BIRDER'S PARADISE A pamphlet describing birding spots along California's central coast near Santa Barbara is available free. Call 1-805-964-1468 and ask for the Central Coast Birding Trail guide. Some of the hot spots, according to "Bird Watch" columnist Karen Bridgers, are Andre Clark Bird Refuge; Santa Barbara Botanic Garden; East Beach; Rocky Nook Park; Atascadero Creek; and Lake Los Carneros.
RIDE THE RAILS IN EUROPE The Eurail Group is offering discounts on Eurail Passes for travel this summer. Passes must be purchased by June 15 and are good through Aug. 20. You'll save $60 on a pass normally priced between $401 and $500; $80 on a pass that normally costs between $501 and $700; and $130 on a pass normally priced more than $701. Purchase your pass before you leave through a travel agent or ACP Rail International, 1-866-9-EURAIL, www.Eurail-ACPrail.com; CIT Rail Adventures, 1-800-CIT-RAIL,CIT-rail.com; Rail Europe, 1-866-6-EURAIL, wwwRailEurope.com; Destination Europe Resources (DER), 1-800-782-4242, www.DER.com
NEW ORLEANS CELEBRATES the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase with special events throughout the year. The "New Orleans Good Times Guide" for 2003 includes not only information on what to do, accommodations and restaurants, it has value-added coupons that can help your money go further. For a free copy, call 1-800-201-4735 or visit the Web at www.NewOrleansOnline.com
DUCHESS COUNTY, N.Y.: A free travel guide listing driving tours and area highlights (the Franklin D. Roosevelt Home, the home of Eleanor Roosevelt) is available by calling 1-800-445-3131 or online at www.DuchessTourism.com
E-MAIL: kclayton@desnews.com