Traveler’s Notes . . .

Tours of Holly Hill House in Avalon on Catalina Island are scheduled this year for July 12, Aug. 9 and 23, Sept. 27 and Oct. 11. The privately owned, Queen Anne-style home, with its prominent striped cupola, was built in 1889 by Avalon pioneer Peter Gano. Tours depart every 10 minutes from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on those days. Tickets are $6. Information: (310) 510-2414. . . The popular Coal Mine exhibit at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, which simulates a working mine, reopened last week after $1 million in renovation work that added modern mining technology and a section on plant-to-coal formation. Information: tel. (800) 468-6674. . . A record 46.3 million international tourists visited the United States last year--up 7% from 1995--the Commerce Department’s Tourism Industries office reported. The surge followed three years of declining tourism. . . Bucking the tradition of giving cruise ships romantic names, Renaissance Cruises said it will christen two vessels simply R1 and R2. They debut in 1999.