Home >  Lifestyle >  Travel

Sunday, February 02, 2003

ALMANAC

Domestic

Through March 29: Napa Valley, Calif.: Napa Valley Mustard Festival. California kicks off its two-month gala of Napa Valley culture with a Mustard Magic Masquerade and continues with photo contests, wine tasting, art exhibitions and a Mustard Recipe Competition. Ticket prices vary. 1-707-259-9020; www.mustardfestival.org.

Through Nov. 2: Ashland, Ore.: Oregon Shakespeare Festival. With a lineup that includes "Romeo and Juliet," "Antony and Cleopatra," "Richard II" and "Titus Andronicus," it's a good thing they included "A Midsummer Night Dream" for a little levity. Ticket sales ($20-$60): www.orshakes.org.

Feb. 7-9: Leavenworth, Kan.: Hidden Art Locked Away. The city's motto ("Every day's a 'cell'ebration in Leavenworth") may be humorous, but the prison inmates who create the pieces sold at this event are serious artists. 1-913-682-4459; www.lvarea.com/cvb.

Feb. 7-9: Glendale, Ariz.: Glendale Chocolate Affaire. Love and chocolate. The home of Cerrata Candy Co. hosts more than 50 vendors of the sublime confection, as well as romance novelists on hand to autograph their latest works. 1-877-800-2601; www.glendaleaz.com.

Feb. 10-11: New York City: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Dogs from around the country vie for the title of Best in Show at the 127th Westminster. General admission, $41. 1-212-465-6741; www.westminsterkennelclub.org.

Feb. 13-March 2: Baltimore: Vivat! St. Petersburg. Celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg without having to fly Aeroflot. Baltimore hosts artworks, dance troupes, orchestras and more, direct from Russia. Tickets: $20-$40. 1-877-225-8466; www.vivatfest.com.

Feb. 15: San Francisco: Chinese New Year Parade. The largest celebration of its kind outside of Asia includes a Golden Dragon more than 201 feet long that takes 100 people to operate. Free; bleacher tickets, $30. 1-415-391-9680; www.chineseparade.com.

Feb. 16: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Daytona 500. The kickoff event of the Winston Cup Series. Grandstand tickets, $120. 1-386-253-7223, 1-386-253-7223 for box office; www.daytona500.com.

Feb. 26-March 16: Houston: Livestock and Rodeo Show. Brush up on the seven tenets of rodeo while raising money for charity. Bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping and tie-down roping. 1-832-667-1000; www.hlsr.com.

Feb. 27-March 2: Brownsville, Texas: Charro Days. Mariachis, big-band performances, Tejano music and a nighttime parade are part of this celebration of Mexican and American culture. 1-956-542-4245; www.charrodays.org.

Feb. 27-March 9: Plant City, Fla.: Florida Strawberry Festival. Horticulture shows and concerts by Billy Ray Cyrus and others. 1-813-754-2190; www.flstrawberryfestival.com.

Feb 28-March 3: Miami, Fla: South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Three full days of spectacular tastings, a star-studded dinner series and wine, culinary and lifestyle seminars that will feature prominent figures in the international wine, spirits and culinary industries. All events open to the public. 1-305-348-9463; www.sobewineandfoodfest.com.

International

Feb. 3-4: Throughout Japan: Setsubun. Practice saying "Fuku wa uchi, oni wa soto." That's what people will chant at temples to celebrate the first day of spring on the lunar calendar. It means "Good fortune in, devils out" and is an important part of the ritual that involves scattering roasted soybeans in homes and temples. www.jnto.go.jp.

Feb. 10-March 3: Auckland, New Zealand: America's Cup. The world's top yachting race continues after its qualifying events last fall. www.americascup.com.

Feb. 13-March 2: Montreal High Lights Festival. The winter gets a boost with fireworks and light shows, concerts, cooking demonstrations and wine and food tastings. www.montrealhighlights.com.

Feb. 21 to March 4: Italy: Venice Carnival. One of the world's most famous celebrations is also one of the most packed, especially considering what a labyrinth Venice is. Tourists and locals flood the narrow streets and canals wearing elaborate masks. www.venicecarnival.com.

Feb. 22: Egypt: Abu Simbel Festival. The inner sanctum of the temple here lights up just twice a year at sunrise. Credit goes to Ramses II, who surely never anticipated what a breathtaking sight it would be. If you can't go in February, it occurs again Oct. 22. www.egypttourism.org.

BARGAINS

Free air miles

Talk your way into a free vacation. Sprint and US Airways recently announced a new partnership in which the airline's Dividend Miles members could earn up to 6,000 bonus miles for choosing Sprint for their residential long-distance service. Another 5,000 bonus miles will be available for those who activate a new Spring PCS wireless subscription.

These miles will be awarded over the course of six months when members sign up for one of the select Sprint 7 Cents long-distance products. If customers choose to sign up online, they will receive an additional 1,000 bonus miles. Once Dividend Miles members have chosen Sprint, they will earn five miles for every dollar spent with Sprint for their residential long-distance services (excluding taxes, fees and surcharges). The Sprint 7 Cents portfolio is for domestic calling. International calling rates vary.

Dividend Miles members will soon be able to earn 5,000 Dividend Miles for each new PCS account -- up to five with credit approval -- for a potential of 25,000 miles. The Dividend Miles will be awarded in two increments, and customers must sign a one-year PCS Advantage Agreement to be eligible. Call 1-800-421-5989 or visit www.sprint.com/usairways to register.

Traveling solo

Tips for those planning a trip by themselves are available in a new booklet by Sharon B. Wingler, author of a book on the same subject, "Travel Alone & Love It."

The booklet, "108 Resources for Solo Travelers," is available for $5.95 from Aller Press, 7210-D Adams St., Willowbrook, IL 60527. It lists tour companies, cruise lines, resorts and spas that offer solo travelers a way to reduce the single supplement or avoid paying it. This includes companies that offer to match solo travelers with a roommate or give a price break on the single supplement, as well as travel companies that do not charge a supplement.

Wingler's advice -- much of it is on her Web site, www.travelaloneandloveit.com -- is based on her experience working as a flight attendant and taking side trips on her own. Her booklet lists other books, Web sites and newsletters that offer tips for solo travelers.

Cheaper tickets

Theater tickets don't always cost list price. When visiting entertainment hot spots such as New York and Las Vegas, make sure to check into outlets that offer discounted prices for plays, films, dinner theater, dance productions, sporting events and sometimes special museum exhibits. Discounts can be 50 percent or more.

For example, a Web site, www.broadwaybox.com, lists promotion codes for buying discounted tickets, sometimes as much as half off, for Broadway shows.

Another option is "The Cheap Tix Chart," a paperback by Nicki Chodnof, which lists discount-ticket locations in 20 U.S. cities, including Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla., plus nine foreign destinations. It costs $14 and is available through the On The Go Publishing Web site, www.onthegopublishing.com/products.shtml.

FREEBIES

Reading and Berks County -- The Reading & Berks County 2003 23-page visitors guide features a pull-out map and alphabetical listings of the area's craft and specialty shops, antiques and farmer's markets, museums and historic sites. Look inside, too, for lodging and dining information and discount coupons. 1-610-375-4085 or www.readingberkspa.com.

Ontario -- The Ontario "Great Escapes, Resorts Ontario" is a 97-page guide that features an alphabetical directory of Ontario's resorts. The guide is divided into four sections: resort hotels and lodges, housekeeping resorts (units with kitchen facilities), country inns and fishing lodges. Each resort listed in the guide features a map. 1-800-363-7227 or www.resorts-ontario.com.

-- Compiled by Kim Crow