Skiing the Alps
Ski the Alps while enjoying the comforts of home. Through Interhome vacation rentals, you can find the perfect chalet or apartment at reasonable prices (particularly for families or friends who split the cost). In Zermatt, Switzerland, for example, a one-bedroom apartment sleeping four in January is $895 a week. For information or catalogs, call (201) 882-6864.
Delaware crossing
Venture back in time to Colonial days at the annual Monroe Crossing of the Delaware River, Saturday, Dec. 17, at Coryell's Ferry in New Hope, Pa. Admission to the re-enactment with 70 Colonial-costumed soldiers and civilians is free. Call (215) 862-2050 for more information.
Travel discount
Planning a road trip to Florida this winter? Make the most of your highway dollars with the Florida Travelers Discount Guide. The guide provides exit-by-exit information on restaurants, lodging and attractions along Florida's interstate highways as well as coupons worth up to $6,000 should you use them all. It's free along the highways or by sending $2 for postage to Exit Information Guide, Dept. LP1194, 4205 NW 6th St., Gainesville, Fla. 32609. The guide is also available by calling (904) 371-3948; price is $3 with a major credit card.
Seeing the light
To insure safety, some rental car companies are phasing in day-running headlights as a standard feature.
Soon Avis and National Car Rental automobiles will have lights that come on at 80 percent of full power when you turn on the ignition. According to studies in the United States, Canada and Scandinavia, using headlights at all times reduces two-car accidents. Day running headlights have been required on Canadian cars since the 1990 model year.
Galapagos wildlife watch
Natural Habitat Adventures boasts a travel experience to beat any trip to the zoo. Their New Year's wildlife watch on the Galapagos Islands puts travelers face to face with exotic animals in their native environment.
Formed by intense volcanic activity 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are resplendent with lush vegetation. Sea lions swim with snorkelers, blue- and red-footed boobies dance at visitors' feet and land tortoises calmly pose as visitors take close-up photos of them. (Boobies, by the way, are rare birds).
The nine-day Natural Habitat Adventures program runs Dec. 29-Jan. 8 and takes off from Quito, Ecuador. It includes airfare from Ecuador to the islands as well as all meals, accommodations and national park fees, and the educational services of professional guides. For more information on this or other Natural Habitat Adventures, call (800) 543-8917.
Even Scrooge might be put in the holiday mood if he could be at the World Financial Center in New York Dec. 17 and Dec. 18 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., when Catherine Dickens, the great-great-great granddaughter of Charles Dickens, will be spreading Christmas cheer in the Winter Garden. Ms. Dickens and her parents will be signing hundreds of copies of "A Christmas Carol," donated by Penguin Books, U.S.A. The books will retail for $5 with proceeds going to the New York Downtown Hospital's pediatric division.
The Winter Garden, with 100,000 lights twinkling above its grove of 16 palm trees, will serve as the perfect setting for the holiday book signing. For more information on Dickens Weekend at the World Financial Center in Manhattan, call (212) 945-0505.