WOODFIELD, CATHERINE.(CAPITAL REGION) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

ANNAPOLIS, MD -- Catherine Hoffman `Katy` Woodfield, 64, a longtime resident of Winchester on the Severn and a seasonal resident of Maui, Hawaii, died July 2, 2000 at home from complications resulting from a brain tumor. Mrs. Woodfield, a native of Albany, NY, was a professional ice skater and performed with the Ice Follies in the late 1950's. Also an accomplished roller skater, she was a national champion in the sport in her younger years, when she taught skating and produced skating shows. Most recently, she taught skating to challenged children in the Annapolis area. She also had worked with the Girl Scouts in Albany, NY. She was married in 1985 to Albert Woodfield. They were members of the Annapolis Yacht Club. Loyal fans of the Baltimore Orioles, they had season tickets to games which they shared with their many friends. They enjoyed travel, fishing and crabbing and water sports, especially snorkeling. She served for many years as the hospitality chairman of the Winchester Community Association. In addition to her husband, she is survived by three daughters, Tracy Hanlon of Ballston Spa, NY, Kelly Holipsky of Morgantown, W. VA and Holly Wirth of Yuma, AZ; her father, Jack Hoffman; her brother, Tom Hoffman; two sisters, Melva Olson and Jackie Hoffman, all of Albany; a brother, Ernie Hoffman of FL; two grandchildren and three stepchildren, Kathy Christopher of Centreville, Albert Woodfield III of Galesville and Bruce Woodfield of Annapolis. She was the daughter of the late Thelma Hoffman and the sister of the late George Hoffman. Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m., Wednesday at Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Thursday at Calvary United Methodist Church, 301 Rowe Blvd., with burial in Woodfield Cemetery in Galesville. A memorial service will be held in the Albany area at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association, 2720 River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018 or the Salvation Army, 351 Hilltop Lane, Annapolis, MD 21403. KALAS FUNERAL HOME 2973 Solomons Island Rd. Edgewater, MD 21037 (410) 956-4488

Time for Selig to address Marlins' fishy moves? - New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)

I was thinking:Major League Baseball should be less concernedabout the fat cat-Yankees, Red Sox and Mets, and more about concernedabout these biennial fire sales by teams like the Florida Marlins.Commissioner Bud Selig should impose, in the best interest ofbaseball, a directive that prohibits a team from gutting its talent.At some point soon, Selig needs to impose a strict deadline on theFlorida owners to move the team-; or forfeit the franchise.

-If Denham Brown continues to play like he did in Maui, coupledwith the return of Marcus Williams and solid play of freshman CraigAustrie, UConn will be the most complete team in college basketball.

-I count seven AFC teams-; Indianapolis, Denver, Pittsburgh,Cincinnati, San Diego, Jacksonville and New England-; that are betterthan any team in the NFC.

-Has anyone seen or heard from the New York Yankees thisoffseason? Their silence is perplexing.

-Arbitrator Richard Bloch, the ex-Dartmouth goaltender, made thebest save of his career last week by deflecting Terrell Owens'attempt to subvert the concept of team.

-I trust the ceremony to honor former Whaler greats Ron Francis,Kevin Dineen and Ulf Samuelsson prior to the Jan. 6 Hartford WolfPack game is more than a ticket promotion.

-Coming off the great trade for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, Ithink it safe to assume the Red Sox aren't crippled from the neck upby the exodus of Boy Wonder. One more quality starter, likely comingin a trade for Manny Ramirez, will put the Red Sox over the top.

-Are you telling me that it takes 48 hours to flip a coin in orderto finalize the seedings and opponents for the first round of theClass SS state playoffs Tuesday? Because Brookfield and Holy Cross-Waterbury finished in a dead heat, none of the pairings (includingtop-seeded Brookfield and No. 2 North Branford) will be set until acoin flip settles the issue today.

Couldn't executive director Mike Savage just flip the coin Friday,so everyone could get on with its business? Is there that muchdistrust?

-The defense of the Chicago Bears is outstanding, but to suggestthat it's in the same class with the 1985 Super Bowl champion Bearsand its renowned '46 Defense' is blasphemy.

-Ellen Pompeo (Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy) or Julie Bowen(Denise Bauer on Boston Legal-; and of course, Ed's girlfriend)?

