CATSKILLS

If you’re looking to get a little fresh air this Memorial Day weekend but haven’t made plans yet, remember the scenic Catskills are just a couple of hours away from the city by car. Some of what’s going on this weekend: Civil War reenactments in Walton and New Paltz, an Irish Festival in East Durham, a major arts and crafts fair at the Ulster County Fairground in New Paltz, and a Memorial Day parade in the town of Andes (in Delaware County).

For more details, call 800-NYS-CATS or visit www.catskillregiontoday.com.

SCOTLAND

The dog days of summer are right around the corner – why not spend them cooling off in the spectacular Scottish Highlands? The luxury Airds Hotel & Restaurant, a two-hour drive from Glasgow on the edge of Loch Linnhe, is offering summer-saver package rates until the end of July: $511 a room a night, including gourmet dinner and a full Scottish breakfast. The offer also entitles guests to three nights of accommodations for the price of two (based on guests paying for dinner and breakfast on the third night). The four-star, family-run hotel dates from the 18th century and has only a dozen guestrooms.

For information and reservations, call 011-1631-730235 or visit www.airds-hotel.com.

CRUISE

Put away the People magazine and gaze at some real stars aboard a 15-day Swan Hellenic cruise starting in Cadiz, Spain, on August 6. A three-night-long meteor shower will take place during the course of the cruise aboard the company’s ship Minerva II, whose Mediterranean ports of call include Calvi, Trapani, Valetta, and Athens. Guest lecturers include Dr. Malcolm Coe, a former NASA astronomer, and Dr. Douglas Campbell, who is launching a new British television program based on Christianity’s subversion of paganism. Fares start at $5,827 a person based on double occupancy and include roundtrip flights from London to the port of embarkation, shore excursions, port taxes, and meals on board.

For more information, call 877-800-SWAN or visit www.swanhellenic.com.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Many travel-insurance plans cover worldwide medical evacuation or coverage for emergency medical expenses; now there’s a plan that features both. Travel Guard International’s MedEvac plan is an industry first in that it includes worldwide medical evacuation to the insured’s home or hospital of choice as well as coverage for emergency expenses. The plan also offers 24-hour access to emergency travel services, medical referrals, emergency cash advances, and concierge services any time the traveler is 100 miles or more from home. There are annual and per-trip MedEvac plan options for individual travelers as well as families. Annual policies start at $185, per-trip policies start at $69, and additional coverage is available for trip cancellation and travel delay.

For more information, call 800-826-1300 or visit www.travelguard.com.