friendly"

Sixty-one percent of pet owners traveled with their furry friends last year, according to a survey of 1,200 U.S. travelers by the travel website TripAdvisor.

Fourteen percent said they thought bringing their pet was more cost effective than boarding them in a kennel, according to Brooke Ferencsik, of TripAdvisor, who has taken his two Labrador retrievers on many road trips throughout New England.

Pet-friendly means more than throwing the dog a bone.

"Some hotels have pet sitting and pet walking services, grooming and even pet massage," Ferencsik said. "But that doesn't mean they stay for free."

He said pet surcharges can run from $25 to $100 a night.

Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, a nationwide chain of 50 boutique hotels, prides itself on extending hospitality to all companion creatures, great and small.

"We've had penguins at the Alexis hotel in Seattle, Washington, a kangaroo at the Monaco in Denver, Colorado, and a pot-bellied pig at the Muse in New York City," said COO Niki Leondakis.

"We stock the room with welcome treats. We will babysit behind the front desk," she said. "Non-human guests are greeted by a director of pet relations -- usually the general manager's dog."

Leondakis said pains are taken to keep the tails of their non-pet-owning guests wagging as well.

"We have a deep clean methodology. We never, ever get complaints. We've sort of got this down."

Only one percent of TripAdvisor respondents with pets cited air travel as the most pet-friendly form of mass transportation. Nevertheless 15 percent brought their pawed pals onto a plane last year.

"It's best to avoid flying with pets," Ferencsik said. "Extreme temperatures, noise, air pressure that changes. It's especially tough for elderly or stressed pets."

Alysa Binder and her husband were so stressed when the size of their Jack Russell Zoey consigned her to the cargo hold that they founded Pet Airways, a pets-only fleet of Beechcraft 1900 planes rebuilt so all cosseted critters can fly in climate-controlled main cabin luxury.

"We can take up to 50 pets on each flight," said Binder. "There is always a pet attendant on board. It's mostly cats and dogs. The smallest was a hermit crab."

Pet Airways started out serving five U.S. cities but has expanded to nine.

"We consider pets family members or children. We want them to be safe, cared for and loved," Binder said. "We are booked."

Ferencsik says if you're traveling with a pet, make sure you plan ahead.

"Research a kennel in advance in case of emergency, always have them wear I.D.s, and keep them leashed in a strange place," she explained.

But if you've chosen to vacation creatureless, only to find yourself longing for your beloved dog, cat, or pot-bellied pig, Leondakis can provide small animal solace.

"For people who leave their pets at home, we will send a goldfish to the room," she said, adding they call the service Guppy Love.

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A global view for landmark hotel

Chef Sean O'Connell brings a global outlook to the landmark Fontainebleau hotel in Miami, which operates 11 restaurants and lounges after a $1 billion makeover more than three years ago.

O'Connell, who grew up in Europe and worked extensively in Asia, is in charge of operations for all the restaurants at the hotel. The 41-year-old, who wanted to be a forest ranger, spoke to Reuters about his overseas experiences and giant fish tanks.

Q: Where did your love of cooking comes from?

A: "Actually, I was an army brat. I grew up in Europe until I was 14 in various different countries and different bases. My father didn't have a lot of time, but one of the things we would do on Saturdays is pop into a car and drive into the different villages and towns.

"He would take me with him and we would go to all these different restaurants and chateaus to experience them and the different cuisines. He would force me to eat these different foods, and at the time, I really hated it and resented it. But as I grew older, it really sparked an interest and a passion within me."

Q: When did you know cooking was going to be your career?

A: "At that time, I wanted to be a forest ranger. I really like naturally beautiful places. When I was living in Germany, I saw the Alps. I really loved nature and all these pristine places. I worked at a restaurant in the evening after high school. Going to the counselors, they said there is not much of a future in forestry. What other things do you like to do? What's passionate for you?

