Travel briefs 6/6/04

Find treasures with a vacation in Michigan

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Considering a vacation in Michigan? Take your lead from the governor, Jennifer Granholm, whose weeklong vacation in her own state was designed to promote 18 "hidden treasures."

Stops on Granholm's tour, which begins today, range from an elk-viewing wagon ride in Hillman to a shipwreck-viewing trip to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve near Alpena.

Also on the itinerary: Michigan International Speedway near Brooklyn, cherry pit-spitting competitions at the Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire, and the International Space Station at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo. In Saginaw, a boat takes bird-watchers through a wetland in Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, and in Owosso, all aboard the Pere Marquette 1225, a historic passenger train made famous in the book "The Polar Express."

To plan your own trip to Michigan, visit travel.michigan.org/ or call (888) 78-GREAT.

Nation's oldest folk festival returns to Bangor

BANGOR, Maine -- The National Folk Festival returns to Bangor beginning Aug. 27.

The festival, which dates to 1934, is the nation's oldest multicultural arts celebration. The three-day event remains in the host city for three years before heading elsewhere. Next year, the festival will be held in the riverfront area of Brown's Island in Richmond, Va.

The showcase of American heritage, produced by the National Council for the Traditional Arts in conjunction with a host city, celebrates traditional music, dance, storytelling, crafts and food.

Despite being one of the smallest cities ever to host the event, Bangor drew 80,000 visitors in 2002 and 110,000 visitors in 2003.

Richmond's festival will be a centerpiece of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown colony in 1607.

-- From wire reports