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Myrtle Beach safari lets you get your close up with celebrity animals

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By Mary Quinn O'Connor

If you’ve ever wondered where the animals you see on TV and movies live when they're not on set, or even how they learn to “act”, look no further than Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This tourist destination, known mainly for its sunny weather and crowded beaches, is also home to Tigers Preservation Station and Safari (T.I.G.E.R.S) a safari for celebrity animals.

“Watching the film and television process happen gave me an idea that recreating that for our guests gave them the chance to see animals up close and in action doing things like their favorite television moments,” said T.I.G.E.R.S. founder and safari director Dr. Bhagavan Antle.

“Doc” created a safari for visitors from around the world to come and see these highly trained animals in their natural habitat. You may recognize these animals from films such as "Ace Ventura", "Doctor Doolittle", "Jungle Book", and "Mighty Joe Young".

“We act as agents for the animals,” said Antle. “Producers from movie and television call us up and say ‘We need a tiger who will just go up and lay down with an actress,’" said Antle.

The trainers at T.I.G.E.R.S make that request a reality. Through hundreds of hours of training a week, these animals become accustomed to working with humans.

“That gives the animals an edge in working the movie and television business because they are already so acclimated to the human lifestyle,” said Antle.

Thirty years ago, Antle created this unique safari experience where guests could come and interact (sit with them, play with them, and feed them) with these wild, endangered, and even famous animals like nowhere else in the world.

“It’s not going to the zoo, it something all together different,” said one safari guest.

Visitors pay around $250 per person to come to this three-hour walking safari over 50-acres of land in Myrtle Beach, where they may run into a few of their favorite animal celebrities. 

The animals at this safari have already starred in over 500 movie and television shows over the past 30 years, and some of these animals still have a long career ahead of them-- like Bubbles the Elephant. Bubbles has starred in many movies, but is most famous for her role in Ace Ventura.

“She’s what I call the world’s biggest movie star,” said Antle. “There has been another elephant in a movie but its not as tall or heavy as Bubbles.”

By visiting Bubbles or some of your other favorite animal-stars, you are contributing to the Rare Species Fund which was established to provide funding to critical international wildlife conservation programs.

“The animal actors and the animals that are here meeting the guests will raise money for grassroots conservation programs that give people the chance to save wildlife throughout the world,” said Antle.

 

12 surprising things you can take on a plane

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By Maria Lisella

By now most travelers know the Transportation Security Administration’s carry-on rules: Don't bring bottles of liquids more than 3.4 ounces; don't wrap presents because they may be inspected; don't bring knives or sharp objects.

Judging by the endless list of what you cannot carry on board  -- antlers, snow globes, Donny’s baseball bats, little Jimmy’s bows and arrows, Dad’s drills and drill bits --  but you might be surprised at what you can bring on board.   

The TSA will allow unloaded firearms on board, for instance, but they must be checked, not kept in carry-on. What about camp stoves, parachute rigs, Grandma Sara’s remains or her knitting needles you just inherited?

Here are a host of things that you may want to take on a flight but never thought you could.

Antiques and Artifacts

So you just got off a fabulous anthropologic dig in Israel or the Sudan and want to bring a few rocks home, or you bought the Hope Diamond for a steal while in Cape Town, South Africa. It's perfectly fine to take these home with you on a plane. 

In the good old days, I hauled several handmade Indian rugs on board with me – they weighed a ton, they were bulky (on an Air India flight were likely the least obtrusive items on board), but  I was allowed to keep them close to me.

Buy antiques – small or large. You will be charged for the biggies and they will have to travel without you in the hold, but be sure to carry documentation such as receipts or export permits for any antiquities or art purchased abroad.

Camp Stoves  

You can bring these as carry-on or checked luggage only if they are empty and squeaky clean so that there are no vapors or residue left. Emptying the fuel container will still leave telltale flammable odors. The safest bet is to ship the fuel containers to your destination ahead of time.

Crematory Containers and Deceased Remains

The TSA is working with funeral home associations to develop everlasting guidelines on these items. For now, yes, take the urn on board ,but consider putting Grandma in a wood or plastic container that can be successfully X-rayed, otherwise she will have to be screened as an explosive material or device. Out of respect for the deceased, screeners cannot open the container under any circumstance. This may be a moot point as some airlines prohibit cremated remains even in checked baggage; check with your travel agent.

Firearms and Ammunition

Yes, you can transport unloaded firearms, ammunition and firearm parts, but only in your checked baggage, which needs to be a locked, hard-sided container. To avoid never seeing this item again, declare the weapon at the check-in counter. Stick around during the screening in case you have to open the container. If you’re not there, the container will probably not get on the plane. Do not even think about bringing black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder type firearms aboard in checked or carry on.

Hunting and Fishing Equipment

Predictably you are not going to get on board with hunting knives or spear guns.  But fishing rods, expensive reels or fragile tackle like flies can travel with you if they fit within the carrier’s size limitations. Leave the heavy-duty tackle in your checked baggage, as it is usually designed with troublesome hooks.

Knitting Needles, Needlepoint and Sewing

Yes, you should be able to bring knitting needles aboard, but who can imagine why they are deemed safer than butter knives? You might encounter a security officer who will decide the needles pose a threat to national security, while others may recognize it as a knitting needle. When it comes to more specialized items -- like a circular thread cutter -- just check it in.