"I started talking about cooking and traveling with my father and my sisters. They said why don't you decide to be a chef? Then you can make a decent living and most of the resorts you work at are next to those beautiful places so you'll have the best of both worlds. That was when my mind was made to go down that route."

Q: You spent a lot of time at some high-end resorts in Asia. Have those experiences shown through in your food?

A: "I did spend a lot of time in Asia and the hotels there. It's not only the quality of service and the quality of products you deal with but also the simplicity of the cooking techniques and crisp, clean flavors that show off the products. They are really some of the things I learned well in Asia."

Q: How do you get the fresh seafood for your restaurants?

A: "We have a series of 200 gallon aquariums. I have a marine biologist who is on standby for us and he comes twice a week to check on the salinity and the bacterial counts. We position each aquarium to take of the seafood we are purchasing like the Maine lobster. We bring them down in the same water in the same temperature as the sea off the coast of Maine.

"They are flown out and they get distressed. To put it back in their environments, it really brings them back to their freshness. By having these aquariums, we can bring them back to the peak of their freshness, which is incredible."

Q: What is your take on Miami's dining scene right now?

A: "There is a good balance between the hotels and free-standing restaurants ... You are starting to see more refined concepts and more original types of cuisines."

Recipe

Bruschetta Marinated Tomatoes with Capers and Olives on Grilled Farmer's Bread (Serves 2)

Bruschetta

2 each good quality ripe tomatoes

2 each basil leaves (sliced)

1 oz extra virgin olive oil

0.5 oz capers

1 tsp chopped garlic

2 tsp chives

To taste sea salt

To taste fresh cracked pepper

Remove the core from the tomatoes and score the bottoms with an "X." Blanch the tomatoes in boiling water for 20 seconds to loosen the skin. Plunge the tomatoes into ice water to cool immediately. Peel the tomatoes, remove the seeds and cut into half inch dice. Combine the diced tomatoes with the remaining ingredients and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Balsamic Syrup

4 oz balsamic vinegar

4 each star anise

1 each cinnamon stick

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a sauce pot and allow reducing to syrup consistency. Strain the syrup through a fine sieve to remove spices. Allow cooling to room temperature.

2. Brush the farmer's bread slices with olive oil and grill both sides until golden brown and slightly crisp. Top the grilled bread with the tomato mix. Garnish with cut chives, sea salt, cracked pepper and drizzle with balsamic syrup.

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Eat, Pray, Love and travel

From Twilight tours of Washington to Lost tours of Oahu to Sex and the City tours of the Big Apple, productions that are shot on location often inspire travellers.

So it's a sure bet that the beautifully shot landscapes of this summer's blockbuster -- Columbia Pictures' Eat Pray Love starring Julia Roberts -- will spark a flurry of visits to Italy, India and Bali by fans who want to follow in the footsteps of bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert.

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Gilbert's real life year-long journey of self discovery has been inspiring travellers since it was first published in 2006. Now, with there release of the film, there are even "official" travel partners -- guidebook giant Lonely Planet has a website with tips for planning Eat Pray Love journeys (lonelyplanet.com/eatpraylove) and STA Travel has packages inspired by the film (eatpraylove.statravelpackages.com).

Other travel companies are getting in on the act, too, borrowing the theme and offering packages around it.

The people at Gap Adventures believe Eat, Pray, Love embodies the core values of their company.

"We love changing lives and spreading happiness around the globe. And there's no better way to do that than by offering unforgettable trips to those who have been inspired by this movie to travel," said Gap Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip.

To celebrate travel's "transformational potential," the tour operator is offering 15% off of select itineraries to Italy, India and Bali to eat, pray and love. These include:

-- The 13-day Ultimate Italy (from $2,032 per adult, trip code EIUL) offers plenty of chances to indulge in pasta, seafood, gelato and wine in Rome, Siena, Florence, Venice, the Italian Riviera, the Asti wine region, Lake Como and the Italian Alps.

