Several years ago, when New Yorker Howard...

Several years ago, when New Yorker Howard Goldberg called a Manhattan newspaper to request a tour of the plant, he was told he would need a group of 15 persons. Sorry, no singles, the newspaper said. Undaunted, Goldberg placed an ad in New York’s Village Voice and to his surprise came up with 65 responses. And that, unwittingly, is how the unflappable Goldberg got into the tour business.

He calls his company Adventure on a Shoestring, and it’s been flourishing ever since. Mostly these are $5 tours to Greenwich Village, Beekman Hill and Sutton Place (the neighborhoods of the late Greta Garbo and Irving Berlin), to Wall Street (with visits to the New York Stock Exchange, Trinity Church and the Customs House) and to the largest Greek community outside of Greece, as well as the biggest Chinese settlement in the United States.

Goldberg leads other New York visitors backstage to the Metropolitan Opera House ($6) and to off-Broadway performances with discounted admissions. Frequently, Goldberg winds up a tour with a snack stop at an ethnic restaurant or deli. One of his pricier tours is a stop at the Waldorf Astoria for high tea and a harp concert ($14.75). But mostly, Goldberg’s tours are in the $5 range. What’s more, he insists that weather never interferes. He leaves on time--rain, sleet or shine. Even if it’s snowing.

Adventure on a Shoestring, 300 West 53rd St., New York 10019, (212) 265-2663.

Another headliner on the New York merry-go-round is Lou Singer, who specializes in visits to the brownstones of Brooklyn and noshing tours of the Lower East Side. Loads of ethnic snacks (Chinese, Italian, Jewish, etc.), plus pastries, coffee, tea. Visits to nearly a dozen restaurants, coffee houses, a winery. Singer conducts other tours of Manhattan/Brooklyn. Call or write. You’ll not be disappointed. Lou Singer, 130 St. Edward St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201, (718) 875-9084.

Off-season/New Mexico: One of our favorite inns, La Posada de Santa Fe in New Mexico, is offering a string of off-season specials, including a three-night package for two for $235 (room, breakfast, museum passes, etc.). Another three-night offer ($299) features a car plus accommodations. La Posada’s honeymoon package comprises an adobe casita with a kiva fireplace, champagne, continental breakfasts ($99 the first night, $75 for each additional night). Other off-season specials for anniversary celebrants, museum buffs, skiers.

La Posada’s 116 adobe-style accommodations are surrounded by gardens a couple of blocks off the village’s historic plaza. La Posada de Santa Fe, 330 E. Palace Ave., Santa Fe, N.M. 87501, (800) 727-5276.

The Great Pumpkin: Move over, Linus. The same goes for other members of the Charlie Brown gang. Youngsters will be invading the Great Pumpkin Patch starting Saturday at the Al Bussell Ranch in Bakersfield. This is a 200-acre, pick-your-own farm that’ll be given over to Halloween through Oct. 31. Fields of scarecrows. Mounds of pumpkins. The Great Talking Pumpkin will scare the wits out of ghosts, while the Amazing PumpkinHead Band toots spooky music. The small fry will be carried into fields by tram to handpick pumpkins and join the entertainment (a Jack-O’-Lantern Jamboree, the Wonderful Scarecrow Contest, a pumpkin carving contest, costume parties). Loads of candy apples, cotton candy, apple cider.

The Al Bussell Ranch, 26500 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, (805) 589-2324. Note: From Los Angeles, take Interstate 5 to the Stockdale off-ramp in Bakersfield.

Hawaiian Wedding/Honeymoon: Here’s a chance to be married on a yacht, spend your honeymoon at sea. Tradewind Charters’ captains have officiated at hundreds of weddings. This is a one-call service. Tradewinds does the catering, provides photographers, limousine service, flowers. Weddings are performed at sunset. Receptions for as many as 200 guests. After this, the couple sets sail for their honeymoon. Packages start at $499.

Contact Ken Middleton, Tradewind Charters, 1833 Kalakaua Ave., Suite 612, Honolulu 96815, (800) 777-2451.

