Trip Tips

O, Canada

Balfour, British Columbia, is a wonderful place to visit, writes Kardyne Steacy. Located about 60 miles north of the Idaho panhandle and 150 miles norht of Spokane, Wash., the area features "fabulous scenery of mountain ranges, picturesque valleys, glacier-fed lakes, and natural hot springs." It also has a large population of breeding ospreys and many bald eagles.

Nelson, the largest town in the region, is ranked the No. 1 small arts town in Canada by "The 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America." It has more than 350 heritage buildings, second only to Victoria and Vancouver, says Mrs. Steacy.

There's something to keep you busy every moment, she adds. Outdoor activities include hiking, fishing, cycling, boating, swimming, golfing, camping, tennis, and mountain biking in summer; skating, curling, skiing, and snowboarding in winter.

The best-dressed list

According to 600 American travelers surveyed by the National Family Opinion Research Group, the secret to getting better service on the road or in the air is to dress up. "I've found that dressing up even the slightest bit makes service professionals give me the extra consideration I want," says Bonnie Ammer, president of Fodor's Travel Publications.

Have kids, will travel.

Parents and grandparents traveling with teens or tots will find good advice at a trio of Web sites. Family Travel Forum (www.familytravelforum.com/index.html) offers information about family-friendly destinations. Travel With Kids (www.travelwithkids.about.com) features a large library of articles and links, while GoBabies.com (www.tinytravelers.com) is devoted to traveling with infants.

*Share your trip tips. If you have advice on making travel easier or want to recommend an outstanding vacation spot, as Mrs. Steacy did, above,

e-mail Lowej@csps.com.

Or write Travel Editor, The Christian Science Monitor, One Norway Street, Boston, MA 02115.

(c) Copyright 2000. The Christian Science Publishing Society