-- The 15-day Spiritual India trip (from $1,349, trip code AHSH), a meditative journey through Delhi, the Golden Temple, Haridwar, Varanasi and the Taj Mahal.

-- The eight-day Discover Bali itinerary ($608, trip code AEDB), which offers the best of Bali's pristine beaches, bustling centres and cultural heritage at Sanur Beach, Ubud, Tanah Lot, Tanah Ayun, Lovina, Kintamani, Besakih and Semarapura.

The deal is good for new bookings made by Oct. 31 with departures until Dec. 31. Some restrictions apply. See gapadventures.com.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts also has a package for guests who want to follow in the footsteps of author Gilbert -- and the film's cast and crew.

The Bali, Pray, Love experience includes four nights' accommodation -- two at the oceanside Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay and two at the verdant Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan; a personal consultation with Ketut Liyer, the medicine man who inspired Gilbert met on her now-famous travels; a private cooking class where dishes featuring local aphrodisiacs will be prepared and later enjoyed at a candle-lit dinner in your villa; a 90-minute couple's Balinese massage; a guide to the island's most romantic experiences; transfers between the airport and resorts; packing/unpacking, floral bath upon arrival; and daily breakfast for two.

Bali, Pray, Love packages start at $750 per room per night. See fourseasons.com.

Even destinations and hotels not connected to the book or film are jumping on the bandwagon. San Antonio, Texas, has a themed itinerary. Como Hotels and Resorts says its properties in Bali -- Shambala Estate, Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa -- and other exotic destinations are ideal for soul searching and body pampering retreats (see como.bz).

Those who have somehow missed the Eat Pray Love buzz and want to view the trailer can watch it at letyourselfgo.com.

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German Riesling for the masses

St. Catharines, Ontario - When winemaker Nik Weis examines the German wine selection at liquor stores, he doesn’t see his country reflected back at him. The star Riesling producer shakes his head when he mentions the collection of branded wines and blue bottles that are often the sole offerings afforded to Canadian wine lovers.

“I don’t want to push anyone out,” says Weis, who has earned international acclaim for his work at the St. Urbans-Hof estate in the Mosel. “But I would be happy to see an extension of the selection to include branded wines by estate producers who know that they have something to lose.”

Weis is talking about wines like Dr. L Riesling by Ernie Loosen and Bird Label Riesling from Lingerfelder Estate, as well as his own Urban Riesling, which just made its debut in Ontario.

“I think it is a good niche to jump into with a good ambassador for the Mosel,” Weis explained. “There are others that are doing a great job with that kind of wine. I think there should be more.”

The Urban label is a separate entity from the wines produced at the St. Urbans-Hof estate. It was first made in 2006 when Weis saw demand for his affordable estate Riesling outstrip the potential of his 35 hectares of vineyards.

In most years, 13,000 cases of St. Urbans-Hof Riesling sells briskly in markets around the world, including specialty shops in Canada and the United States.

“I wanted to grow, but I didn’t want to grow at any price. I didn’t want St. Urbans-Hof to become a commercial winery,” he said. “I tried to find a way to make more good wine, Mosel wine, available to people for a price that is affordable.”

Weis saw an opportunity to partner with grape growers and a production facility 10 minutes down the Mosel River from his winery in Mehring. The Riesling is produced to his specifications and bottled as a Nik Weis Selection.

His name, he said, is his guarantee of quality.

“It’s an authentic wine,” Weis said. “It’s not a Riesling that could be grown anywhere else in the world. It’s classic Mosel.

“Of course, the best selling wines in the world are branded wines from corporate wineries that always guarantee a certain taste. I have no problem with that,” he continued. “But I think we should have more wines that are available in a certain quantity that have a lot of character. I don’t think quantity and authenticity is a contradiction.”

The 2008 Urban Riesling is a new listing in Ontario and is widely available in Alberta and British Columbia. The 2009 vintage will soon be available.

