Travel briefs

Behind-the-scenes grounds tours are offered at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway periodically, including June 24 to 26, July 2 to 4, July 14 to 17, July 28 to 31, and Aug. 13 and 14. Or take the basic track tour offered by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, where you'll also find 75 racing cars on display.

For information about visiting Indianapolis, go to www.indy.org or call (800) 323-4639.

For racing fans with other destinations in mind, Mobil Travel Guide's 2005 NASCAR Travel Planner ($19.95) offers recommendations on what to see, where to stay and where to eat in the 31 NASCAR-sanctioned tracks around the country.

If you're headed to Alabama for either the Talladega Superspeedway race on May 1 or the Darlington Raceway event on May 7, check out the visitors tips in the April/May issue of Racing Fan magazine.

Celebrate in Belgium

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Belgium is celebrating the 175th anniversary of its founding this year, with special festivities planned for July 21, the Belgium national holiday.

Exhibits examining the country's history and culture include "Memory of Congo," about Brussels' controversial past as a colonial power, through Oct. 9 at the Royal Museum of Central Africa in Tervuren; "Simply Mussels," a look at the shellfish that are a popular mainstay of Belgian cuisine, at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, through June 30 in Brussels; and "Art Nouveau and Design," May 25 through Dec. 31 at the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels.

Beer-lovers will want to check out the 2005 calendar of brewery tours and festivals at www.beer2005.be. For 175th anniversary information, visit www.visitbelgium.com and click on the calendar of events.

Newport blooms

NEWPORT, R.I. - Most visitors to Newport want to see the mansions and stroll along the Cliffwalk, a 3.5-mile trail with views of the sea and the spectacular homes. But if you're in Rhode Island this June, add another attraction to your itinerary - catching the area in bloom.

Newport's 21st annual "Secret Garden Tour," June 17 to 19, takes you to a dozen private gardens in the Point neighborhood, known for its Colonial and Victorian-era homes. Tickets are $25; call (401) 847-0514 or go to www.secretgardentour.com for details.

The 10th annual Newport Flower Show at the Rosecliff mansion, June 24 to 26, will feature horticulture displays, floral design classes and other workshops.

Other notable attractions for garden-lovers include the recently restored sunken garden of The Elms mansion, designed in the French classical style; the landscaping at the Harold Brown Villa (open Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), which was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and has a mile-long path bordered by century-old trees and a sunken garden; and the 80 displays at the Green Animals Topiary Garden, a popular destination for families with young children.

The sound of comfort

NEW YORK - It's not just about providing the perfect pillow, complimentary shampoo or a coffee maker. Hotels are now paying more attention to their guests' music needs and preferences.

Hilton Hotels (www.hilton.com) are putting new clocks in every room with a connection cable for MP3 players and other portable music devices so you can hear your favorite songs in stereo, in your room, without an earpiece.

The Hilton clocks are also designed to be easy to use; you won't need a magnifying glass or an engineering degree to set the alarm. Instructions, clearly printed on the front of the clock, are so simple that even a grown-up can follow them.

KSL Resorts are introducing suites with iPods as well as digital music systems you can slip your own iPod into, filling your hotel room with sound. The iPods come loaded with a variety of trendy tracks. KSL properties include Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, and Phoenix, Ariz. among others.

W Hotels in Times Square and Los Angeles have satellite radio access in their suites and "we are looking at bringing it to other properties right now, because guests are loving it," said W spokeswoman Jane Lehman. W guests also get iPod chargers in every suite, and can borrow iPods from the concierges.

Mexican ballet in Va.

NORFOLK, Va. - Mexico's Ballet Folklorico, the ballet "Giselle," and a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" set in the Roaring '20s are among dozens of performances on the schedule for the Virginia Arts Festival.

The festival, April 21 to May 22, is held in a variety of venues in and near Norfolk, including Chesapeake, Newport News, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg. Other highlights include violinist Itzhak Perlman; performances for children of "Peter and the Wolf" and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"; a live broadcast of "A Prairie Home Companion" by Garrison Keillor; and all types of dance and music.