TSA’s tip: bring circular knitting needles made of bamboo or plastic and blunt scissors and to make sure all the work you have already done is not confiscated on that shawl you are working on. Carry a crochet hook with yarn in case your knitting tools are surrendered at checkpoint.

Musical Instruments

If it fits the airline’s guidelines, bring it on board, but it will be X-rayed and possibly subjected to rigorous physical exams before traveling with you. The TSA recommends carrying the stringed instruments with you, while brass instruments ought to be checked in with your luggage along with, now this is crucial—clear instructions to someone with no musical background as to how to handle and repack it. Amplifiers and speakers can also be in carry-on.

Parachutes

Skydivers need to add 30 minutes to their arrival time because although you can carry on your skydiving rigs, with and without Automatic Activation Devices (AAD),  security may choose to open a rig to inspect it. You must be present and will be allowed to assist with the inspection.

Pigs, Monkeys, (Companion or Service Animals)

More trendy than a canine is the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, which had been legally classified as a "companion animal.” A pilot I spoke with recalled a pot-bellied pig was once allowed to travel with a passenger in business class, and while he had lots of dogs on flights without incident, this pig managed to pretty well destroy that section of the plane to the horror of other passengers.

Among other animals, the TSA Security Officers will likely not touch the monkey but ask handlers to remove the “Monkey Helpers’” diapers for closer inspection.

Sporting Equipment

Boogie boards, wake boards can come along with you in carry-on provided the skeg fin is encased in protective material. Bowling balls and shoes may be considered oversized or overweight, but can go in carry-on, as is true for ice or roller skates, and skateboards without Hazmat stickers.

Scuba divers may have it easier according to Frontier Airline’s guidelines.  They’ll accept one bag with fins, mask, snorkel, regulator, safety vest, spear gun, pressure gauge, tank harness, empty scuba tank (with the regulator valve completely removed), but leave the knives and spear guns behind or well-packed and checked in.

Sex Toys

Dolls, stuffed animals go right through security, but sex toys will be inspected more closely. Take the batteries out because you won’t be able to survive the sheer embarrassment of them sounding off or buzzing at security or on board. If you’re into handcuffs or whips, beware: they will be noticed through the X-ray machines. Play it safe, pack them in your checked luggage as you will never get away with them. 

Compressed Gas Cylinders

If the regulator valve is completely disconnected and the cylinder is no longer sealed so that it has an open end, drag it on board.

Where are the world’s rudest countries for travelers?

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Congratulations, my fellow Americans.  According to a recent survey, not only is the U.S. not the rudest place on earth, but we're not even in the top five.

France is the rudest place in world to visit with nearly one-fifth of votes, based on travel website Skyscanner.com's ranking.  “This seems to be a fairly common stereotype, albeit not one which is necessarily true,” Sam Baldwin, Skyscanner's travel editor told the International Business Times,.

Russia, the U.K. and Germany rounded out the top four most unfriendly countries to visit.  The U.S. was ranked seventh after "Other" and China, and apparently play better hosts than tourists.  Americans recently topped another poll as the world's worst tourists, but the majority of the respondents in that survey were ironically American. 

This most recent poll generated more than 1,200 user responses--60% of the respondents from the U.K. and Ireland, according to the International Business Times.

Brazil, The Caribbean, Philippines and Thailand were ranked the least rude countries for travelers. 

Skyscanner claims to be Europe’s leading travel search site, operating in over 25 languages with more than 25 million visits and over 11 million unique visitors per month. 

Here’s the complete list of responses:
Nationality Percentage of votes

French 19.29
Russian 16.56
British 10.43
German 9.93
Other 6.37
Chinese 4.3
American 3.39
Spanish 3.15
Italian 2.24
Polish 2.24
Turkish 2.15
Indian 1.9
Swiss 1.9
Greek 1.74
Croatian 1.57
Austrian 1.41
Cypriot 1.24
Egyptian 1.24
Korean 1.24
Norwegian 0.99
Australian 0.91
Dutch 0.83
Irish 0.83
Swedish 0.83
Japanese 0.66
Danish 0.5
Canadian 0.41
New Zealander 0.41
Indonesian 0.41
Portuguese 0.33
Thai 0.25
Filipino 0.17
Caribbean 0.08
Brazilian 0.08

 

10 most sacred spots on Earth

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When we modern folks visit a beautiful natural site, the experience may evoke a sense of peace, a feeling of awe...or just the need to snap a million photos. For our ancient forbearers, though, these places were so much more. 

Throughout history, civilizations all over the globe have attached spiritual or religious importance to natural spots that played key roles in their respective cultures. From the mythological homes of powerhouse gods like Zeus and Shiva to the serene spot where the mortal Buddha achieved enlightenment, these are the places of legends. Some are still used for age-old rituals, others have been lost to time, but all crackle with a special energy and, if you're lucky, just a little bit of leftover magic.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Australia

Located in Australia's Red Centre, in the heart of the continent, these two natural rock formations are the main attractions in the World Heritage Site Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. One of the country's more recognizable landmarks, Uluru is a flat-topped sandstone rock standing about 1,100 feet high and almost six miles around, with a soulful, deep-red hue that changes throughout the day. (The site is also known as Ayers Rock, so named by the colonial surveyor who "rediscovered" the place in 1873.) About 30 miles away, Kata Tjuta (a.k.a. The Olgas) is made of more than 30 domes of varying rock types, including granite, sandstone, and basalt; the tallest point is almost 1,800 feet high. Both sites are sacred to the Anangu people of the Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal tribe, who believe the rocks were built during the ancient creation period and are still inhabited by ancestor spirits. (Archeologist work suggests there were humans in this area over 20,000 years ago.) Owned by the Anangu and leased by the government, the park is open to the public, though tribespeople continue to perform rituals and ceremonies in various locations, such as the sacred "Dreamtime" track that runs near the modern hiking trail. The park also houses a Cultural Center  and Aboriginal rock art sites, and ranger guided tours are available.