Christopher Waters is the editor of Sun Media's Vines Magazine. He can be reached at chris@vinesmag.com.

Wine of the Week

****

Nik Weis Selection 2008 Urban Riesling

Mosel, Germany

BC AB $15 | ON $14.95 (184051)

This exciting model of Mosel Riesling offers a terrific herbal and floral fragrance, wonderfully balanced fruit intensity and a refreshingly dry finish. It’s an ideal sipping wine that would work with a wide assortment of dishes. Great value.

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A swing through Michigan

Michigan has developed a reputation for its superb hunting and fishing. And you can check out all four major sports with the Pistons, Lions, Red Wings and Tigers all located in Detroit. What's not as well known is some of the best golf courses in the northern U.S. are within Michigan's borders, not too long a drive away from Toronto and the rest of Southern Ontario.

"Michigan is the most economical state in the U.S. to play golf in," says Bernie Friedrich, Boyne USA's director of golf. "Some of these golf courses would cost you $250 to play if you were in Vegas."

Our journey starts at Forest Dunes, in Roscommon, in Central Northern Michigan. In the middle of nowhere and then some. We are warned to drive very slowly and watch for deer on our drive into the property at night. Sure enough, four or five deer amble onto the road.

The course is cut into the rugged wilderness beauty of the Huron National Forest. It's a smorgasbord of sand dunes, pine forests, birch groves and grasslands, a brilliant homage to golf at its purest roots. It's definitely a walk on the wild side, with plenty of wildlife riding shotgun.

Six tee blocks stretch the layout up to 7,100 yards from the tips. If you're looking to settle up a bet, there's also a unique 19th hole (and it's not the beer tap at the bar), with a mid-green bunker.

"When you've finished playing 18 holes, you've used every club in your bag," says Forest Dunes GM Mark Gurnow. "No two holes are the same."

Forest Dunes, designed by Tom Weiskopf, has a string of awards. Among the notches in its belt: No. 2 in Michigan's Top 50 Public Golf Courses from Michigan Golf Magazine, a mention in America's Top 100 Greatest Public Courses from Golf Digest and No. 1 in Reader's Choice Awards, Top 50 Public Courses from Golf World.

"Holes 13 through 18 have a rollercoaster effect," says course superintendent Jim Bluck. "There's an emotional ebb and flow. And to me, it's the last six holes that make me want to play the course again."

"It will challenge a scratch golfer and a 25-handicapper can still come here and have a great time," says head pro Donny Fisher. "Our average customer comes from three hours away. We made a tee time today from Denmark. We get a lot of Canadians here. You won't see another course like this in Michigan. Our real focus is to go private. Anybody who plays here is treated like a member."

Weiskopf says: "I consider this course to be one of the best I have ever been involved with in the U.S." And who's to doubt a former British Open champion, with 15 other PGA titles under his belt?

There are packages available from $179 a night, with golf for as low as $80 after Aug. 25. See forestdunesgolf.com.

From there, we're off to Dunmaglas Golf Club (dunmaglas.com), in Charlevoix, a hidden treasure on our trip. It sure doesn't look like much from the road. You might mistake it for a barn and some pasture, but the course was a treat that's been tamed a bit over the years, taking away some gimmickry to make it an enjoyable experience, despite my less-than-stellar round of 103.

Boyne vacation resorts owns a series of eight golf courses in northern Michigan, including its flagship, Bay Harbor

The golf at Bay Harbor offers spectacular variety, with three sets of nine holes, from The Links, a stunning series of holes along the Lake Michigan shoreline playing out below 140-ft. cliffs and sand dunes; The Quarry, a 40-ft gorge with shale cliffs, ponds and a waterfall; and The Preserve, a natural forest and meadow course with Lake Michigan as the backdrop.

After a 45 on The Links (the signature seventh hole, where I scored a double-bogey five, has been ranked in the top 500 holes in the world by Golf Digest), The Quarry ate me alive as I scored a 52. I put up a fight at The Preserve, but the elements won, with me scoring a 48.

