Only in California. The Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition brings together the cream of the competitive surfing dog circuit at Imperial Beach for one almighty showdown. Three categories of competition take place: small surf dogs, large surf dogs and tandem surfing for pet and owner, plus additional doggie diversions. This premier league of canine X Sports raises money for local charities, but, hey, who needs an excuse? 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Imperial Beach, June 28. Free for spectators. www.loewssurfdog.blogspot.com.

CONTEST

SHARE VIDEO OF YOUR EUROPE TRIP AND YOU COULD WIN ANOTHER ONE

Unleash your inner Fassbinder, Fellini and Truffaut. The European Travel Commission is sponsoring a "You and Europe" contest for anyone who comes back from Europe with video footage and a story to tell. Upload your film at www.visiteurope.com, where it will be seen by the public and by the contest's judges. Videos can be submitted through Sept. 30, after which the judges will pick one filmmaker to win a trip to Europe for two.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

NEW TOUR REVISITS SITES OF CIVIL WAR HISTORY

A new Civil War tour of Washington, D.C., includes a visit to the newly restored Lincoln Cottage, Abe Lincoln's summer retreat on the campus of the U.S. Armed Forces Retirement Home. The three-hour tour, "Civil War Washington: Soldiers and Citizens," begins Memorial Day weekend at 9:30 a.m. on six Saturdays: May 24 and 31, and June 7, 14, 21 and 28. Cost is $42 per person, which includes admission to the Lincoln Cottage site.

Other stops on the tour include Fort Stevens, the African-American Civil War Memorial and Peterson House, where Lincoln was taken after being shot. He died there. www.washingtonwalks.com.