Getting There: Visitors can drive or join a bus tour to the park from Alice Springs (280 miles away), or fly to Ayers Rock Airport/Connellan (AYQ); Qantas and Virgin Australia offer direct flights from several major domestic cities. There are only a few accommodation choices in the area, in different price ranges, and all are owned by Voyages Indigenous Tourism .(Camping is not allowed in the park.) Note that while hiking Uluru is not technically forbidden, the Anangu ask that visitors not climb the rock out of respect for its significance, and also ask that photos not be taken of certain sacred sites. Guests should also not pocket any rocks as souvenirs-those who have say it brings bad luck, and often mail the rocks back to the park. Admission is $26 for a three-day pass.

Cenote Sagrado, Mexico

The ancient Maya revered water for its life-sustaining power, and worshiped Chac, the god of rain, because of this awe of H20. Many areas of Mexico are dotted with cenotes-natural underground sinkholes-and the Maya believed that some of these sites were visited by Chac himself. As a result, somecenoteswere designated as "sacred" and kept for rituals, offerings and sacrifices, while others were set aside for bathing, drinking and crop water. One of the most notable of the sacred springs is Cenote Sagrado, located near the major Mayan archeological site Chichen Itza in the Yucatan Peninsula. Created from a natural limestone cave, with steep sides stretching about 60 feet above the water line, this cenote was specifically used for ceremonies and occasional sacrifices; for the latter, men, women, and children were thrown in during drought times to appease the water gods. When archeologists dredged the spring in the 20th century, they found gold bells, masks, cups, rings, jade pieces, and more (many from the post-Spanish period) along with human bones.

Getting There: One of the most visited archeological sites in Mexico, Chichen Itza can be reached by car or organized bus tours (typically about $35 per person) from nearby tourist hubs like Cancun or Cozumel, or via infrequent public bus service; the ride is about two-and-a-half hours from Cancun. The entry fee is $9 and includes the evening light and sound show; headphone tours are $2. Cenote Sagrado is part of the Great North Platform section of the site

Mahabodhi Tree, Bodh Gaya, India

According to Buddhist traditions, around 500 B.C., when the ascetic Prince Siddhartha was wandering through what's now the state of Bihar in India, he took rest under a native bodhi tree. After meditating there for three nights, the prince awoke with enlightenment, insight and the answers he had been seeking, which developed into the teachings he went on to spread to his disciples. Naturally, the place where the Buddha reached enlightenment is one of the most sacred sites for Buddhists, and has been a major pilgrimage destination for centuries. Today, a temple complex surrounds what is believed to be a direct descendant of the original majestic tree itself, which sits in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by protective carved panels. A beautiful Buddha statue under the tree marks the significant spot. 

Getting There: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mahabodhi Temple Complex is in the Bodh Gaya area of Bihar, India. The site is about three miles from the Gaya Airport and about seven miles from Gaya City. Car service, public buses, and bus tours are also available from the holy city of Varanasi; public buses run about $8

Mount Kailas, Tibet

This black rock mountain in western Tibet is something of a holy hat trick, since it is sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains and is thought to be the mythical Axis Mundi, the center of the universe. Hindus believe it is the residence of Lord Shiva and the land of eternal bliss, and have celebrated the mythical Kailas in temple carvings throughout India. Tantric Buddhists say the mountain is the home of Buddha Demchog, who represents supreme bliss, and that three key Bodhisattvas live in the surrounding hills, while Jains believe it is the site (which they call Mount Ashtapada) where the first Jain attained nirvana. The peak is part of the Gangdise Mountain range and is set near the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia, including the Sutlej, the Indus, and the Ghaghara (a tributary of the holy Ganges River). Nearby Lake Manasarovar, considered the source of purity, is another major pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists.

Getting There: Despite being such a mythical sacred site, Mount Kailas is also one of the least visited, due to its remote location in the Tibetan Himalayas. From Lhasa, it's about a four-night journey over the plateau to the small pilgrim outpost, where there are a few basic guesthouses. From this base, most pilgrims set out on foot, pony, or yak to circumnavigate the base of the mountain, a journey of about 32 miles. There is no record of anyone having attempted to climb Mount Kailas.

Mount Sinai, Egypt

Some of the basic tenets of Judeo-Christian beliefs can be traced back to this mountain on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, for it was at the top of this peak that Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments from God. Though there is not much archeological evidence confirming this as the exact place, and biblical scholars have theorized for years about the mythical mountain's location, early Christian monks believed this was the sacred site and established several monasteries in the area. Today, visitors can start at St. Catherine's Monastery at the base of the mountain, then climb to the summit, where there is the small Holy Trinity chapel and stunning views, especially at sunrise. 