Then, it's off to Boyne Highlands. I shot an 83 at The Arthur Hills course, a 42 followed by a 41, with a seven on the risk-reward hole showing I likely made the wrong decision when I attempted to power a hybrid over the water on my second shot into the par-15 18th. Again, it was a tremendous experience on a terrific course, which stretched out to 7,312 yards from the tips.

"Ontario is a large market for us," says Boyne's PR manager Erin Ernst.

For more info, check out boyne.com/golf.

I shot my best round of the week at Cedar River Golf Club, a Weiskopf design affiliated with Shanty Creek Resorts, half an hour northeast of Traverse City (ShantyCreek.com). The course, ranked among Golf Magazine's Top 10 New Courses in the Country in 2000, didn't set up particularly well for me. But I shot an 82, with some magical shots to go along with the three sixes I carded. With dramatic changes in elevation, the course is plenty challenging, starting out through the woods before emerging into a meadow where you whack the ball through a stretch of holes around a lake. No question, the course has plenty of character. With four tee blocks, the course plays up to 6,989 yards.

The Shanty Creek Resort offers 600 rooms, with plenty of extras. You can get packages for as low as $109 (unlimited golf, one night stay, breakfast and a golf clinic included). A great way to close a great week.

The cat's out of the bag. Northern Michigan has some wonderful golf courses within few five irons and a pitching wedge of home.

There's plenty of info available at.michigan.org. Fore!

tim.baines@sunmedia.ca

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Day trips for art lovers

It's called "Art a la Car" -- daytrips for art lovers and those "looking for a reason to take a drive through the picturesque countryside."

Six art galleries are on this scenic outing in Peel, Dufferin and Wellington, each with their own "special charm and flavour."

Some of the artists will be there "working at their craft and ready to give demonstrations or answer questions," said Beryl Dawson of the Wellington Artists' Gallery and Art Centre.

"One will find all manner of media: painting, jewelry, printmaking, glass, photography, graphic arts, pastel, clay, mixed media, folk art, portraits, wood carving, fibre, metalwork, sculpture, etc."

Ideal for daytrippers is that nearby are "great restaurants, whether it be for a light lunch or an elegant dinner," and artists will recommend their favourite dining spots.

Here's where to savour an artistic getaway:

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Alton Mill in the Caledon Hills stands above the falls on the Credit River and is now a vibrant arts centre.

It features some 30 studio artists, galleries, heritage museum, cafe and specialty shops, said Jeremy Grant, who along with his brother Jordan, are co-owners of the mill.

The melding of thick stone walls and timber structure with modern architectural elements makes the mill a perfect venue for art lovers, he said.

Here's where to discover painters, potters and printmakers, a weaver and cabinet maker, jewelry, glass and textile artists, fair-trade gifts and galleries featuring contemporary Canadian and international art in an idyllic waterside setting.

---

Beaux-Arts Gallery in Brampton has a main gallery and smaller cove gallery that welcome exhibitions by artists.

Shows range from solo and small groups to special events at the gallery that's a non-profit visual artist's co-operative.

The second floor is home to eight private working studios, showcasing art from a variety of media and is open to the public.

---

Dragonfly "Arts on Broadway" in Orangeville has a wide selection of Canadian art and fine craft.

"Work from local artists who display their work on the walls in an ongoing rotation, create a new experience every time one visits," said Dragonfly's Joan Hope.

The Window on Broadway changes every two weeks while in the back, the studio artists can be found immersed in paint.

There's the recently opened Beads on Broadway to "watch the dazzling magic of glass bead-making."

Current exhibit is the Found Art with artists recycling, re-purposing and re-using such as jewelry made from an old silver tea set, a bag made from a tablecloth and funky animal silhouettes that were old oil tanks.

---

Elora Centre for the Arts is in a restored, three-storey limestone school building in one of Ontario's most picturesque villages on the Grand River.

