REAL DEAL

Each fall and spring, Gunflint Lodge, north of Grand Marais, Minn., on the Gunflint Trail, hosts work weekends. Participants pay $99 per person per night and help with chores for five hours on Saturday. During the fall weekend Nov. 7-9, tasks include splitting and stacking firewood and bringing out the cross-country skis and snowshoes. The spring work weekend -- think spring planting -- is sheduled for April 24-26. Go to www.gunflint.com or call 1-800-328-3325 or 1-218-388-2296 for more information.

KERRI WESTENBERG

THIS JUST IN

For the first time since oil prices began their meteoric rise this year, airlines have cut fuel surcharges on some flights between the United States and Europe. It's the first rollback of the largest of the new fees that have driven up the cost of flying this year. In the past week, with oil at around $80 a barrel, some carriers have dropped their fuel surcharges by as much as 18 percent for an average savings to travelers of about $60, according to Tom Parsons, chief executive and founder of Bestfares.com.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

OPENING

The Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center has opened in Mount Rainier National Park at Paradise, Wash. The $22 million building does not have the 360-degree-view observation deck of the old visitors center, but it does have soaring windows that frame a view of Mount Rainier. The center also offers a new movie about the park, and its stone and wood design is architecturally compatible with the Paradise National Historic Landmark District. The park's historic Paradise Inn reopened in May after a rehabilitation to improve accessibility and make the building safe in the event of an earthquake or fire.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ON DECK

The new Celebrity Solstice cruise ship with a half-acre lawn of real grass on the top deck is scheduled to depart Nov. 23 from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on a cruise to the eastern Caribbean. The Solstice will continue with Caribbean itineraries through spring. The lawn isn't just for show. Guests will be able to play bocce ball and croquet, practice putting and picnic on the grass. The ship also has two theaters, a casino, a spa, shops, lounges, bars and clubs, five cafes and bistros and four specialty restaurants in addition to the main dining room. For more details, visit www.cruisecelebritysolstice.com.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On Display: New York city

The American Museum of Natural History's Butterfly Conservatory opened Oct. 11 for the seasonal exhibit, which runs through May 25. The conservatory houses up to 500 butterflies in a 1,200-square-foot vivarium filled with lush foliage and blooming tropical flowers for the show, which is called "Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter." Details at www.amnh.org/exhibitions/butterflies. Tickets are $24 for adults, $14 for ages 2-12.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WEB WATCH

BirdPost.com is a new website that unites birders the world over. You can create a "lifelist" of bird sightings and search for birds by regions to find out which birds you can expect to see at your destination. You also can set up a rare-bird alert that sends you coordinates of the winged friends you want to see.

LOS ANGELES TIMES

AIRLINE UPDATE

Forbes.com recently published the results of a study it conducted to determine which U.S. airlines are the most reliable. Ten major carriers were judged based on customer satisfaction ratings, financial health and statistics in such categories as cancellations and mishandled baggage. The hands-down winner? Southwest. The discount carrier, which will enter the Twin Cities market in March with direct flights to Chicago's Midway airport, ranked highest in on-time arrival and lowest in flight cancellations and complaints. Tying for last place were United and US Airways.

WASHINGTON POST