There was a time when Americans hurried...

There was a time when Americans hurried across Europe and Britain like musicians on one-night stands. While the tour bus rolled ahead, some on board were uncertain whether this was Austria or Germany. And by nightfall they didn’t give a hoot. All they wanted was a meal and a bed. That’s how hectic things got. Although thousands still travel on the run, a lot of Americans are changing their styles, settling down in little villages and becoming one of the “locals” for a few days. Or in some cases for an entire summer. The foreign government tourist offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco can counsel you, but here’s a spot in Britain where you can unpack and stay put for only $150 a week. It’s a 17th-Century yeoman’s cottage outside Cambridge. Recently restored. Surrounded by lawn, trees, flowers. Three bedrooms (one a double), with a crib for infants. There’s a dining room with an inglenook fireplace plus a living room, kitchen, garage. Fully furnished (garden furniture to dinnerware) and only 20 minutes by car from Cambridge or an hour by train to London. For details, write to Mary Mahew-Blair, Rose Cottage, 17 Wood End, Bluntisham, Huntingdon, Cambs., England PE17 3LE.

Yosemite on Horseback

During summertime Yosemite stables operate saddle trips to the park’s High Sierra Camps. These are relaxing rides. Someone else does the cooking. And there’s a hot shower waiting at the end of the trail. The camps are about eight miles apart, equipped with tents, beds with springs/mattresses, blankets. But you’ve got to sign up soon. Trips sell out early. Usually sometime in February. The 1987 prices haven’t been published yet, but last year a four-day saddle trip came to $340 and a six-day ride figured out to $536.50. For details, call the High Sierra Reservations Desk (209) 252-3013 or write to Yosemite Reservations, 5410 E. Home Ave., Fresno, Calif. 93727. (Custom trips are also being booked.)

Other Rides

Wolfgang Hallauer is back in the saddle this year, leading rides in California, Hawaii, England, Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, Morocco, Egypt, Kenya. Hallauer has added China to his list. Claims it’s a first. Takes in the Tien Shan Mountains. Riders do 15 days along the northern slopes of the Tien Shan. The group will be led by Jeff Salz, an anthropologist from San Diego. Salz has traveled extensively in China. Knows Tien Shan well, Hallauer says. For rates on this and other rides, write to Hallauer c/o FITS Equestrian, 2011 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang, Calif. 93463 or telephone (805) 688-9494.

Alpine Hideaways

Margaret Zellers who writes for Fielding has put together a 40-page booklet that takes in Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Yugoslavia. Thumbnail sketches of dozens of little-known towns, villages. In Switzerland, Zellers delivers her readers from Appenzell to Zuoz in the Upper Engadine Valley. In Austria the list ranges from the spa town of Bad Aussee to Strassburg, a medieval wall town near Gurk. Zellers also provides tips for touring, details on handicrafts, music, painting. Addresses of the five tourist offices are listed in the back of the booklet. For a free copy write to the Alpine Tourist Commission, Department 871, Box 1137, Radio City Station, New York 10101.

Australia

Paul Hogan, who does all those commercials on television for Australia, is responsible for drawing huge crowds Down Under this year. Used to be a bridge painter in Sydney. Now he’s the country’s most familiar personality. In connection with tourism’s dramatic rise, Australian Airlines is continuing to sell its “Go Australia” air pass. Enables visitors to take advantage of special fares. Big discounts off regular economy prices. For around $400 you can fly for 6,000 kilometers, take advantage of five stopovers. Passes are on sale year-round in conjunction with round-trip international fares. Your travel agent can fill you in on the details.

Cow Country

If you’ve ever had the urge to ride herd on cattle in one of those Westerns like they show on TV, here’s your chance. Pat Dickerman, who writes books about guest ranches, has published a Cattle Drive Newsletter that tells all about getting a role. Only it’s not just sitting in the saddle and gazing at scenery. These are working vacations. In other words, you pay to play the role of cowpoke. Vacationers trail cattle, help with the branding, vaccinating. Dickerman has been steering vacationers to cattle drives in Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Nevada and California for years. On her list this year is a 75-mile drive at Two Creek Ranch in Wyoming. Involves nearly 1,000 head of cattle on a ride to summer pasture at the 7,500-foot level. Other drives in the foothills of the California Sierra. For a free copy of Dickerman’s newsletter, send a stamped, self-addressed No. 10 envelope to Pat Dickerman, 36 East 57th St., New York 10022.

For Runners

Joining the world’s biggest marathon isn’t as easy as it sounds. More than 85,000 runners sign up each year for the event which takes place this year in London on May 10. Only one out of four applicants is accepted. But there’s a way around this. The marathon’s official tour operator is offering packages that include the round-trip flight to Britain, hotels and a guaranteed starting place in the marathon. Prices from $599 per person (double occupancy) for three nights to $685 for six nights. Runners are given a rail ticket from central London to Greenwich for the start of the race, which winds up back in London at Westminster Bridge. Call Keith Prowse & Co. toll-free at (800) 992-9223 or (212) 398-1430.

Reader Recommendations

California--Richard M. Powell, Malibu: Campbell Ranch Inn, 1475 Canyon Road, Geyserville, Calif. 96441. “View is spectacular, accommodations are impeccable, hospitality memorable. Rate: $80 per couple per night.”

California--Shelton Downey, Palos Verdes Estates: “La Provence, 125 Ocean View Ave., Pacific Grove, near Aquarium. Outstanding food, excellent wine list. Dinner about $50 for two and $100 for four plus small children. Treatment of small children exemplary. View of bay and lights excellent.”

Pennsylvania--James D. McIlraith, La Jolla: Praise for the Yellow House Hotel (Pennsylvania routes 562 and 662, Yellow House, Pa.). “Large, well-appointed rooms with continental breakfast, $45.”

France--Marvin L. Taff, Los Angeles: Corrects the price that was published earlier for the Chateau Boussac, Target, 03140 Chantelle (Allier), near Vichy. Rates for the beautiful 17th-Century castle run $170, not $270 a night.

New Zealand--Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hosie, Rancho Mirage: “Marvelous hospitality, beautiful area near seaside on South Island between Invercargill and Dunedin. B&B; at sheep station in a new country home. NZ $34 includes dinner at night. Write A. H. Dodd, Glenham, No. 1 R.D. Wyndham, New Zealand, phone 4891 Wynham or Farmhouse & Countryhome Holidays Ltd., P.O. Box 31250, Auckland 9, New Zealand, phone 494-171.”

Arizona--Bruce G. Collier, Seal Beach: “La Bellavia, 18 S. Beaver, Flagstaff, phone 774-8301 or 526-3099. Special small restaurant open for breakfast and lunch. Large omelets, Swedish oat pancakes, cinnamon chocolate sour cream coffee cake. For lunches, quiches, Swiss fondue, Reubens, Brandy’s hot apple pie.”

Hong Kong--Nancy Culp, Pasadena: “Found an excellent restaurant for dim sum. Emperor restaurant, 2/F Peninsula Center, 67 Mody Road, TST East, Kowloon. Filling sampling of different dim sum dishes about $4 to $5 per person.”

Ireland--John and Thada Davis, Irvine: “Mrs. O’Byrne’s Elysium Guest House, Lisheenroe, Skibbereen, County Cork, overlooks a lake and is also an herb farm. Meals of gourmet quality. For dinner we were served poached salmon, potatoes, white asparagus, meringue. Rates about $30 for two including breakfast. Dinner about $7.”

Reader Recommendations should be brief (typewritten or printed). Cannot be used without prices and addresses. Please, no brochures.