Getting There: The mountain can only be reached by road; Dahab and Nuweiba are both about two hours away by car, while it's about three hours from resort hub Sharm al-Sheikh. Most hotels on the peninsula can set you up on a bus tour, and many of these arrive at the base around 1 a.m., so visitors can be at the summit for sunrise. There are two ways to climb: by foot (which takes between 45 minutes and three hours, depending on your pace, or by camel, which is about three hours; note that if you choose the latter, you will still have to walk the final 750 steps up to the top. Guests are required to hire a local guide at the entrance for about $15 (the rate is negotiable.) Because of its peaceful silence, the mountain is also popular with visitors who practice yoga and meditation.

 

Glastonbury Tor, England

Rising out of the middle of the Summerland Meadows in Somerset, England, is a hill that has long had magical connection. For centuries, Glastonbury Tor (Celtic for "hill") has been a source of myths: Some ancient Celtic civilizations considered it the entrance to the home of the Gwyn ap Nudd, alternately regarded as Lord of the Underworld and King of Fairies (a theory that resurfaced in the 19th century), while pagans may have used it for ceremonies celebrating the Goddess. Later, the site was considered a possibility for King Arthur's Avalon, since Arthur and Queen Guinevere's coffins were supposedly discovered at the top of the hill in the 12th century. And even more recently, theorists have linked the hill to the quest for the Holy Grail. To further add to all the speculation, archeologists have found remains of seven deep, symmetrical terraces on the hill's slopes, which could be anything from Middle Age crop land to a Neolithic labyrinth. Whatever the history, the hill is still thought to have spiritual energy, as visitors often report feeling more hopeful and positive after a walk on its slopes. Topped by the remains of the 15thcentury church of St. Michael, the hill has been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and is managed by the National Trust of the United Kingdom

Getting There: The Tor is a short walk or bike ride from the center of Glastonbury, which is linked to London by frequent train service. The nearest station to the hill is Castle Cary. Admission is free.

Crater Lake, Oregon

Formed nearly 8,000 years ago, after an alleged massive eruption caused Mount Mazama to collapse, this deep blue, freshwater caldera lake in south-central Oregon plunges nearly 2,000 feet below ground, making it the deepest in the United States and the seventh deepest in the world. The Native American Klamath tribe has long considered the lake a sacred site: Their legends say a battle here between the Chief of the Above World and the Chief of the Below Worldled to the destruction of Mount Mazama. (Historians believe the Klamath may have witnessed the actual implosion of the mountain.) The tribesmen used Crater Lake in their vision quests (tasks may have included scaling the crater walls), and it is still considered a spiritual spot. The lake is now part of Crater Lake National Park

Getting There: Crater Lake National Park is about 60 miles from the airport in Klamath Falls and 80 miles from the airport in Medford; cars can be rented in both locations. (There is no public transport service available.) The park is open year-round, but some areas may be inaccessible in winter. A seven-day pass is $10 for cars and $5 per person for pedestrians or bicyclists. Check the official park website for a list of official free days each year.

Mount Parnassus, Greece

Towering aboveDelphi in central Greece, this limestone mountain looms large in Greek mythology. In addition to being sacred to the god Apollo, who often visited the nearby Oracle at Delphi, the mountain was thought to be the residence of the Muses and, as a result, the home of poetry and song. The three Corycian Nymphs, each of whom was romanced by a major god, were born of springs located on Parnassus, and the mountain was also the setting for many minor myths. Today, the only sacred activity takes place on the slopes: The mountain is topped by two popular ski centers, and is dotted with scenic hiking trails.

Getting There: Mount Parnassus is a winding, two-hour mountain drive from Athens. Day trips and overnight bus tours are also available (keytours.gr, overnight Delphi tours from $176 per person). After exploring the slopes, don't miss a visit to the ancient ruins in Delphi, set in the shadow of the mountain.

Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

Set up in the Guatemalan Central Highlands, and bordered by three volcanoes, Lake Atitlán is the deepest lake, at 1,114 feet, in Central America. Along with its natural beauty, the lake is famous for the Maya villages that ring its shores, many of which have been there for centuries. Ninth-century Panajachel, one of the largest, has been drawing tourists since the 1960s, while in Santiago Atitlán, residents are known for their worship of Maximo, a local idol that fuses Mayan gods, Catholic saints, and Spanish legends. Mayan ceremonies still take place at various sites around the lake, from caves to the top of an adjacent hill. The lake's shores are also strewn with archeological sites and ruins of pre-Spanish towns, including Chiutinamit, a mythological "underwater city."

Getting There: Lake Atitlán is located in western Guatemala, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Guatemala City or Antigua. Companies like Transport Guatemala (transportguatemala.com) can arrange for bus or van service ($25 per person from Guatemala City, from $15 per person from Antigua) . There are a wide array of accommodations, from luxury to budget, in towns like Panajachel, along with tourist activities and dining options.

Vortexes, Arizona

Sedona, Arizona has long drawn people interested in healing, spirituality, mysticism, and metaphysics, who come for more than just the dramatic, red-rock beauty. The area is famous for its vortexes, powerful centers of kinetic energy that can have a deep effect on those who visit them; there are four main ones spread around town, including one near the airport. The ancient Native American Yavapai people knew about these centers, and celebrated this "Great Mother" energy with petroglyph paintings and sacred dwellings. Today, visitors can easily walk or hike to the four spots (the one in Boynton Canyon is among the most popular), and once there, can meditate or just soak up the good vibes. Many feel recharged and uplifted after visiting a vortex, and some guests even report having visions or deeper experiences while in town. 

