By Fred Wright, Jr.

Perks for IT Girls
Here’s a hotel promotion aimed at women who travel alone or with a girlfriend. The Marquis Los Cabos Beach Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, is offering a three-night IT Girl Getaway package that includes a four-hour, high-riding Hummer tour of the rugged Baja desert, with an eco-guide along for narration and a picnic lunch afterwards. The rooms are junior suites or private pool casitas with hydro-massage bathtub, balcony and a complimentary dinner at one of the resort’s on-site restaurants. The package starts at US$ 455 per person, double occupancy, from June 15 to December 15. For more information, call 877-238-9399 or go to www.MarquisLosCabos.com.

Topless on Wisconsin’s Surfing Coast
More than 200 convertible lovers will appear topless in August in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, during the 13th Annual Wisconsin Convertible Classic Tour. The August 18-21 event draws owners of convertible automobiles from around the U.S. to show off their driving machines. There are a few slots still available, on a first-come, first-touring basis. Any make and model is eligible. Participants will enjoy shore-hugging drives on Lake Michigan and winding roads into glacial sculpted Kettle Moraine County. The event is limited to 200 cars, 200 drivers and 200 navigators. For more information, call 608-271-1335 or go to www.WiAutoTours.com.

Nature in New Orleans
Families who can’t agree on a vacation destination this summer — big city or nature — might want to consider New Orleans. The city’s Hyatt Regency New Orleans is providing a package for four priced at US$ 179 a night that includes tickets to the local zoo, aquarium, and nature center. The three-night “Get Wild Getaway,” offered through December 29, also includes a breakfast buffet, one in-room movie per stay, a US$ 30 Hyatt food and beverage credit and shuttle service to the aquarium and the historic French Quarter. For more information, call 800-233-1234 or go to www.hyatt.com

Glow-in-the-Dark Volleyball. Honest!
One Florida hotel with the idea of keeping guests as busy as possible is the TradeWinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach, right on the Gulf of Mexico. There is a three-story inflatable water slide into one of the resort’s pools and the “RedBeard” Pirate Show, which starts on Saturday afternoons with stories and songs for kids — aka P.I.T. (Pirates in Training). Hair braiders, caricature and henna tattoo artists offer their services. Poolside massage and handcrafted jewelry are available. Perhaps the most creative distraction is glow-in-the-dark volleyball on Tuesday nights. Families get decked out in washable neon paint to volley and spike the night away. Room rates start at US$ 125 per room. For more information, call 800-360-4016 or go to www.JustLetGo.com

Visiting Bard Country
The Royal Shakespeare Company, housed in William Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-on-Avon, will be performing a series of the Bard’s plays, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream — a perfect choice for visitors this summer who will find, in addition to fine theater, a series of themed art exhibitions and even a dynamic “Shakespearience.” This is a new show presenting the life and work of the playwright using groundbreaking technology and special effects. There are even jousting knights who will perform throughout the summer. For more information, go to www.Shakespeare-Country.co.uk or www.shakespearience.co.uk.