“The Peony Pavilion,” an 18-hour Chinese opera, highlights the 2004 Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, S.C. With 160 characters and more than 600 hand-embroidered costumes, as well as ducks swimming in an 1,800-gallon pond, “The Peony Pavilion” is an epic drama of “love more powerful than death,” according to one description. It will be performed in six episodes over four days, June 3-6, with the entire opera repeated June 10-13. For either cycle, Charleston Place, an Orient-Express hotel, has put together “The Peony Pavilion Package,” covering tickets for the six episodes and four nights’ accommodations on its club floor. The package is priced at $1,800 for two, plus tax and gratuities. Other 2004 Spoleto headliners are the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in two programs and Mikhail Baryshnikov in “The Doctor and the Patient.” The festival is May 28-June 13.(800-611-5545; www.charlestonplacehotel.com, www.spoletousa.org)
TUSK, TUSK
The new Anantara Resort and Spa Golden Triangle in northern Thailand is home to four “Anantara girls,” elephants from the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang. In addition to all the usual resort amenities, the Anantara features a choice of two mahout training courses. The “Basic Mahout Training Package” covers one day with the elephants, two nights’ accommodations and daily breakfast, for $636 for two through April 30, $586 for two May 1-Oct. 31. The full “Mahout Training Package” combines three days working with the “girls,” four nights’ lodging and daily breakfast, for $1,222 for two through April 30, $1,122 thereafter until Oct. 31. Tax and service charges of 17 percent are extra. The resort is located north of Chiang Rai. FYI: Mahouts are elephant keepers and “drivers” who control the elephants with little nudges and taps, as well as about 70 verbal commands. (011-66-5378-4084; www.anantara.com)
DESERT FOOTWORK
A March 14-19 hiking trip in California’s Anza-Borrego Desert State Park east of San Diego takes in remote desert canyons and narrow water-carved passages, as well as remnants of human history such as ancient pictographs and archeological sites. Based at Palm Canyon Resort in Borrego Springs, this “Deserts in Bloom” ramble features day-hikes of four to six hours. The $900 fee represents a $95 savings over the trip’s usual price. It covers lodging, six meals, guided hikes and round-trip van transportation from San Diego. Cost of additional meals is estimated to be about $75. “Deserts in Bloom” is offered by Knapsack Tours of Walnut Creek, Calif. (925-944-9435; www.knapsacktours.com)
MOTHER-DAUGHTER R&R
Miraval Resort and Spa in southern Arizona is a paradise for New Agers of any age, with hiking, biking, yoga, riding, tennis and spa treatments, as well as four swimming pools, a Zen garden and a meditation labyrinth. Its upcoming “Mother/Daughter” special combines casita-style accommodations and three meals daily with one spa service per night per room, unlimited access to all group activities and round-trip transportation from Tucson International Airport, for $780 per night for two. There is a four-night minimum, as well as a minimum age requirement of 17 years. Mother’s Day is May 9, but this “Mother/Daughter Special” is valid April 1-May 15. Tax and service charge add another 25 percent. (800-232-3969; www.miravalresort.com)
BEDDING DOWN IN BRITAIN
London-bound travelers can book a B&B through Chelsea-based Uptown Reservations, with host homes based in Chelsea, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Belgravia and other areas of the city. All rooms come with private baths and continental breakfast. (011-44-20-7351-3445; www.uptownres.co.uk) . . . Those who prefer to stay in hotels might check out the online booking service of Visit London, where they can choose from a variety of two- to five-star hotels and receive a guarantee that the prices they pay are the lowest available for the chosen dates and property. (011-44-8456-44-30-10; www.visitlondon.com)
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Prices generally are per person double and based on availability.