-With Pedro Martinez and the resurgent Tom Glavine at the front ofthe Mets' pitching rotation, GM Omar Minaya is shrewdly swinging forthe fences before the window of opportunity goes by. If Minaya getsBilly Wagner and a catcher, he can go fishing for the next fourmonths.

-I'm still not sold on Eli Manning in a big spot, despite thehype.

-The best sports theater of the week, and certainly the mostcontentious, is scheduled for Hartford federal court Monday, whereboxing promoters Jimmy Burchfield and Gary Shaw will throw the legalleather over the rights to New Haven super middleweight Chad Dawson.I'm making Shaw a 6-1 favorite to keep Dawson, while Burchfield is 3-1 favorite to receive monetary compensation.

-The Indianapolis Colts' unbeaten season comes crashing downMonday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

-Charlotte Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff has completely misusedand misunderstood the real the value of Emeka Okafor. I cringe when Isee the Mark Blounts, Adonal Foyles and Michael Olowokandis, guyswith less minutes and far less talent, averaging more blocks per gamethan Okafor, the best shot-blocking big man to come out of thecollege game in the last 15 years.

-Timberwolves GM Kevin McHale wouldn't survive a month if hetrades Kevin Garnett to the New York Knicks.

-The Southern Connecticut Conference has come up big with fiveparticipants in the state high school football playoffs, more thanany other conference in the state. Xavier-Middletown and Hillhousewill bring home championships for the league.

-Willy Wonka I or II?

-The decision by Selig to deny the reinstatement of Pete Rosebefore 2006 virtually dooms Rose's future candidacy for the Hall ofFame, short of an intervention by a court of law. Rose will now need75 percent approval, beginning in 2007, from the Veteran's Committee,seen as largely hostile.

Hamden's George Grande, the TV voice of the Cincinnati Reds, andalso master of ceremonies at Cooperstown's annual Hall of Fameceremony, said that 'in talking to the Hall of Famers, there's atleast 60 to 70 percent that would not vote for him. There are stillsome old-timers who have made it clear to the people at the Hall ofFame that if (Rose) steps up there, they're walking off the stage, orwon't show up.'

Rose's only hope, if reinstated, is to get back on the writers'ballot, arguing that the 15-year clock on his eligibility through thewriters should never have begun if he wasn't allowed to be placed onthe ballot.

-Curtis Deloatch returned to Giants' practice Friday. Is this agood thing?

Going Wild on Kauai; From beaches to backpacking, the Garden; Isle is Hawaii's hot spot for active tourists - The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA)

Leaving winter behind for a vacation break to Hawaii doesn'tnecessarily require going cold turkey on muscle-powered outdooractivities. Personally, I can relax on a beach with the best meatloafers on the planet - for about 30 minutes. Then, like a growingnumber of Hawaii visitors, I look forward to a hike, paddle, dive orother active pursuit beyond the manicured landscaping.

My restlessness was accelerated late last winter when myvacationing but watchful parental eyes noticed a young, musculargolden boy - I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and call him'Buddy' - had locked his radar on one of my teenage daughterswithin seconds of our arrival to one of the busiest beaches onKauai.

I looked at my wife, who was slathering a third layer ofsunscreen onto her winter-white skin, and said, 'I think I'll bemore relaxed when we get on the trail.'

All of the major Hawaiian Islands are ripe with active outdoorrecreation options, including great hunting for deer and wildturkeys and fairly good fishing if you want to go that route.

Even on the more heavily populated Oahu, our family has sampled asurprisingly extensive system of hiking trails, and you can get awayfrom the chaos of Honolulu and Waikiki with ocean kayak rentals.

Just a short air-hop away, however, Kauai has several standoutattractions for the tourist who wants to spice the tropicalexperience with outdoor adventure.

Only 3 percent of this versatile island has been consumed bycommercial and residential development. A good chunk isagricultural, while a full half of the island is forested and themajority is reasonably natural, partly because it's too wonderfullywet or rugged to mess with.

Kauai is smaller than the Big Island, Oahu or Maui, but it'spacked with opportunities, some of them unique.

For example, Kauai is the only Hawaiian island with navigablerivers for flatwater kayak paddling.

Kauai has some of the easiest access to areas where snorkelerscan swim with sea turtles.

None of the other major islands has a feature to compare with theNa Pali Coast and its spectacular, precipitous and undevelopedbastion of tropical wilderness for hiking or paddling.

The north side of the Kauai has no shortage of good beaches andis the best base for adventures on the roadless Na Pali Coast alongthe island's west side.

