Need to know: Libya travel, new children’s book

Six journeys to Libya

After a five-year hiatus, Travcoa, a tour operator based in El Segundo that specializes in personalized luxury trips, will return to Libya in September with six journeys. For years the company has kept a wait list of clients eager to see the North African country, spokesman Perry Lungmus said. Each 13-day trip, titled “Libya: The Forbidden Sahara,” is limited to 18 participants. Prices start at $6,995 per person, based on double occupancy. The itinerary takes travelers from Tripoli to the ancient Greek and Roman ruins of Sabratha, Apollonia and Leptis Magna. Many buildings and striking mosaics of the Roman harbor of Leptis Magna remain intact, and the site was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982. Info: (800) 992-2005, https://www.travcoa.com.

— Mary Forgione

Saving Pierre

One of the most charming children’s books in a long while tells the story of Pierre, part of the penguin colony at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. One day, Pierre began to go bald. Without his waterproof coat, Pierre was always cold and became the target of other birds. Staffers created a neoprene wetsuit for the popular penguin that allowed him to move freely in the water and stay warm. Within six weeks of wearing the suit, Pierre’s feathers began to return. Experts suspected that the added warmth of the suit restored the bird’s feather-making capabilities. The book, “Pierre the Penguin, A True Story,” by Jean Marzollo and illustrated by Laura Regan, is available for $15.95, at https://www.calacademy.org/store.Meanwhile, Pierre remains a popular stop in African Hall. His nest is on the left side of the exhibit.

—Chris Erskine

‘Out & About’

Expedia last month added a new store to its website to help gay and lesbian travelers find inns and destinations where they are always welcome. The new “Out & About” page, at https://www.expedia.com/daily/gaytravel/, helps lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers find welcoming hotels and destinations. Expedia partnered with the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Assn. to create both a gay travel store and options on its main search page so that gay travelers could search for “LGBT-welcoming” hotels (which IGLTA helps Expedia determine). Competitors Orbitz launched its gay-friendly travel page in 2002, and Travelocity added its page in 2004. “LGBT travelers are moms and dads, sisters and brothers with basically the same needs as any other traveler. Whether you’re gay or straight, you want to go see the pyramids,” said Janice Lichtenwaldt, Expedia’s senior manager of business development.

— Terry Gardner

Feel the heat

Real men play golf in all weather, but that doesn’t mean they should suffer through cold spells and lousy putts. Instead, they ought to indulge in Coleman’s new GolfCat golf cart heater. The flameless propane-powered 3,000 BTU heater is designed to sit snuggly in the cart cup holder. Battery ignition requires just the push of a button, and high/low settings allow either more heat or longer life for a standard 16.4-ounce disposable propane cylinder (not included) that provides up to eight hours of heat. An included base lets the golfer use the heater on any solid surface. Comes with a carrying case with integrated handle; $89.99 at (800) 813-6897, https://www.golfsmith.com.

—Judi Dash