The famous blue pottery center of Delft, Rotterdam, Gouda, The Hague and the windmills of Kinderdijk are on the itinerary for a six-night barge trip between Amsterdam and Bruges.
The Charms of Holland and Belgium tour on the 18-passenger M.S. Rembrandt also stops in the medieval city of Ghent.
Horizon Cruises also offers a six-night Heart of Holland trip aboard the same vessel. The round-trip cruise from Amsterdam includes The Hague, Madurodam, Frans Hals Museum`s collection of Dutch Masters in Haarlem, the cheese town of Alkmaar and the 500 year-old markettown of Purmerend.
Accommodations are available in single or twin rooms or suites. Prices start at $1,290 a person, double occupancy, for departures from April 5-May 17. From May 24-Nov. 1, prices start at $990 for the Holland-only cruise and from $1,140 for the two-country trip. The cost includes sightseeing, admission fees and wines with meals.
For more information, contact a travel agent or Horizon Cruises, 818-906-8086 or 800-421-0454 (nationwide).
HORSING AROUND
There used to be a time when a horseback riding vacation meant a trip to a dude ranch or an adventure on a packtrip. Fits Equestrian aims to change the definition of a vacation on horseback.
The company offers year-round vacations in 20 countries for experienced riders. Through February there are packages to New Zealand, Argentina, Uruguay or Africa. If you want to head to the tropics, there are trips to Jamaica, Belize, Costa Rica or Hawaii.
In March and April the outfitter suggests southern Spain and Morocco. For summer, it has trips to France`s Loire Valley, the Esmoor of England, the Austrian Alps or Ireland`s coast.
Trips cost about $100 a day, which includes everything (except air fare)
on most rides.
This summer the company has a 29-night trip (15 days on horseback) to China.
A free catalogue featuring the trips is available through Fits Equestrian, 2011 Alamo Pintado, Solvang, Calif. 93463, 805-688-9494.
CAJUN COUNTRY
A trip into Louisiana`s Cajun country and a stop in the New Orleans French Quarter are attractions for eight-day trips offered by Mayflower Tours. The trips depart Chicago starting March 7. While in New Orleans participants will have dinner at Brennan`s and stay at the Royal Sonesta Hotel.
In Cajun country, travelers will journey by bus to Baton Rouge where they`ll cruise the Atchafalaya Bayou Basin, America`s largest swamp wilderness, and visit the Old State Capitol and Huey Long`s Memorial. In Lafayette, a stop at St. John`s Cathedral is on the agenda.
From Cajun country, the tour heads for two night in Natchez. While in the area they`ll tour several plantations, including Stanton Hall. They`ll stop at the battlefield of the Seige of Vicksburg before heading back to New Orleans. Price is $887 a person, double occupancy (single cost is $1,086), and includes round-trip air fare to New Orleans from Chicago, seven nights lodging, six meals and sightseeing tickets.
For more information, contact your travel agent or Mayflower Tours, 1225 Warren Ave., Downers Grove, Ill. 60515, 312-960-3430.
The trips will continue through mid-October.
SKI TREKS
WOMANTREK is a worldwide organization that offers adventure trips for women. An upcoming trip is a ski vacation to Innsbruck. The 10-day package costs $1,110 from Chicago and includes air fare and accommodations. Departure date is Feb. 27.
Future treks include bicycling in New Zealand and three trips to China, including two bicycle tours.
For more information about WOMANTREK, write to 1411 E. Olive Way, P.O. Box 20643 PR, Seattle, Wash. 98102, 206-325-4772.
SNOW TRAIN
If you happen to be in the Sault Ste. Marie area on any weekend between now and March 22, you can board a snow train for a trip into Canada`s scenic frozen wilderness.
The Algoma Central Railway offers excursions on Saturdays and Sundays with the train leaving at 8:30 a.m. and returning at 4:30 p.m.
There is a dining car with service for breakfast, lunch and beverages.
Reservations are recommended and should be made by calling 705-254-4331. Cost is $23 for adults and $11.50 for 5-year-olds through high school age. Children under 5 travel free.
For reservations, call 705-254-4331.
STRICTLY SENIOR
A series of two-week international educational trips for travelers over 50 is available from Interhostel, the University of New Hampshire`s Division of Continuing Education. Participants can choose from more than 22 programs throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Australia and China.
A special trip this summer offers a chance for novice and experienced artists to study watercolor, oil painting, drawing, sculpture and ceramics at the Studio Arts Center International in Florence, Italy.
Other educational trips will head for Athens, Stockholm, Leysin
(Switzerland) and Toledo (Spain).
Excluding air fare, the two-week programs range from $995-$1,095 a person, double occupancy.
The price includes all ground transportation, full room and board, generally at the host university or at inexpensive hotels, tuition, lectures and discussions, sightseeing and field trips and social activities.
For a free copy of the spring/summer programs, write to Interhostel, University of New Hampshire, 6 Garrison Ave., Durham, N.H. 03824. or call 603-862-1147 between 12:30-3:30 p.m. weekdays.
FREE FOR THE WRITING
The 1987 calendar of events for Alexandria, Va., is available by writing to the Alexandria Tourist Council, 221 King St., Alexandria, Va. 22314, 703-549-0205. . . . A brochure listing major 1987 events and festivals in Thailand is available by writing to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Suite 2449, 5 World Trade Center, New York, N.Y. 19948, 212-432-0433. . . . A brochure listing educational tours is available by writing to the American Institute for Foreign Study, Dept. P-1, 102 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, Conn. 06830, 203-869-9090.
