Travel briefs

Troubled beach waters Last week, the Natural Resources Defense Council released Testing the Waters 2008, its annual report on beach water quality, and once more the findings are disturbing.

"In 2007, the number of closing and advisory dates at ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches reached 22,571 days nationwide, their second-highest level since NRDC began tracking these events 18 years ago," the report began.

The worst year, if you're wondering, was 2006, but don't assume that conditions at America's beaches are improving. For one thing, 2006 was a wetter year than 2007, and rainy conditions lead to more bacterial contamination.

The NRDC study draws special attention to beaches that were found to be contaminated with bacteria more than 25 percent of the time in 2007, bacteria likely to be the result of human or animal waste coming into contact with the water. A staggering 131 beaches in 23 states fall into this category. For the full report, visit the NRDC website at www.nrdc.org.

WASHINGTON POST

'Theatre 101' and discounts For 40 years, TKTS has sold same-day show tickets 25 to 50 percent off to dozens of New York productions from a Times Square booth. But be warned: The clerks take cash, traveler's checks and gift certificates, but no credit cards. While its traditional site on Duffy Square is being renovated, the TKTS booth has moved to the Marriott Marquis on W. 46th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue. The TKTS website (www.tdf.org) has a helpful "NYC Theatre 101" page for newcomers.

LOS ANGELES TIMES

'Then he said ... Hello, hello?' Are you eager to chatter away on your cell phone at 35,000 feet in the air or listen to your seatmate do the same? Not so fast. More Americans oppose this idea than support it, according to a survey released last week by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The numbers, based on a survey taken last November: 45 percent of U.S. residents surveyed think cell phones should definitely or probably be barred from cabins, 40 percent think they're definitely or probably OK if they don't interfere with aircraft communications and 15 percent said they aren't sure. Like it or not, several foreign airlines are moving to equip their planes for cell phone use. U.S. flights are a different story; because government regulators, saying cell phones might interfere with ground or air communications, are balking at giving the go-ahead.

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Disney adds new tours Adventures by Disney is adding eight destinations to its list of family tours, including Alaska, the Galapagos Islands and South Africa. Other new trips include Italy and Switzerland (Stresa, Zermatt and Lake Lucerne); Boston, Newport, R.I., and New York City; Sorrento and Florence in central Italy; Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park and San Francisco, and Glacier National Park in Montana and Banff National Park in Alberta. The South Africa trip includes Capetown and a safari at the Kapama Game Reserve. The new itineraries will be available beginning in the spring of 2009. Details at www.Adventuresby Disney.com or 1-877-728-7282.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Connecticut's Sundae Drive Eastern Connecticut has an official ice cream trail leading to the best spots for locally produced and often homemade ice cream. A brochure, "Follow the Ice Cream Trail: Sundae Drives," lists 35 places to get your scoops, cones, shakes, rainbow sprinkles and hot fudge sauce. It is available online at www.mysticcountry.com from the Eastern Regional Tourism District of Connecticut.

ASSOCIATED PRESS