Hawaiian resorts that the children will love, too

Photo by Hilton Waikoloa

Hawaiian resort prices are near, or at, all-time lows. But if you're traveling with children, in addition to a good price you will want  activities that let parents rest while knowing their youngsters are well supervised. Here, from Hawaii.com, are resorts that fit that category. Although rates are given, they are constantly changing and new specials are offered daily.

Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu. This resort on the North Shore boasts some of the best surfing in all of Hawaii, as well as the island's only on-site helipad. For teens looking to "catch a wave," group lessons begin at $75. (For safety reasons, children under 13 require private lessons, starting at $95 for one hour.) For future equestrians, The Stables at Turtle Bay offers a 20-minute pony walk for children under age 7. Plus there are  clear-bottom kayaks, allowing them to see the sea life in an unforgettable way. There's also a "buried treasure" hunt and 12 miles of hiking trails to accommodate any age. Prices for an oceanfront king room have been spotted for $237 a night.

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, Koloa, Kauai. Youngsters can choose from a variety of complimentary activities available in the lobby atrium each day including lei making, hula lessons or ukulele lessons. Or there's a meandering river pool, a 150-foot waterslide and an active pool for basketball or volleyball. At the saltwater lagoon, they can swim, float or kayak together. Non-water options include an easy hike along a sea cliff with spectacular views; they might see endangered humpback whales, green sea turtles or monk seals. Prices start around $300 a night for a garden-view room.

The Kahala Hotel & Resort, Honolulu. This resort has a  Keiki Club (keiki is the Hawaiian word for child) for ages 5-12.  Among activities are reef walking, snorkeling, bamboo pole fishing, lei making, hula dancing, crabbing and cavorting with dolphins. Possible rates are $395 a night for a scenic view room.

 

Hilton Waikoloa Village, Kohala Coast, Big Island. The Dolphin Quest, where you meet and swim with the lovable creatures,  is a hit with children and parents, and there are classes in hula and making flower, ti leaf or shell-and-bead leis. Also,  Waikoloa Family Golf Days take place every day after 3 p.m. through July 31. Families can inexpensively play nine holes. Hawaii.com has seen prices starting at $199 and calls it one of the best island deals for a major resort.

Hyatt Regency Maui, Lahaina, Maui. Camp Hyatt Ka'anapali gives cameras to children of all ages, and their favorite picture will be turned into a photo T-shirt. Youngsters can also play tennis, try "coconut bowling," fish and explore Maui's wildlife and volcanoes. By night, children can learn about the Hawaiian  sky with the Tour of the Stars astronomy program. Rates have been spotted at $240 a night.

 

Prince hotels on Maui, Oahu and the Big Island.  You can request a private nanny for about $18 per hour or have your children participate in the Prince Keiki Club. Half-day and full-day programs are available, with many fun activities. Counselors are certified. Rates usually begin at $415 a night, but currently there is a special rate beginning at $269, with the possibility of a fourth night free.

For more information or to book, visit www.hawaii.com.

Busted guitar can't stop this fellow's music 

Dave Carroll's You Tube video for the song "United Breaks Guitars" has gone viral, receiving more than 600,000 hits as of yesterday. To view the saga of a guitar that Carroll says was broken by United Airlines, click here.

Last-minute specials on Nantucket

Summer rates on the Massachusetts island of Nantucket can seldom be considered inexpensive, but you will pay less with these last-minute specials: The Cottages & Lofts at the Boat Basin, July 12-16, starting at $350 a night.  The Wauwinet, July 12-16 and July 21-22, $395. And the White Elephant, July 11-15, $395.

Fascinating fact

The lowest recorded temperature, minus 129 degrees Fahrenheit, occurred in Antarctica in 1989.

$129 summer rate at some Kimpton hotels

Through Sept. 7, Kimpton Hotels has a Sunday-Thursday online rate of $129-$179 a night, along with your choice of a $30 dining credit or free parking.

Click here.

Worth quoting 

"A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. ... We do not take a trip; a trip takes us."

                                                                                                                         -- John Steinbeck

Trivial question

What is the world's largest sea? Answer Monday.

 

Where your money goes further in Europe

There's something decidedly medieval about Carcassonne.

Europe isn't always inexpensive for the traveler, but there are places where you can stretch those newly acquired euros -- places that are sometimes offbeat but always enjoyable. The European Travel Commission suggests these destinations for a late-summer or off-season getaway:

* Medieval marvel. The walled city of Carcassonne, France,  still dazzles with its fairy tale splendor. The largest fortress in Europe now attracts families , not invaders. Entrance is free, and youngsters can imagine carrying out their own feats of knightly derring-do. The Museum of Fine Arts is also free, with French and Dutch paintings spanning the 17th-19th centuries. Visit www.franceguide.com.

* Musical Manchester. With one of Europe’s largest university campuses, Manchester, England,  is young, edgy, creative, musical,  and easy on the wallet. Lower-priced  hotels and hostels abound and transport is free on the hop-on/hop-off Metroshuttle bus. There are nightclubs, bars, culture, shopping and the legendary music scene.  The Manchester International Festival is going on now, and free festivals and events fill the calendar year round. Check it out at www.visitmanchester.com.

* Filled with flowers. The floral capital of Europe, home to Northern Europe’s greatest portrait painter and ancestral seat of the first settlers of Manhattan, Haarlem in the Netherlands  charms with its cobblestone streets, historic buildings, churches, museums and antique shops and grand mansions.  St. Bavo Protestant Church  boasts an 18th-century organ that was played by Mendelssohn, Schubert, Liszt, Handel and Mozart. The St. Bavo Catholic Cathedral has an acclaimed choir and a pipe organ, with free recitals in summer.  Go to www.holland.com.

