Cape Coral Emerges as a Destination

Surrounded by glowing destination neighbors such as Sanibel Island and Fort Myers, Cape Coral sometimes gets overlooked.
But that’s about to change in a major way, in part because of the recent christening of Southwest Florida’s first Westin property, with all the luxe and attention to detail that connotes.
Cape Coral, you ask?  [Read More]

ST. JOHN’S – WORTH THE TRIP TO THE MARITIMES

NO, we haven’t taken a vacation from our vacation in the Canadian Maritimes.  We’ve just been so involved with our trip that I: 1) haven’t had much time to write, and 2) we’ve seen so much worth writing about I’m developing writer’s block about where to start.  [Read More]

Top sports museums in North America

Looking for your next special Road Trip?  How about something different...Sports museums are scoring major points by featuring interactive and high-tech exhibits in addition to standard memorabilia, so visitors don’t have to be super fans to have a ball. Here are some of the best sports Halls of Fame.  [Read More]

10 great places to visit Civil War sites

While the world focuses on Gettysburg, Pa., marking the 150th anniversary of the battle, it's worth noting that Civil War sites can be found across a huge swath of the country, says Jeff Shaara, author of the guidebook Jeff Shaara's Civil War Battlefields: Discovering America's Hallowed Ground (Ballantine, $20). "You don't have to be a fanatic history buff to go to these places. You can get something out of it just by taking the time to visit." He shares some noteworthy sites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.  [Read More]

America's best national park campgrounds

There’s no magic formula to finding the perfect national park campground. But with 59 parks to choose from spread across wildly different terrains, there’s certainly one to suit every taste.

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10 great places for family vacations in national parks

National parks not only preserve nature, they also nurture families, says Jonathan Dorn, editorial director of Backpacker magazine and Nationalparktrips.com, a planning site. "These are places where families can unplug from their normal chaos and reconnect. They can have meaningful experiences in natural surroundings that are among the most beautiful in the world." He shares some favorite places for family camping with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY. [Read More]

Motor coach tours seek out Maine's hidden gems

Earlier this month, 13 tour operators stepped off a bus at the Bates Mill in Lewiston and wandered into the historical textile mill that, until the 1960s, was the state's largest employer.
Touring the mill's Museum L-A, the group wound through two floors of cavernous industrial spaces, their well-worn floors stained with years of fragrant oil and grease.  [Read More]

It's Festival Season! 12 Over-the-Top, Can't-Be-Missed Festivals

To Bean or Not to Bean, Is That Even a Question?  

 

As the leaves begin to turn red and gold deep in the Ozarks, excitement starts to build. Competitors check and double check recipes. Others put the final tweaks on their racing machines. Before long, the aroma of beans and outhouses fill the mountain air -- it's time for the Annual Arkansas Bean Fest and Great Championship Outhouse Races. This fest had GypsyNester written all over it. How could we possibly resist? [Read More]

'Hidden' attractions in Washington, D.C.

At certain times of the year, exploring our nation's capital can become an exploration of one's patience. When weekends and holidays allow many to flock to D.C.'s famed attractions, long lines and big crowds are inevitable. Beyond the monuments and the Mall, however, there's much more to see and do than you might imagine. You just need to find some of the hidden gems in and around the capital.  [Read More]

For your next road trip: Top family-friendly restaurants

There's more than pizza and chicken fingers on the menu at America's top-rated family-friendly restaurants, announced today by Urbanspoon.
Making the grade are a vegan place in Orlando, an Asian fusion restaurant on Maui, Hawaii, and Southern comfort fare in Asheville, N.C.  [Read More]

Food For Thought While Traveling - America's Best French Fries

French fries hold supporting roles on menus across the globe. The Dutch and the Belgians prefer them served in a paper cone with a side of mayonnaise, while the Brits like them sprinkled with just enough salt and vinegar to clear the sinuses. On the other side of the Atlantic, fries provide the foundation for many a quirky creation.  [Read More]