Language Schools Lineup: Cesar Rennert of New York heads up the International Assn. of Language Centers, an organization comprised of 40 language schools around the world. Rennert also handles travel arrangements, secures accommodations (private homes, hotels). Courses offered year-round.

Details from Lingua Service Worldwide, 2 West 45th St., Suite 500, New York 10036, (212) 768-2728.

Meanwhile, Spanish lessons in Costa Rica, Mexico and Spain are being booked by Language Studies Abroad, 249 S. Highway 101, Suite 226, Solano Beach, Calif. 92075. Telephone (619) 943-0204. A two-week program with accommodations/meals for as little as $400. Other Spanish lessons in Costa Rica are offered by the Language Studies Enrollment Center, P.O. Box 5095, Anaheim 92814. One to four weeks. Tuition ($40 a day) includes airport transfers, room and board, laundry service, classroom materials, visits to a cattle ranch, Santa Rosa National Park, a jungle trip and a four-day tour along the Pacific Coast. Call (714) 527-2918.

Travel Discounts: Readers continue to request the names of discount travel clubs. Here are several for your files:

--Spur of the Moment Tours and Cruises, 10780 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City 90230, (213) 839-2418 (California) or (800) 343-1991 (outside California).

--Worldwide Discount Travel Club, 1674 Meridian Ave., Suite 300, Miami Beach, Fla. 33139, (305) 534-2082.

--Discount Club of America, 61-33 Woodhaven Blvd., Rego Park, N.Y. 11374, (800) 321-9587 or (718) 335-9612.

--Moment’s Notice, 425 Madison Ave., 7th Floor, New York 10017, (212) 486-0503.

--Discount Travel International, 114 Forrest Ave., Suite 205, Narberth, Pa. 19072, (800) 543-0110 or (215) 668-7184.

--Last Minute Travel Club, 132 Brookline Ave., Boston, Mass. 02215, (617) 267-9800.

Privacy in Hawaii: Several years ago, a couple of ex-schoolteachers, Evie Werner and Al Davis, set up a B&B; reservation service in Hawaii. Took off like an erupting volcano. Starting with Kauai, Werner/Davis reached out to Hawaii’s other islands. Currently, they represent scores of homeowners c/o Bed & Breakfast Hawaii, P.O. Box 449, Kapaa, Hawaii 96746, (800) 733-1632.

Others followed Werner and Davis:

--Barbara Campbell (Hawaii’s Best Bed & Breakfasts), P.O. Box 563, Kamuela, Hawaii 96743 (properties on the Big Island, Maui, Kauai). Call toll-free (800) 262-9912 or (808) 885-4550.

--Doris Epp (Bed & Breakfast Pacific Hawaii), 970 N. Kalaheo Ave., No. A218, Kailua, Hawaii 96734, (808) 262-6026.

--Ann Carlin (All Islands Bed & Breakfast), 823 Kainui Drive, Kailua, Hawaii 96734, (800) 542-0344 or (808) 263-2342.

--Bed & Breakfast Maui Style, P.O. Box 98, Puunene, Hawaii 96784, (800) 848-5567 or (808) 879-7865.

--Gene Bridges (Bed & Breakfast Honolulu), 3242 Kaohinani Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817, (800) 288-4666 or (808) 595-7533.

Railroad Hotel: This note from L. C. of La Jolla: “A few years ago, you wrote about a restored hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif., that dated from early railroad days. I’ve lost the address.” It’s Hotel La Rose, 308 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, Calif. 95401. The La Rose does business in Old Railroad Square. While renovating its 29 guest rooms, the owners preserved the original wainscoting, installed the staircase from the old cable car barn in San Francisco. A slick property that’s been elevated to the National Register of Historic Places. Turndown service at bedtime, morning newspapers. They’ll even polish your shoes if you leave them at your door, and arrange tours to Sonoma County’s wine country. (The La Rose also manages a spiffy, 20-room carriage house across the street.) The hotel gets high marks for its restaurant. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres served nightly in the bar. Brunch on Sundays, high teas (3 to 5 p.m.) Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays.

For reservations, call (800) 527-6738 or (707) 579-3200. Address: 308 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, Calif. 95401.