Travel Q&A

TRAVEL Q&A Getaway for a celebration Q I am about to turn 40 and want a long weekend away with my husband. We've been to many of the popular getaways, including Napa, New York, Santa Fe, Chicago, Vancouver and the North Shore. Do you have any other recommendations?

A You've already been to many of the most popular weekend getaways. For an international destination, Montreal offers a European experience that's just a short plane ride away. If you're looking for better weather and a change of scenery, how about Asheville, N.C.? Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it has that small-town feel, but there are loads of attractions, including the Biltmore Estate Inn and restaurant. Closer to home, you might want to consider Canoe Bay, an adults-only resort tucked into the woods of northwestern Wisconsin.

Answers to travelers' questions appear in Travel weekly and every Monday at startribune.com/escapeartists; send your question by e-mail to travel@startribune.com.

JIM BUCHTA

Backstage pass to the world Andrew Mueller is an Australian journalist who has crisscrossed the globe interviewing rock stars from Green Day and the Cure to Bruce Springsteen and Courtney Love. All the articles included in his new book, "Rock and Hard Places: Travels to Backstages, Frontlines and Assorted Sideshows" (Soft Skull Press, $15.95), were previously commissioned by various publications with one exception. "Incredibly," Mueller writes, "nobody wanted to spend money on an account of taking a country band on tour in Albania." That's indicative of Mueller's humor -- sharp, witty and sarcastic. The chapter titles are clever puns too, such as "Whole Lotta Fake King Goin' On," about the Elvis Presley festival in Presley's hometown of Tupelo, Miss., "(Get Your Kicks on) Beirut 66" about the road to Damascus, or "Crazy Norses," about Mueller's three visits to Iceland. During his travels Mueller learned some hard life lessons. Among them, "The more alcohol a people drink, the worse they look, except in Iceland."

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Chile earthquake update Chile wants travelers to know that they need not stay away due to the recent massive earthquake. Although cities near the epicenter of the quake -- Concepcion, Talcahuano and Temuco -- suffered severe damage, many tourist areas are intact, a representative of the Chilean tourism office in the United States confirmed. They include Patagonia and Torres del Paine in the southernmost part of Chile, the southern part of the lakes and volcanoes region, the Atacama Desert region in the north and Easter Island, 2,300 miles from the Pacific coast. After suffering some structural damage, the Santiago airport is operating again, as are communications, electricity, transportation, government services and hotels around the capital city. Some damage, however, has been reported in Chile's wine country. Be aware that recently, a blackout affected the country for an hour.

Great Wall vs. Eiffel Tower China may surpass France as the largest tourist destination by 2015, according to Taleb Rifai, secretary general of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The comments, reported by Chinaknowledge.com, reflect China's growing draw of international visitors. It is now the world's fourth-most-popular destination. In the past 10 years, the number of foreign tourists has increased from 8 million to 48 million (spurred partly by the 2008 Summer Olympics), and that number is expected to grow. France sees 80 million tourists a year, while the United States and Spain, which tied for second place, each sees 60 million a year.

KERRI WESTENBERG

Online guidebook exchange No doubt you have a pile of guidebooks to destinations you never plan to revisit. Put them up for sale at GuideGecko Travel Bookstore (www.guidegecko.com). Sellers reap 85 percent of the sale price at the online store. You can also pick up some "new" (used) ones at discounted prices.

WASHINGTON POST

Geocaching the day away On April 24, enjoy scenic sights while trying geocaching. Use a GPS device to look for caches in William O'Brien State Park, about 12 miles north of Stillwater. Hours are from 10:30 a.m. to noon (651-433-0500). Also that day, learn about the popular activity and test your navigation skills at the Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, 8 miles north of Onamia, Minn. Meet at the interpretive center; hours are 11 a.m. to noon (1-320-532-3523). There will be limited GPS devices available at the parks, so call ahead to reserve one.