GETTING THE MOST FOR YOUR MONEY. Readers of Travel & Leisure magazine rated hotels, cities and islands according to how much bang they got for their buck. The top 10 hotels were:
The Oriental, Bangkok, Thailand
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort, Orlando, Fla.
Rio Suite Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Kea Lani, Maui, Hawaii
MalaMala Game Reserve, South Africa
The Cloister, Sea Island, Ga.
Mena House Oberoi, Cairo, Egypt
Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City
Governors' Camp, Masai Mara, Kenya
Mount Kenya Safari Club, Nanyuki, Kenya
The top cities were:
Sydney, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
Queenstown, New Zealand
Christchurch, New Zealand
Cape Town, South Africa
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Bangkok, Thailand
San Antonio, Texas
Charleston, S.C.,
Lisbon, Portugal
UTAH SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL. The upcoming summer season, June 24-Sept. 4, will feature "King Lear," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Troilus and Cressida," "Damn Yankees," "A Lion in Winter" and "You Never Can Tell." Ticket prices range from $11 to $40. New this year is the fall season, Sept. 16-Oct. 16, which will feature two plays presented in repertory on the indoor stage, "Forever Plaid" and "Compleat Works of Wllm. Shkspr (Abridged)." Ticket prices range from $16 to $30. Tickets are on sale now. Purchase them by phone by calling 1-800-PLAYTIX, or on the Web at www.bard.org.
VALLEY FORGE VISITORS GUIDE. This 40-page publication includes a six-month calendar of events, a list of attractions, diversions, restaurants and places to stay. For a free copy, call toll-free 1-888-VISIT VF. If you're into self-guided driving tours, a booklet called "Fun Field Trips" outlines 13 driving tours with information about the area's history, family attractions and cultural sites. Tours include Valley Forge on a Shoestring, Historic Haunts, African-American Heritage, Revolutionary War, The Winter at Valley Forge, Elegant Mansions and Glorious Gardens, Art & Artists: Hidden Gems, and Family Fun in the Valley Forge Area. The booklet also lists free things to do such as touring a potato chip factory, a chocolate factory or a family farm and learning about nuclear energy and electricity. The booklet is available by calling the above-listed toll-free number. The tours are also posted on the Web at www.valleyforge.org.
SCULPTURE GARDEN AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART. On May 23, the National Gallery will unveil an outdoor sculpture garden. The six-acre parcel of land on the National Mall will be the home of 20 major works including post World War II sculptures by Louise Bourgeois, Mark di Suvero, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. The garden is at Seventh Street and Constitution Avenue. The garden was funded by The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, which funded seven of the 10 new acquisitions.
SOUTHWEST COLORADO VISITORS GUIDE. The 1999 Comprehensive Guide to Mesa Verde Country is available by calling 1-800-253-1616, or visit the Web at www.swcolo.org.
BEST REVITALIZED DOWNTOWNS. The following five communities have been recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation for their outstanding work in transforming dying commercial districts into thriving community centers:
Cordell, Okla., population 2,903, received a facelift including period street lights.
Denton, Texas, population 72,000, features a restored courthouse.
San Luis Obispo, Calif., population 45,000, has a Thursday night farmers market that's a great success.
Lafayette, Ind., population 46,000, is highlighted by the restored Tippecanoe County Courthouse.
Bay City, Mich., population 35,000, has renovated abandoned buildings that now house trendy businesses.