Q Where are the best places to view the highest tides at the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia? And what are some highlights of the Evangeline and Lighthouse trails?
Joseph Saur
Rockville
A In a stretch of sea between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the Bay of Fundy sees tides that surge up to 50 feet in parts and is home to whales, dolphins and other animals gorging on the edibles that get churned up during this twice-daily tidal uprising.
The area around the Minas Basin is where the highest tides have been recorded. To view the sea's power from above, set out for Burncoat Head Park along the Glooscap Trail. Be sure to stop at Cape Chignecto Provincial Park, where the cliffs rise 600 feet, and at the Cape d'Or Lighthouse (902-670-0534, http://www.capedor.ca/ ). The former keeper's residence is now a four-room guest house (from $70 double, May through October only) and restaurant. The Joggins Fossil Centre, near Parrsboro, is a paleontologist's dream, with fossils embedded in and recovered from the cliffs. Both the fossil center and the Fundy Geological Museum, a Parrsboro attraction that houses some of Canada's oldest dinosaur bones, offers tours.
The Evangeline Trail runs part of the length of the bay from Yarmouth County to Mount Uniake. Yarmouth has walking tours detailing the area's French Acadian history, and if you're seeking something unusual to do, stop by the town of Annapolis Royal for a spooky graveyard tour by candlelight.
Along the Atlantic Ocean coast of Nova Scotia from Yarmouth to Halifax, the Lighthouse Trail has some notable stops. One is the town of Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it's a scenic little seaport, with steeples, tall ships and a rich seafaring history. Shelburne, with a number of museums, and the Village of Peggy's Cove--where the lighthouse is also the post office--are worth visits, too.
Info: New Brunswick Tourism, 800-561-0123, http://www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca ; Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, 800-565-0000, http://www.novascotia.com/ . http://
Should we buy tickets to the Uffizi and Accademia before arriving in Florence?
Joan Topalian Washington
Most definitely. The lines to see some of the finest Renaissance art at the Galleria degli Uffizi (Piazzale degli Uffizi; $8.50) and gaze at Michelangelo's goliath statue of David at the Galleria dell'Accademia (Via Ricasoli 58-60; $8.50) can be hours long. With tickets in hand, you could slip past the weary, jealous tourists.
Buy your time-entry tickets for each museum by calling 011-39-055-294-883 Monday through Friday from 2:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST or Saturdays 2:30 to 6:30 a.m. EST. (Unfortunately, tickets cannot be bought online). A $4 booking fee applies -- well worth the time you'll save in line. Keep hitting redial if the number is persistently busy, and have your date and time ready. Remember that the galleries are closed Mondays.
Info: http://www.uffizi.firenze.it .
Can you recommend centrally located B&Bs in Charleston, S.C., and Savannah, Ga., for someone who is partially handicapped? First-floor rooms are needed.
Romulo Baptista Alexandria
Oftentimes, the loveliest B&Bs are the historic ones, but they aren't always accessible. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires B&Bs, along with other properties and public places, to make "readily achievable" changes to be accessible. Historic places are often granted special allowances and aren't always required to make such alterations, but many do anyway.
On the Charleston waterfront, the 65-room Vendue Inn (800-845-7900, http://www.vendueinn.com/ ; from $155) has several first-floor rooms; an elevator provides access to the rooftop bar and restaurant. A ramp leads to a garden-level room at the 21-room Wentworth Mansion (877-753-9704, http://www.wentworthmansion.com/ ; from $225), a posh 19th-century residence with Tiffany stained-glass windows and marble mantels; the garden-level unit has its own sun room and access to an elevator that takes guests to the main floor. A group called Historic Charleston Bed and Breakfast (800-743-3583, http://www.historiccharlestonbedandbreakfast.com/ ; from $120) lists 25 garden-level apartments that are attached to private residences throughout the city.
In central Savannah, the 16-unit President's Quarters (800-233-1776, http://www.presidentsquarters.com/ ; from $137) has four courtyard-level rooms with Colonial-era decor and exposed brick walls. The 213-year-old Kehoe House (800-820-1020, http://www.kehoehouse.com/ ; from $249), a National Historic Landmark, has elevator access to all 13 rooms. And the 28-room East Bay Inn (800-500-1225, http://www.eastbayinn.com/ ; from $169) near the waterfront has two accessible rooms.
Send queries by e-mail (travelqa@washpost.com), fax (202-912-3609) or U.S. mail (Travel Q&A, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington D.C. 20071).
