Trends for December 17, 2001

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, Dec. 17, 2001 | 8:36 a.m.

Plotting 'Potter'

Now that the hype surrounding the flick "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" has settled down to a steady simmer, the folks at AAA Travel (an offshoot of what was formerly known as the American Automobile Association) are trying to stir things up again and they're aiming directly at your kids.

The travel agency has designed a fully escorted tour of jolly old England that follows in the footsteps of the Harry Potter character.

Included among the stops will be Kings Cross Station in London where, in the blockbuster flick, young Harry approached track No. 9 3/4 and boarded a train. Then it's off to Alnwick Castle where all of the broom-flying classes and scenes of Quiddich games were caught on film.

In Oxford, travelers will visit Christ Church College, home of the giant dining hall that doubled for Hogwarts' Main Hall. Also on the itinerary are obligatory visits to Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

Here's hoping your little ones were very good this year, since tickets for the tour cost $995 for adults and $345 for children, not including round-trip airfare.

For more information, contact AAA Travel at (888) 531-1833.

Safety first

No matter where you're traveling to this holiday season, the National Fire Protection Association and Underwriters Laboratory (responsible for those UL tags on appliances and such) have some tips for thwarting home fires, electrical shock and other injuries:

Say cheese

As though procrastinators need another reminder, the holiday shopping season is winding down in a hurry. The American Dairy Association hope you'll think of cheese when you're in a pinch.

On its website, ilovecheese.com (what else?), the association offers a slew of cheesy gifts for the purchasing: 4-ounce bricks from cheese hawker Hickory Farms, Big Barn and Cabot. A set up called the Great American features several award-winning cheeses and a jar of chutney for spreading on crackers for $59.99 $10 of which will benefit the New York State World Trade Center Relief Fund.

Who wouldn't love a gift of a membership in Hickory Farms' Cheese Club? (Well, probably not the lactose intolerant.) Nevertheless, a nine-month membership ($149.99) brings a delivery of Colby-Jack, Swiss, Muenster and other cheeses every month except June, July and August.

Looking for something a little less cheesy, but still, well, cheesy?

T-shirts, key chains and the like bearing the slogan "Ahh, the power of cheese," are available by calling (800) 441-1333.