Travel briefs

Edmonds-based travel writer and PBS host Rick Steves has spent a third of the last 25 years traveling in Europe. Steves believes that thoughtful travel is a powerful way for Americans to broaden their perspectives and become better citizens of the world. Just back from his latest travels, Steves will explore how his social activism grows naturally out of his travel experiences. He will be on hand after the talk for questions and book signing. Tickets are $5 at the door. Town Hall members receive priority seating.

Town Hall is at 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle. More information at www.townhallseattle.org.

Celebrities like resort in New Hampshire

What’s so special about Wolfeboro, N.H.?

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is the latest celebrity to vacation in the resort town, located 100 miles from Boston on Lake Winnipesaukee.

But Wolfeboro has a long history of hosting the rich and famous, including Monaco’s Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, author Kurt Vonnegut and actress Drew Barrymore. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has a home in Wolfeboro, and Taiwan’s Madame Chiang Kai-shek had an estate there.

The scenery is classic New England, a picturesque canvas of deep blue waters bordered by tall forest-green trees, with cottages, homes and inns with wide verandahs dotting the shore of the state’s largest lake, at 72 square miles.

Waterfront rentals range from about $1,000 to $3,000 a week in peak season, depending on the house, and many renters make their reservations the previous winter for choice properties. The town also has a variety of hotels and motels. Restaurants range from West Lake Asian Cuisine to Wolfe’s Tavern, known for a wide selection of beers.

Wolfeboro considers itself America’s first resort because in 1763, Royal Gov. John Wentworth built the first known summer home there, marked today by the Gov. John Wentworth Historic Site.

Top 10 amusement parks outside Orlando

Can’t get the family to an Orlando, Fla., theme park this year?

TripAdvisor has come up with a list of the 10 best parks outside Orlando, based on popularity among TripAdvisor.com users and the Web site’s editors.

The parks are:

HersheyPark, Hershey, Pa., celebrating its centennial this year. Hershey’s Chocolate World is nearby.

Busch Gardens, Tampa, Fla., which has African-themed rides and landscaping, and a zoo with 2,700 animals.

Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky, Ohio, which calls itself the “roller coaster capital of the world,” with 17 coasters.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio, Texas, known for its entertaining shows in addition to rides like Scream and Poltergeist.

Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach, S.C., a combined oceanfront water park and amusement park.

Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, N.J., known for thrill rides and a tiger exhibit, but with plenty for little kids to do as well.

Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and Amusement Park, Gatlinburg, Tenn., where your visit starts with a scenic aerial tram ride up a mountain. Features include indoor skating, an alpine slide, a fun house, go-carts and a black bear habitat.

Coney Island, Brooklyn, N.Y., home to the world-famous Cyclone coaster and Wonder Wheel ferris wheel. But hurry – This is the final season for the park that is home to many of the area’s other rides, Astroland.

Paramount’s Carowinds, Charlotte, N.C., which has coasters along with a 25,000-square-foot wave pool, a three-story water jungle gym and other water rides.

Travel deals

Travelocity and MasterCard are offering cruise upgrades, extras and onboard credits on 10 different lines, including Carnival, Celebrity Regent Seven Seas and Windstar. For example, a four-night cruise from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico, on Celebrity Cruise’s Century departing Dec. 20 is $359 per person double (plus $43 taxes) for an interior cabin, and cruisers receive champagne, canapes and photo package worth $75. You must pay with a MasterCard by Aug. 31 and sail Oct. 1 through March 31.

Info: 877-815-5446, www.travelocity.com/mcsale.

Expedition Trips, which has a few cabins left for the Antarctica cruise aboard the National Geographic Endeavor, is offering $250 per person discounts on the Jan. 1 voyage. The trip, now priced from $9,280 per person double, includes round-trip flights from Santiago, Chile, to Ushuaia, Argentina; one-night hotel in Santiago; and the 11-night cruise. Info: 877-412-8527, www.expeditiontrips.com.

Travel classes, seminars

Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door hosts free travel classes from 10 to 11:30 a.m. most Saturdays at the Edmonds Theater, 415 Main St., Edmonds.