The 1990 edition of the “Vermont Traveler’s...

The 1990 edition of the “Vermont Traveler’s Guidebook” is packed with information on touring, riding, camping, biking, boating, ballooning, fairs/festivals, shopping/antiques, music/arts/galleries, lodging. Lists hundreds of inns, including the Inn on Covered Bridge Green in West Arlington, the former home of Norman Rockwell. Another Rockwell landmark (Four Winds County Inn) is surrounded by 50 acres. Borders the Battenhill River in the same village. Few inns in the entire state, though, can match the Old Tavern at Grafton that’s been serving wayfarers since 1801.

The directory names dozens of other inns. In addition you get a map of Vermont, a listing of summer events. For a free kit, send a post card to the Vermont Travel Division, Department R044, 134 State St., Montpelier, Vt. 05602. Telephone (802) 828-3236.

Pacific Northwest: Photographer Michael Polinder prepares itineraries for travelers “interested in venturing off the beaten path” in the Pacific Northwest. Loads of inside information on towns, villages, lakes, mountains, hiking trails, fishing. Polinder proposes to share his knowledge with travelers by “introducing them to places they normally wouldn’t think of visiting.” A seven-day tailored itinerary costs $20. Besides preparing itineraries, Polinder publishes a newsletter featuring the Pacific Northwest. Single copies: $1. Write to Polinder, 8077 Kayak Way, Blaine, Wash. 98230.

Oregon: For viewers planning trips on their own to the Pacific Northwest, copies of the Oregon B&B; directory are available for $1. A statewide listing of inns with addresses, rates, descriptions of individual properties. Blue Haven in Tillamook is a three-story farmhouse (rates: $45/$60). In Portland, shelter is provided in the Georgian House B&B; (a colonial home with rates from $35). Other inns are listed along the Oregon coast, Grant’s Pass, Medford, Cottage Grove, Ashland (home of the Shakespearean Festival), Bend, eastern Oregon.

Send $1 and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Oregon B&B;, 230 Red Spur Drive, Grant’s Pass, Ore. 97527.

Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley: Shenandoah Valley covers 200 miles along the I-80 corridor from Harper’s Ferry through Roanoke County. If it’s on your vacation agenda, get a copy of the Shenandoah Valley Travel Guide. Lists sightseeing attractions, lodging/camping facilities, restaurants, chambers of commerce, visitor’s bureaus. There’s also a two-page map. For a copy of the guide/brochure and a calendar of events, write to S.V.T.A., P.O. Box 1040, Dept. G90, New Market, Va. 22844, or call (703) 740-3132, Ext. TG.

French Alps: Larry Thunberg and Claudine Tremeau, a husband/wife team, will provide language lessons/customized tours for travelers in the French Alps this summer. Lessons, guide service, meals, shelter for under $1,000 a week. Day trips to Switzerland, Italy. For years the couple has been hosting friends at their summer home in LeGrande Bornand (3 1/2 hours by train from Paris). Their language/tour operation is called Joie de France. This is a Sunday-to-Saturday package. Side trips to Annecy, Chamonix, Mont Blanc, Lyon, Albertville (home of the 1992 Winter Olympics). Time out for hiking, bicycling, sailing, windsurfing. Only five guests per tour.

Contact Joie de France, 305 Chestnut St., Colorado Springs, Colo. 80905, or telephone toll-free (800) 992-5643.

Riviera Rentals: We’ve been getting positive reviews from readers on rentals in Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cagnes-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. Rates: $350/$700 a week for two, three, four-bedroom apartments. Villas start at $750. The same representative lists condos in Switzerland ($425/$600) per week. Lower rates in the off-season.

Guests travel during the day, return to their home or condo at night. No fretting over packing/unpacking. Prepare a picnic lunch and take off for the day. The idea of the “home base” vacation is catching on across the Continent.

Brochures from Christian Lucas, Akabarstraat 14 III, 1061EA Amsterdam, Holland.

Cabo San Lucas: The Twin Dolphin at Cabo San Lucas is offering free round-trip air fare to guests who book a room for four nights. Rates begin at $112.50 per guest, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, complimentary drinks. The resort features 50 low-rise rooms/suites by the ocean. Some with fireplaces. Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report described the Twin Dolphin as a “high style retreat.” A swim-up bar, lounge, putting green, tennis, jogging trails. A relaxing combination of ocean/desert scenery. Tastefully landscaped. No noise pollution. One of our favorite hideaways on the Baja Peninsula.

Your travel agent or call the Twin Dolphin (213) 386-3940. Outside California, dial toll-free (800) 421-8925.

British Rentals: For years, Creative Leisure of Petaluma, Calif., has been renting condos/villas in Hawaii, Mexico, Europe. Now the company is teaming with Blandings in the U.K. to offer cottages/manor houses/castles in the Cotswolds, Devon, Oxfordshire, Sussex, Herefordshire, Derbyshire, Edinburgh, Inverness, the Isle of Arran and the Outer Hebrides, plus private residences in London, Ireland. A seven-night package at a country cottage in the Cotswolds figures out to $1,226 per person for four guests, including round-trip air fare from LAX.

Your travel agent or Creative Leisure, 951 Transport Way, Petaluma, Calif. Call toll-free (800) 426-6367.

Beyond the Golden Gate: Vacationers looking for Old World atmosphere can book a room at the Pelican Inn at Muir Beach. This is a Tudor-style mansion across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Appears like a 16th-Century English country inn. Seven rooms with private baths, leaded windows. A bar with a dart board. Several years ago we gave the Pelican Inn four hearts for romance. When the fog rolls in, the proprietor stokes the fire and guests slip off to rooms with half-tester beds. It’s like waking up at a pleasant inn on the coast of Britain. Because of its popularity, early reservations are necessary. Especially on weekends. Worth the stop, though, even if you can’t get a room. The Pelican’s restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Pelican Inn, Muir Beach 94965, telephone (415) 383-6000. Rates: $115/$140, including breakfast. Closed on Monday.

Reader Recommendations

California--Beth Williams and Paul and Hinda Marchetti, Woodland Hills: Enjoyed Casa Laguna Inn, 2510 S. Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach 92651. Rates: $90/$225.

California--Mrs. Robert A. Mauceli, Huntington Beach: High praise for Ridenhour Ranchhouse Inn, 12850 River Road, Guerneville, Calif. 95446. “On a hill across the road from the Russian River and just next door to Korbel Champagne Cellars. Food is outstanding.”

Massachusetts--Nancy Hatchl, Santa Ana: Beachhouse Motor Lodge, 73 S. Shore Drive, Bass River, Mass. 02663. Summer rates: $80/$105.

Oregon--Carol Grier, Portland, Ore.: Sandlake Country Inn, 8505 Galloway Road, Cloverdale, Ore. Rates: $45/$75.

Hawaii--Sam Horn, Wailea, Maui: “Would like to recommend Makena Stables on Maui. This is no nose-to-tail, boring trail ride. Rates: $65 for a 2 1/2-hour morning ride, $95 for a four-hour sunset ride.”

New Zealand--Lewis McCreight, Rancho Palos Verdes: The Farmhouse B&B;, No. 5 R.D., Ashburton. “Excellent at $100 N.Z. per couple per night.”

England--Dixie Mitchell, Irvine: “Salmons Lodge, 125 Salmons Lane, Whyteleafe, Surrey CR3 OHB. Rates: about $35 U.S. per person per night. Delightful British hospitality with all the comforts of home.”

We regret that only a select few recommendations can be used. They must be brief (typewritten or printed). Only one recommendation per reader, please. Note: Recommendations will not be used unless prices and addresses are included.