Thursday, July 24, 2003
Disney Store kiosksoffer deals on tickets
Travelers bound for Disney World can now buy multiday tickets from bright castle-shaped kiosks at more than 350 Disney Stores nationwide.
A family of four buying select multiday Park Hopper tickets before they leave home can save up to $48 over buying the tickets at the theme-park gates. Plus, guests can breeze through the turnstiles into the park.
Also only for Disney Store ticket buyers is a vacation-planning hot line for booking on-site accommodations. Guests also can buy multiday tickets in advance at www.disneyworld.com, by calling (407) 934-7639 or through a travel agent.
If you still plan to buy one-day tickets at the gate, be prepared for a price increase. Disney has raised rates by $2, bringing adult daily admission to $52.
Spanish palace opensas hotel to tourists
Visitors to the Castile and Leon region of Spain can now stay in a 400-year-old palace.
The four-star Parador de Lerma recently opened after a three-year, $13 million restoration. The 70-room property has a heated swimming pool, a gym, a sauna and a garage. While evoking a royal house of the 17th century, all guest rooms are equipped with DSL lines. Its two restaurants showcase regional cuisine.
Rates range from $130 to $147.
Spain's parador system was started 75 years ago when the Spanish government began to convert historic castles, convents and monasteries to lodgings.
For more information, call 011-034-947-17-71-10 or visit www.marketingahead.com.
A Lexus for LA visitors
The Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel offers guests who book suites at the California lodging a fueled Lexus to drive throughout their stay. Guests can choose between a Lexus LS430 sedan and SC430 coupe, representing a $275-per-day value. The cars come equipped with Lexus DVD Navigation System -- a useful feature for visitors to Los Angeles.
For more information or reservations, call (310) 551-2888.
West's waterways offersomething for everyone
Paddling down a river in the West is more than just relaxing.
The July issue of Sunset magazine surveys the West's best rivers and recommends its favorites for a summer escape.
Some of the top picks include the Russian River in California, with a beach around nearly every corner; Madison River in Montana, among the most popular fly-fishing waters; Boise River in Idaho, a 6-mile, two-hour float that's one of the easiest in the West; Rogue River in Oregon, 40 miles of calm interspersed with white water; and Green River in Utah, for some of the West's best flat river canoeing, kayaking and rafting.
For more information, visit www.sunset.com on the Web.
Ohio, Pa. cities makelist of top arts spots
AmericanStyle magazine readers have voted for the 2003 Top 25 Arts Destinations, and the Midwest boasts a surprising number of winners.
Chicago has taken the No. 1 spot, up from No. 5 in 2002. Newcomers Milwaukee, Wis., and Columbus took the No. 10 and 12 slots, respectively. Returning to the list for the first time since 1998 is Cleveland at No. 15. Saugatuck, Mich., is up three spots to No. 16, making the list for the fourth consecutive year.
Rounding out the Top 10, in order, are New York City (No. 2); Washington, D.C.; Boston; San Francisco; Santa Fe, N.M.; Philadelphia; Buffalo, N.Y.; and Los Angeles.
Results of the poll are featured in the summer issue of the magazine now on the newsstands, and on www.americanstyle.com.