Traveling the West Coast
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California deserts will soon burst with wildflowers Photo
The valleys and hillsides of the Southern California deserts have been preparing all winter for their close-up. Silent and forlorn, often harsh and austere, they're ready to shed their mantle of earth tones and dress themselves in wildflowers, thanks to the rain storms and subsequent warm days.... more
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Alaska, off the beaten path Photo
Sarah Palin may have put Alaska on the political map, but to many of her fellow citizens, the 49th state remains a formidable frontier. more
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Yosemite Half Dome restricted
Hikers who want to stand atop Yosemite's iconic Half Dome will need a day-use permit Fridays through Sundays and on federal holidays. The new policy takes effect as soon as the cables used for the final ascent are put back up, usually the third Friday in May. The steps are being taken to ensure... more
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King Kong to rejoin Universal Studios Hollywood theme park tours in 3-D Photo
After nearly 19 months away from the spotlight, a new King Kong -- more grizzled and, definitely, ferocious -- is preparing to return to Universal Studios Hollywood. more
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This California coastal city is the very definition of laid-back Photo
Unless you're a true newcomer, you already know that surfers and students dominate the local culture. more
East Coast Spots
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Sanibel Island's timeless treasures
SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. — Six kayaks slipped through Tarpon Bay's calm water. A double-crested cormorant, ever the opportunist, paddled alongside, using the shadows of the kayaks to hide before diving for fish. The group from the Tarpon Bay Explorers outfitter was headed for a marked paddling... more
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Peek into the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum if you dare Photo
On a January afternoon, the temperature hovers in the upper teens, the sky threatening to blanket the coal-rich hills of West Virginia with snow. more
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Local folklore has it that this overgrown N.C. hilltop is the real birthplace of Lincoln Photo
BOSTIC, N.C. -- Note to aspiring saints and office-holders: You'll know you've achieved "legendary" status when whispered tales are attached to your life story with question marks. The higher you rise, the more there are. more
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Tim Burton's museum show is a scream
NEW YORK -- While strolling the hallowed halls of the Museum of Modern Art in midtown Manhattan, most days, you don't come across many teenage girls, mystified by a work of postmodern illustration, loudly saying to themselves "Oh, no, he didn't, oh, no, he did not." You may catch the furrowed brow... more
Vacationing in the Heartland
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March events across the midwest
A brew-ski festival in Michigan, the World Ice Fishing Championship in Rhinelander and more Midwest travel events. more
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Detroit Institute of Arts acquires, restores and unearths treasures for new Islamic gallery
DETROIT (AP) — In the heart of the largest concentration of Muslims in the U.S., the Detroit Institute of Arts this weekend is opening a new permanent gallery of Islamic art showcasing exhibits including a rare 15th-century Quran of a Mongol conqueror. more
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In steps of a busy grandma: Ohio trail honors pioneering hiker Photo
LOGAN, Ohio -- Hocking Hills is Grandma Gatewood Country. more
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Mich. architecture a draw for travelers
Better known for its Great Lakes beaches and winter destinations for outdoor enthusiasts, Michigan also is a repository of modern architecture. more
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Hannibal, Mo., gets ready to celebrate the Year of Mark Twain Photo
HANNIBAL, Mo. -- The hubbub could be right out of a Mark Twain tale. more
Rocky Mountain Regions
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The best tastes of CityCenter in Las Vegas Photo
How many high-end restaurants can Vegas support, particularly in this economy? Easily a dozen more just opened in the new $11-billion CityCenter complex on the Strip and a number of them definitely have enough wow factor to pull in the hungry tourists. more
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Ojo Caliente: Hot springs resort and spa Photo
OJO CALIENTE, N.M. — When gray winter skies linger for weeks, I daydream about Ojo Caliente, N.M. more
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Taking the Kids -- To the Snow in Telluride
I'm standing in a bona fide ghost town in the middle of a forest -- in the snow, 10,600 feet above sea level. more
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Sleepy Sundance Resort will seduce you with its beauty Photo
In skiing, as in marriage, spousal roles are defined, distinct -- and often at odds. more
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Follow the herds: Travelers can watch beasts roam in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Kansas Photo
It was sunrise on a bitterly cold September morning, but gray clouds obscured the sun. more
Southern Destinations
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Jim Abbott on Florida Travel: Spring Training baseball in Florida
It was windy and chilly on Tuesday, with a definite threat of rain, so it wasn't the ideal backdrop for the opening games of baseball spring training in the Sunshine State. more
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Cumberland Island: A rugged piece of heaven Photo
CUMBERLAND ISLAND, Ga. — As I was biking down a washboard road of dirt and sand — the only road that runs the length of this lush, wild island and national seashore — a husband and wife waved me down one afternoon. more
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The Mardi party? Try Baton Rouge instead Photo
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The day starts about 7 a.m. and innocently enough: just one little beer. more
