Travel Briefs

December 2009 issue

Visit active volcano

Out of Guatemala City, there’s a popular half-day trip 30 kilometers south to Volcan Pacaya, an active volcano with trails open to the public. After a two-hour steep hike, visitors can get very close to lava flows and roast marshmallows over hot rocks.

Leaving at 6 a.m. or 2 p.m., tours with guides are recommended and are easily arranged for $15-$20 per person at hotels and travel agencies in Antigua or Guatemala City. The trailhead begins at Pacaya National Park’s visitor center in San Francisco de Sales. Park entry, about $5. Take water, snacks, flashlight (evening), long pants, a...

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September 2010 issue

Hiroshima streetcars

In Hiroshima, Japan, the one-day Streetcar Pass (unlimited rides) costs ¥600 (near $7) adult or ¥300 child; the one-day Streetcar/Ferry Pass (unlimited streetcar and ferries to/from Miyajima) costs ¥840 adult/¥420 child, and the two-day Miyajima Pass (unlimited rides on streetcars, ferries and aerial tram at Miyajima) costs ¥2,000/¥1,000.

Visitors can buy a streetcar pass at the streetcar terminal in front of JR Hiroshima Station (south side), in some hotels or on a streetcar that has a conductor.

August 2010 issue

Dickens World

In Chatham Marine, Kent, England, the indoor visitor complex Dickens World (phone 016 34 890 421, www.dickensworld.co.uk) shows Charles Dickens’ England, with streets, courtyards, dockside, shops, a school room and a themed restaurant. One of Europe’s largest themed dark boat rides transports visitors from (in a re-creation) the depths of London’s sewers through streets, courtyards, markets and shops and on a “flight” across the rooftops.

A 250-seat “theater” provides an animatronic performance during the day and a live “supper” show in the evening. 

Open 10-4:30 Tues.-Fri....

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April 2008 issue

‘How to Drive on the Left’

The Ashford Castle hotel (800/346-7007, www.ashford.ie), near Galway City in Ireland’s west country, offers the program “How to Drive on the Left.”

Including an hour of instruction and an hour of behind-the-wheel training in a manual or automatic car, the class focuses on concentration, navigating roundabouts and judging distances plus offers info on remote road signs in Gaelic.

The package costs €180 (near $270) per couple. Including breakfast, dinner and taxes, room rates at the deluxe, 83-room hotel, set on 350 acres, go from €452 (near $652) to €710 ($1,025).

November 2009 issue

Reina Sofia free times

Madrid’s Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (Santa Isabel 52, 28012 Madrid, Spain; phone 91 774 10 00, fax 10 56, www.museoreinasofia.es) now offers free admission hours every day (closed Tuesday). Free hours are 7-9 p.m. weekdays, 2:30-9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday. 

Regular admission costs €6 for the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, and €3 for temporary exhibitions only. Open 10-9 Mon-Wed & Thur-Sat and 10-2:30 Sun.

February 2008 issue

Burgundy wine barge

The 6-night cruise “Grand Cru Special” on the 12-passenger barge Napoléon will focus on the 33 wines that come from plots of land certified as Grand Cru (great growth), the highest classification for vineyard land in Burgundy, France.

Guests will take the Eurostar to the TGV express from London to Macon to embark July 20, 2008, cruise the canals and arrive in Dijon July 26, returning to London by train. There will be wine classes, tastings and receptions plus meals from the ship’s Cordon Bleu chef.

The cruise costs £3,510 (near $7,000) per person. Orient Express (Charleston,...

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October 2008 issue

Unique overnights, Wales

Visitors to Wales can stay in any of 18 renovated cottages, farmhouses and unique historic buildings year-round through Under the Thatch, an organization dedicated to rescuing historic buildings.

For example, a 2-night midweek stay in a Gypsy caravan (wagon sleeping two) runs £125-£169, depending on the season.

Contact Under the Thatch (Felin Brithdir, Rhydlewis, Llandysul, Ceredigion, SA44 5SN, Wales, U.K.; phone +44 1239 851 410 or visit www.underthethatch.co.uk).

June 2009 issue

Year of Picasso

Two events in France in 2009 honor artist Pablo Picasso.

• Through Sept. 27 at Musée Granet (place Saint-Jean de Malte, 13100 Aix-en-Provence; phone 00 33 [0] 4 42 52 87 97, www.museegranet-aixprovence.fr), the show “Picasso-Cézanne” features 100-plus sculptures, paintings and etchings which focus on the influence of Cézanne on 20th-century artists, particularly Picasso. Open 9-7 Friday-Wednesday and noon-11 p.m. Thursday. €10 ($13). 

• Also through Sept. 27, Picasso’s home from 1958 to 1961 and final resting place, Château de Vauvenargues, will be open to the public for the...

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