Scotland’s gardens bloom for a July 6-16 tour led by Pam Duthie, instructor at Chicago Botanic Garden and owner of The Gifted Gardener landscaping company in Northbrook. Sign up by June 1 for the trip that takes in castles and tours private gardens seldom open to visitors. The $3,582 covers round-trip airfare, nine nights’ lodging, tour guide, transfers, full Scottish breakfast and dinner daily. (Duthie, 847-272-4386) . . . Banff National Park looks a little different from the back of a horse. Ride its trails with the non-profit Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies. $700 (U.S.) covers horse and saddle, transfers, guide, tepee and sleeping bag, all meals, live music and hot showers for six days. Family rides and an August discount ride are available. (TRCA, Box 6742, Station D, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P-2E6; phone 403-264-8656) . . . Alaska Wildland Adventures heads into the heart of Alaska for a 12-day wilderness safari. Denali National Park, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and Kenai Fjords National Park are on the itinerary, with departures June through August. The $3,895 price includes land and water transport, lodge accommodations, meals and snacks, guides and equipment. (800-334-8730)
FREE STUFF
Think of Tauck Tours’ national parks info line as an audio catalog, where colorful descriptions substitute for glossy photos. Thumbnail overviews cover what you’ll see on the company’s tours of U.S. and Canadian national parks. (888-237-0280) . . . The newest Official Albuquerque Visitors Guide is out now. (800-284-2282) . . . Taos, N.M., also has a new vacation guide ready to give away. (800-732-8267) . . . Virginia’s Official Outdoor Recreation Guide includes information on everything from camping to scuba diving. (800-932-5827) . . . San Diego has a Sunny Money coupon book that offers discounts to hotels and places like Sea World and the San Diego Wild Animal Park. (619-236-1212) . . . The latest edition of This Is Indianapolis, the city’s guide to entertainment, lodging and dining, is off the press. (800-642-INDY)
FAMILIES
The stalactites and stalagmites in Virginia’s Luray Caverns, in the Shenandoah Valley, grow at the rate of one cubic inch every 120 years. They figure that, since the cave was discovered in 1878, it’s time to celebrate the caverns’ growth. They’re calling this the “inchiversary year.” Admission is $13 for adults and $6 for children ages 7-13. (540-743-6551)
MUSIC FESTIVALS
The International Festival of Music in Lucerne, Switzerland, takes place Aug. 19-Sept. 16. Philharmonic orchestras from Berlin, Vienna and Los Angeles are scheduled to perform. The Chicago Symphony takes the stage Sept 11-12. (312-782-1912) . . . The 1998 Blossom Music Festival in Cleveland, directed by Leonard Slatkin, opens the Fourth of July weekend and runs every weekend through Sept. 6. Garrison Keillor appears July 12, John Williams conducts Aug. 1-2, and mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade sings Aug. 23. (800-686-1141) . . . The Ottawa Chamber Music Festival runs July 25-Aug. 7 and has scheduled performances by The Canadian Brass and the Tokyo String Quartet. Air Canada is offering discounts on airfare (mention event No. CV981255) to those attending the event. (613-234-8008)
Tour prices generally are per person, based on double occupancy.
