On Course: Escape artists

All in praise of Paris Ernest Hemingway famously described Paris as "a movable feast," and the evidence suggests the sobriquet remains apt. Local travel maven Cindy Carlsson, who blogs under the name TravelGal, is returning to the City of Light for the first time in 25 years; we asked readers of the Escape Artists blog to weigh in with their tips. From Parc des Buttes Chaumont to the best falafel in Marais, they provided a wealth of ways to enjoy Paris. Join the discussion at startribune.com/escapeartists.

CHRIS WELSCH

Sharing the Great Lake A paperback guide to historic sites on Lake Superior has chapters on historical issues, including discussions of indigenous populations. In "Around the Shores of Lake Superior: A Guide to Historic Sites" ($25.95, University of Wisconsin Press), author Margaret Beattie Bogue also writes of the French explorers and the War of 1812 between Britain and the young United States, immigration, canal building, tourism and natural resources. The second half of the book describes specific places of interest, beginning in Duluth and traveling clockwise around the lake. The descriptions are numbered and keyed to an accompanying map.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Act fast, cruise with airfare Cruise Masters Travel is offering free adult airfare on select Regent Seven Seas Cruise itineraries in Alaska this summer. The promo can be combined with the cruise line's kids-sail-free deal on four departures in July and one in August. Adult prices start at $4,195 per person double, plus $399 port charges and fuel surcharge. Children pay airfare, cruise taxes and surcharges; one child can be accommodated in the least expensive cabin. Airfare value averages about $705 per adult. The deal also includes $200 per adult shipboard credit. Book by Monday. (1-866-268-1111; www.cruisemasterstravel.com).

WASHINGTON POST

Whisk through customs Already jealous when you see a "registered traveler" speed through security? As of June, a similar program called Global Entry will whisk preregistered travelers through customs lanes at Dulles, New York's Kennedy and Houston Intercontinental. Either brace yourself for more jealousy pangs or pay $100 to join Global Entry. Registration begins Monday on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website (www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel). After you sign up online, you'll be contacted by e-mail about scheduling an in-person interview and fingerprinting at one of the three airports. Eventually, other airports will be included.

WASHINGTON POST

Booking green online A couple of travel booking websites are trying to make it easier for consumers to be environmentally friendly. Orbitz is featuring energy-efficient hotels at www.eco.orbitz.com. These properties have earned an "ENERGY STAR" label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency because they use nearly 40 percent less energy than average buildings and emit 35 percent less carbon dioxide. The website also makes it easy to book hybrid car rentals, take a volunteer vacation or purchase carbon offsets for your travel. Expedia has a new "Going Green" store at www.expedia.com/gogreen that also allows customers to browse for environmentally friendly hotels, hybrid car rentals and carbon offsets.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Myanmar adjustments Travelers to Myanmar may find their itineraries adjusted for an extended time as Yangon and the Irrawaddy Delta recover from a devastating cyclone. Travel providers, however, say tourist destinations in most of the country are operating normally, as is the Yangon airport.

WASHINGTON POST