The east and south sides of the island have most of the river-paddling options.

For a spring break trip, we settled on the south side in thePo'ipu area, a good base for sea-turtle snorkeling forays and hikingaround Waimea Canyon - Hawaii's grand canyon. Po'ipu has the well-known additional benefit of being the sunniest and driest spot on anisland where rain is going to fall somewhere almost every day.

Time flies when you're having fun, and we found that spending alittle extra on conveniently located accommodations helped us makethe most of our week in paradise. Driving the crowded, windy islandroads can gobble up big chunks of precious days.

The Sheraton-Kauai is expensive but central to tons of activity.Sharing the same beach is a campus of condos at the Castle KiahunaPlantation, where active people who don't mind walking a short wayfor their ocean view can save some money with off-beach units.

Both are situated near Po'ipu Beach, distinguished in 2001 as thebest in America by Dr. Beach. (Check it out at www.drbeach.org.)

Hiking was high on our agenda, but we didn't come to Hawaii towalk away from the waves. As a fisherman, I learned long ago that itpays to hire a guide for an introduction to new waters beforeexploring them on your own. That same strategy paid dividends forsnorkeling.

By spending a morning with an Aloha Kauai Tours snorkel guide, wewere quickly tuned in to shy and camouflaged marine species beyondthe obvious colorful schools of fish. We learned to use the currentsrather than fight them. We got tips on where to go and areas toavoid, and closed the session in a mesmerizing swim with a group ofsea turtles.

Snorkeling is an active sport that appeals to tourists with awide range of physical abilities. Our guide pointing out thatoverweight people find unique freedom to exercise in the buoyancy ofsaltwater.

The sport is simple, too, once you master the basic theory that asnorkel is a big air hose, unless you tilt your head too farforward; then it's a giant straw.

With a beach experience behind us, we devoted the next day toseeing another niche of the island by foot. Being experiencedhikers, we had brought a few key items that helped us walk awaycomfortably from the crowds.

Among them: Daypacks for food, ponchos and two-liter hydrationsystems, plus trekking poles and light hiking shoes to handle ruggedand sometimes treacherously mud-slick trails.

Our teenagers initially resented being dragged away from thebeach, but their jaws dropped in awe as we hiked down a ridge westof Waimea Canyon and looked across to waterfalls and down almostvertically to the Na Pali Coast.

I knew the scenery was going to be spectacular even before webroke out of the forest canopy.

'Hear the helicopters?' I said. 'People pay a lot of money to flyover the best scenery on Kauai, and we're hiking here for free.'

Looking beyond their yawns and rolling eyes, I think the girlswere impressed in a teenage sort of way.

From one vantage on an open rocky slope where feral goatsfrolicked, we could see the ocean crashing on the beaches, thehelicopters tiny as bugs in the vast canyons where ribbons of waterstreamed down imminently green slopes.

The 12-mile loop connecting the Nu'alolo and Awa-'awapuhi trailsranks among the best dayhikes on the island, although 3 miles arealong Waimea Canyon Drive in order to get back to a vehicle parkedat the Koke'e Lodge.

My wife, Meredith, made a stab at sticking out her thumb and wasnot only rejected by the first few passing rental cars - theyactually sped up as they shot by.

She was fairly demoralized, noting that she had no troublehitchhiking last time she tried, although that was around 25 yearsago. But her daughters soothed her aching ego by pointing out thatshe surely would have been given a lift if it weren't for the 'Rambolook' from mud caked on her shoes and legs.

She even had splatters of red mud on her face from a couple of'whoopees' down trail sections that occasionally and naturally erodein this volcanic landscape into virtual tunnels of traction-defyingamusement.

Three other top Kauai hiking attractions:

-- The Kukui Trail, 5 miles round trip, drops 2,000 feet intoWaimea Canyon for the shortest route to the canyon floor and a largeswimming hole at the bottom.

-- The Kuilau Ridge Trail, 4.2 miles round trip, starts beyondthe University of Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station on Route580 and leads to intimate views of native flora and smallwaterfalls.

-- The Kalalau Trail, up to 22 miles round trip, is the originalHawaiian trail on the Na Pali Coast from Ke'e Beach into theisolated Kalalau Valley. It's the most celebrated trail in Hawaii,for good reason. Dayhikers can easily hike into a stunning beach andto 300-foot Hanakapi'ai Falls.