'Love for Sail': a new cruise-ship based reality series

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Think "The Love Boat" in a reality series. 

The Norwegian Cruise Line is the backdrop for a new reality show, "Love for Sail," which premieres on Lifetime April 10, 2012, at 10 pm ET/PT.

In each episode, mate-seeking men and women board Norwegian Cruise Line ship to embark on what they hope will be a voyage of love. While there's no Julie McCoy, there are cruise directors Bucko and Carmen who help match make for the women at open mixers.  The passengers go on dates, parties and shore excursions, stopping in ports of call that include Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Nassau, Bahamas. 

The series will be shot on the Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Star with scenes filmed in the Mandara Spa, the Bliss Ultra Lounge and La Cucina Italian restaurant --giving views into some areas of the ships not open to the general public.

The show is being produced by Studio Lambert, creators of "Undercover Boss", which Norwegian CEO Kevin Sheehan starred in 2010.

"We are thrilled to work with Lifetime and our friends at Studio Lambert on a unique series that showcases the many aspects of cruising from lavish suites and incredible dining options to innovative on board activities and exciting shore excursions," said Sheehan. 

What to do if your luggage gets lost

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Losing luggage is a horrible way to start a vacation and an equally bad way to end one. Luckily, around 98 percent of people are reunited with their lost luggage. So stay cool–you may have lost your bag, but there is no need to lose your mind.

If your bag goes missing, here are the next steps to take:

Inform the airline
Around the baggage carousel, you should be able to find the airline’s luggage counter or representative. While you are justifiably angry at the airline, remember to remain calm. Someone else lost your luggage–not this person in front of you. Tell them all of your pertinent information, including where you departed from, your flight number and how many bags you had. When you checked in, the airline agent would have given you a luggage stub for every checked bag. Give these stubs to the luggage attendant, who should hopefully be able to track down the bag. It may been delayed, left behind in transit or completely lost. The employee will make a report, and you should ask for a copy. You should also ask for a number that will put you in direct contact with the baggage counter, so you can avoid the more hassles when you follow up. File a report as soon as possible: Many airlines only honor lost luggage claims four hours after the last leg of the flight.

Keep your receipts
Once you have filled out a report, chances are you will get your luggage within one or two days. You may need to buy a few toiletries or necessities until then. If this is the case, insist that the airline reimburse you for these purchases. The reimbursement process can last a while. For example, the United Airlines policy asks you to send a written request within 45 days of your flight, including your ticket receipt, baggage claim stubs and an itemized list of your necessary purchases, as well as their corresponding receipts. You may also be reimbursed for any baggage fees you had to pay, as long as you saved the receipts.

For a completely lost bag
If you are in the unlucky 2 percent of people whose bags are absolutely irretrievable, you have to file a claim, usually within 21 to 45 days of the flight. You will need your ticket and all of your baggage claim receipts, including any receipts for fees associated with excess or overweight luggage. Write out an itemized list of the bag’s contents, in as much detail as possible. For items worth more than $100, you will likely want to include some proof of ownership. This can be a receipt or credit card bill. Note that the airline will compensate you for the depreciated value of the object, not necessarily how much you paid. The Department of Transportation limits the maximum claims to $3,300 for lost or damaged luggage, per individual passenger.

Prevention
You can help prevent the hassles of a lost bag with a few simple tricks. Take off any old tags from flights you had taken before. The tags may confuse the person responsible for directing the luggage. Label your bag inside and out with your name and phone number. You should also take a photo of your luggage, which you may help the airline employee identify it later. Keep any valuables, including medicine, electronics, heirlooms, manuscripts and credit cards in your carry-on luggage.

How to Hit a Nude Beach

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By Paul Eisenberg

When I first begin researching the question of how to hit a nude beach, one of the first answers came from the general manager of a hotel in New Hampshire, Jerry Jacobson, who responded “very carefully.”

My immediate reaction was that I usually don’t need any help in the weak joke department, as regular readers of this column will verify. But as I gathered more sources I realized that Jerry’s right. Most of us can’t wake up one morning and decide that taking off our clothes is just another day at the beach.

Or can we?

According to the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) [site NSFW] “most first-timers adjust to social nudity in a matter of minutes and discover it’s not nearly as big a deal as they thought it would be.”

Case in point is a source who said I could identify her by her “fake nude beach name of Krystal,” who wanted to experience a nude beach for the first time and went with a friend to Sandy Hook, NJ. “We chose not to go nude and wore our bikinis instead,” Krystal recalls. “Everybody else at the beach was nude though.” At first the pair kept to themselves, rejecting “invitations from nude beach goers to play games with them. Finally we opened up and played Frisbee with a bunch of nude guys,” Krystal says. “It was lot more fun than we thought it would be. We were very shocked at how friendly nude beach goers are. However, we were still distracted by their packages.”

While still a bit apprehensive – hence telling her Frisbee pals her name was Krystal -- she offers that “the key to feeling comfortable at a nude beach is to just let loose, be yourself, and don't focus so much on the nudity. Because we had so much fun we made plans to go again this year and go topless.”

What else can you expect when you hit a nude beach -- or, to use the term trademarked by the AANR --when you take a “nakation”? Read on.

Nude beaches are not about sex…usually.