* Walled wonder. One of only three cities with complete walking walls, Lucca, in Italy's Tuscany region,  has had walls since Roman times and is still encircled by its medieval ramparts, for three miles surrounding the car-free old city. The tree-lined top is paved for easy walking and biking. One highlight is the Guinigi Tower, the 15th-century seat of Lucca’s leading family, easily spotted by  the oak trees growing out of the top ...  and into the room below. It’s 230 steps to the top for spectacular views in all directions.  Click on www.italiantourism.com.

* Gaudi, not gaudy. In Barcelona, budget travelers can  bunk down in hostels, pensions
or small hotels, and take advantage of all the free and inexpensive attractions of this Catalonia capital, beginning with Park Guell, Antoni Gaudi’s mosaic fantasyland with 84 stone columns and a tiled, sinuously carved bench overlooking the city. At ground level, La Rambla is one of the world’s great boulevards with people-watching galore. The Gothic Quarter’s meandering byways are free to visit, and the Barcelona Cathedral is filled with medieval splendor. City museums, such as the Picasso Museum, are free on the first Sunday of the month. Visit www.spain.info.

* Summer in Slovenia. Kranjska-Gora, near the borders of Italy and Austria, is Slovenia’s leading ski area and the site of the Alpine World Cup. Nestled in the Zgornjesavska Valley amid
the towering peaks of the Julian Alps, laced with alpine lakes and fast-running rivers, it is beautiful in summer as much as in winter. Prices are far lower than at other mountain resorts, too. In addition to hotels,  accommodations runs from tourist farms to Alpine hostels and wellness resorts. Activities include a summer toboggan run, hiking for all levels, cycling, golf, rafting, canyoning and fishing. Go to www.kranjska-gora.si.

* Viking voyage. For about $600, you can sail ancient Viking routes amid the archipelagos, shallow channels and hilltop forts from Västervik, Sweden, to Stockholm or vice versa. With five nights on
board, you’ll learn about  he Viking era and experience shipboard duties including steering, cooking, cleaning, setting sails and navigating. The journey is just  one of many ecotourism tours endorsed by the ecologically-minded Nature’s Best. Visit www.naturensbasta.se.

Fascinating fact

St. Paul, Minn., was originally called Pig's Eye, after Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant, a tavern keeper tavern there. But Father Lucien Galtier, the first Catholic pastor of the region,  put a stop to that and gave the settlement its current name.

Still time to snag some really low airfares

You have to act quickly and there are conditions, but three airlines are offering fares starting at $30, one way.  Southwest, Air Tran and Frontier have the offers.

For details, go to www.southwest.com, www.airtran.com and www.frontierairlines.com.

Wednesday's trivia answer: It's Monaco

The most densely populated nation on earth is Monaco, which is a mere .75 square miles and has a population density of 43,780 people per square mile. But if you exclude microstates, then Bangladesh, with 2,200 people per square mile, wins, according to about.com. Macau, which is a region and not a nation, has a density of 48,450. And we know we will get an argument about these statistics.

Not so fast on Four Corners location  

The other day we cited reports that the famous Four Corners marker, where people go to  stand in four states at once, is 2 1/2 miles from the actual junction. But those reports are erroneous, writes Dave Doyle, chief geodetic surveyor for the National Geodetic Survey. For his organization's complete response, click here.

------------------------------

Blueberry pedicure comes with Maine deal

Through Labor Day, The Cliff House Resort & Spa in Ogunquit, Maine, is offering one free Maine Blueberry Pedicure per room with any three- or four-night package. Those  packages  include Seaside Shopper (a girlfriend getaway), Spa & Golf Combo  and Celebration (recommended for romantic retreats, special occasions like reunions and anniversaries or just a long weekend .) Prices vary. As for the blueberry bonus, which normally costs $70, it is a 50-minute pedicure said to combine the antioxidant benefits of blueberries with the moisturizing properties of a Blueberry Smoothie Mask. 

Visit www.cliffhousemaine.com or call 207-361-1000.

Let's hear it for this flying fellow!

Kudos to Mark Malkoff, 33, who broke a Guinness World Record with 135 flight segments within a month. (The previous record was 128.) We hope he sat back, relaxed and enjoyed his flights, but we wonder about the "enjoy" part.

To learn all about his adventure, click here.

Meet Costa Rica, the happiest nation in the world

Travelers embrace Costa Rica's beaches and the greenery in its scenery.

This weekend's announcement declaring Costa Rica the happiest place on earth may have surprised many people. Ah, but there are other ways to measure happiness than the amount of bills stuffed into your wallet. The Happy Planet Index looked at three principal areas: a life expectancy,  citizens' satisfaction with their lives,  and a country's ecological footprint. While pondering all that, let us take a closer look at that pretty and peaceful Central American country.

* Costa Rica means "Rich Coast."  Good thing, because the country has 800 miles of coastline.

* Their McDonald's restaurants have home delivery.

* While violence, political and otherwise,  is not unknown in other Central American countries, Costa Rica has a stable democracy. More than that, it was the first country in the world to abolish its army.  

*Instead of referring to their wives as "my better half," men say (in Spanish) that their wives are "the better half of my orange."

* Costa Ricans refer to themselves as  Ticos  (males) or  Ticas  (females). 

* Life expectancy among its 4 1/2 million people is about 77 1/2 years. (The U.S. figure is 78.1.) The literacy rate exceeds 96 percent.

* The diversity of its wildlife is breathtaking. There are about 52 species of hummingbirds, four   species of monkeys, and four kinds of toucans. There are about 34,000 species of insects, not all of whom contribute to the happiness factor.

*Instead of saying, "She gave birth," Costa Ricans often say, "She gave light." 

* There are more than 120 volcanic formations.

* Speed bumps are referred to as "dead persons."