By planning ahead and getting a permit, you can hike in and camp.Just be aware that the trail can get gnarly and dangerous in wetweather.

Humility is one lesson I've learned from adventuring in differentparts of the world. Even experienced hikers should read and askquestions before venturing into new territory. Hawaii is noexception.

For example, showering under the spray of a waterfall after asweaty hike is risky, particularly in this eroding volcaniclandscape where rocks often are swept down over the falls.

Swimming in the pools of those photogenic waterfalls andfreshwater streams runs the risk of leptospirosis, a flu-likebacterial disease that's not uncommon in Hawaii. It can becontracted through cuts in the skin or by swallowing contaminatedstream water.

'The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook,' by Andrew Doughty and HarriettFriedman does a decent job of summarizing outdoor attractions andhazards, but no guidebook is a substitute for common sense.

And no guidebook will tell you everything.

'The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook' tipped us off to a nifty coastlinehike starting from popular Shipwreck Beach next to the opulent HyattRegency Hotel.

Serious hikers might overlook the hike, since it starts byskirting the Po'ipu Bay Golf Course, where admission apparently haseverything to do with your tax bracket and nothing to do with yourhandicap.

The guidebook, however, doesn't mention that you can extend thishike for miles, alternating from rock cliffs to sandy beaches.

We spent a marvelous four hours of discovery here, feasting onthe sights, ranging from wildflowers on shore to whales blowing inthe distance. Sea turtles often showed up spread-eagle in the wavesnear shore.

My wife struck up a conversation with a white-haired butotherwise very brown angler on a cliff over his honey hole in thesurf. He was fishing for mackerel and snapper, and, like any seriousfisherman I've ever known, he had serious opinions on how it's done.

He said he was fishing with a jig. 'That's all you need, anywherein the world,' he said. 'Even for the salmon in your neighborhoodback in Washington.'

We watched him cast and wished him well as we continued our hike.

'Watch where you walk,' he said, pausing and pointing to thecrumbling rock ledges over the roaring surf. 'So you don't go homein a box.'

While hiking was a great way to exercise and see Kauai up close,the ocean was more inviting than ever after we'd been in themountains.

Of course, the activity doesn't end at the beach. You can't askfor a better full-body workout than a few hours of learning how tosurf.

My daughter, Hillary, and I took a surfing lesson on Po'ipu Beachand had a ball catching waves after the lesson was over. I wastreading water where the waves were building so I could give Hillarya shove and get her started when I met another father performing thesame service for his teenage daughter.

Pretty soon, the other dad and I realized we'd been deserted outthere as we bobbed beyond the breakers, with a few 10-year-oldfledgling surfers zeroing in on our lull and asking for shoves.

The other dad spotted his daughter sitting on the beach with somelocal surf bums.

'I think I'd better go and get my family out on a hike,' theother dad said, referring to our brief exchange of islandactivities.

'Oh, and there's your daughter,' he said, pointing over to thecalmer water where Hillary was lounging on her surfboard as if herfather were asleep on the beach rather than snorting surf whilewaiting to launch her into another wave.

'Looks like she has a friend, too,' he said.

That's no friend, I thought, that's 'Buddy,' who apparently hadbeen slinking off from the action like a shark waiting for anopportunity.

I swam to shore and paged through the guidebook, saltwater stilldripping off my nose, and started looking for another hike.

DEALS & DIVERSIONS - The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
05-29-1994
DEALS & DIVERSIONS
Date: 05-29-1994, Sunday
Section: TRAVEL
Edition: All Editions -- Sunday
Column: DEALS & DIVERSIONS

SPA SAVINGS

The Doral Saturnia International Spa Resort in Miami is offering
special packages for guests at the adjacent Doral Resort and Country
Club from June 1 through Oct. 15. Savings are 25 percent to 35 percent
over standard rates. The offer applies to all Doral spa programs,
including the two-night Grande getaway; and four-, seven-, and 10-night
programs. Every spa program is all-inclusive, with three meals daily,
use of all spa facilities, fitness equipment, sauna, whirlpools, and
swimming pools. Tap dancing and tai chi -- as well as boxing aerobics and
aqua-aerobics -- classes are available. Sample reduced rates are $435 for
the two-night Grande getaway and $1,860 for a seven-night program.
Prices quoted are per person, double occupancy, and do not include tax
or service charge. (800) 331-7768.

