Globetrotting

Tulip time

• SKAGIT VALLEY, 90 minutes north of Seattle by car, becomes a sea of flowers in April when commercial bulb farms are in bloom. Drive around on a self-guided tour, or contact Victoria Clipper or Gray Line of Seattle for a one-day guided tour; www.victoriaclipper.com; www.graylineofseattle.com. Information about Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, which includes a Tulip Bloom map, www.tulipfestival.org.

Down Under

AMONG WINNERS OF the 2005 Australian Tourism Awards: National Museum of Australia (major tourist attraction); West Coast Wilderness Railway (significant tourist attraction); Sydney New Year's Eve Celebration (major festivals & events). Information about Australia travel: www.australia.com

For sweet's sake

SWEET TIME IN NEW YORK STATE. Late February through early April is maple syrup time, and New York's syrup producers are offering "Maple Weekend" activities. For example, Kenridge Farm has a 45-minute walk through its maple forest to learn firsthand about maple-syrup production (Feb. 19-March 10; www.museumhudsonhighlands.org); Rutley Maple Farms will take visitors through the sugarbush as well as show them working maple equipment (March 19-20; www.mapleweekend.com

Travel guide

THE MESA VERDE COUNTY 2005 travel planner is available free by calling 800-253-1616. Online information: www.mesaverdecountry.com. It covers not only Mesa Verde National Park, but nearby communities, such as Mancos, Dolores and Cortez.

E-mail: kclayton@desnews.com