The centre is a focal point for imagination and encourages all forms of creative expression.

The newly formed Harris Collective displays the work of 30 visual artists from across Wellington and Waterloo Region, while the Minarovich Gallery has a frequently changing display.

---

Wellington Artists' Gallery and Art Centre outside Fergus has exhibition space for up to 30 artists along with a gallery for special shows and workshops.

Located on a scenic country property, it has trails through the hardwoods to the edge of the wetlands "where artists go to sketch, do plein air painting or replenish their spirit by taking a leisurely walk in the bush," Dawson said.

Current guest artist is Valerie Cargo, a fine art photographer from Kincardine, who specializes in black-and-white photos.

---

Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre is on the Credit River in Glen Williams.

The refurbished and renovated historical buildings house the studios of professional artists and provide services including picture framing, art classes and has a shop for collectible art.

Visitors have access to a "wide array of studios and galleries featuring creative works and crafts made by accomplished artists and craftspeople."

This is an "ideal destination" for a family outing because it enables children to see and experience art.

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Fox Trot:

- Watercolour artist Sue Goossens of Otterville will be among those featured at the Oakville Art Society's 45th annual show on Aug. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This outdoor show of original works is at Waterfront Heritage Park in Bronte with more than 150 artists and artisans showing their works.

There will be musical entertainment and a "licensed refreshment area," with admission $3. www.oakvilleartsociety.com; (905) 827-5711.

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If you go:

- Alton Mill, 1402 Queen St. W., Alton. Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Mondays and Tuesdays, "by chance or appointment"; open holiday Mondays. www.altonmill.ca; (519) 941-9300.

- Beaux-Arts Gallery, 70-74 Main St. N., Brampton. Open Tuesday to Friday, noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. www.beaux-artsbrampton.com; (905) 454 5677.

- Dragonfly "Arts on Broadway," 189 Broadway, Orangeville. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days. www.dragonflyarts.ca; (519) 941-5249.

- Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville St., Elora. Open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (closed statutory holidays). www.eloracentreforthearts.ca; (519) 846-9698.

- Wellington Artists' Gallery and Art Centre, 6142 Wellington Rd. 29, RR 4 Fergus. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 1 to Nov. 13. www.wellingtonartistsgallery.ca; (519) 843-6303.

- Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre, 515 Main St., Glen Williams. Gallery hours: Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; Studios: Friday and Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment. www.williamsmill.com; (905) 873-8203.

Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

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Airline expert: technology does not protect us

OTTAWA - As members of Parliament gather to discuss airline security and breaches in passenger screening, one security expert is saying Canada's airport security system needs a complete rethink.

Issac Yeffet, who once headed up security for Israel's El Al airlines, blasted politicians for relying on technology.

Yeffet, who now runs a security consultancy in the United States, told QMI Agency that more should be done to deal with each passenger on an individual level.

"Out of the millions, I am looking for the one that wants to blow up an airplane," Yeffet told QMI Agency from New York. "How will I know if it is you if I don't interview you?" Yeffet helped build an interview-based system of security for El Al that has earned it a reputation as the world's most secure airline.

"When you do a body scan, immediately you will have enemies," said Yeffet, noting that some travellers will oppose scans based on privacy, others, including Muslim, travellers may cite modesty.

Yeffet said that news of Canada's airlines not completely enforcing a requirement to screen all passengers was disturbing. He said Muslim women should have no objection to showing their faces and answering questions if it is handled properly.

"Employees need to know how to approach passengers so that they know the questions they are being asked are for their own safety," said Yeffet.

As for Canada's system of baggage checks, body scanners, shoe removal and putting hand cream in baggies, Yeffet is dismissive.

"We have the illusion of security," he said.

Members of the Commons public safety committee will meet Tuesday morning to discuss reports from QMI Agency showing that airlines were not requiring veiled or burka-clad women to show their faces.