FREE NIGHT

A three-day, round-trip rail journey from Paris to Prague departs
Oct. 6.

Need an extra day of sailing in the U.S. Virgin Islands? The
Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina in St. Thomas, which boasts 171 luxury
suites and villas, plus tennis courts, restaurants, and a water sports
center, is offering a 'Seventh Night Free' program for the months of
June, September, and October. Book six nights and stay the seventh night
free. Rates range from $175 a night for a yacht harbor suite to $250 for
a beach-front villa. The resort offers activities for families including
horticultural tours, volleyball, and treasure hunts. (800) 524-2090.

DEAL FOR DADS

Planning a weekend for Father's Day? Contact the Country Inns in
the White Mountains, an association of 20 quality inns located in and
around New Hampshire's Presidential Range. All participating inns are
offering exceptionally low rates for Friday and Saturday night stays on
June 17 and 18. Choose from in-town and end-of-the-dirt-road inns,
mountain inns, formal Victorian accommodations, and bed and breakfasts.
The Mountain Fair Inn in Campton, N.H., for example, is $24 per person
per night including breakfast, while the Snowvillage Inn in Snowville
is $38 per person per night plus breakfast. Area attractions include the
White Mountain National Forest, a nationally known area of 700,000 acres
that offers hiking, swimming, and canoeing. Enjoy trout fishing amid the
area's covered bridges as well as golfing, tennis, and a steam-powered
railway trip up Mount Washington. The famous Franconia Notch Flume is
another natural highlight and there are tram tours up 4,200-foot Cannon
Mountain. Information: (800) 562-1300.

HYATT SAVINGS

Hyatt Resorts is offering guests savings at 15 resorts in the
United States and the Caribbean with its 'Hyatt's Summer Free For All,'
which features four-, five-, six-, and seven-night packages including a
free night and savings of up to 50 percent. Guests choosing a five-night
package may save more than $700 at Hyatt Regency Cerromar Beach in
Puerto Rico, $500 at Hyatt Regency Maui, and $300 at Hyatt Regency Hill
Country in San Antonio, Texas. There are also packages including air
fare, car rental or airport transfers, and packages featuring golf,
tennis, and water sports. Some resorts offer free and discounted bonus
activities. Travel must be reserved and taken before Aug. 31. Ask about
the deals at Hyatt's in Hawaii, Florida, South Carolina, and Grand
Cayman -- to name a few -- by calling (800) 233-1234 and for air-inclusive
vacations (800) 772-0011.

HAWAII OFFER

The 800-room Ilikai Hotel Nikko Waikiki is celebrating its 30th
anniversary by passing some savings on to travelers with package rates
(which include tax and gratuities) valid now through Dec. 31. They
include:

A $699 Family Affair package that includes three days and two
nights in an ocean-view room with kitchen; midsize rental car; $100
credit at the hotel's cafe; four passes to the Polynesian Cultural
Center; and complimentary parking. Based on two adults and two children
under 18.

The Romantic Getaway package at $699 includes three day and two
nights in a one-bedroom ocean-front suite; $100 credit at the Ilikai's
restaurant and bar; daily in-room continental breakfast for two; and
complimentary parking.

The Club 5-0 package for travelers 50 and over at $575 includes
three days and two nights in a one-bedroom ocean-front suite; daily
continental breakfast for two at hotel's cafe; two passes to the
Polynesian Cultural Center; and complimentary parking.

A $626 Getaway and Play package includes three days and two nights
in a one-bedroom ocean-front suite, two-hour tennis lesson for two; soup
and salad bar at the hotel's cafe; and complimentary parking. (808)
949-3811 or (800) 255-3811.

DIVING DEAL

The five star Melia Mayan Cozumel of Mexico is offering a 15
percent discount on its diving days package through Sept. 15. The
discounted package is priced at $105 per person-per day (including tax)
and is based on double occupancy, a minimum two-night stay, and includes
standard room, round-trip airport transfers, breakfast buffet, and boat
diving. Non-divers accompanying a diver pay $69.99 per day and there is
transportation to and from the dive shop and round-trip boat
transportation. Also provided are two tanks of air, backpack, weights,
weight belt, on-board lunch, and non-alcoholic beverages. Dives are near
the Palancar Reef with a professional guide from Caribbean Divers. All
divers must be certified by either the YMCA, the National Association of
Underwater Instructors, the Professional Association of Dive
Instructors, the Scuba Schools International, or the National
Association of Skin Diving Schools. (800) 33-MELIA.

