Chattanooga — beyond the choo choo

By Glenda C. Booth
Posted on July 22, 2016

The Tennessee Aquarium attracts more than 700,000 visitors each year. It houses not just thousands of fish, but penguins, owls, frogs and butterflies as well.Photo courtesy of the Chattanooga CVBDuring the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln asserted, “If we can take and hold Chattanooga and East Tennessee, I think the Rebellion must dwindle and die.” He saw the region as... READ MORE

Don’t fall for these summer travel scams

By Justin Lavelle
Posted on July 12, 2016

The summer vacation season is finally here. Have you booked your trip yet?There’s actually someone who’s more excited about your trip than you are, and that’s the scammers hoping to rake in millions from unsuspecting travelers. This time of year, travel scams surge — targeting people of all ages, but especially older travelers.Here are a few tips to protect you, your ... READ MORE

National parks and sites in our backyard

By Glenda C. Booth
Posted on June 24, 2016

The waterfalls at Great Falls National Park, in Great Falls, Va., are part of the Potomac River. The park also includes part of the C&O Canal, which stretches from Georgetown to western Maryland.Photo © NPSThe Baltimore/Washington corridor is dotted with historic sites and parks managed by the National Park Service — from Ft. McHenry, where Francis Scott Key penned our... READ MORE

Which city passes are worth the money?

By Ed Perkins
Posted on June 08, 2016

You’ve probably seen the promotions for passes that promise free admission to a handful of a major city’s top attractions — often bypassing ticket lines — for a fixed price that is a lot less than you’d pay for individual admission to all of them.I know of two major programs that sell passes for lots of different cities. And some individual cities organize... READ MORE

Prague and beyond in the Czech Republic

By Victor Block
Posted on May 20, 2016

Prague’s 14th century Charles Bridge spans the Vltava River and is accessible only to pedestrians. Prague is famed for its nearly 1,000 towers and steeples, and ranks sixth on TripAdvisor’s best destinations in the world.© TTstudio/ShutterstockMany people who travel to the Czech Republic confine their stay to its capital, Prague, and with good reason. Known as “the... READ MORE

Cowboys, art and steak in Oklahoma City

By Beth J. Harpaz
Posted on May 09, 2016

What might be Oklahoma City’s best-known attraction is also a reminder of one of its darkest days: the Oklahoma National Memorial & Museum. The site honors the 168 people who died, and hundreds more who were injured, when the Alfred P. Murrah Building was bombed in 1995.Once you’ve paid your respects, take a deep breath and spend some time exploring all the other things this ... READ MORE

Nova Scotia’s maritime mélange of cultures

By Victor Block
Posted on April 29, 2016

There are plenty of reasons to visit Nova Scotia (Latin for “new Scotland”) — one of the three Maritime Provinces of eastern Canada.Many people head for Cape Breton island in the northeastern corner of the province. They may take the famous Cabot Trail roadway, which winds along the island’s rugged Atlantic coastline — reason enough to head to that portion of... READ MORE

Cruises: big new ships, submarine trips

By Beth J. Harpaz
Posted on April 22, 2016

The Viking cruise line, best known for river cruises, began offering ocean cruises on the Viking Star last year. The ship is shown at its christening in Bergen, Norway.Photo courtesy of VikingUnderwater sightseeing in a glass submarine, shopping with a chef for dinner ingredients, and volunteering with locals: These are some of the new options this season for cruise passengers.This year,... READ MORE

‘Best value’ countries and cities in Europe

By Ed Perkins
Posted on April 11, 2016

Among European countries, you get the most value for your money in the Czech Republic. And the worst value is Denmark. At least that’s what a recent study from Hotel Info (www.hotel.info) suggests. The top value city is Prague, and the worst is Rio.Normally, I’m not big on studies that steer you to “low-cost” or “high-value” destinations. After all, if... READ MORE

Join the kids in this waterpark adventure

By Fyllis Hochman
Posted on April 01, 2016

“You want me to get on that and go down to where?” I cried from high atop the Alberta Falls waterslide, looking down to an alleged pool that was well out of visual range. My 11-year-old granddaughter nodded with a look of both consternation and resignation that I tried very hard to take in stride.Such was my introduction to a vast array of unusual children’s activities... READ MORE