Yeffet's message to the committee is that their review should be much broader.

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Steep climb, stunning view

Climbing the fifth-highest mountain in New York State might be the easiest thing tourists visiting the Adirondacks do, thanks to an 80-year-old American engineering triumph.

Veterans Memorial Highway, a Depression-era project leading to the mountain top, provides visitors with one of the most scenic drives in this beautiful region, so much so that drivers are cautioned by authorities to keep their eyes on the road while ascending and descending.

Climbing the slow, steady incline of a mountain road from downtown Wilmington, going past North Pole, N.Y. and the obligatory Santa's Village, Whiteface visitors must first check in at a toll building ($10 US per vehicle and $5 per passenger) before starting the serious part of their drive to the top.

The 8-km (5-mile) highway is not in good shape, adding to the adventure and underscoring how drivers must pay attention to the curves, bumps and dips while leaving the vista-gazing to passengers. Consider switching drivers at one of the nine scenic lookouts along the way as a safe way to share the view.

Ample parking near the peak for an assortment of cars, SUVs, motorcycles and motorhomes and a small, quaint, castle housing a visitors centre signals the end of the drive and beginning of a trek to the summit.

Visitors can walk about 130 metres through a cool, damp tunnel where an elevator awaits to slowly lift them 27 stories to the summit, 1,485 metres above sea level. Alternatively, a pathway with some sections of handrails makes for a more fun choice for fit adults and energetic children. The pathway is the only choice for people hiking with dogs. And be warned: on damp days this rocky route is slippery.

At the top, there's Summit House, a small castle-like building, and a weather research centre. The castle, like the elevator system and highway, was a Depression work project, and has had its share of famous visitors over the years, including the Kennedy clan.

On a clear day visitors can see Lake Placid, site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, and as far away as Quebec and Vermont. The peak is a defining photo spot for Adirondack vacationers.

The drive down the mountain warrants a talk with personnel staffing the parking lot before leaving. They will advise you not to ride the brakes, but rather use a low gear to keep speed in check.

The drive down is trickier than going up.

While Whiteface is now more famous as a ski and mountain-biking venue, the highway and castle were its first attractions, predating development as a ski resort by 20 years.

On the Web www.whiteface.com

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For the love of Toronto's Festival of Beer

There weren’t 99 bottles on the wall, but beer lovers still managed to drink some down and pass them around on the last day of Toronto’s Festival of Beer.

The 16th annual beer festival wrapped up Sunday after a weekend-long of about 30,000 people enjoying local and international craft brews at Exhibition Place. Among the roughly 120 brands were some curious additions, including beer smoothies.

“A couple years ago we created an ice cream float and it’s a mixture of our apple beer and vanilla ice cream,” said John Romano, co-owner of Nickel Brook Beers, which make the beer smoothies.

“We put it in a blender and mix it up and it’s a big hit at a lot of festivals,” he said. “It’s almost like Jolly Rancher and ice cream. Our apple beer on its own is sort of like a dessert with partially fermented apple juice and beer.”

Cool Beer Brewery has come up with its own hemp beer called Millennium Buzz Beer where German hops are brewed with B.C. hemp and dark roasted Alberta malt.

“It adds a slightly nutty flavour to the beer, “ Barbara Agustin of Cool Beer Brewery said. “The logo (of a hemp leaf gets a lot of reaction). People mistake the leaf once in a while for its (marijuana) counterpart, which is kind of funny.”

Flying Monkeys, a Barrie-based brewery, claims “normal is weird” when it comes to describing their beer, packaged in colourful psychedelic graphics.

“We do everything different, we’re extreme brewers,” said Peter Chiodo, the company’s head brewer. “We make extremely hopped beers, one of our signature ones is Hoptical Illusion.”

Kerri Neilson and her friends didn’t really experiment too much with some of these new flavours and stuck with classic Budweiser.