Keywords: TRAVEL

Copyright 1994 Bergen Record Corp. All rights reserved.

Choice resorts: where associations meet for rejuvenation & relaxation. (no full text - illustrations only) (directory) - Association Management

Choice Resorts

Where Associations Meet for Rejuvenation & Relaxation

Eight out of 10 associations consider resorts for their meetings, including conventions, board meetings, and educational seminars. With $30 billion being spent for association meetings in one year, why in this cost-conscious age do associations still pick resorts? 'We met on Waikiki Beach, with post-trips to Hawaii and Maui. Our architects arrived stressed out, with expectations of perfect service delivery from staff, and left whistling |Don't worry; be happy,'' according to Connie Wallace, CAE, executive vice president of the Tennessee Society of Architects in Nashville. Here's a sampling of what some of the resorts that recognize associations as important to their business have to offer.

Boca Raton Resort and Club 501 E. Camino Real P.O. Box 5025 Boca Raton, FL 33431-0825 (407) 395-3000 Fax: (407) 391-3183 David Feder, Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing The Boca, on Florida's Gold Coast, features magnificent accommodations, private beach, two golf courses, 29 tennis courts, marina, and superb dining and entertainment. In addition, it has 65,000 square feet of meeting space to serve groups of 15-1,500.

The Broadmoor P.O. Box 1439 Colorado Springs, CO 80901 (719) 577-5777 Fax (719) 577-5779 Peter S. Bonell, Director of Marketing The Broadmoor features three outstanding 18-hole championship golf courses, 16 tennis courts, three swimming pools, and a skeet and trap range. Ice-skating and a ski slope are also on the property.

Copper Mountain Resort Meeting & Conference Sales 1601 Blake St., Suite 300 Denver, CO 80202 (800) 247-3257 (303) 595-9272 Fax (303) 595-9218 Kathleen Callender, Director of Conference Sales Copper Mountain's professional meeting center introduces the Copper Commons, more than 11,000 square feet of meeting space, plus excellent services and spectacular surroundings. One call does it all.

The Greenbrier White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986 (304) 536-1110 (800) 624-6070 Fax (304) 536-7834 William E. Gilmore, Director of Sales and Marketing A Mobile five-star, AAA five-diamond resort, the Greenbrier is one of America's premier destinations. It features superb accommodations, cuisine, meeting, and sports facilities. Meeting planners' package is available.

Grouse Mountain Lodge 1205 Highway 93 West Whitefish, MT 59937-3152 (406) 862-3000 (800) 321-8822 Carol Gallagher, Sales Manager Montana's breathtaking best! The Grouse Mountain Lodge has a 27-hole golf course, tennis, boating, fishing, whitewater rafting, and skiing. It's near Big Mountain and Glacier National Park and has convention capacity for 400. Full amenities.

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort 7000 North Resort Dr. Tucson, AZ 85715 (602) 299-2020 Fax (602) 299-6832 Tracy Church High in the mountains above Tucson, this resort offers 18 holes of Tom Fazio-designed golf, 10 lighted tennis courts, two swimming pools, a fitness center, and five restaurants and lounges.

Marriott's Marco Island Resort & Golf Club 400 South Collier Blvd. Marco Island, FL 33937 (813) 394-2511 Fax (813) 394-4641 Samuel R. Zabawsky Hidden away on a subtropical island in the Gulf of Mexico, Marriott's Marco Island Resort & Golf Club offers everything a meeting planner could want. And less. Featuring the best beaches on the island, this Gold Key resort is where even Floridians come to escape the crowds. Yet it is easily accessible by regular airline routes to southwest Florida.

Opryland Hotel 4800 Opryland Dr. Nashville, TN 37214 (615) 889-1000 Fax (615) 871-7741 Jerry Wayne, Director of Marketing The Opryland Hotel has 1,891 rooms, including 120 suites, and more than 500 garden terrace rooms. The hotel offers tennis, swimming, an 18-hole championship golf course, and a musical theme park.

The Pointe Resorts 7500 N. Dreamy Draw Dr., Suite 215 Phoenix, AZ 85020 (800) 528-5771 Fax (602) 870-2797 Paul Ference, Director of National Sales Three spectacular mountainside locations in Phoenix feature all-suite accommodations, two championship golf courses, racquet sports, fitness centers, riding stables, swimming, and distinctive themed dining.

