The most romantic cities in the United States, from Bridal Guide magazine:
1. Honolulu
2. New York City
3. New Orleans
4. San Francisco
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5. Orlando
6. Charleston, S.C.
7. Boston
8. Santa Fe
9. Aspen, Colo.
10. Seattle
HOPALONG MUSEUM
Hoppy and Topper are once again center stage as the Hopalong Cassidy Cowboy Museum opened 15 miles east of Wichita, Kan. Touted as the world's largest collection of Hopalong Cassidy memorabilia, it also is the only authorized national museum for the popular movie and television cowboy, played by William Boyd, and his horse, Topper, from the 1930s through the early 1960s. In addition to the museum, the facility, at the Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper ranch complex, houses a gift shop, a working saddle shop, and a 250-seat movie theater. Information: 316-778-2121; www.prairierosechuckwagon.com.
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PASSPORT CENTER
The National Passport Information Center, the department's centralized public contact center for U.S. passport information, has just begun to offer toll-free phone information. The new phone number is 1-877-487-2778. TDD/TTY users should call 1-888-874-7793. Information: http://travel.state.gov.
SEWING KITS
Don't get paranoid, but someone will be watching you at Las Ventanas in Los Cabos, Mexico. That's how the resort is able to provide sewing kits that are customized to match and complement each guest's wardrobe. The staff unobtrusively takes note of the colors that predominate in the guest's clothes and then prepares a personalized sewing kit with each color of thread pre-threaded through a needle.
Las Ventanas, a Dallas-based Rosewood Hotels &; Resorts property, has emphasized special touches and attention to detail as keys to a high levels of service. Contact: 1-888-767-3966; www.lasventanas.com.
BLACK CULTURE
WASHINGTON -- Washington is paying tribute to its black heritage through a citywide promotion called "Blues &; Dreams: Celebrating the African-American Experience in Washington D.C."
The promotion, which continues through Nov. 30, coincides with two important exhibits, "The Art of Romare Bearden" at the National Gallery of Art, and "African-American Quilts," opening Oct. 3 at the Textile Museum.
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Musicians like Wynton Marsalis, Sweet Honey in the Rock and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band will perform at local venues. Also offered are walking tours, including one that starts on U Street, once known as the city's "Black Broadway," and another that focuses on slave history. In addition there are theatrical and dance productions, along with literary offerings like lectures and poetry readings highlighting black authors.
Hotels are offering discounts and packages as part of the promotion, with rates as low as $99 a night.
