A weekend touring the small towns of Central Illinois and taking in scenic bluffs along the Illinois River as well as viewing cultural and architectural treasures is being sponsored by the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois. The dates are Nov. 3-4.
The tour will leave by bus at 8 a.m. Saturday on its way to the historic Reddick House in Ottawa, site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate. Then it will be off for a visit to the LaSalle County Historical Museum in Utica and on to Starved Rock Lodge.
A lunch stop in Peoria will be followed by a tour of the Peoria Heritage Corridor where the group will see architectural landmarks.
After overnight in Springfield, Sunday activities will include a visit to Lincoln historic sites and a tour of the Dana-Thomas House, a newly restored Frank Lloyd Wright structure.
Next stop will be Lincoln and a look at the Courthouse Historic District followed by lunch.
Before heading back to Chicago, the group will stop in Dwight, site of more Wright buildings.
The rate for LPCI members is $240 (per person, double occupancy); non-member rate is $260. Add $10 for single supplement. The price includes transportation, accommodations, meals and tours.
For more information, contact the LPCI office, 312-922-1742.
SOBERING TRIP
For travelers in search of vacation fun without alcohol, Sober Adventures International just may be the right way to go. The California company was founded seven years ago with that intention. Since then, about 20 trips have taken place, including some to Europe.
Next trip is a seven-day cruise from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera with stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Dates are Feb. 16-23, and the per-person, double-occupancy range is $795 (inside cabin) to $995 (outside cabin). Air fare is not included.
If you need a roommate, the company will find one for you. About 124 people are expected to take the trip.
For more information, contact Sober Adventures International, 5736 Woodlake Ave., Woodland Hills, Calif. 91367; 800-537-5444 or 818-887-0306.
UP-UPSCALE TRAVEL
How`s this for an extravagant way to spend New Year`s Eve? Fly the Concorde to Paris. Of course, you`ll have to board it in New York and have $5,199.
That`s what the flight and four nights of fun in the City of Lights will cost, per person, double occupancy.
Included in the rate: four nights at the elegant Crillon Hotel, round-trip air fare via Air France Concorde from New York to Paris and a black-tie champagne dinner dance.
For more information, contact a travel agent or call 800-JET-1999.
TORONTO DEALS
A few weeks ago we mentioned a special 50 percent savings on double occupancy rates at 50 hotels in Toronto Nov. 15-March 31 as part of a Double Your Adventure promotion.
Due to enthusiastic response from the public, the Metropolitan Toronto Convention & Visitors Association will institute-as of Oct. 24-a nationwide 800 number to handle reservations. The number will be 800-363-1990.
SCANDINAVIA BOUND
From Nov. 1-March 7, Icelandair is offering special round-trip airfares from New York`s John F. Kennedy International ($468) or Baltimore-Washington International ($488) to Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen or Gothenburg. The ticket must be purchased by Oct. 31.
A spokesperson for Icelandair says Chicago passengers can get a special round-trip add-on airfare from USAir for departures from New York ($260) or Baltimore-Washington ($192).
Stopovers in Iceland are available with hotel/sightseeing packages for 1- to 3-day stays. Rates range from $49 to $114 (double occupancy) and include hotel, breakfast and sightseeing.
For more information, contact a travel agent or call Icelandair, 800-223-5500.
GAMBLING IN ARUBA
Visitors to the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba now have another outlet for gambling with the recent opening of the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino.
That means the island has eight casinos.
For more information about the Hyatt, contact 800-233-1234.
FREE FOR THE WRITING
For a copy of Fall Color Tour Map of Michigan`s Allegan County, contact the Allegan County Tourist & Recreation Council, P.O. Box 338-P, Allegan, Mich. 49010; 616-673-2479. . . . For a copy of travel information about Nevada`s Reno-Tahoe area, call 800-FOR-RENO or 702-827-7366. . . . For a copy of the Fall `90 Calendar of Events for Washington, D.C., contact the Washington, D.C., Convention & Visitors Association, Tourist Information, 1212 New York Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005; 202-789-7000. . . . For a copy of ”Traveling Is So Much Fun and Packing Can Be Too,” call Mayflower Tours, 800-323-7604 (outside Illinois) or 708-960-3430.