* More than one-fourth of the country's land is in national parks or other protected areas.

The Happy Planet Index report was  published by the New Economics Foundation, which studied 143 countries before placing Costa Rica at the top. And the United States? It came in 114th. 

For Costa Rica tourism information, click here.

Hurry, hurry: Crystal Cruises plans a 3-day sale

On  July 8, 9 and 10,  Crystal Cruises is offering 25 percent  additional savings on five already discounted itineraries this fall and winter. The extra  savings,  from $885 to $2,000 per person, apply to all deluxe outside and veranda category staterooms on its Sept. 26 Mediterranean cruise, a November itinerary from New York to Bermuda and the Caribbean, a Nov. 12 trans-Atlantic voyage, a Dec. 5 South American and the Amazon journey and a Dec. 10 Panama Canal transit. With the savings, and depending upon the cruise, prices will start at $2,300-$4,050 a person. Also, Crystal's  "All Inclusive -- As You Wish" program provides an additional $500-1,000 per person in  shipboard spending credits.  

The website is www.crystalcruises.com.

Trivial question

What is the world's most densely populated country? Answer Wednesday.

Kansas vacations at $30 per person per day

AAA has rated Kansas among the top five least expensive states to visit, and this summer vacation plans start at less than $30 per person per day, including lodging. Among the adventurous offerings, based around dinosaurs and other fabulous fossils; a quirky itinerary that will take you to such sights as the home of the world’s largest ball of twine; nature-based traveling; and a cowboys-and-cattletowns itinerary.

Visit www.travelks.com or call 785-296-2009.

Worth quoting

"He that is a traveler must have the back of an ass to bear all, a tongue like the tail of a dog to flatter all, the mouth of a hog to eat all that is set before him, the ear of a merchant to hear all and say nothing."

-- Thomas Nashe (1567-1601), English playwright

A hotel's reading choices for the digital age

EPIC, a new and upscale boutique waterfront hotel in Miami,  is going to give guests their choice of ways to read books, including  best-sellers and new releases.The EPIC Page Turner guest reading program will provide complimentary books, access to Sony Reader Digital Books, and an online choice where guests can access book excerpts from the  in-room desktop computer.  Author visits and signing events held during EPIC’s complimentary evening wine hour are also planned.

For more information, click here or call 866-760-3742. 

Were you standing where you thought you were?

Thousands upon thousands of people have had their pictures taken standing at the Four Corners Marker, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah were said to meet. But in case you missed the news reports, the National Geodetic Survey found that the actual spot where you can  stand simultaneously in the four states is about 2 1/2 miles west of the marker. Update: The National Geodetic Survey says those reports were erroneous. See July 8 entry.

When it comes to hotel rooms, it pays to haggle

A new survey by Consumer Reports says that of people who tried to negotiate for a lower hotel rate, 83 percent were successful.

Rainy days don't get New Hampshire down

This picture from the McAuliffe–Shepard Discovery Center seems appropriate for the Fourth of July weekend. Happy Independence Day!

It's been a rainy, misty, dreary month in New England, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to do but rust. Consider the possibilities, indoors and out,  in New Hampshire alone:

* In Manchester, the Currier Museum of Art has reopened with  a 33,000-square-foot addition, a glass-enclosed restaurant, new music and art programs for the public and a new performance space to house world-class collections. Check the museum out at www.currier.org.

* The Waterville Valley resort area has a huge indoor athletic club and an indoor ice rink. Family activities and free "chalk talks" are offered every weekend at the town's Curious George Cottage  Waterville's town square is lined with shops and restaurants, with a  covered walkway in this pedestrian-only zone. Go to www.visitwatervillevalley.com.

* Mount Washington Cruises operates  three enclosed and climate-controlled tour boats

that offer day, evening and charter cruises on Lake Winnipesaukee. Visitors can even take a cruise on the  U.S. Mail delivery boat, the M/V Sophie C.  Visit www.cruisenh.com.

* Rainy or not, you can journey to the stars at the new McAuliffe–Shepard Discovery Center in Concord. Youngsters can take part in rocket-making workshops, help land a space

shuttle or watch the shows in the high-tech planetarium theater. Visit www.starhop.com.

* The Conway Scenic Railroad in Conway or the Hobo Railway in Lincoln can provide an indoor view of  mountainous scenery the old-fashioned way. Another rail option is to chug up Mount Washington on the Cog Railway, an authentic coal-fired steam train based in Bretton Woods. Chug on over to www.mountwashington.org.

* An indoor-outdoor experience can be found at the Polar Caves in Plymouth, which offers explorations through tunnels and rocks. Click here. 

* For more ideas, and deals too, click here.

Worth quoting

"They seem to enjoy life a little bit more. They aren't running around as much as in New York. They enjoy time with the family. They don't always have their BlackBerries on." -- Gwyneth Paltrow, telling the Associated Press how a visit to Spain at age 15 changed her outlook and her life.

One way to beat those checked-baggage fees

Eight hotels and inns on Amelia Island in northeast Florida have relaunched a Pack Your Bags for Amelia Island program, offering air travelers up to an $80 room credit for checked baggage fees.  The program is valid through Dec. 31 on stays of three or more nights.

For details, click here.

How's that again?

T-shirt spotted in Tokyo's Shibuya district: "It's so easy to it curiosity what wonderful relaxing?"

A luxe Boston hotel welcomes canines

Boston's upscale XV Beacon Hotel now welcomes dogs as well as guests.  Selected furnished rooms  on the designated canine floor provide a doggie bed and bowl of fresh water.   Furry guests also get turn-down service and fresh baked dog biscuits . The hotel concierge will arrange dog walking, pet sitting, grooming and spa and veterinarian services. The hotel will donate all of its $25 pet fee to   MSPCA-Angell,  a nonprofit organization whose services include veterinary care, animal protection and adoption, advocacy, humane education and law enforcement.

