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Try A Wine Or History Columbia River Cruise

Graham Vink Travel Editor

Wine or history are the focuses of seven-night cruises this autumn on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, offered by Alaska Sightseeing/Cruise West.

The trips aboard the 101-passenger Spirit of ‘98 are accompanied by experts in their respective fields. The wine cruise leaves Portland Oct. 13; the history cruises depart Oct. 20 and 27.

For information, see a travel agent or call (800) 426-7702.

Last chance: North Cascades National Park is winding down its season, with visitor centers operating on reduced hours and services (water, garbage) to most campgrounds cut off Oct. 10. For information, call (360) 856-5700.

Plugged in: Regional travel information available online:

Yukon Tourism has a home page with information and photos about the Yukon, including travel and history. Go to: http:/ /www.parallel.ca/yukon. Or for information the old-fashioned way, call (800)-94YUKON.

The Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau has a home page on the Web that includes an updated event calendar: http://www.alaska.net. Or call (907) 257-2385.

Short takes: Bits and pieces from around the Northwest:

The annual Alta/Mon Railfan Weekend is Oct. 6-8 in Essex, Mont. For information, call (406) 888-5700.

Princess Tours is building a new $18 million resort inside Alaska’s Denali State Park. The 160-room lodge will open in May 1977.

On the trail: The Barlow Road Weekend, honoring a toll road that served Oregon Trail travelers, is Oct. 7-9 on the slopes of Mount Hood.

Events will include an art festival featuring Native American and Western artists from across the United States; a re-creation of explorer Joel Palmer’s discovery of an easy crossing across the Cascades; and a variety of events celebrating the 188th birthday of Oregon’s first provisional governor, George Abernathy.

For information, call Mount Hood Village at (503) 622-4011.

Round and round: The ninth-annual Mountain Bike Festival in Winthrop, which “started big and got huge,” is Oct. 6-8. New this year is the Criterium race at 4 p.m. that Friday in downtown Winthrop.

The festival also features Saturday lunch rides, in which participants are hauled up to a high point for an easy ride back down; a race Sunday on the trails at Sun Mountain Lodge; a bike rodeo for kids and an adventure ride along the rim of the North Cascades. For information, call (509) 996-3287.

Wilderness gourmet: Four days of gourmet adventure from Oct. 9-12 are offered by Canadian Outback Adventure Co.

The trip features a rail journey from Vancouver, British Columbia, to the Whistler ski resort, a visit to natural hot springs, an outing to learn about local native art and culture, plus foraging for wild mushrooms, and a shopping spree.

The price is $500 (U.S.) per person, based on double occupancy. For information, call (800) 565-8735.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: Send information about travel opportunities around the Pacific Northwest to: Travel Editor, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.

Send information about travel opportunities around the Pacific Northwest to: Travel Editor, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.