Weather Forecast for Fall: Warm Everywhere
Posted on 09/27/2016, 12:00 AM
Remember when September was autumn? It sure doesn't feel like that this year in the United States—you'll search in vain for a nip in the air pretty much anywhere you travel in the country. And according to the National Weather Service's three-month forecast, above-average temperatures will continue through the end of the year. Due to a combo of normal weather patterns and long-term climate...
Marriott Finalizes Purchase of Starwood, Creating World's Biggest Hotel Chain
Posted on 09/27/2016, 12:00 AM
On Friday, Marriott International's $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide was finalized, having been delayed for months pending approval from U.S., European, and Asian antitrust regulators (the Chinese government was especially poky). The move creates the world's largest hotel chain, spanning more than 5,700 properties and 1.1 million rooms in more than 110 countr...
Disney World's Strict Rules for Wearing Halloween Costumes
Posted on 09/26/2016, 12:00 AM
Ever wondered why you don't see more adult guests at Disney World in Orlando wearing costumes? Simple. They're not allowed on anybody over 14—except, of course, for the people getting paid to don character getups. Costumes can be worn by guests 13 and younger, but they're subject to several restrictions, including bans on masks that cover the full face and accessories that could be mistake...
Theme Park Geared Toward Adults Planned for Las Vegas
Posted on 09/26/2016, 12:00 AM
A plan for a theme park geared toward adults was released in Las Vegas last week. Dubbed Xpark Vegas, the site would include such grownups-only activities as speedboat racing, riding dirt bikes through an obstacle course, bungee jumping, and operating heavy machinery (which reminds us of Dig This!, a fun-with-bulldozers operation that's already in Vegas, and was featured in our recent roundu...
Great Wall Repairs Spark Outrage
Posted on 09/26/2016, 12:00 AM
(Photo: CNN/Twitter) An effort to restore a 700-year-old portion of the Great Wall of China has sparked outrage on social media after photos of the project were posted online. In the country's northeastern Liaoning province, workers have covered the 8-kilometer (5-mile) Xiaohekou stretch of the wall in concrete, replacing crumbling steps and plant overgrowth with a smooth walkway that ha...
On Saturday: National Public Lands Day and Smithsonian's African American Museum Opening
Posted on 09/23/2016, 12:00 AM
Tomorrow is the last Saturday of September, which means it's National Public Lands Day in the United States. Admission to all federally controlled parks, forests, and monuments—and at many state parks, too—will be free, allowing you to enjoy the national treasures being held in your name. To show your appreciation, you can volunteer for a variety of service projects being held at sites across...
On Saturday: National Public Lands Day and Smithsonian's African American Museum Opening
Posted on 09/23/2016, 12:00 AM
Tomorrow is the last Saturday of September, which means it's National Public Lands Day in the United States. Admission to all federally controlled parks, forests, and monuments—and at many state parks, too—will be free, allowing you to enjoy the national treasures being held in your name. To show your appreciation, you can volunteer for a variety of service projects being held at sites across...
Tourist in Kenya Killed by Elephant He Was Trying to Photograph
Posted on 09/23/2016, 12:00 AM
An Italian tourist in the coastal region of Kenya was killed by an elephant this week after the man got too close while trying to take a photograph. The 66-year-old tourist and his wife were having breakfast in their tent at the Swara Camp in Kulalu Ranch when the man spotted the elephant at a watering hole. He went to get a better look and a memorable snapshot, but his proximity provoked the...
The World's Most Visited City
Posted on 09/23/2016, 12:00 AM
Bangkok is the world's most popular travel destination this year, according to an annual ranking of 132 cities by financial-services company MasterCard. Estimated to receive a grand total of 21.47 million international visitors by the end of 2016, the Thai capital squeezed past London (19.88 million visitors), the second-place holder and last year's winner. Tourism to Thailand appears not...
If You Want to See the Northern Lights, This Is the Winter to Do It
Posted on 09/22/2016, 12:00 AM
(Photo: FreeImages/Dave Dyet) If seeing the Northern Lights is on your bucket list (and why wouldn't it be?), this winter could be the best chance you'll get until the middle of the 2020s, according to experts. The best time to see the natural spectacle in any year is from September to March in the Arctic Circle. But how bright the lights are depends on where the sun is in its approxima...