Call 617-670-1500 or visit www.xvbeacon.com.

Trivia answer: The spider is in Ottawa

The answer to Wednesday's "Where are you?" question shown below  is Ottawa, at the plaza of the National Gallery of Canada. Mamanis,  a 30-foot bronze  spider sculpture  by Louise Bourgeois, weighs 18,000 pounds and carries a sac of 20 pure white marble eggs under her belly. 

Where are you?

Today's trivia question is pictorial. Simply identify the city where you will find this scene. (Clue: The country it is located in is mentioned below.) Answer Friday.

Happy Canada Day! Here are some fun facts

Today is Canada Day. Why? Because on July 1, 1867, the British North America Act  united Canada as a single country of four provinces. Here are some more facts (some of them arguable, I suppose) about the second largest country in the world.

* Canada has  6,195,692.16 square miles of land, second only to Russia with 6,592,800 square miles. 

* Canadians are said to consume more macaroni and cheese than any other nation.
 
* With only three people per square kilometer, Canada has the fourth-lowest population density in the world.
 
* The world's smallest jail is believed to be in Rodney, Ontario. It is about 270 square feet.
 
 *Canada claims  many great inventions, including basketball, the electric light bulb, the electric range, the electron microscope, standard time,  television, the telephone, the baseball glove and the zipper. 

*There have been no Saturday deliveries of regular mail in the country since 1969.

A night's hotel stay in Taiwan for just $1

Every year, 2 million travelers make a transfer in Taiwan while en route to  Southeast Asia, India or Australia. With a new tourism bureau promotion, they can add a night's stay at one of eight participating hotels for $1 or 1 euro.  In addition to  discounting fares, China Airlines and EVA Airways will absorb the  stopover fee.  If you need to stop for more than a night, those hotels will discount the additional time. 

To book, click here and go to the list of travel agencies.

Fascinating fact

Maine is the only state in the United States whose name has one syllable.

Fine furniture festival coming up in Vermont

Frank Lloyd-Wright, Shaker, American modern and kitchen contemporary are among many furniture pieces handcrafted that will be displayed Sept. 26-27 during the sixth annual Vermont Fine Furniture & Woodworking Festival in Woodstock, Vt. Last year's event drew over 2,500 patrons who made off-the-floor purchases and orders for home furnishings valued at up to $12,000.

For more information, click here.

Get ready to groan -- here comes a travel joke

Two tourists stopped for lunch in the town of Oconomowoc, Wis., and immediately began arguing about how to pronounce the town's name. Finally, as they stood at the counter, one of them asked the  employee. "Could you please settle an argument for us? Would you please pronounce where we are ...  very, very slowly?

The employee leaned over the counter and said, Burrrrrr, gerrrrrr, Kiiiing."

An inn package especially for 'Twilight' fans

The Inn at Rooster Hill, a French Country Inn on 2-1/2  acres in Port Angeles, Wash., has a Twilight Book Tour offer starting at $368, The package includes a self-guided “Twilight” tour map of  area sites featured in the phenomenally selling book series, a $50 gift certificate to Bella Italia (where Edward and Bella shared their first date), a Twilight t-shirt, overnight accommodations and country breakfast.

Click here.

In N.H., a lakefront cottage for you and your pet 

A lakefront cottage compound called Anchorage at the Lake in Tilton, N.H.,  is offering a 20 percent discount on all two-bedroom cabins if you pay in advance by credit card and stay three or more nights. Anchorage at the Lake will also welcome pets for  $20 per animal per day in designated pet-friendly accommodations. Lodging options include studio cabins for two,  one-bedroom cabins for four or five, two-bedroom cabins for six to eight, an apartment for up to 10 and two large summer homes for up to 16.  Rates are from $89 to $199 nightly, with discounts     for multiple-night and weekly stays. 

Visit www.anchorageatthelake.com or call 800-943-6093.

Beautiful bugs in Beijing

We began today's postings with a buggy photo, so let us end with one. In Beijing, he Opposite House has partnered with F2 Gallery to exhibit work from the insect series by artist Feng Shu in the hotel's atrium, July 2-Sept. 27. Pieces on display  include a larger than "insect" life praying mantis, mosquito, beetle, scorpion, dragonfly, bee and spider.

Visit www.theoppositehouse.com and www.f2gallery.com.

What they say ... and what they actually mean

Photo by the Walt Disney Co.

The July re-launch of the Hall of Presidents attraction at the Magic Kingdom adds an audio-animatronic likeness of President Obama, who will have a speaking role, along with the figures of Washington and Lincoln. Disney World employees do a lot of speaking, too, but some remarks need a "translation."

Years ago, a group of Walt Disney World employees (or "cast members," in Disneyspeak) put together a satirical newsletter that unofficially translated phrases frequently heard around the Magic Kingdom. Here are highlights from the list, which was reprinted in the book "Realityland."

* "We are experiencing technical difficulties."

Something bad just happened.

* "We should be operating again in about an hour."

I have no idea how long it will be.

* "These 3-D glasses will impair your normal vision."

They look goofy if you wear them outside.

* "Excuse us, please."

If you don't move, a one-ton cart will run you over.

* "Yes, I do work here."

What tipped you off, genius? The nametag or the dorky costume?

* "Please remain calm."

It's time to panic. You are all going to die!

Websites' airline-ticket trick upsets a senator

U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) has introduced legislation to stop online websites from offering service under a major carrier's name and waiting until buyers pay to reveal that a small regional carrier is actually doing the flying. "The airlines are pulling a bait-and-switch, and it could be making flying less safe," Schumer told the Daily News. He cited Expedia and the big airlines' own websites.

