Physicians' Travel and Meeting Guide - November/December 2007 - (Page 13) FAMILY trAveL Dream TriPs: chiNa country.” once a backpacker’s haven, yangshuo draws more typical tourists who come for the scenic rafting, bike riding and hiking. as our guide poles the bamboo raft down the yulong river, we pass the region’s karst mountains, each shaped like an upside down “u.” on our bike trip to the dam, we pedal through tiny villages, past rice fields turning yellow for harvest. Don’t miss the evening outdoor spectacle “impression, sanjie liu.” The extravaganza conducted on water against a background of dramatically lit karst mountains sports a cast of 600, many of whom portray the region’s minorities. The tale features music and song—you more or less understand what’s happening even without knowing the language. The costumes and stagecraft impress. yi mo Zhang, the director, is collaborating with steven spielberg to create what should be dazzling opening ceremonies for the olympics. Longji Terraces in the Longsheng area For hundreds of years the Zhuang and yao people have built mud banks into the side of the mountains to create the longji rice fields known as the Dragon spine rice Terraces. To reach the village of Ping an, we walked 30 minutes uphill; sherpas—tiny women with large woven baskets on their Great Deals —CO and WY: Book a vacation with www.ski.com, and kids 12 and under fly free on United Airlines to Vail/Beaver Creek, Steamboat Springs, Crested Butte and Jackson Hole. In addition at these properties and others, kids under 12 stay free and rent ski equipment for free. Call (800) 916-9463. alissa kemPler Rafting the Yulong River in Yangshuo. people visit here than at other areas near beijing. For brief stretches we were sometimes the only ones walking the ancient stones, admiring how the wall snakes up and down the yan mountains. —Washington, D.C.: See the Washington attractions explored by history sleuth Nicholas Cage, who stayed at the Fairmont D.C., when filming his soonto-debut movie National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets. With the Fairmont Washington, D.C.’s National Treasure package, receive two Tour Mobile tickets, a diary and a special chocolate turn-down. Rooms from $259. Available through March 30, 2008 (800-441-1414; www.fairmont.com/Washington). The Countryside Yangshuo: Water Show even with a population of 300,000 yangshuo, 40 miles south of guilin, is considered “the —Cruise the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe: On select voyages of the lux- New & Noteworthy Phoenix, AZ: Find out how the angular shapes and bold lettering of graffiti have inspired trendy designs in contemporary clothing at the Phoenix Art Museum’s exhibit Graffiti Art and Fashion. Through February 24, 2008 (602257-1222; www.phxart.org). ury line Regent Seven Seas, save money as children 17 and under sail free and the second passenger in the cabin cruises for 25 percent to 50 percent of the typical rate. Sailings include the March 14, 2008 and the March 24, 2008 Mariner voyages to the Caribbean, Mexico and Panama Canal; the June 18, June 25, July 23 Alaska Mariner sailings as well as the August 2 and 9 sailings to Europe and the Baltic (877-505-5377 or www.rssc.com). backs—met us at the bottom of the mountain and insisted on carrying our luggage uphill. From the deck of the li an lodge we watched farmers till the soil with water buffalo and carefully plant seedlings by hand. on hikes we encountered local women, known for their beautiful long hair, and admired the views of the moun- tain-high terraces. li an lodge and Ping an proved to be one of the most magical places we visited. l candyce h. stapen is the author of 27 family travel books, including National Geographic Guide to Caribbean Family Vacations. 13 • November/December 2007 • PhysiciaNs’ Travel & meeTiNg guiDe http://www.fairmont.com/Washington http://www.rssc.com http://www.phxart.org
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