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Off-season Europe
Editor's Note:Donald D. Groff welcomes questions of general and not-so-general interest. Send questions and comments to traveladvisor.com. A selection of them will be answered each week in this space. He cannot reply personally.
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Sept. 9, 1999 |
There's plenty going on in Europe during the period before the holidays. Each of the countries has a Web site with event information, but a good general source is a book called "The Seasoned Traveler," by Carol Wright (Christopher Helm Ltd., 1989). Its 12 chapters describe the 12 months of the European year, guiding the reader through traditional festivals and other attractions keyed to the calendar. "The buildings of Bologna are not the only attraction in early winter," she writes. "The weather protective arcaded streets shelter one from rain while window shopping for leather goods, silks and superb shoes, and Bologna is also Italy's food capital: The many restaurants and cafes have excellent regional food and in October there are wild mushrooms, particularly the prized porcini and the white truffle ... In winter there are three or four concerts a night." The "Seasoned Traveller" has been reported out of print, although I see Amazon.com has a listing for it. Failing online sources for the book, you'll have to check in libraries or used-book stores. The tourism Web sites for the French Government Tourist Office and the German National Tourist Office have extensive events listings. The Italian Government Travel Office site is less helpful, though it has a modest calendar of traditional events, and another for music festivals. A better source is In Italy Online. I'm going with five others to Fallingwater on Columbus Day weekend. Besides information on tours, we're looking for interesting, comfortable accommodations and dining suggestions.
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BARNES & NOBLE Fallingwater, the much-celebrated house built by architect Frank Lloyd Wright for Pittsburgh department-store magnate Edgar Kaufmann Sr. in the mid-1930s, is located near the town of Mill Run in Fayette County, southeast of Pittsburgh, in an area known as the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. From April to mid-November, tours are conducted Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The rest of the year, tours are conducted only on weekends. Reservations are always required, and tours cost $8 on weekdays, $12 on weekends. The tours last 45 minutes to an hour, and most people spend at least another hour wandering around after the tour. In-depth tours also are offered, lasting 1 and a half to 2 hours and costing $30 weekdays, $35 weekends. If possible, take the longer tour. Mill Run is about 15 miles south of the Donegal exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, on state Rte. 381, also known as Bear Run. In 1963, Edgar Kaufmann Jr. gave Fallingwater to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for the enjoyment of the public. A $40 family membership in the conservancy includes admission and other benefits. For a brochure, write Fallingwater, Box R, Mill Run, PA 15464, or call (412) 329-8501, or check the Conservancy site. The best roundup I've seen of extraordinary lodging and dining choices in the area is in the July/August 1999 issue of a newsletter called | ||||
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