A luxury rafting trip for $995 a person

A new four-day Middle Fork of the Salmon Rafting Adventure, beginning Aug. 25, will be offered for $995 per person. The 70-mile trip, from ROW adventures is a one-time event. Rafting will start in Boise and end in Salmon, Idaho. The free-flowing Middle Fork drops 3,000 feet through central Idaho's remote "River of No Return" wilderness. Natural and diverse, the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is one of America's first "Wild and Scenic Rivers" protected by Congress.

Call 800-451-6034 or e-mail info@rowadventures.com. For more about Salmon rafting, click here.

Worth quoting

"Is there anything as horrible as starting on a trip? ... The last moments are earthquake and convulsion."

-- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

A chance to see the Dead Sea scrolls in Toronto

The Fairmont Royal York is promoting a Dead Sea Scrolls Package that gives preferred access to the newly opened exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum. The package is available seven days a week and includes a night's accommodations, complimentary valet parking for one car, a $25 food and beverage credit and two adult tickets to "Dead Sea Scrolls: Words that Changed the World," with a reserved time. Rates begin at about $205 U.S.

Click here or call 800-441-1414.

And speaking of Toronto ...

Canada's largest city is multicultural indeed, with nearly 47 percent of its population belonging to a visible minority group. To emphasize that, someone decided to do a little Photoshopping on the cover of the city's Summer Fun Guide.

--------------------------------------

New Hampshire enters the blogosphere

A new blog, "Karno Trip Picks," is continually updated with the latest travel news from selected New Hampshire-based travel organizations and destinations. These include the Waterville Valley Resort, the White Mountains Attractions organization, the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, the Cog Railway, the Barnstormer's Theatre in Tamworth, and the M/S Mount Washington cruises on Lake Winnepesaukee. Readers can subscribe via email, via an RSS feed, or follow the feed on Twitter @LkarnoTripPicks.

The blog can be found at http://www.karnotrippicks.com/. The Twitter feed is called "New Hampshire Travel."

Friday's trivia answer

No, Hagatna is not an East European stew. Rather, it's the capital of Guam and one of the American island territory's busiest commercial districts.

Look who's coming to Tokyo!

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Gundam, the giant robot from a Japanese anime TV series, a 59-foot robot will be displayed in Tokyo's new waterfront Odaiba district from July 10-Aug. 31 to promote Tokyo's bid to host the 2016 Olympics. The robot can move over 50 body parts as well as eject light beams and mist, as in the TV series.  Sounds as if that might be worth a trip to Tokyo all by itself.

Five free attractions that are really worth your while

Many attractions across the country are free simply because that's what they are worth. But others can give you so much fun that you can't put a price on it. Here, from TripAdvisor.com, are five favorite freebies.

* Mallory Square, in Key West, Fla., where you'll find food vendors, acrobats, musicians and a spectacular sunset.

* Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colo., home to sandstone rock formations and a view of Pike's Peak.

* Cliff Walk, Newport, R.I., a scenic 3 1/2-mile walkway with the ocean on one side and views of the famous Newport mansions on the other.

* Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, where you can look up at the night sky through a telescope or simply take in the view of Los Angeles and the famous Hollywood sign.

* You've no doubt heard of the above four, but are you familiar with Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah? There, in the scenic Angel Canyon,  you can volunteer to help with the animals or take a free tour of the grounds.

How's that again?

A shopping bag spotted in Japan proclaims,  "Primitive Cool: collective heterosexual scenario and turn the women red."

It's the early bird that catches Stowe's discount

Vermont's Stowe Mountain Lodge is already getting ready for snow.  For those who can't wait to be the first on the lift, the lodge will offer up to a 20% discount on nightly room rates with its First Tracks package. The offer includes lodging for two in a studio guestroom, 2 two-day ski passes, complimentary ski storage and boot warming. One guest per booking will also receive a Royal Foot Treatment at The Spa at Stowe Mountain Lodge --  a 25-minute wrap, scrub and massage for the feet and lower legs. The package is valid for visits between Nov. 28 and Dec. 18, with rates starting at $329 per night (This represents up to a 25% discount off best available rates).  A two-night minimum stay is required for  this package, which must be booked by Aug. 31.

Visit  www.stowemountainlodge.com or call 888-4-STOWE-VT, and refer to booking code FIRSTTRACKS.  

Meanwhile, Sunday River is all set for summer

Sunday River in Newry, Maine,   shifts   into its summer mode with the opening of the Sunday River Mountain Bike Park and the start of the resort’s summer activity calendar. Additional summer activities for guests include golf and guided or unguided ATV/Ranger rides, fly fishing, mineralogy and canoe/kayaking tours. New this summer is the Chondola for scenic rides and mountain bike transport and 6 new miles of mountain bike terrain for beginners and intermediates.   The $7.2 million Chondola -- part gondola and part chairlift -- gives a seven- minute ride to North Peak where the resort’s system of mountain bike and hiking trails branch from.  The eight-person gondola cabins are reserved for pedestrians, while the six-person chairs are  for mountain bike transport. Mountain bike adult all-day tickets with Chondola access are $27; trail-access-only tickets are $10. Roundtrip Chondola rides are $8 (ages 5 and under ride  free).

Guided tours (ATV/Ranger, fly-fishing, mineralogy and canoe/kayaking) can be booked seven days a week by calling 800-543-2754. For more information on Sunday River, visit www.sundayriver.com or call 207-842-5234.

Trivial question

Where would you find Hagatna? Answer Monday.

Relax ... even if you're lost on the drive

Steve Halpern's CD "Drive Time RX" has relaxation suggestions encoded so softly in his music that the listener can't hear them, but the subconscious does, and will respond. At least that's the theory behind the recording artist's latest effort. So when you're totally lost while driving to your vacation destination, you might want to pop this disc into the CD player.

