Such a deal: 336 restaurants in 21 cities for $1.50. Well, sort of. We refer to the Good Value Dining Guide for 1992, a 32-page guide to noteworthy restaurants in 21 cities from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. It`s yours from Travel Holiday magazine for $1.50.
The guide, a supplement to the December 1991/January 1992 issue of the magazine, is a city-by-city description of restaurants chosen by local restaurant critics and food authorities for excellence, variety and good value. (The Chicago segment was done by Carol Haddix, the Tribune`s Food Guide editor.)
In addition to 21 new hot spots across the country, 15 restaurants in each city were grouped in three categories: ”good buys,” ”solid hits” and ”worth a splurge.”
For a copy of the guide, send $1.50 to Box GV, Travel Holiday, 28 W. 23rd St., New York, N.Y. 10010.
SEATTLE SAVINGS Through March, visitors to Seattle can save up to 50 percent on regular rates at 18 of the city`s hotels by booking a Seattle Super Saver package through TicketMaster Northwest, 800-488-6540.
The hotel package entitles guests to discounts and/or preferred seating at more than 30 arts or cultural organizations such as the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Repertory Theater and Seattle Opera. Guests also get a coupon book for shopping and restaurants.
The program is sponsored by the Seattle-King County Convention & Visitors Bureau, among other groups.
CANDLELIGHT TOURS The operative word for these getaway weekends is candlelight-dining by candlelight, touring 19th Century homes by candlelight.
The location is Marshall, Mich., 185 miles from Chicago, where guests will stay at the National House Inn, built in 1835.
The candlelight home tour will follow a candlelight dinner at the inn.
Dates are Feb. 7-8, 21-22; March 6-7, 20-21; and April 3-4, 24-25.
Included in the package: two nights` lodging at the inn, continental breakfast, a candlelight dinner at the inn, a candlelight tour of three Marshall homes and fireside receptions in the inn.
Rates are $298 a couple for each weekend except the Feb. 21-22 ”mystery weekend” (guests solve a murder mystery), which costs $325 a couple.
To make reservations, contact National House Inn, 102 S. Parkview Ave., Marshall, Mich. 49068; 616-781-7374.
TRAINS TO GAMBLE By now, Midwest gambling aficionados probably know there`s riverboat gambling in Alton, Ill., home port for the Alton Belle Casino. But what Chicago gamblers may not know is that they can leave the car at home and make the 365-mile trip on Amtrak. Three trains provide daily service in both directions between the two cities.
Trains leave for Alton at 11 a.m. and 3:30 and 5:45 p.m., and return to Chicago the next day at 5:17 and 8:20 a.m. and at 3:52 p.m. (Times are subject to change.) The trip takes about five hours.
The riverboat casino departs on its three-hour cruises six times daily from 9 a.m. to midnight. For more information and prices, call 800-336-7568 or 618-474-7500.
For more information about Amtrak service and fares, call 800-872-7245.
For information about accommodations in Alton and non-gambling activities, call the Alton Convention and Visitors Bureau, 618-465-6676.
FREE FOR THE WRITING For a copy of the Attractions & Tours Highlighting African American History in Washington, D.C., contact the Washington, D.C., Convention and Visitors Association, 1212 New York Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005;
202-789-7000. . . . For a copy of brochure describing bicycle trips in Europe, contact International Bicycle Tours Inc., 7 Champlin Square, Box 754, Essex, Conn. 06426; 203-767-7005. . . . For a copy of the Golf Vacation Planner brochure, contact Adventure Golf Holidays, 815 North Rd., Westfield, Mass. 01085.