Relationship coach John Wilder went to a nude beach in Germany a couple times while he was a serviceman, noting that “that after five minutes on the beach, I was struck with how normal and unaffected everyone was, adding that the nude beach was “kind of the opposite of sex. I saw beautiful young women on the beach and even spent the day with a beautiful girl on a blanket and there was no hanky panky. Finally I was so bored that I had to go back to the family beach and see a girl in a bikini to get interested again.”

Concurs Improper Bostonian magazine columnist Jonathan Soroff, who has been to nude beaches in Brazil, Portugal , Martha's Vineyard, and Sandy Hook, “in order for everyone to feel comfortable on a nude beach, you have to take sex out of the equation, and therefore hitting on someone is a big no-no. In fact, the biggest.” Adds a source from Boston who I’ll call “Norm,” who has hit nude beaches in Florida, Hawaii, and Holland, some nude beaches are akin to neighborhood bars. “There are all sorts of people there, from 20-somethings to 70-somethings. Some beaches even have or encourage whole families, and this may take some getting used to for a neophyte.”

There are exceptions, however. Some nude beaches, says Norm, are more like singles bars. “Singles nude beaches are generally about hooking up. Ibiza in Spain is infamous for people in a hurry, going off into the dunes rather than getting a hotel room. These beaches are populated by the crowd you'd expect in a singles bar: 18-30, (probably) single, very interested in their own appearance... and yours. If you're the least bit awkward or unsure of your body, going to such a beach will make you more so. Generally, anything goes on these beaches, but explicit sex acts may run afoul of local lewdness ordinances.”

Nudists are not all nubile.

Just as not all nude beaches are Hedonistic, not all nude beach goers are nubile. “Americans have this idea that a European topless beach is populated entirely by nubile 16-year-old C-cups,” Norm says. “If you go to one, however, you find those 16-year-olds... and their mothers... and sometimes their grandmothers, all topless. On a nude beach, you realize quickly, or should, that people come in all shapes and sizes, and so does their equipment.” Adds Soroff, “like anything that sounds provocative, the nudity on beaches turns out to be quite mundane. You're just as likely to see an octogenarian or someone approaching the morbidly obese as you are an Adonis or supermodel.”

 Know when to cover up.

 While enjoying a nude beach experience means lowering your inhibitions, there are times when you’re expected to raise your towel. (See what I mean by weak jokes, Jerry?) Among its rules of etiquette for nude beaches, the AANR says ”for those visiting the nude section of a local beach, dress before leaving designated clothing-optional use areas” so that you don’t upset vacationers in areas where clothing is required. Along those lines, says the association, “always carry a towel with you when you leave your spot on the beach, whether to sit on or wrap around yourself when you walk to public areas such as picnic benches, food stands, [or restrooms], you will be more comfortable, as will those around you.”

Apply sunscreen…carefully.

In her primer on how to visit a nude beach in Greece, About.com guide deTraci Regula says that it’s probably a good idea to “test sunscreen on sensitive soon-to-be-nude areas which may not normally be exposed to sunscreen or sunshine. Areas that readily sweat are most likely to react to ingredients in sunscreen. Soroff puts a finer point on it, noting that you might want to avoid rubbing alcohol-laden sunscreen on your nether regions. Norm goes so far as to suggest that if you're a newbie, “consider applying sunscreen to those parts ahead of time, in private, so that you don't rush due to excitement or embarrassment when you are on the beach.”

No snapping or leering, please.

“Leave your camera in your hotel room,” Regula suggests, “or point it only at yourself or non-human scenery. Intrusive photography on a nude beach is so uncool.” Howcast’s video tutorial on nude beach etiquette [NSFW] makes the salient point that you shouldn’t “stare at people’s private parts,” adding that “if it would be unseemly to gape at that body part when it’s fully clothed, it’s downright rude to gawk at it undressed.” Since you went through the effort of hitting a nude beach, Norm adds that you might want to “go have a conversation instead of staring. It may be the first time in a long time you've had an honest conversation.”

 

Norwegian Epic: the best and worst in cruising

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By Paul Motter

Sometimes the confluence of time, money and power leads to “one of a kind” creations. The Saturn-V rocket and the entire moon landing are good examples. The economic boom of the early 2000's brought other “wow factor” projects, like Steve Wynn’s eponymous Las Vegas hotel and the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

The cruise factory also caught “wow-fever” during this time and gave us sailing wonders unlikely to be equaled for decades. In 2006, Royal Caribbean conceived its “Genesis Project,” constructing the two largest and most technologically-advanced cruise ships ever -- Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.

To compete, the smaller but scrappier Norwegian Cruise Line created its own mega-ship design in 2006. It was dubbed “F3,” signifying the third generation of “FreeStyle Cruising” -- a term NCL coined to describe cruise ships with “no set dining times, no assigned tables, a relaxed dress code and more restaurants than days in the week.” F3 was touted as the epitome of the “FreeStyle” concept - an would become the third largest ship in the world.

Norwegian placed a firm order with a top shipyard in France for two new, identical F3 vessels in 2006 – with the discretionary option for a third. That third ship was never built; in fact, neither was the second. Only Norwegian Epic was finished – and within its “hull and timbers” are some of the best and worst attributes ever built into a cruise ship.

For this reason, I like to call Norwegian Epic the "Ugly Duckling" of the cruise industry. I just returned from my second sailing on the ship last week. My first was the inaugural cruise in June 2010, from Southampton to New York City.