The CD is available at www.innerpeacemusic.com and Amazon.com, among other places.

 Fascinating fact

Smokey the Bear, that indefatigable fighter of forest fires, has his own ZIP code: 20252.

Budget vacations from Appalachian Mountain Club

The Appalachian Mountain Club  (AMC) is offering summer vacations for every budget, from free naturalist activities for day trippers to all-inclusive, five-night vacations for a family of four under $1,500. Three-night values for two include camping trips under $100, shore-side private cabin retreats in the Maine Woods for $300, and lodge-to-hut hiking under $500. Everyone is welcome, and AMC members get additional discounts.  The destinations are in New Hampshire, Maine and New Jersey.

   For details, click here.

These streets weren’t named for elephants OR circuses

One of the many things I love about London are the names of its streets. You know: places like Bleeding Heart Yard, Houndsditch, Spitalfields, Elephant and Castle. But how did they get those colorful names anyway? The Associated Press recently looked into that question and came up with these answers:

* Bleeding Heart Yard is from a legend that a noblewoman's still-pumping heart was found there after she was murdered in the 1620s.

* Houndsditch comes from the ditch where people dumped dead dogs in the Middle Ages.

* Spitalfields, the site of a popular market in east London, is a contraction of "Hospital Fields." The New Hospital of St. Mary without Bishopsgate was located there in the early 12th century.

* Elephant and Castle, in south London, may be a corruption of "La Infanta de Castilla," which in Spanish refers to Catherine of Aragon, the Spanish princess who was the first (but not the last) to marry Henry VIII..

And there are more:

* Piccadilly Circus gets its name from a stiff collar called a "picadil" and a picadil tailor’s mansion called Piccadilly Hall. In this instance, “circus” merely means a circular area.

* Pall Mall, which cuts through London’s center, may have got that name because British nobility liked to play "paille maille" on long, straight streets.

* Chalk Farm, in north London, is a corruption of "Chalcot Farm," which the AP says no longer exists but was chosen as the name for the nearby Underground stop “simply because it was memorable.”

For a lot more about London, including a three-night flight-and-hotel offer starting at $599, go to www.visitlondon.com.


Everyone groan -- here comes a travel joke
A passenger piled his suitcases on the scale at an airline counter in Chicago and, after paying the airline’s outrageous fees, told the ticket agent, "I'm flying to Los Angeles. I want the square case to go to Denver and the two round ones to go to Boston."
"I'm sorry, sir, but we can't do that," said the ticket agent.
"Why not?” answered the passenger. You did it the last time!"

Las Vegas resort gives a $100 beverage credit
The Signature at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, a Mobil four-star resort, is celebrating its third birthday with a deal. Throughout July, when you book the Signature Celebration package, rates start at $129 per night for a junior suite -- and you get a $100 beverage credit. If it happens to be your birthday, too, you get a complimentary upgrade to a one-bedroom suite.
Call 877-727-0007 and mention booking code “BIRTHDAY.” The website is www.signaturemgmgrand.com.

And speaking of beverages ...
The Deerfield Inn in Deerfield, Mass., is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a new tavern and name for the restaurant. In a tribute to acclaimed painter and late 19th century Deerfield resident, James Wells Champney, the name is now Champney’s Restaurant and Tavern. What’s more, the beverage menu features a whopping 101 custom-blended martinis, and restaurant guests get a free treat -- some of the inn’s signature Dense Chocolate Torte for dessert.
Visit www.deerfieldinn.com or call 413-774-5587 .

Worth quoting

“There ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.”

                                                                                                                                            -- Mark Twain

2 months of music, dance, theater, flamenco
For 60 days this summer, Madrid will welcome performing artists like Sara Baras, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cesária Évora, Gilberto Gil, Jerry Lee Lewis, Youssou N’Dour, Carlos Saura and James Taylor. The Spanish capital’s Summer in the City Festival will have 1,166 performances – 65 concerts, 50 plays, 30 dance companies, 200 film screenings and two circuses. Events begin Thursday and run through Aug. 23. Prices, locations and times vary. For the rundown, click here.  To learn about Spain, visit www.spain.info.

Fascinating facts
With a coastline of 2,650 miles, Chile makes up more than half the western coastline of South America. This ultra-thin country is between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, the earth's longest exposed mountain range at more than 4,300 miles.

Answer to Monday’s trivia: Buenos Aires
The striking span pictured below is the Puente de la Mujer in Buenos Aires, a 335-foot-long suspension pedestrian bridge The central portion can turn 90 degrees to allow water traffic to get by.

Photo by Richard P. Carpenter

Where are you?

Today's trivia: In which city will you find this bridge? Answer Wednesday.

Without $4 gas, Americans will keep hitting the road

A year ago, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline was $4.07. Today, according to AAA, the average is $2.69. Everybody say, "Whoopee!"

Lower gas prices, of course, mean more affordable summer travel for many. If last year's $4 prices had been repeated, a new survey finds that more than 67 percent of the people questioned would cut their summer travel plans, sometimes drastically. But the news is good, and BedandBreakfast.com, which conducted the survey of 3,300 travelers,  found that nearly 80 percent  plan to take as many or more trips this summer as they did last year and are evenly split between staying closer to home for “staycations”  and traveling farther away. Here are the survey results:

* 70.5% say they'll take two to four trips this summer. 

* 78.6% say they'll take as many or more trips this summer as last.

*  Respondents are evenly tied between staycations and "go-cations" to distant destinations.

* Although the recession has affected  travel plans for 6 out of 10 respondents, they're still anticipating summer vacations. A total of 51.2% of survey respondents said they would change their plans and spend less each day, while 43.4% said they would vacation for fewer days.

