Continued: Travel briefs

THIS JUST IN

Finally, North Dakota gets attention for being a top-notch destination. Ah, the open spaces, the fresh air ... the low prices. AAA's Annual Vacation Cost Survey puts North Dakota at the top of the list of inexpensive places to travel. The average daily expense for two tops out at $159 (three meals per person, excluding beverages, taxes and gratuity). Opt for its southern neighbor, and the price tag nudges up to $175. Iowa will cost $170 a day; Wisconsin, $206 and Minnesota, $212. A trip to Hawaii, the most expensive state to visit, will run a couple $793. But, you might wonder, what is there to do in North Dakota? You can't snorkel in the ocean, but you can hike through the Badlands, milk a cow on a farm and visit the birthplace of band leader Lawrence Welk. For more ideas, go to www.ndtourism.com.

KERRI WESTENBERG

OPENIN: SAN FRANCISCO

National parks in the United States have some great lodgings in stellar locations, but it'll be hard to beat the views at the newest entry: Cavallo Point in San Francisco's Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The property, on a former military base established in 1897, has views of the city, the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. The resort, slated to open June 1, has 68 rooms in renovated National Historic Landmark buildings and 74 in new two-story buildings. All rooms have flat-screen televisions, iPod docking stations and WiFi access. Double rooms are high by national park standards: Rooms in the historic part start at $250 a night and range to $700 for a suite; in the new section, $350 to $750 (1-888-651-2003, www.cavallopoint.com). For info on the park: www.nps.gov/goga.

WASHINGTON POST

ON DECK

If your plan is to bypass the mighty euro by cruising Europe on a North American ship next year (and paying in dollars), you'd better hurry before everyone else snaps up the 63,000 beds. The six large cruise lines that sail predominantly in North America -- Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean -- plan to base 31 ships in Europe for part or all of 2009. The armada, including several ships that aren't finished yet, can carry more than 63,000 passengers at any one time, depending on the season. And that doesn't include European-based lines that market to North American passengers: MSC Cruises, Costa and, to a lesser extent, Cunard.

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

TREND SPOTTING

Twice a year, Camp Dogwood lets canines and their human companions take to the woods for getaways that feature Frisbee, flyball, herding and dock diving, as well as dog-treat making. Camp Dogwood takes place on a 180-acre property near Fox Lake outside of Chicago. The second outing this year is slated for Oct. 17-20. Fees range from $475 for tent camping to $675 for accommodations in the new lodge, including activities for one person and up to two canines, with each dog after two costing an additional $50. Rates include human meals; dog chow is BYO. Early-bird discounts for the fall session are in effect until June 1. (1-312-458-9549; www.campdogwood.com)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

BOOK BRIEF

No surprise that "1,001 Smart Travel Tips" (Fodor's, $9.95) is packed with thoughtful tips, scattered among others that are more obvious. Fodor's is, after all, one of the big names in travel guides. Ideas by its editors, writers and readers are organized into 14 chapters that cover topics from planning to destinations. Some of the things you'll learn: Call your hotel the day you're planning to arrive and ask for the day's best room rate. It might be less than the one quoted when you made your reservation. Worried about finding clean bathrooms? Try www.thebathroom diaries.com, which reviews loos in more than 120 countries. All in all, the book is probably worth the price if you like a quick look at a lot of different topics -- family reunions, for example, might be good to bone up on for this summer.

MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

UPDATE

Most economy-class passengers on domestic flights operated by US Airways, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United now have to pay $25 extra to check a second piece of luggage. Other carriers, including American Airlines, Air Canada and AirTran, will introduce similar fees this month. JetBlue is to impose a $20 second-bag fee June 1. While the specifics vary from airline to airline, the new checked bag policies generally apply only to passengers traveling in economy class, or on tickets that are discounted or free. Also, the $25 fee applies to the second bag; additional bags can cost up to $100 each.

SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE