What’s new at LegoLand

What’s new at LegoLand

CARLSBAD, Calif. — LegoLand in California has a number of new attractions this summer, including a shark exhibit and an adventure slide.

In addition, the theme park is hosting a Star Wars Weekend June 13-14, featuring the launch of a new Xbox Family Game Space with 13 family gaming stations.

The new “Sharks Revealed” exhibit, which opened May 29, has hands-on activities, live sharks and shark egg cases.

On June 25, the park adds an adventure slide with an Egyptian bazaar theme in the Land of Adventure area.

For more information, visit www.legoland.com.

American Indian village welcomes back tourists

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Arizona’s Havasupai Tribe is welcoming back tourists after months spent repairing trails and clearing debris from a flood that swept through their reservation last summer.

The reservation, located deep in a gorge off south side of the Grand Canyon, reopened to the public June 1.

Water from a summer thunderstorm surged through the canyon in mid-August, forcing the evacuations of hundreds of residents and tourists. Tribal members soon returned, but the reservation has remained closed to tourists.

The area is best known for its towering blue-green waterfalls.

But those who hope to travel there might have to wait a while. Reservations at the lodge and campground are booked through mid-July.

Lincoln memorial opening in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Louisville’s Waterfront Park has a new memorial honoring Abe Lincoln.

The 12-foot-statue, which was dedicated Thursday in a sunset ceremony, highlights the 16th president’s connection to Kentucky, where he was born.

The statue was sculpted by Louisville artist Ed Hamilton.

The memorial also includes an amphitheater that has famous Lincoln quotes carved into its granite seating.

Roads leading to Mass. summit reopen

ADAMS, Mass. — Summer tourists can once again drive to the summit of the highest peak in Massachusetts.

Mount Greylock was reopened to traffic Memorial Day weekend for the first since early 2007. Crews have completed repairs to 13.5 miles of roads leading to the summit of the mountain, located in northern Berkshire County.

The $14 million project included the repaving of the Rockwell, Notch and Summit roads as well as repairs to scenic overlooks and stone walls.

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation also plans to restore the original 1930s look of the 72-year-old Bascom Lodge at the summit.

Officials say some hiking trails on Mount Greylock may remain obstructed by downed trees from a December ice storm.

Colorado officials step up marketing

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — The Glenwood Springs Chamber and Resort Association is launching a summer marketing campaign for the first time in years to help fill lodges as travelers watch their wallets.

Occupancy rates have been around 85 to 95 percent in the area during past summers, but tourism officials are bracing for a decline this year after lodging tax revenue fell 31 percent in January and February from the same time last year, said Kate Collins, vice president of tourism marketing for the association.

This spring the city council awarded the resort association $50,000 for summer advertising in hopes of luring visitors for quick, inexpensive getaways. A marketing plan calls for spending about $20,000 of that on billboards.

The money is on top of $700,000 the chamber received earlier this year from the city’s tourism marketing fund for costs of the yearly marketing campaign.

Aspen and Vail are among other mountain towns boosting summer marketing.

Associated Press