* 76% said good deals on lodging would encourage them to travel more, while nearly half said  the simple need to get away was the biggest motivator for travel. 
* Relaxation was the most popular anticipated activity for vacations (65%), followed by visiting with friends and family (56%) and swimming at beaches and lakes (47%). 

Inns that belong to BedandBreakfast.com have crafted more than 125 reward offers to help guests with their gasoline and other costs. Visit  www.bedandbreakfast.com and click the fuel gauge graphic in the center of the screen. The group also has an offer  to save an extra $50 on a three-night sunny destination vacation when booked online  by June 30. click here,  type in a destination and travel dates, look for the Book It button, and use the promo code BBSUN50.

And speaking of driving ... 

Clark Howard, money expert for the HLN network, says driving can cost you about 50 cents a mile because of wear and tear, so you might actually save by renting a car, thus putting the wear on someone else's vehicle.

Visit cnn.com/clarkhoward.

Fascinating fact

Seoul is Korean for "capital city," which of course is what Seoul is.

A room in San Diego for $19?

From Aug. 16-31, the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego will discount its $219 room rate drastically if you are willing to give up some amenities. Here's how it goes: $199 without breakfast,  $179 without honor bar,  $159 without air conditioning or heat,  $139 without pillows, $109 without sheets,  $89 without lights,  $59 without linens, $39 without toiletries and $19 without bed. After all, there's nothing like a good snooze on the floor.

Click here or call 877-517-9340

There's no accounting for taste

According to a survey by USA Today and TripAdvisor.com, America's favorite roadside store is that temple of tackiness, South of the Border in Dillon, S.C.,  picked by  33 percent of  those surveyed. My favorite, Wall Drug Store in Wall, S.D., came in a close second with 31 percent.

Begorrah, but it's germy

The aforementioned TripAdvisor has named Ireland's Blarney Stone the would's germiest tourist attraction. The stone is kissed by 400,000 people a year.

Travel tip

From From Sally Qu Yi, a program director for Grand Circle Travel: "If you are a market person, the first place you should go in Beijng is the Silk Market. The Chinese silk products ... are cheap but good quality... but there are also lots of cashmere  garments, down jackets, leather goods, shoes, hats, watches and some handcrafts and trinkets."

Travelocity sale

Travelocity is holding a Summer to the Rescue Sale, in which you can save up to one-third if you book by June 30 and travel by July 31.

Visit www.travelocity.com/sale.

All aboard for the world's 10 best train rides!

Photo by Rocky Mountaineer

Some of the most widely traveled people on earth were recently polled about what they considered the world’s most exciting and scenic train rides. Here, in order,  are the top 10 rides chosen by members of the Society of American Travel Writers, along with the organization’s descriptions.

1. The Rocky Mountaineer (www.rockymountaineer.com), which offers spectacular two-day journeys through the Canadian Rocky Mountains from Vancouver to Banff or Jasper.

2. The Glacier Express (www.glacierexpress.ch), the famous Swiss mountain railway from St. Moritz to Zermatt. This 7 1/2-hour journey crosses 291 bridges and burrows through 91 tunnels.

3. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (www.durangotrain.com), which winds through rugged canyons in the remote wilderness of Colorado’s two-million-acre San Juan National Forest.

4. The Bernina Express (www.rhb.ch), which runs from Chur, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy, and makes the highest rail crossing of the Alps, passing from icy glaciers to palm-shaded piazzas in just a few hours.

5. Peru Rail Cusco to Machu Picchu (www.perurail.com), which carries passengers on a dramatic journey through the high Andes. There are three levels of service, from backpacker trains to Vistadome cars to the luxurious blue and gold Hiram Bingham train.

6. The Coastal Classic Train on the Alaska Railroad (www.akrr.com), which winds through the wilderness between Anchorage and Seward. Massive glaciers are visible from the track as the train climbs into the Kenai Mountains and travels to the shores of Resurrection Bay for connection to Kenai Fjords National Park, offering whale watching, sea kayaking, tidewater glacier viewing, fishing, and dog sled rides.

7. The Royal Scotsman (www.royalscotsman.com), which rolls through sweeping glens, towering peaks and mirror-calm lochs as the train weaves through wild countryside and along virgin stretches of coast on two- to seven- night journeys in the Scottish highlands.

8. The Whistler Mountaineer (www.whistlermountaineer.com) in Canada, a three-hour ride along the magnificent coast of British Columbia, from Vancouver to Whistler, famous for its views of cities, old-growth forests, deep valleys, snowcapped peaks and seascapes.

9. Mexico’s El Chepe (www.chepe.com.mx), which ventures into the imposing landscapes of the Sierra Tarahumara and into Mexico’s Copper Canyon, passing through 87 tunnels and crossing 37 bridges. The Copper Canyon is four times the size of the Grand Canyon – and deeper.

10. The Flam Railway (www.norwaynutshell.com) is regarded as one of the highlights of the “Norway in a Nutshell” tour. The 20-kilometer-long journey from the mountain station of Myrdal takes 55 minutes and presents views of some of the most magnificent mountain scenery in Norway.

For more about the Society of American Travel Writers, visit www.satw.org.

Worth quoting
“There isn't a train I wouldn't take, No matter where it's going.”
                                                                                      -- Edna St. Vincent Millay

In search of savings in Britain
Britain on the Cheap is a new website that seeks out bargains in B&Bs, hotels, restaurants, shops, theaters and attractions. Recent savings included 25 percent off Historic House Hotels stays; 20% off the Original Bus Open-Top Tour; and free upgrades on the Heathrow Express.
Visit www.britainonthecheap.com. For savings in other cities, check out www.citiesonthecheap.com.

How’s that again?
Sign spotted at a zoo in Japan: “Do Not Feed Your Hand.”