What is Wrong with Norwegian Epic?

Epic is widely regarded as the ugliest cruise ship in existence, as the blog UglyShips.com shows in a pictorial. Carnival’s top cruise director, John Heald, wrote on his FaceBook page, “it was a beautiful day in St.Thomas … though there were puddles of vomit along the pier. Then I realized we were docked next to the Epic.”

But as with the original Ugly Duckling, first impressions can be wrong, and Epic actually has some of the finest cruise ship features at sea. But first a dish of old-fashioned schadenfreude (a German word that means taking joy in the misery of others).

The gracious and majestic profiles of passenger ships have been celebrated for centuries. But it is hard to imagine a less appealing visage than Norwegian Epic's -- especially its protruding Frankenstein’s monster forehead dominating bow of the ship, evoking exactly the opposite impression of streamlined vessels cutting through the wind and sea.

Then there's Epic’s body, like a stack of Lego blocks. In an odder-than-life coincidence, I found a picture of a real 1995 Lego Toy Company box known as the Color Line Promotional Set: Cruise Ship. UglyShips.com suggests Norwegian used this picture as the inspiration for the ship design – and they could be right.

This actual box from 1995 contains building blocks from the Lego “FreeStyle” product, which Lego created in 1995 -- a decade before Norwegian adopted the word “FreeStyle” in a hale chorus for its style of cruising.

Ugly is Not Only Skin Deep

And that's not all. Norwegian Epic has the worst stateroom design ever. Norwegian boasted “a unique bathroom treatment where every area is separate, including the shower and a modern vanity sink. The walls are curved to create a modern and chic living experience.”

In fact, the bathroom treatments are only semi-private and not soundproof at all. The toilet and the shower are only separated from the main room by partially closed frosted glass panels. Anyone inside either “facility” becomes a blurry image with little left to the imagination. To top it off, they are each located on either side of the front door, so if your room steward walks in at the wrong time someone could get an eyeful.

The “vanity sink” is a high-capacity faucet directly above a rounded bowl. Like a recurring gag in a Marx Brothers movie, turning on the water often leads to mopping the floor with a bath towel followed by changing your shirt. If you are lucky, you'll avoid soaking your vanity bed. The light switch for the sink area was on the wall under the counter; I had to call reception to help me find it, and when I got down on all fours I still couldn’t see it.

The “wavy walls” are a contrivance to reduce the square footage of the staterooms to “just large enough for the beds,” which tall people claim are several inches shorter than standard. The end of that shortened bed is so close to the opposite wall that people have to take turns crossing the room. The walls then curve the opposite way, accommodating a convex couch that is hard as a rock and could only sleep a third person if he happens to have scoliosis.

The public rooms’ décor is Reno casino reminiscent with burgundy and gold paisley carpets. But most frustrating is the limited size of the ship's entertainment venues. Most of the shows fill up nightly, so making reservations online pre-departure is mandatory. If you miss your reservation, you can get in a standby line for a bad seat (if you get in at all), and you have to queue up at least 30 minutes before showtime for that. The size of the showrooms is the most serious drawback of Epic,  the exact opposite of the “FreeStyle” concept F3 was supposed to embody.

So What is Right with Epic?

I just dished some of the worst aspects of Epic, and Norwegian is aware of these things. So let's be clear: I still highly recommend this ship for most cruisers, especially those who care about cruising solo and shipboard entertainment.

Single cruisers who want a cabin of their own without paying the “singles supplement" fee have never had a better ship than Epic. Not only does Epic have 128 “studio staterooms” -- small 100 square-foot cabins with queen-size beds -- but these rooms  share a public “living room” where solo cruisers can meet up for dinner and shows. The concept is so simple, logical and helpful for solo cruisers that it is a wonder more ships don’t have the same setup. But they don’t. Only Norwegian Epic has the studio staterooms, and that is a point of distinction.

What's more, despite the tiny showrooms Epic has the best entertainment at sea, in my humble opinion (as a person who has stage-managed several cruise shows and seen the entertainment on every cruise line in North America). Epic does not hire its own cast and put on its own shows, nor does it hire a producer to create “cruise shows” like so many other cruise lines. Instead, Norwegian signs on professional entertainers who bring their land-based shows to its ships.

Only Epic has the hit show "Blue Man Group." This is my personal favorite New York show. Epic also has “Legends in Concert,” a Las Vegas company that creates complete tribute shows to stars like Madonna, Rod Stewart, Elvis, Michael Jackson or Tina Turner with the same choreography and musical arrangements as the originals. Then there is Second City Comedy – the famous troupe out of Chicago that sent many now-famous comedians to TV programs like Saturday Night Live.

Other noteworthy attractions of the Epic include water slides and Nickelodeon characters for the kids; the Fat Cats Jazz Bar that actually features blues music nightly; the frozen “Svedka Ice Bar,” where everything from the tables to the vodka glasses is made of ice; and an array of delicious alternative restaurants as options to the “included in the cruise fare” food -- which itself is not bad at all.

Speaking of food, one of best spots on Epic is O’Sheehan’s Pub. All the food is free and a pint of English ale is just $5. The fish and chips are delicious, and you can even get fresh omelets in the morning. O’Sheehan’s is open 24 hours with food service -- the best 24-hour restaurant on the high seas.In a funny twist, the crewmembers cannot pronounce O'Sheehan's, so it is called "Oceans."

