Top 10 national parks

The top national parks, from Travel Holiday magazine:

1. Yellowstone, Wyo./Mont./Idaho

2. Bryce Canyon, Utah

3. Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Calif.

4. Glacier, Mont.

5. Yosemite, Calif.

6. Lassen Volcanic, Calif.

7. Grand Teton, Wyo.

8. Rocky Mountain, Colo.

9. Death Valley, Calif./Nev.

10. Mount Rainier, Wash.

Visitors to Sydney have whale of opportunity

Sydney, Australia (ap) In addition to its landmark harbor bridge and opera house, Sydney is boasting a new waterfront attraction for visitors whales. Hundreds of them.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service says Sydney is one of the country’s best places for catching a glimpse of migrating whales, and now wintertime Down Under is the time of year to go looking.

One of the best spots for watching the whales while keeping both feet on dry land is Kurnell at the mouth of Botany Bay, where British explorer Capt. James Cook moored his ship, Endeavour, when he first came ashore at what later became Sydney.

“On one day alone last year, June 23, a record 48 whales were spotted passing Kurnell,” says Brian Gilligan, director general of the parks and wildlife group.

Patriotic festival inspired by 9-11

Bossier City, La. (ap) Louisiana, with its reputation for having a different festival for every day of the week, is getting another one this time to salute patriotism.

Bossier City is planning the festival to celebrate national patriotism on Sept. 7. Organizers have already netted $50,000 worth of corporate sponsorships and are busy lining up bands, entertainment, food vendors and a dazzling fireworks show.

The festival will come four days before Patriot Day, the new national holiday designated for Sept. 11 .

The Patriot’s Celebration was inspired by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon and is being planned by the Bossier Chamber of Commerce. If all goes well, it could become an annual event, organizers say.