Tips & Trips
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

INTERNET TRAVEL
GROUP PLANNING MADE EASY
Groople, www.groople.com, a new Web site that stands for “groups of people,” allows organizers of weddings, reunions, and other get-togethers to plan the event with greater ease and flexibility. Sparing planners the chore of making lots of phone calls looking for comparisons on rates and availability, the site pulls together information on flights, hotels, car rentals, and other necessities, even providing checklists for Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim weddings.
Groople also eliminates the need for a single individual’s credit card to hold blocks of reservations. Once selected, individual group members can secure bookings with their own credit card.
Telephone assistance at 888-4-GROOPLE.
OUTDOOR LIFE
UP THE RIVER WITH A PADDLE
On September 18, the Eastern Gateway of the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a sort of aquatic Appalachian Trail running through four states and Quebec, will open in Maine. In conjunction, Mountaineers Books will publish maps of this section.
Although the trail won’t be fully unveiled until 2006, when it will be sign-posted, mapped, and equipped with access and campsites, one individual has already “through-paddled” the route, a 55-day journey.
Unlike the Appalachian, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail traverses both developed and wilderness areas adjacent to private and public property, and in places requires a high degree of boating skill.
www.northernforestcanoetrail.org and www.mountaineersbooks.org
MUSIC
AMERICA’S LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL
On September 17-19, Austin, Texas, will host the three-day, Austin City Limits Music Festival, showcasing 130 acts including Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, North Mississippi Allstars, and Wilco.
“Austin City Limits,” the PBS music series airing since 1976 and featuring live music in many genres, spawned the festival two years ago. Austin, the geographical center of Texas, state capital, and home of the university and many parks and nature trails, gets 300 days of sun a year and has a year-round temperate climate – a fine setting for the outdoor extravaganza.
For schedule and tickets visit www.aclfestival.com
A three-day pass costs $75.
Travel packages available through www.austintexas.org or by calling 800-926-2282.