BEST BUYS -- greer wylder

Linda Slaughter, a travel consultant at Newport Travel Concepts -- a

full-service travel agency -- writes a newsletter packed full of

information for people who love to travel, with firsthand recommendations

on train trips and cruises, as well as general information. Inside her

latest letter, Slaughter writes that she is excited about the “great

train escapes” with tours of New England, the Southwest and Mexico’s

Copper Canyon.

“My personal favorite is departing from Boston in September or October

(six dates in all) and traveling to Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont

Connecticut, Cape Cod and return to Boston, staying each night in a hotel

or inn,” Slaughter writes. “There are four days aboard a private rail car

and four days aboard a deluxe motor coach. This seven-night trip costs

$1,999 per person including hotels, meals and sightseeing tours in such

place as Mystic and Newport. What a great way to view the fall foliage.”

Slaughter also recommends the new train route to the Grand Canyon from

Amtrak. The new route makes it possible to travel from Fullerton to

Williams overnight in a deluxe Southwest Chief full-service train

connecting with Grand Canyon Railroad for a trip to the South Rim. You

have the option of lodging at the Grand Canyon or returning to Williams.

For cruises, Slaughter recommends the Columbia Queen, which will be

operated by the Delta Queen Steamboat Company beginning in March. The

steamboat will be traveling from Portland to Idaho and return along the

Columbia and Snake rivers. There are 70 cabins, mostly outside, and some

with balconies. Fares range from $2,000 to $4,000 for the eight-night

trip, depending on the season and the cabin choice. “There is a repeaters

discount for past passengers of the Delta steamships, as well as early

booking discount for their inaugural year,” Slaughter writes. For more

information on travel, or to receive a newsletter, please call Slaughter

at (949) 261-8660.

A’Maree’s, at (949) 642-4423, is having a “super millennium sale,” says

owner Nancy Brown. The sale starts today at 10 a.m. The high-end ladies’

clothing store carries the best in designer fashions, and the sales are

always great. There will be markdowns up to 75% off. The sale includes

selected clothing, shoes and accessories. A’Maree’s is open Monday

through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30

p.m. and is closed Sundays. It’s located at 1649 Westcliff Drive in

Newport Beach.

Gary’s Island is closing its Laguna Beach and Balboa Island stores and

consolidating all of its merchandise into its Fashion Island store. The

Fashion Island store will be expanded and will reopen in the spring.

Merchandise on sale is reduced up to 70%. Name brands on sale include

Reyn Spooner, Tommy Bahama, Back East, Tom Richland and Blue Water. The

Balboa Island store is located at 306-D Marine Ave., and the Laguna Beach

store is located at 357 S. Coast Highway.

The Pacific Design House, at (949) 642-3600 and located at 1931 Newport

Blvd. in Costa Mesa, is having a going-out-of-business sale on all rugs,

which are reduced 60%. Included in the sale are rugs from China,

Pakistan, Persia, Turkey, as well as Aubason weave, vegetable dyes and

antique wash rugs. Furniture is also reduced for the sale. Name brands on

sale include Pulaski, Lane, Hooker, Platt and John Charles.

Miner Mistakes Designer Outlet, at (714) 549-1442, is having a moving

sale on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The three-day sale is considered

a progressive sale because the savings increase with the amount of

merchandise you buy. If you buy one item, you’ll get 10% off; two items

-- 15% off, and three items -- 20% off. The outlet is a showroom of

furniture and accessories, featuring new and discontinued items. There

are tables, dining room sets, mirrors, lamps, upholstery, bedroom

accessories, coffee tables and artwork reduced for the sale. All sales

are final. Name-brand furniture manufacturers on sale include Drexel

Heritage, Lexington, Hickory White and Platt. It’s located at 3030

Pullman St. in Costa Mesa.

A family portrait special is being offered at Yuen Lui Portrait

Photography studio in the Crate & Barrel wing of South Coast Plaza. A

family portrait costs $38 (a $100 value) and includes the sitting fee and

one 8-by-10 color photograph.

* BEST BUYS is published Thursdays and Saturdays. If you know of a good

buy, send a fax to (949) 646-4170 or write to Daily Pilot, Best Buys, 330

W. Bay St., Costa Mesa 92627.