Sheraton Bal Harbor Resort 9701 Collins Ave. Bal Harbor, FL 33154 (305) 865-7511 Fax (305) 864-2601 Eric Jellson, Director of Marketing Herb Kaplan, Director of Public Relations A $22 million renovation, to be complete in December 1991, will include 650 new rooms and suites, two new ballrooms, two new restaurants, two pools, tennis, golf, boating, 600-foot beach on ocean, and world-class shopping.

PHOTO : The Boca Raton Resort and Club features two golf courses.

PHOTO : The Broadmoor features golf courses designed by top architects.

PHOTO : Copper Mountain offers superb skiing.

PHOTO : The Greenbrier in the Allegheny hills.

PHOTO : Montana's Grouse Mountain Lodge.

PHOTO : Golfers tee off at Loews desert resort.

PHOTO : Enjoy excellent golfing at Nashville's premier resort, the Opryland Hotel.

BON VOYAGE.(Sunday Magazine/Travel) - Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)

Scenic trains a-rollin'

Two scenic Colorado railroads have resumed for the summer season.

The Royal Gorge Route has three daily departures, through Oct. 8, at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. The train, which features open-air observation cars and a concession car with food and drinks, takes passengers on a 24-mile, two-hour journey into the depths of the Royal Gorge, from Canon City to Parkdale and back. Tickets may be purchased at the historic Santa Fe Depot in Canon City. They are $24.50 for adults and $16.50 for children 3 to 12. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling (888) 724-5748, or (303) 569-2403.

The Georgetown Loop Railroad has 11 daily departures through Oct. 1. The train travels between Georgetown and Silver Plume, a distance of just two miles but with an elevation difference of more than 600 feet. Adult roundtrip tickets cost $12.95 and children 3 to 15 can ride for $8.50. There is no charge for children 2 and younger if they are sitting on a parent's lap. Information: (303) 569-2403, or visit: www.georgetownloop.com.

National Trails Day event

The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, in conjunction with Eastern Mountain Sports and the American Hiking Society, is sponsoring a National Trails Day event Saturday on Mount Bierstadt, one of Colorado's most popular 14,000-foot peaks. Volunteers will help restore damaged areas and construct new trails. No previous trail-construction experience is necessary. Information or registration: (303) 278-7525, Ext. 115.

Big-band cruise to set sail

A big-band theme cruise, featuring Sammy Kaye and the Four Freshmen, will be sponsored by OASIS-Denver, with hosts Sue and Dennis Stretar of KEZW / Senior Showcase. The Hawaii cruise will sail Dec. 9 from Maui and will visit four islands and five ports. Deposits must be made by June 5. Information: (303) 405-4223.

Mountaineer to speak

Ed Viesturs, one of America's foremost high-altitude climbers, will host two slide shows about his career in mountaineering, including the 1996 Everest IMAX expedition for which he was climbing leader. The shows will be at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Chautauqua theater in Boulder, 900 Baseline Road, (303) 440-7666; and at 7 p.m. Friday at the Denver REI Flagship Store, 1420 Platte St., (303) 722-8351. Proceeds will benefit the American Himalayan Foundation, the Access Fund, Big City Mountaineers and the Colorado Mountain Club.

Outdoor festival in August

The International Outdoor Festival, the first sports and cultural event of its kind, is open to anybody who loves the outdoors. The festival, Aug. 24-27 in Aspen, will feature world-class athletes and expert guides who will lead courses in trail running and hiking, mountain biking, climbing, kayaking, fly fishing, paragliding, nutrition, yoga and mind and body. Registration before Thursday will include a limited-edition Mountain Hardware WindStopper Test Team vest and Mondo Schwag Bag. Registration costs $575. Information: (877) 702-7736.

Auction to aid arts center

The Anderson Ranch Arts Center annual Art Auction Aug. 12 will feature a silent auction, picnic lunch and live-auction preview from noon to 1:45 p.m. Proceeds will benefit programs of the Anderson Ranch Arts Center, which is at 5263 Owl Creek Road in Snowmass Village. Information: (970) 923-3181, or www.andersonranch.org.

Travel shows scheduled

Changes in Latitude, 2525 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, will present two adventure-travel shows. On Wednesday, Dr. Cory Sperry will discuss immunizations, common health problems and what medical supplies to take on your next trip. On June 7, a program will be given on women traveling alone. Information: (303) 786-8406.

