Rollin’ Along the Mississippi

Two tours scheduled for spring are being offered by Mature Tours for travelers over 50. A “Nostalgia Cruise” on the Mississippi Queen plies the waters of the Mississippi River on a trip that begins and ends in New Orleans and features the big-band sounds of the Glenn Miller and Sammy Kaye orchestras and the vocal group, The Ink Spots. The trip includes historic cities and towns in the Old South, including Vicksburg and Natchez, Miss., and Baton Rouge and Lafitte, La. Dates are Feb. 3-10, and rates begin at $1,545 per person for twin cabin accommodations.

The second trip is to Costa Rica, scheduled for eight days from March 18 for $1,549. The package includes round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, airport transfers, first-class hotel, full buffet breakfast each day, welcome and farewell dinners plus all taxes and gratuities. A tour of the capital city, San Jose, and a full-day jungle train ride are included. For information and brochures on both of the above trips, contact Mature Tours, telephone (800) 266-1566.

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Folkways Institute offers a selection of ElderFolk Tours designed for travelers over 55. The theme is, “Exploring the cultural heritage of our global community,” which aptly describes the nature of the sometimes exotic destinations. Examples of 1995 programs include (prices quoted are per person and do not include air fare):

* Sherpas of Nepal, an Everest cultural trek in the Himalayas. Includes visits to many off-the-beaten-path villages. Overnights are in tents with all supplies carried by porters. From April 3 to 24, $2,570.

* On Safari: Tracking the Tiger. Includes four wildlife preserves, national parks and bird sanctuaries with 470 species of birds. Travel by private bus, train, airplane with tours by Jeep, elephant, rickshaw, rowboat and on foot. From Nov. 3 to 27, $3,340.

* Portrait of Ireland. An in-depth study of sites, including Dublin, Sligo, Galway, Connemara, Killarney, Cork and many more. From Aug. 8 to 30, $2,920.

Other programs include Discover the Aegean, Greece & Turkey; Kenya: Wildlife & Conservation; Day Hikes in the Swiss Alps; Overland from Beijing, China to Lhasa, Tibet; Along the Ancient Silk Road from Xi’an (China) to Rawalpindi (Pakistan).

For complete itineraries and other information, call ElderFolk Tours, (800) 225-4666.