Seeing Sydney from a lofty landmark

Seeing Sydney froma lofty landmark
SYDNEY, Australia -- Tourists visiting Sydney can take a new look at the city from a very lofty perspective -- a steel walkway perched a dizzying 880 feet up a landmark downtown tower.
Skywalk runs a tenth of a mile around the Sydney Tower, affording 360-degree views of the city and surrounding area, and includes two glass platforms for a vertigo-inducing view of the street far below.
Visitors to the open-air walkway are surrounded by chest-high glass-and-steel walls, and they must don protective blue-and-yellow coveralls and safety harnesses.
The new attraction is more than twice as high as the immensely popular walk to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Children under 10 are not permitted. Ticket prices start at $109 weekdays (children 10-16, $86). The Skywalk is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
S.D. Indian reservationis target for tours
RAPID CITY, S.D. -- A network formed to increase tourism on Indian reservations in South Dakota is working with tribal artists, storytellers and businesses to organize outings for international tour groups in 2006.
The Alliance for Tribal Tourism Advocates will bring the groups to the Pine Ridge, Rosebud and Cheyenne River reservations next summer.
"The five-day itineraries will involve lodging, several education and craft sessions with stops in Wounded Knee, Kyle, Wanblee and Pine Ridge," Daphne Richards-Cook, executive director of the group, told the Rapid City Journal.
A basic day tour to Eagle Butte on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation begins at $50, with more elaborate visitors packages costing $210 or more.
For more information, call (605) 341-2378 or go to www.attatribal.com.
Grand Teton officialswork on bicycle safety
LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Officials at Grand Teton National Park are trying to figure out how to improve safety for bicyclists.
One proposal calls for widening the shoulders on park roads, which are not now wide enough for bike riders to use safely.
A second alternative, which the National Park Service favors, would create paths for bikers that are separate from roadways in high-use areas of the park.
A third alternative would create separate bike paths throughout the park.
But Park Superintendent Mary Gibson-Scott has expressed concern that that bike paths in forested areas beyond Jenny Lake might increase the risk of potentially dangerous encounters between bicyclists and large animals like bear or moose.
The Park Service is reviewing public comments it received on the three proposals in the transportation plan.
Renovations to starton San Juan Marriott
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The San Juan Marriott in Puerto Rico will begin a $60 million room renovation project, according to a hotel spokeswoman.
One of the island's largest hotels, the San Juan Marriott and Stelaris Casino will be completely remodeling and refurnishing its 511 guest rooms and 14 suites, spokeswoman Catherine Leitner said.
The renovation should be finished by next year, she said.
The 21-floor luxury San Juan Marriott, located on a beach front in Condado, a tourist strip in the capital of San Juan, offers its guests water sports, a fitness center and tennis courts and has a 10,700-square-foot casino and 10 meeting rooms.
Associated Press