Alabama Offering Free Statewide Walking Tours in April
Posted on 03/22/2017, 12:00 AM
For 14 years, Alabama has been offering a unique way to get to know that state and enjoy the spring weather at the same time: Saturday morning walking tours held throughout the month of April at numerous locations statewide. This year's batch of weekly hourlong tours begins at 10am on April 1 in 28 participating towns, and will continue each Saturday morning in the month, ending on April 29. ...
The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia Surely Merits a Visit
Posted on 03/21/2017, 8:00 PM
Opening soon in Philadelphia: a museum filled with art and artifacts chronicling America's battle for independence in the 18th century....
Teenager Finds Big Diamond at Arkansas State Park
Posted on 03/21/2017, 12:00 AM
A 14-year-old found a 7.44-carat diamond last week at Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park, where visitors can look around for gems and keep whatever they find. The shiny, dark brown rock discovered by Kalel Langford turned out to be the seventh-largest diamond found at the park since it opened in 1972. Langford, who was visiting the site with his parents, had only been there for about...
A Virtual Avalanche of Websites Renting Short-Term Apartments Has Followed the Much-Publicized Success of Airbnb
Posted on 03/20/2017, 8:00 PM
A host of home-sharing sites, from those offering upscale accommodations to those promising inclusive attitudes, prove that Airbnb isn't the only rental game in town—any town....
Dates for Summer's Cheapest Airfares
Posted on 03/20/2017, 12:00 AM
As you plan your summer travels, here's a day to circle on your calendar: June 6. That's when airfares should be at their lowest during the period from June through September, according to an analysis of thousands of flights, conducted by CheapAir.com. The company's CEO, Jeff Klee, told Condé Nast Traveler that flights throughout the summer are expected to be less expensive than last year...
Trump's Budget Calls for Privatizing Air Traffic Control
Posted on 03/17/2017, 12:00 AM
One of the travel-related items in President Donald Trump's budget proposal for fiscal year 2018 is a provision to privatize the U.S. air traffic control system. Right now, air traffic control is one of the functions of the Federal Aviation Administration. Trump would like to turn that duty over to an "independent, non-governmental organization." Privatization has the approval of the majo...
Historic Philadelphia Sites Close Due to Trump's Federal Hiring Freeze
Posted on 03/16/2017, 12:00 AM
Seven historical attractions in Philadelphia have been closed as a result of President Donald Trump's hiring freeze on federal jobs. The sites affected include two notable landmarks, both in the Old City, relating to U.S. Founders: the house where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and the home and print shop of Benjamin Franklin. Presumably caused by understaffing, the...
Two U.S. Airlines Halting Flights to Cuba
Posted on 03/15/2017, 12:00 AM
Frontier Airlines and Silver Airways are both stopping their flights to Cuba, the carriers announced this week. Frontier, which has been operating one daily flight between Miami and Havana since December 1, 2016, will halt service to the island on June 4. The company cites lack of customer demand as the reason. Silver currently flies to nine Cuban cities from Fort Lauderdale, and the airli...
A Commercial Ski Trip to . . . Iraq?
Posted on 03/14/2017, 12:00 AM
Would you go skiing in Iraq? On the one hand, the northeastern part of the country is home to an imposing mountain range—the Zagros—with elevations reaching more than 14,000 feet. On the other, the U.S. State Department warns against all travel in the war-torn country due to the threat of violence. Nevertheless, a U.K.-based adventure travel company called Untamed Borders recently returned...
Most Visited U.S. National Parks in a Record-Setting Year
Posted on 03/13/2017, 12:00 AM
The National Park Service celebrated its 100th birthday in 2016, and a record number of guests joined the party. The agency logged 331 million visits at the sites it manages, including 59 national parks as well as hundreds of monuments, memorials, scenic drives, historical landmarks, and nature preserves across the United States. The numbers for 2016 were 7.7% higher than the previous year's ...