Cruisegoers can see an original Declaration 
A rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence will be aboard Princess Cruises’ Alaska-based based ships the week of July 4. The Declaration will be on display aboard the vessels for about two hours while each ship is docked in Juneau. The document, valued at more than $8 million, will be shown aboard Diamond Princess and Star Princess on July 1; Coral Princess on July 2; Island Princess on July 3; Pacific Princess and Golden Princess on July 6, and Sapphire Princess and Sea Princess on July 8.

For full details, click here.

Got the pink slip? You may get a free getaway
In 1992, when Leslie and Brian Mulcahy came to the Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford, Vt., Brian’s middle management job was being eliminated. So they went from being guests to embarking on a new career as innkeepers at the inn two years later. And now they have launched the Pink Slip Getaway Giveaway Each month through April, 2010 (except September and October 2009), the Rabbit Hill Inn will give away at least one two-night getaway to a couple who has been unemployed for six months or more if their letter explaining their situation is chosen.
For complete details, visit www.rabbithillinn.com.

Answer to Wednesday’s trivia question
The International Bridge links Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The bridge spans the St. Marys River. (The Michigan city, incidentally, is the birthplace of a notable journalist: Peter C. Hotton, the Boston Globe’s "Handyman on Call.")

The best food and the least rude

Singapore Airlines has the best food and the most polite flight attendants, according to a survey by SeatGuru.Com, which tells you all about your airline seat. Coming in second in the food category was British Airlines, followed by Continental and Air France. For the worst food, American Airlines came in first, followed by United, US Airways and Delta. As for the best flight attendants, Singapore was followed by British Airways and Southwest Airlines. United had the rudest, according to the 1,600 people who participated in the survey, followed closely by American and US Airways.

All the entertainment you could ever want is on PEI

Photo by Confederation Centre of the Arts

Every year I visit Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada, and almost every day I take in a live show.  It's easy and convenient and affordable to do so, because most of those shows take place at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in the capital city of Charlottetown. Check out this season's lineup:

Anne of Green Gables – The Musical. This is the 45th season for this play about a plucky orphan, based on the novel by L.M. Montgomery. More than 2.3 million people have seen the show on the Centre’s 1,100-seat Mainstage theater  since 1965, making Anne  Canada’s longest-running musical and one of the longest-running musicals in the world.

Disco Cirque. Also on the Mainstage, this  musical revue of the disco era is made contemporary with silks dropping from the ceiling and performers both on and above the stage.

Stan Rogers – A Matter of Heart. The music of this great Canadian composer will be presented at The Mack, across the street from the Centre's main building.

Charlie Farquharson and Them Udders. In this sketch comedy, Don Harmon portrays Farquarsohn, who says, “This show is gonna be a ring-tailed snorter of a rang dang doo!” You get the idea.

Abegweit – The Soul of the Island. One of the many good thing about this 45-minute musical production by the The Young Company is that it is absolutely free. Another good thing is that it celebrates Prince Edward Island.

Sketch 22.  This late-night show of short sketches at the Mack isn't for everyone, because it can be smutty. But it can also be hilarious.

And that is just some of what goes on. Ticket prices vary, but you save 15 percent by buying tickets to  two shows, 20 percent for three shows and 25 percent for four-plus shows. The summer season, called the Charlottetown Festival, runs June 18-Sept. 26. And apart from the Centre, all of the island is filled with musical and other entertainment.

Visit www.confederationcentre.com. For Prince Edward Island information, visit www.gentleisland.com.

Trivial question

Since the above item was about Canada, let's have a trivia question from that country. Which U.S. city and which Canadian city are connected by the International Bridge? Hint: It doesn't involve Prince Edward Island. (Answer Friday.) 

Virginia, at 40 percent off ...

In connection with the 40th anniversary of the Virginia Is for Lovers promotion, the state is offering 40 percent off dozens of hotels and attractions. In addition, there are $40 off deals and Buy 3 Get One Free promotions.

For the offers, click here.

... and a third night free in New York

 Hundreds of  lodging properties, including privately-owned campgrounds, will take part in I Love New York's "book two nights, get the third night free" offer. In addition, travelers can save 20 percent on fares to all New York state destinations served by Amtrak and/or receive a 5 percent discount on Enterprise car rentals at Amtrak and MTA Metro North Railroad station stops.

For more information, click here.

Worth quoting

New York's "tall buildings are a waste. In Boston, Bunker Hill gets to the point much quicker than Radio City. "

                                                                                                           -- comedian Fred Allen 

'Saks in the City' is a Boston shopping spree

In Boston, the Fairmont Copley Plaza has partnered with its retail neighbor, Saks Fifth Avenue, to offer a Saks in the City Package. Participants get access to the exclusive Fifth Avenue Club with personal shopping plus light dining and beverages for two,  a cosmetics consultation and  a $100 Saks Fifth Avenue gift card. The package includes one night at The Fairmont Copley Plaza, and is available through Sept. 7. Rates  start at $279.

Click here or call 800-441-1414.

Choose your cruise: Elvis or Sinatra & Martin

An Elvis cruise sails Nov.12-16 from Tampa, Fla., to Cozumel, Mexico, on the Carnival Inspiration, with prices starting at $599. Some of Elvis Presley's former band members will be onboard, rocking out the Elvis oldies.

Click here or call 877-749-8462.

Meanwhile, a Tribute to Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin will be presented by Ron & Joyce Della Chiesa on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard the Costa Atlantica, sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.,  Feb. 27 - March 6. Michael Dutra stands in for  Sinatra and Steven Palumbo plays the Dean Martin role. Prices vary.

Click here or call 800-989-8188.

Fascinating fact

The full name of Los Angeles was El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula, which means The Town of Our Lady the Queen of Angels of the Little Portion. That name can be abbreviated to 3.63 percent of its size: LA.