Mountains of Ecuador

Colorado Mountain Club will present a program on mountains of Ecuador at 7:30 p.m. June 8 at the club in Golden, 710 10th St., Suite 200. South America explorer-guide Kevin Haight will talk about some of the most popular climbs along ``volcano alley'' between the eastern and western cordilleras of the Andes. Information: (303) 279-3080.

European rail travel

XTERRA lets Ogden show off with triathlon. - The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, UT)

Byline: Kristen Moulton

Aug. 17--OGDEN, Utah -- The XTERRA Mountain Championship off-road triathlon gets under way here this weekend, giving Ogden -- and Utah -- a chance to showcase mountain, lake and city amenities.

More than 600 athletes from 25 states and several foreign countries -- professionals alongside amateurs -- will swim nearly a mile at Pineview Reservoir, power their mountain bikes 18.6 miles up to the top of Snowbasin Ski Resort and run 6.2 miles of trails through the adjacent forest.

Ogden, professional triathlete Melanie McQuaid of Victoria, British Columbia, said Thursday, 'has all the beauty of cities like Boulder, without the pretensions.'

McQuaid, 34, won the championship here in 2006, its first year in Utah after the Utah Sports Commission and the Greater Ogden Athletic Legacy Foundation, or GOAL, persuaded the event's owner to move the triathlon from Keystone, Colo.

Saturday's competition is the last of four regionals in the XTERRA America Tour. The finale is next month at Lake Tahoe, Nev., and the world championship will be in Maui, Hawaii.

Tom Kiely, chief executive of Team Unlimited, the Hawaii-based company that owns the XTERRA competitions, said 'love' is what persuaded him to choose Ogden for the Mountain Championships and for the company's first XTERRA Winter World Championships at Snowbasin next March.

'Everywhere we go, we're embraced, but this is a serious romance,' said Kiely.

The natural assets, an enthusiastic cadre of volunteers supplied by GOAL and a big community welcome make Ogden a perfect host city, he said.

And, XTERRA fits with Ogden's push to market itself as a hub of outdoor adventure recreation, Kiely said.

Jeff Robbins, chief executive of the Utah Sports Commission, said that although such regional XTERRA championships typically pump $2 million to $3 million into a city's economy, the world championships could mean $8 million or more.

Although March's event will be the first world winter championship and won't generate that much money for Ogden at first, the event can be expected to grow fast and contribute greatly to Utah's economy, Robbins said.

But just as important as the financial contribution is the buzz it gives to Utah as a magnet for recreation, he added.

The state's $6 billion recreation industry is one of four that Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has targeted for economic growth.

Ogden is the only city in the world to play host to two XTERRA competitions, and it could get more than a few days of excitement out of this weekend's event because the marathon will be captured in a half-hour segment that Team Unlimited will market to national television networks.

Trey Garman, the group's marketing director, said crews have been shooting video of fly fishing, kayaking and the rides available at Ogden's new Solomon Center.

Those shots will make up to 40 percent of the segment, which Team Unlimited hopes will be shown next May, Garman said

Kym Buttschardt, president of GOAL, said she especially likes that XTERRA includes amateurs. She'll compete in the triathlon, but so will her 9-year-old son, competing on a team with her husband.

'The whole community is plugged in. . . . This is promoting a healthy community,' Buttschardt said.

MORE INFO:

A two-day festival in downtown Ogden at amphitheater park on Washington Boulevard will be part of the XTERRA Mountain Championship.

--Today:

Noon-8 p.m. -- Beer garden, a kids zone with rope climbing and other challenges

4 p.m. -- Swim clinic

5 p.m. -- Mountain bike clinic, kids foot race, live music

5:30-9 p.m. -- Hair cut-a-thon to benefit Challenged Athletes Foundation

6 p.m. -- Kids bike race, 12k trail run, 'Cruise for a Cause' bike ride to raise money for Weber Pathways and GOAL Foundation

--Saturday:

9 a.m. -- Championship race begins at Pineview Reservoir

9:30 a.m. -- Amateur race begins at Pineview Reservoir

10 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Expo at Snowbasin with exhibits, food, music

1:30 p.m. -- Pro awards and special awards at Snowbasin

6-9 p.m. -- Food booths and beer garden in park

7:30 p.m. -- Awards ceremony, to be followed by highlight video

9 p.m. -- Free concert

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Salt Lake Tribune

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