Articles

Article / Outdoor & Adventure

Park Notes: Playing Politics & Preparing to Get Burns-ed

In the news this week: What's holding up the appointment of our next National Park Service director, and what's happening at the parks prior to the new Ken Burns mini-series.

Article / Outdoor & Adventure

This Land Is Your Land: A Conversation with Ken Burns about "The National Parks: America's Best Idea"

Ken Burns discusses his forthcoming television mini-series 'The National Parks' and argues that it is essential to the survival of the country that people use the park system.

Article / Outdoor & Adventure

Shoulder Season in Yellowstone Country: How to Make the Most of 3 Days

If you yearn for a quieter Yellowstone -- one with fewer RVs, tour buses, and minivans -- consider visiting during the sleepy yet still stunning shoulder season month of September.

Article / Hotels

3 Autumn Escapes in California's High Sierras

A definite sign that fall is here is the number of lodging offers coming your way from parks in California's High Sierra. Take a look, and start planning where you'll get away this…

Article / Cruise

Exploring the Ports of Call: Shore Excursions vs. Going It on Your Own

How you spend your time in port can make the difference between a great cruise experience and a big fat disappointment. Here's what you need to consider when choosing an excursion.

Article / Cruise

Cabin Clues: How To Choose the Right Room at Sea

Finding the best room on a cruise ship starts with money, but it doesn't always end there. Find out how to pick the best beds on all the major cruise lines.

Article / Cruise

Different Boats for Different Folks: Choosing the Right Size Ship

Different cruise lines present different kinds of experiences, but physical factors such as the size and age of the ship also play a part when choosing your ideal cruise. What kind of…

Article / Outdoor & Adventure

Book Early for Fall Foliage in Parks from Washington to Virginia

Don't wait until the colors change: Now's the time to book your leaf-peeping getaway at one of the country's spectacular parks.

Article / Arts and Culture

Mississippi Mansions and Southern Architecture in Natchez

Located on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, this seemingly sleepy town celebrates its southern heritage and history by beautifully preserving its historic downtown.

Article / Money and Fees

Travel Troubleshooter: A Refund for My Downgraded Airline Seat?

Our reader thinks she buys a first-class ticket to Peru on TACA. But it's actually economy class, and Cheaptickets.com only offers her a $400 voucher. Isn't she entitled to more?

Article / Air Travel

How to Find Trip Security When You're Insecure About Your Job

Worried about forfeiting your airfare and vacation if you get canned? Insurance policies offer protection.

Article / Arts and Culture

Victoria, British Columbia: Impossibly Beautiful

It's no insult to say that Vancouver's city planners beat Disney to the punch, way back in 1908, by creating a terribly attractive town center where there had been only a dismal swamp.

Article / Local Experiences

Walk This Way: Five Great Sunday Strolls in Paris

There are many great Paris Walks, but you really need to pay attention along the way. Strolling through the city's streets lets you soak up the Parisian ambiance like a native.

Article / Cruise

Cruising Slowly Down the Mekong from Cambodia to Vietnam

Our Asia-based cruise expert steps off the big boats to take a slow river cruise through the heart of southeast Asia.

Article / Cruise

Sailing Under the Radar in Alaska: The Small-Ship Option

When it comes to cruising in Alaska, the nation's largest state, the best ships are actually the smallest -- those little 10- to 100-passenger vessels that can get you places the big…

Article / Miscellaneous

5 Secrets for Avoiding Sky-High Phone Bills on the Road

Sending text messages or phoning from your cell phone abroad can cost you thousands. Here are a few strategies you can use to make sure you aren't hammered by ridiculous fees.

Article / Hotels

Travel Troubleshooter: Double Trouble with My Hotel Points

Our reader books four Hilton hotel stays through a double points promotion. But now Hilton is offering him only a fraction of the promised award. Can it do that?

Article / Air Travel

8 Tips for Getting a Better Airplane Seat

Now, more than ever, upgrading can be a trip-saver. Here are eight ways to help make your next flight more comfortable without paying -- or cramping -- an arm and a leg.

Article / Food and Drink

7 Places to Eat: Sydney's Mod Oz Cuisine

For lack of a better term, cuisine in Australia's most cosmopolitan city has been labeled Mod Oz -- a melding of local ingredients with an international grab bag of culinary…

Article / Food and Drink

Free and Dirt Cheap Oahu

Those in the know can make rich memories in Hawaii without spending much. The following picks will help you say aloha to unnecessary spending on Oahu.

Article / Food and Drink

Down By the Riverside: 5 New York Waterfront Restaurants with Great Views

Manhattan is an island, and that should mean plenty of waterfront bars and restaurants. Here's how to hunt down the good ones and what you should do when you get there.

Article / Local Experiences

New Orleans Beyond the Beads and Bourbon Street

Escape from the French Quarter and New Orleans becomes a city where people are genuinely hospitable, where the adversity of Katrina has strengthened their resolve to show off their…

Article / Money and Fees

Charge This: 7 Tips for a Successful Credit Card Dispute

A lot of unwanted charges are popping up on credit card bills -- fees that, if not removed, will end up being contested. Here's what you need to know in order to file a successful…

Article / Hotels

Last Minute Labor Day Getaways from $17 -- Yes, That's Right -- Per Night

It's time to say goodbye to summer. It's OK. It'll be back next year. In the meantime, a quick last minute getaway over Labor Day weekend might ease the pain.

Article / Outdoor & Adventure

How Stimulus Money Is Being Spent in U.S. Parks

Remember the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act? That measure contained roughly $750 million for the National Park Service. Here's where they're spending it.