*In Tennessee, the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train will offer Valentine's dinner rides, which feature a romantic setting for couples as they take in the beauty of East Tennessee, while dining in the style established by the great passenger railroads of the 1930s and '40s. The annual Valentine trips have become so popular that Southern Appalachia Railway Museum, which operates the Secret City Scenic train, has scheduled four special dinner trains on the weekend leading to Valentine's day. The classic dinner train will run on Friday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 13 at 5 p.m;. and Monday, Feb. 14 -- the big day itself --at 6 p.m. he rides last approximately 1-1/2 hours and roll through the former Manhattan Project K-25 plant site now known as East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge, as well as through rural Poplar Creek Valley of Roane County, which includes rolling hills, pastures and hardwood forest. Tickets are $140 per couple and include the train ride, complete dinner and all taxes. Call 865-241-2140 or visit www.southernappalachia.railway.museum.
*In Oregon Wine Country, the Allison Inn & Spa in the Willamette Valley offers a Valentine's and Vineyards package starting at $430. Included are a luxurious bedroom with king bed, fireplace and soaking tub, chilled champagne and a customized four-course dinner in the JORY Restaurant featuring Oregon Wine Country cuisine. Visit www.theallison.com/specials.php. *If you're well-heeled and want to make an unforgettable marriage proposal that will be seen on a giant outdoor screen in Manhattan, then Eventi Hotel's "Love on the Big Screen" package is for you. The package offers the "proposing party" the opportunity to upload a marriage proposal on DVD that will appear on the Big Screen at Eventi, an outdoor 30 x 16.5 foot public arts and culture LED screen adjacent to the plaza behind the hotel at 29th street & 6th Avenue. But this package, which starts at $2,011 plus taxes and tips, is availalbe ot only one couple on a first-come-first-served basis. Included is a four-course meal with a bottle of champagne in the hotel's Bar Basque, luxurious suite accommodations, complimentary "his" and "her" bathrobes, a magnum of champagne upon check-in, Urban Therapy Facial treatments for two at the Spa at Eventi, and chocolate-covered strawberries.For reservations, e-mail info@eventihotel.com. For hotel information, visit www.eventihotel.com.
*Atlantic City, N.J. is offering up a passion-filled Valentine’s Day weekend with [heart] by Atlantic City, featured at Caesars, Harrah’s Resort, Bally’s and Showboat. There will be romantic dinners, exclusive couples' hotel packages and entertainment. The program will kick off Friday, Feb. 11, with specially designed menus at these restaurants: Nero’s and Primavera at Caesars; The Reserve and Arturo’s at Bally’s; Rib and Chop House and Casa Di Napoli at Showboat; and Polistina’s and The Steakhouse at Harrah’s Resort. Dinner is $160 per couple. Star of MTV’s cult phenomenon, Jersey Shore, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino will be making a fist-pumping appearance at the Pool After Dark on Friday evening. A whole lot more is happening, so you might consider a hotel package. Information on those, can be found by clicking here.
*Couples who spend Valentine's Day (which falls on a Monday) at the Kennebunkport Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine, can take in Historic Dock Square and check out the town's one-of-a-kind shops. Then they can check in to a guest room with a welcome gift and a romantic four course dinner in the inn'sa ward-winning restaurant One Dock. After dinner they may want to settle in by the fireplace and have one of One Dock's specialty drinks. (Or they may have other plans.) The romantic getaway with a continental breakfast on Tuesday morning. Rates start at $199 a couple. Call (800) 248-2621 or visit www.kennebunkportinn.com/packages.asp.
Beer here, beer here
For some people, romance is OK but beer is better. Accordingly, the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston has partnered with Samuel Adams to offer an exclusive behind-the-scenes brewery experience. You get a private tour of the brewery and a private tasting of Samuel Adams Boston Lager and limited edition brews in the barrel room. Back at the hotel, a three-course beer pairing dinner awaits. The Samuel Adams Behind the Scene Brewery Package starts at $429 based on double occupancy, and is available January to May and September to December. Visit www.fairmont.com/EN_FA/Property/COP/HotelPackages/, call 800-441-1414 or see a travel agent.
Trivial question
Travelers who visit a destination ought to know how to spell its name correctly. Can you picked out which name or names is misspelled: Carribean, Philipines, Portugese, Tuczon? (Answer somewhere below.)
Wash away your winter woes with a Pura Vida Adventures, a surf and yoga center at the beachfront locale of Malpais, Costa Rica, has a deal for you. Book the March 12-18 (coed) or March 20-26 (women only) surf and yoga adventure by Feb. 1 and save $200. The discounted all-inclusive package rates per person are: shared accommodation, $2,195; private accommodation with shared bath, $2,395; private accommodation with private bath, $2,895. Register online at www.puravidaadventures.com/index.php/reservations/camp_reservations, or call 415-465-2162.
Fascinating fact
In 1973, Bhutan issued a stamp that looked like a record and could actually be played on a record player.Trivial answer
All four words are misspelled. The correct spellings are Caribbean, Philippines, Portuguese and Tucson.
