Into the breach Whale-watching season off the coast of Virginia begins Saturday and runs through March 7. If you find yourself in the Chesapeake Bay area, you might consider shipping out on one of the Virginia Marine Science Museum’s two-hour whale-watching boat trips. The excursions cost $14 for adults, $12 for children under 12. Reservations are recommended; (757) 437-6000.
Over the Hill Seniors who want an inside look at Washington politics should check out the Close Up Foundation’s Life Long Learning series. For about $1,000, participants get a week’s worth of seminars and workshops organized by the non-profit, non-partisan organization. The program includes a one-on-one with their member of Congress, a talk with a member of the Washington press corps, a visit to a foreign embassy, guided tours of Capitol Hill, national monuments and museums, and an evening of theater. The price includes lodging (based on double occupancy), most meals and all excursions; (800) 363-4762.
Beast bets If leaving home without the pooch is not an option, pick up Dawn and Robert Habgood’s “On the Road Again with Man’s Best Friend” (Dawbert Press, $24.95). The tome lists 16,000 accommodations that welcome pets and gives a thumbnail description of each. Regional editions (ie. New England) cost $15.95-$19.95 and offer far more detail, with chatty, two-page descriptions of dog-friendly inns, hotels and resorts, plus suggested nearby hikes and other local activities to do with a dog . With Amy McCloskey