Distinctive destinations: from the moors of Scotland to the beaches of Bermuda: far-flung and nearby destinations for nature lovers

Natural History, April, 2004

Between activities, enjoy delicious meals, perhaps an oyster roast during the cocktail hour on the front lawn of the historic lodge. Hundred-year-old live oaks, draped with tendrils of Spanish moss, provide a natural canopy here. Dinners are often served fireside in the Hunting Lodge, where guests may muse over island photographs dating back to the early 1900s.

Scottland

This summer, why not visit the world's largest annual festival of the arts, the Edinburgh International Festival? Now in its fifty-fifth year, the festival showcases innovative performing arts for three weeks every summer, attracting thousands of visitors and international stars to Scotland's capital city. From Edinburgh, head north through rolling farmlands to the dramatic scenery of the Highlands. Here, amid mountains, lochs, and moors, visit ancient castles and explore the rugged seacoasts of beautiful towns such as Mallaig.

Just north of Edinburgh, visit the international home of golf, St. Andrews, an old university town with five 18-hole courses. Near Aberdeen, follow the "Malt Whisky Trail," featuring seven local distilleries, or the Castle Trail along the River Dee, a great spot for salmon fishing.

VisitBritain, the official national tourist office for the UK, hosts a website (www.visitbritain.com) geared to Americans traveling to Britain, with hundreds of special offers, deals, and discounts. You can even take a "virtual vacation" of Scotland before you go, to help plan your real one.

Deilmann Cruises

From late March through early November, Peter Deilmann Cruises will offer more than 320 European river cruises on 10 deluxe ships operating on the Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Rhone, Saone, Po, Elbe, Vistula, and other rivers.

New for 2004 is the 108-passenger, five-star MV Heidelberg, which made its debut cruise on the Rhine in March. On the same day, the five-star Frederic Chopin, a 79-passenger vessel, inaugurated its cruises on Poland's Vistula River. Cruises originate in both Gdansk and Warsaw, and will also sail roundtrip from Gdansk in the summer months. Shore excursions include visits to the thirteenth-century Malbrok Castle, the largest fortification in Europe; the Gothic town of Torun, birthplace of Copernicus; and the historic Russian town of Kaliningrad. Seven-night cruises on the Frederic Chopin also visit Chopin's birthplace in Warsaw.

Deilmann is known for its luxury river ships--which resemble small floating hotels--and its low passenger-to-crew ratio of 2.5 to 1, ensuring the highest level of onboard service.

Summer Adventures

Pacific Delight Tours has expanded its vacation offerings to the South Pacific, Europe, South America, and Africa. Its new itineraries include voyages of discovery to Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea, Iberia, the Mediterranean, and South America. Spend summer in the Baltics, traveling on a deluxe, floating "country house" ship with elegant style and modern amenities. The eighteen-day cruise, accompanied by distinguished guest speakers, includes stops in Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, and Copenhagen. Pacific Delight also offers an eighteen-day "Viking Adventure," which travels from Copenhagen, along Norway's spectacular fjords, to the North Cape. The cruise features specialists in natural history, ornithology, archeology, and the rich history of the Northlands to enrich your experience of the people, plants, and animals of the region.