Take A Ride On Somewhat Wild Side
Born to be wild, but prefer a guide? Take a look at these motorcycle tours, but make sure you get a license first:
Motorcyclists can test-ride a new BMW on three- and four-day tours throughout the West, late May through October, and then may apply the price toward options on a new BMW motorcycle purchased within 90 days of the excursion. Costs range from $500 to $1,200 per person, including lodging, use of the motorcycle, a tour guide, support vehicle and some meals. Call Edelweiss Bike Travel, 1-800-877-2784.
Three 10- to 12-day European mountain trips - on a BMW, Harley-Davidson, Honda or Triumph - depart from Germany and Switzerland in June and September. Prices start at about $3,000 for a driver and $2,300 for a passenger, including motorcycle rental, meals, lodging and a tour guide. Information: Bosenberg Motorcycle Excursions in Germany, telephone 011-49-671-67312, fax 011-49-671-67153 or http:/ /www.bosenberg.com.
A six-day tour through the Colorado Rockies on a new Harley-Davidson costs $9,295 per couple, including air fare for two from anywhere in the contiguous 48 states, luxury accommodations, most meals, motorcycle rental, support motor coach and a guide. Information: Lone Eagle Motorcycle Tours, (888) 566-3345 or http:/ /www.5stareagletours.com.
Wright estate tour: A walk through Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wisconsin estate, is a journey through his evolution as an architect. Wright designed structures for Taliesin every decade of his 70-year career.
The public can get an inside view of the man and the estate during a new season of tours now through Oct. 31. Seven different tours, ranging from a one-hour walk through Hillside, designed as a school in 1902, to a four-hour tour of the entire estate, are offered.
Prices start at $8. Information: (608) 588-7900.
Top campgrounds: Sunset magazine editors review 100 Western campgrounds in the May issue. Here are their choices for the top 10:
Big Basin State Park near Santa Cruz, Calif.; Escalante Petrified Forest State Park in Utah; Fort Stevens State Park near Astoria, Ore.; Hoh Rain Forest in Washington’s Olympic National Park; Kirk Creek on the Big Sur coast near Lucia, Calif.; Fish Creek Campground on Lake McDonald in Montana’s Glacier National Park; Steamboat Lake State Park near Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Timothy Lake in Mount Hood National Forest near Portland; Tuweep, Ariz., on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon; Valley of Fire State Park near Las Vegas.
Tour on the El: Chicago’s El is one of the best-known elevated trains in one of the most architecturally rich cities, and starting June 14 visitors can ride on a 40-minute Loop Train Tour offered several times each Saturday afternoon.
Guides from the Chicago Architecture Foundation will narrate the tours departing from Randolph & Wabash Station.
There’s no charge; for reservation information, call 312-744-2400. The tours will continue until Oct. 18.
Top destinations: The top destinations for international tourism arrivals in 1996 (in millions), as reported by the World Tourism Organization: 1. France, 61.5; 2. U.S., 44.8; 3. Spain, 44.4; 4. Italy, 35.5; 5. China, 26.1; 6. United Kingdom, 25.8; 7. Mexico, 21.7; 8. Hungary, 20.7; 9. Poland, 19.4; and 10. Canada, 17.3.