“I love it, they have the best beer tent because it’s a truck,” said Neilson, 22. “I love beer. Bottom line. It’s the hops. This is my second time here.”

There was also a long lineup at the Steam Whistle Brewery table where anxious beer fest attendees waited for customized cardboard hats made from beer boxes.

“It’s a tradition, people go crazy for them,” Kendall Mitchell, with Steam Whistle’s retail and events.

“Today, I’m trying to make everyone’s wildest dreams come true by fulfilling their requests for things like scorpions and airplanes,” Mitchell said. “We get some crazy requests.”

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Swimming in New York dumpsters

Swimming in dumpsters might sound like the punchline from a joke on the depths to which pitiable New Yorkers sink in the dog days of August. But that's precisely what hundreds did on Saturday.

As part of the city's Summer Streets program, in which large swaths of bustling thoroughfares are closed to vehicular traffic on Saturdays in August, three dumpsters -- essentially large garbage bins -- converted for use as swimming pools are gracing Park Avenue.

New Yorkers and tourists lined up early for access to one of three sessions in the 8-foot by 22-foot dumpster pools, each providing 140 people with 20 minutes of pool time as well as use of cabanas, outdoor showers, hammocks and lounge chairs.

"It's a fun, great New York experience," retiree Frances Parkman, who lives nearby and stopped by for a look but didn't take the plunge.

"It's just wonderful, and it costs nothing," she added.

But swimsuit-clad tourist Austin Weaver, 11, from Cleveland, Ohio, stared glumly after his mother learned that all 420 swimming passes had been snapped up by 9 a.m.

"We checked online after we saw it on the news," his mother, Kimberlie Weaver, said of the highly publicized event. "But there were no details besides the start and end time."

The pools, which are lined with plastic and surrounded by a deck, will be open for two more Saturdays in this stretch of Park Avenue lined with office towers and in the shadow of commuter railroad hub Grand Central Terminal.

People lounged in hammocks text messaging, while others kicked back in lounge chairs reading newspapers. A trio of young men sported masks, snorkels and fins.

Some local merchants were underwhelmed, saying an expected uptick in customer traffic attracted by the pools never materialized.

Last summer the pools graced a gritty, industrial lot in Brooklyn and became an instant hit.

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London taxis ranked world's best

London taxis, with their friendly drivers who actually know where they are going, are ranked best in the world, according to an annual taxi poll.

The survey by travel website hotels.com found London taxis, despite being the most expensive, beat rivals across the globe to head the list for the third consecutive years, scoring a total of 59 percent in votes on several categories by travellers.

London taxi drivers were voted both friendliest and most knowledgeable. Drivers in the English capital must pass a rigorous examination called The Knowledge to earn their taxi license.

New York's yellow taxis came second in the list, scoring 27 percent which was up 10 percentage points from last year even though Manhattan's cab drivers tied with Parisian taxi drivers as the rudest.

Travellers said New York had the most available taxis.

Cabbies in Rome were voted the worst drivers in the world with almost one in 10 travellers thinking the Italian capital had the world's worst taxi drivers when it came to the quality of driving.

"Travelling by taxi is one of the first experiences that many travellers have upon arrival in a new city. In fact, the research found that cabs are by far the most popular method of travelling from the airport to their hotel," a spokesman for hotels.com said in a statement.

The global poll scored city based taxis for their levels of cleanliness, value, quality of driving, knowledge of the area, friendliness, safety and availability.

Rounding out the top five were Tokyo with a total score of 26 percent, Berlin with 17 percent, and Bangkok famed for its tuk-tuks scoring 14 percent.

Madrid's taxis were ranked sixth in the poll, followed by Copenhagen and Dublin with 11 percent and Frankfurt and Paris with 10 percent.

Taxis in Sydney fell short of the top 10, scoring badly in the areas of value for money, availability and knowledge of the area.

The survey for hotels.com, part of the Expedia group, was conducted among over 1,900 travellers between May 11-28 this year.

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