Monthly newsletter offers travel deals, tips

Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. — If you are a frequent traveler, either around the United States or around the world, consider subscribing to the TravelSmart newsletter.

The monthly publication offers advice on everything from how to visit theme parks with your children without losing your mind to getting good seats and good deals from airlines and hotels. The newsletter describes bargains as well as unusual luxuries.

TravelSmart is $8 an issue or $39 a year, available through www.TravelSmartNewsletter.com or (800) 327-3633.

Families can find fun in Northern California

San Francisco — Planning a visit to Northern California with the family?

“Fun Places to Go with Children in Northern California” has more than 350 listings for sites ranging from Yosemite, the Santa Cruz beach and the Monterey Bay Aquarium to more obscure destinations like the Jelly Belly Candy Co. in Fairfield and the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco.

The paperback ($12.95, Chronicle Books), by Elizabeth Pomada, was first published 30 years ago but it has withstood the test of time. Pomada has updated and revised it for each reprinting; the latest version is the book’s ninth edition.

Performing arts center opens in Poconos

Bushkill, Pa. — With its mountains and lakes, the Poconos has long been a popular year-round vacation spot.

But now there’s a new reason for travelers to head to these scenic Pennsylvania mountains: the Mountain Laurel Center for the Performing Arts, which opened Aug. 8.

The center is on 675 acres in Bushkill and will play host to a variety of performances as well as art exhibits. The site is about 90 minutes from New York City and 2 1/2 hours from Philadelphia.

Facilities include an amphitheater with a seating capacity of 2,500 beneath the roof and 7,500 on the lawn, and a boathouse that has been turned into a dinner club.

For more information, visit www.mountainlaurelcenter.org or call (570) 588-5800.