Southwestern Travel Notes | The Kansas City Star

Wild Earth Llama Adventures, which offers llama treks in northern New Mexico, is holding a Llama Rescue Adventure Raffle to help fund its llama-rescue service.

For several years, Wild Earth has offered sanctuary to unwanted llamas and now has more than 30 orphaned llamas that need food, shelter and care. The need continues to grow, owners Stuart and Leah Wilde say, and they need help.

This limited-edition raffle could be the ticket to success. Each raffle ticket is $100, and only 100 will be sold. The prize is a $2,000 vacation for two that includes a three-day llama trek, one night at a Taos inn, dinner at a Taos restaurant and one night at a resort in northern New Mexico. All proceeds benefit rescued llamas. The drawing is Jan. 31.

Contact: 1-800-758-5262; www.llamaadventures.com. Wild Earth Llama Rescue: www.llamaadventures.com/llama-rescue.html.

Parks offer lodging discount to military

Oklahoma state parks are offering a 25 percent discount on lodge rooms and cabin stays to active and retired military personnel through Feb. 28.

To use the discount, travelers may make reservations by phone or online. When booking online, use the promotional code UUSA. Participants must show a valid military ID or proof of service at check-in.

Contact: 1-800-654-8240; www.travelok.com/state —parks

Fly-fishing class seeks to hook beginners

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens is offering a fly-fishing class for beginners Jan. 15.

Students may use equipment provided by the fisheries center or bring their own. The class is to focus on equipment selection, knot-tying, casting and fishing for rainbow trout in the fisheries' casting pond. Each student also will receive a season pass to the fisheries center.

The fee for the class is $50 per person. Reservations are required and the class is limited to 10 students. The registration deadline is Jan. 14. Athens is about 70 miles southeast of Dallas. Contact: 903-670-2222; www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc

Things look bright for new year's eve

Torchlight parades and fireworks can be experienced at a number of locations around Taos, N.M., on New Year's Eve.

Among them are several planned at ski resorts:

—Taos Ski Valley: Festivities start at 6 p.m. on the ski slopes with a torchlight parade and fireworks display. Afterward, the Martini Tree Bar will have music and a countdown to the New Year.

Contact: 1-800-517-9816; www.taosskivalley.com

—Angel Fire Resort: The resort plans a torchlight parade at the base of the ski area and a fireworks show partially funded by the Village of Angel Fire. Parties follow.

Contact: 1-800-633-7463; www.angelfireresort.com.

The town of Red River: New Year's Eve festivities begin with a torchlight parade and fireworks and continue with the "Old Fashioned New Year's Eve Party" at Red River Community House. The party is free and offers family activities such as a cake walk and pizza walk. Contact: 575-754-3364; www.redriver.org; www.redrivercommunityhouse.org.

Oaklawn racetrack prepares for season

The 2011 live racing season at Oaklawn Racing & Gaming, a thoroughbred horse-racing complex in Hot Springs, Ark., opens Jan. 14 and continues through April 16. Contact: 1-800-625-5296; www.oaklawn.com Tourism: 501-321-2835; www.hotsprings.org

See 6 American Indian art exhibits soon

There is still time to see six American Indian exhibits that close Jan. 2 at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe, N.M. The six were launched together this summer to celebrate the reopening of the museum's main gallery after it was closed beginning in February for roof replacement.

Among topics are Alaskan art and Mescalero Apache identity.

Part of the Institute of American Indian Arts, the museum contains the world's largest collection of contemporary native art and is the only U.S. museum devoted solely to the exhibition of contemporary American Indian art. It's in a historic building in downtown Santa Fe. Contact: 1-888-922-4242; www.iaiamuseum.org

Exhibit celebrates Herman Miller designs

"Good Design: Stories From Herman Miller," a traveling exhibit about innovative design featuring the work of Herman Miller Inc., is on display at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts through Jan. 9.

Herman Miller Inc., founded in 1923 and headquartered in Zeeland, Mich., is known for its innovative office furnishings. It's credited with the creation of the office cubicle.

After leaving San Angelo, stops for the exhibit will include the Austin Museum of Art in Austin (www.amoa.org). That show is scheduled June 4-Sept. 11.

Contact: 325-653-3333; www.samfa.org