Bountiful blooms

Visit Rochester, NY, and its 2007 Lilac Festival

May 11 to 20, Rochester, NY, celebrates itself while its 1,200-plus lilac bushes are in bloom. But the crowd's not gathering for some lush horticultural event. Nope. Not hardly. Check it out at www.lilacfestival.com.

If you plan to go, add a few days to take in the sights that make Rochester unique: the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film, the Susan B. Anthony House and the Strong National Museum of Play with its National Toy Hall of Fame.

The Greater Rochester Visitors Association is at www.visitrochester.com.

Armchair traveling

"Diving" for treasure

It's all about product placement and, corny as it may sound, Volvo's shifted into full gear to get its name out there in conjunction with the May 25 release of the third installement of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."

Volvo has sunk a treasure chest full of money and the keys to a new car somewhere in the watery world. Online treasure seekers use clues to chart the booty's location. This virtual advertising scheme has a hint of "Myst," a dash of "The Amazing Race" and about 30,000 players. Get clues at volvocars.us/thehunt. Volvo's treasure hunt blog and message board is at thehunt07.spaces.live.com

GOING GREEN

Inside the Proximity Hotel

If green is your thing (and shouldn't it be?, check out what's happening in The Proximity Hotel, rising in Greensboro, N.C., and aims to be the most sustainable hotel in North America when it opens in August 2007. Here are a few things it promises:

· 100 solar panels that heat enough hot water for 100 average households.
· A Gen2 elevator, which generates its own electricity as the cab descends.
· A vegetated "green" roof atop the restaurant to help cool the place and filter rainwater runoff.
· Recycled materials that comprise about 10% of the building materials.

The hotel will even provide bicycles for guests who want to ride a nearby 5-mile greenway.

GLIDE THROUGH NEW YORK HARBOR

It's hard to figure out what to do in New York City. So, how about sitting back and doing nothing except cruising through New York Harbor for one hour and enjoy the stories the narrator will tell you.
Ride along on the luxury yacht Zephyr. It costs about $24 ($14 kids, $22 seniors.) www.circlelinedowntown.com

TOP DOG! BEACHES FOR POOCHES

Need a dog-friendly beach? Check these out (as researched by the folks at www.PetVR.com).


#1) Fort DeSoto Beach, Florida
Enter the front gate by the parking lot, go out the back gate and walk down a sandy path to the beach.

#2) Dog Beach, California
At 38 acres, it's one of the largest leash-free beaches in the country. About 10,000 pooches visit each week.

#3) St. George Island, Florida
This barrier island beach in northwest Florida is no wider than a mile at its widest point. It consistently rates as one of American's Top 10 beaches.

#4) Carmel City Beach, California
It's just a short walk from the hotels and restaurants in the village of Carmel. Other pet-friendly beaches are close by.

#5) Cape San Blas, Florida
The peaceful beach on Florida's Panhandle Gulf Coast was rated No. 1 Pet Friendly Beach by K9 Magazine.

#6) Hunting Island, South Carolina
At low tide, this state park beach (located near the golf resort island of Fripp) appears to be a mile wide, punctuated with tidal pools and remote stretches.

#7) Fort Funston State Park, California
This is one of the Golden Gate State Parks. Dogs must respond to voice control.

#8) Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint, Oregon
This windsurfers’ paradise is just outside of Oregon State Park boundaries, south of Gold Beach.

#9) Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, North Carolina
This beach, just outside of Wilmington, NC, allows dogs in all areas except swimming areas with lifeguards.

#10) Jekyll Island, Georgia
This Golden Isle welcomes dogs on all its beaches. Just make sure your pet is leashed.

STAR PARTIES near ALBANY, NEW YORK

LOOK, UP IN THE SKY!


MARK these 2007 dates:
9 p.m. April 6
9:30 p.m. May 11
10 p.m. June 15
10 p.m. June 16
10 p.m. July 7

Those dates are the Star Parties planned by the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers in the Landis Arboretum's meeting house field in Esperance, N.Y., which is near the scenie Route 20 in the Schoharie Valley. You need no equipment or experience. Club members train their telescopes on celestial showpieces so you don't have to.

For more information, visit www.timesunion.com/communities/astronomy.

Clouds are lovely, but they cause party cancellations. So call first: 518-374-8460.

DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS

1. Do the Landis Arboretum. It has hundreds of trees and shrubs from around the world assembled on 548 acres, on which you'll find more than eight miles of walking and hiking trails. Birdwatchers like it. You'll also find historical buildings. There's a plant sale 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 19 and 20, 2007. www.landisarboretum.org/intro.htm

(Hungry? Here's a link to eateries: www.landisarboretum.org/area_links.htm

2. The arboretum is only 1.5 miles off Route 20 on Lape Road, so plan to drive along the scenic byway for a while. Check out what the New York Times had to say about the route in 2006: travel2.nytimes.com/2006/08/11/travel/escapes/11road.html.

HOUSTON'S BABIES

THREE BABIES ARE BORN
AT THE HOUSTON ZOO

A 71-pound female giant eland calf (left) was born in the Houston Zoo at approximately 3:45 a.m. on March 8. The baby stood about 15 minutes after birth and was nursing approximately 15 minutes after standing.

To visit the Zoo, go to www.houstonzoo.org.

The giant eland is the world's largest antelope. The calf’s mom, Dorothy, is 4 years old and weighs 737 pounds. The calf’s dad, Houston, is 9 years old and tips the scales at more than 1,000 pounds.

Giant eland are one of the most endangered large mammals in all of Africa.


Pied Tamarin Twins

Two pied tamarin twins (right), critically endangered monkeys, were born March 17 at the zoo, weighing in at approximately 50 grams each. As adults, pied tamarins weigh about one pound.

Pied tamarins are found in a tiny patch of Brazilian rainforest near Manaus, the largest seaport on the Amazon. Logging has destroyed much of their natural habitat.

To plan a weekend in Houston, go to www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors/events.php and plug in your dates.