West of Key West — Dry Tortugas Park

By Glenda C. Booth
Posted on February 25, 2016

Seventy miles west of Key West is the “flip side” of that raucous isle — the slow-paced, undeveloped, near-quiet Dry Tortugas National Park, a seven-island cluster of coral reefs and sand.This 100-square-mile park gets its name from the sea turtles that greeted Ponce de Leon in 1513, and from the absence of fresh water, hence “dry.” Visitors go for a Civil War... READ MORE

Exploring Key West’s wildlife and wild life

By Glenda C. Booth
Posted on February 12, 2016

A mother hen and her three chicks were hell-bent on crossing the street, so I stepped out and stopped the traffic on the main drag that slices down the middle of Key West, Fla. Roosters crowed nearby. No one seemed to notice. Chickens and roosters in the middle of town? Key West marches to its own drum. Chickens, roosters, six-toed cats, owl butterflies, conches, frigatebirds,... READ MORE

Where not to go — and when — this year

By EdPerkins
Posted on February 05, 2016

While you may be reading plenty of “where to go in 2016” stories elsewhere, I’ll be a contrarian and address the question of places and times you should seek to avoid.Spring breakYoung folks age 16 to 21 can be quite nice when they’re alone or in small groups. But hundreds or even thousands of them, each trying to see who can drink the most beer or smoke the most... READ MORE

How to bid for rooms at a choice of hotels

By Ed Perkins
Posted on January 21, 2016

Bidding on the price of a hotel room doesn’t limit you to “opaque” bids where you don’t know the specific hotel you’ve “won” until after you’ve made a nonrefundable booking. That’s the Priceline model, and certainly the most popular.But, fortunately,  it’s not the only bidding model. I know of four online agencies that allow... READ MORE

Weak ruble aids budget travel to Russia

By Cara Anna
Posted on January 14, 2016

The ruble’s weak. The warnings about a complicated visa process turned out to be wrong, at least after a travel agency’s help. And current geopolitical tensions make this a good time to temper headlines about Russia with experiences involving everyday Russians and places.Consider the prices, at least outside the summer tourist rush: A round-trip air ticket between Washington and ... READ MORE

Cozumel — part Mexico, part Caribbean

By Victor Block
Posted on January 08, 2016

Tulum is one of the best-preserved coastal Mayan ruins sites. The walled city, built 800 years ago, served as a fortress against enemies approaching by sea and is perched on top of a cliff 40 feet above the Caribbean Sea. It’s a popular day trip from nearby Cozumel.Shutterstock/ScotteNMuch about the island of Cozumel says Mexico.Scattered archeological sites hint of the rich Mayan... READ MORE