Shoes, Volcanoes and the Circus

This month marks the opening of three museums specializing in wildly different subjects.

The Mt. St. Helens Forest Learning Center (pictured, right), an interpretive center that combines exhibits, videos and sweeping views of Mt. St. Helens, opens Thursday, the 15th anniversary of the May 18, 1980, volcanic eruption. The facilitiy was built by the Weyerhaeuser company, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the state of Washington.

Visitors enter the building through “the forest that was,” then move into the “eruption chamber” where they experience a simulated eruption through a video presentation. From there, they pass into ash-covered exhibits, then see where nature has sprung back.

The center, which is located on Spirit Lake Memorial Highway (Washington 504), is open daily May-October. Admission is free. Information: (360) 414-3439.

For a more sole-ful experience, there’s Canada’s new Bata Shoe Museum, which opened in Toronto, Ontario, last week. Billed as the biggest shoe museum in North America, the five-story display is the brainchild of Sonja Bata of Bata Ltd., which has been called the largest shoe manufacturer in the world. She has amassed 10,000 pairs of shoes, including a set of sandals reportedly 4,500 years old. Information: (416) 979-7799.

From Toronto, it’s not too far to the Circus World Museum, which opened last week for the summer season in Baraboo, Wis., the original home of the Ringling Bros. Circus. Live shows, demonstrations, tours and attractions are presented daily through Sept. 10. Information: (608) 356-0800.

Two New Airline Options

Southern Californians have two new flying choices.

Western Pacific Airlines, a new carrier that began service April 28 from Colorado Springs, Colo., to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Kansas City and Oklahoma City, and last Monday to San Francisco, will begin flying to Chicago, Seattle and Dallas/Ft. Worth from Colorado Springs on June 1. Introductory one-way fares from Colorado Springs to those destinations will be $59 through June 11.

The airline, which uses the new Colorado Springs Airport as its hub--about 68 miles from Denver--says its fares are 22% to 76% lower than those available elsewhere. A one-way ticket purchased 21 days in advance for off-peak travel from LAX to Colorado Springs costs $69.

Western Pacific, headed by Edward Beauvais (he founded America West Airlines), uses 737s and specializes in nonstop round trips ranging from 300 to 1,100 miles. It is using a ticketless system and plans to add routes, including Orange County, San Diego and San Jose, as it acquires more planes. Reservations: (800) 930-3030.

Reno Air will begin a second, daily nonstop flight between Los Angeles International Airport and South Lake Tahoe on Thursday. Flights will now depart LAX daily at noon and 4 p.m. One-way coach fares are $54; first class is $119. Reservations: (800) RENO AIR.

New Orleans After the Storm

New Orleans’ famed French Quarter has been mopping up since a torrential downpour dumped more than 14 inches of rain in about three hours Monday. Although the storm knocked out electricity, flooded streets and forced the New Orleans International Airport to close for a short time, hotels and restaurants were expecting business to return to normal by this weekend.

The storm hit in what is normally a peak tourist time in New Orleans. “We’re generally sold out every weekend” at this time of year, said Bill Neitzer, general manager of the Pontchartrain, one of New Orleans’ gracious old hotels, on St. Charles Avenue. “But we have a few rooms for this weekend.” At press time on Wednesday, however, the Omni Royal Orleans hotel was sold out for the weekend, and general manager Gary Froeba said his biggest concern was finding clean linen after the storm disabled the hotel’s laundry services. Bourbon Street’s Royal Sonesta, which temporarily lost its air conditioning because of water damage, had completed many repairs by midweek and a spokeswoman said it was sold out this weekend.

Although patrons had to wade through several inches of water to get to Arnaud’s, the well-known restaurant stayed open throughout the storm. However, Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Cajun restaurant, K-Paul’s, was closed as of Wednesday, as were many other establishments. Most expected to reopen Thursday.

Those planning trips to New Orleans may want to call ahead to individual establishments for updated information.

Crater Lake Lodge Reopens May 20

The lodge at Crater Lake National Park reopens May 20 after a six-year, $15-million renovation.

First opened in 1915, the rustic lodge in Oregon’s southern Cascades--a mix of American Arts and Crafts, Adirondack and Mission styles--has had a major overhaul, including the rebuilding of the Great Hall wing and the installation of new utility systems.

All guest rooms have either lake or valley views, and loft rooms have views of both. Rates start at $99 double; loft rooms for up to four people are $169. (The season ends Oct. 14.)

Rooms are still available May 20-July 1 and from mid-August through Oct. 14, a spokesman said, but availability is limited July 1-mid-August.

The summer reservations office opens Monday. To book a room, contact Crater Lake Lodge, P.O. Box 128, Crater Lake National Park, Crater Lake, OR 97604; tel. (503) 594-2511; fax (503) 594-2622. Warning: Telephone lines are constantly busy, but the spokesman said reservations can be requested by fax.