Trip tips: Things to know
Looking for a ski getaway with authentic local charm? The December issue of Travel + Leisure magazine recommends five ski towns that ''hold true to their local roots.''
They are:
u Crested Butte, Colo., in the Elk Mountains, where you'll find steep, rugged terrain and Victorian houses but no chain restaurants.
u Waitsfield and Warren, Vt., in the Mad River Valley, where artists and counterculture-types mingle with skiers visiting the old-school Mad River Glen ski resort and the more polished Sugarbush resort nearby.
u Bend, Ore., in the Cascades, known for blue skies and sunshine; the treeless, conical summit of Mount Bachelor, and great restaurants.
u Victor, Driggs and Tetonia, Idaho, where you can find a sophisticated meal near ''stunning mountains and miles and miles of wilderness,'' including the Grand Teton National Park and nearby Grand Targhee Resort.
u Truckee, Calif., in the Lake Tahoe region, where accommodations range from the 100-year-old Truckee Hotel to the Cedar House Sport Hotel, a sleek eco-lodge. Easy access to three major ski resorts: Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows and Northstar Tahoe.
INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis-area attractions are offering free admission and other freebies, one each day, during the 12 days leading up to Christmas.
On Saturday, Dec. 13, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum is waiving admission. On Sunday, Dec. 14, the President Benjamin Harrison Home shows off holiday decorations at the 1875 Italianate mansion, including a 10-foot Christmas tree like the one the Harrisons had at the White House.
The freebies continue Monday to Friday of the following week. On Dec. 15, if you drop in to sample wines at any one of seven participating wineries on the Indy Wine Trail before 6 p.m., you'll get a free wine glass to take home.
On Christmas Eve, the final day of the 12 free days, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis offers free admission to visit Santa, a snow castle, a Yule Slide and other attractions.
Many of the attractions offer free parking on the days they offer free admission. Details at www.indy.org.