Ugly Duckling?

In the folk tale about the Ugly Duckling, the hatchling grows up to become a beautiful swan -- but Epic is still ugly. Still, the lesson is the same: Don't judge a book by its cover. Yes, Epic has its drawbacks; but it is also one of the best values in cruising and offers excellent entertainment -- and you can take that to the bank.

 

Top wide-open stretches that'll have you (road) tripping

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 By George Hobica

1.) Las Vegas to Idaho, 500 miles

Route: Follow U.S. 93 from Las Vegas all the way up to Twin Falls, Idaho. 

What to expect: The stark landscape of the northern Mojave, quiet ranch towns, the scented scrub and snowy peaks of the Great Basin, the impressive Snake River Canyon in Twin Falls. Continue another hour north (on the much busier State Route 75) and you land smack in one of the Continent's most exclusive ski resorts, Sun Valley. 

Pit stop Midway: take a break in Ely for a dose of the Silver State at its most old-school – nickel slots at the historic Hotel Nevada and fresh and delicious American Chinese food at the retro-fab Happy Garden. 

2.) Maine way up North, 265 miles

Route: U.S. 1 and 1A from Fort Kent to Machias, ME.

What to expect: Route 1 without traffic lights and dated shopping centers may be hard to imagine for residents of the Eastern Seaboard who know it as one of the region's most congested roads. But before this iconic coastal highway gets started for real on its route down to Key West, Florida, it runs quite the lap through Maine, from Fort Kent in the far (far!) north – bring your French phrase book – to the little town of Machias, down along the Atlantic coast. Long ago superseded by more direct and efficient roads, this section of asphalt is almost an afterthought, particularly if you stick to U.S. 1A, which bypasses the largest population center along the way, Presque Isle. 

Pit stop: With the highway running within miles of the international border most of the way, opportunities to duck into New Brunswick are numerous. Bring your passport for re-entry, of course, because that's now the law.  

3.) Old South to New South, 444 miles

Route: Natchez Trace Parkway from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN.

What to expect: It begins with a classic and ends in one of the region's most forward-thinking towns. Most people wouldn't think of pairing the two together – they're night and day different– but too many people forget that these towns are historically linked by the old portage route, now a beautifully-designed National Parkway, the scenic (and largely quiet) Natchez Trace. On a typical day, away from the two cities of any size along the way – Jackson and Tupelo, Mississippi – you'll barely encounter a soul. Just thick forests, open fields and, in spring, plenty of blossoming things.

Pit stops: At the southern end of the parkway, it's all Antebellum charm all the time at the historic Monmouth Plantation, an impressive estate reimagined into a hotel that's often surprisingly affordable. At the other end, make time for Nashville's super-cool dining and nightlife.  

4.) River to river in the Northwest, 128 miles

Route: U.S. 12 from Walla Walla, WA to Lewiston, ID.

What to expect: "Where exactly is Walla Walla?" That's a real question we've been asked in Seattle. The answer: It's nearly five hours away, in the southeastern corner of Washington state, about as far as you can get from the Pacific Northwest of the popular imagination. It's also about as far away as you can get from crowds and still be on a paved road. 

Hop on U.S. 12 at the Columbia River, where it hooks a left up and away from the state line with Oregon; the highway winds through farmlands and vineyards and into the appealing city of Walla Walla, still connected to the outside world only by two-lane highways. Leaving town, the region's iconic grassy hills and the small farming towns nestled among them make for an almost hypnotic ride down to the Snake River, which carves its way out towards Idaho and the historic city of Lewiston, Idaho. 

Pit stop: Definitely break this one up into a multi-day trip; Walla Walla's restaurants and wine tasting rooms – not to mention its laid-back, friendly vibe, particularly on weekdays when it's almost strictly locals – invite sticking around awhile.  

5.) Out on the edge in West Texas, 50 miles.

Route: FM 170 from Presidio to Lajitas, Texas.

What to expect: Running almost entirely through state park lands in the Big Bend region of West Texas, this winding and scenic road follows a particularly pretty stretch of the Rio Grande, marking a particularly empty – and largely unguarded, let alone marked – stretch of the United States-Mexico border. You'll end up in the tiny town of Lajitas, which is comprised entirely of an upscale resort that's worth at least a night's stay.  

Pit stop: Stop for a dip – stop for lots of them, in fact. Not only is it fun, you can also impress your friends with Facebook pictures of you swimming to Mexico. (Forget what you've seen on the news – it's quite safe around here.)  

6.) West of the divide in the Dakotas, 300 miles.

Route: U.S. 85 from Deadwood, SD to Williston, ND

What to expect: Too many people approach The Dakotas from east or west, treating it as something to get through on their way to elsewhere. Stick around and explore the remote western side of both North and South with a route that leads you through some of the most appealing scenery between the Appalachians and the Rockies. 

Start in the Black Hills of South Dakota or the grasslands up North; either way, U.S. 85 is your guide. 

Pit stop: From Mount Rushmore to Hot Springs to the Wild West theme park that is Deadwood (it's actually pretty cool, trust us on this), you can't beat the Black Hills (or the nearby Badlands) for choice. But don't overlook the excellent Roosevelt National Park and tiny Medora – a bit of the old west preserved in aspic – up north. 

In Williston you'll see a true boomtown, exploding population-wise and otherwise with the discovery of oil in the surrounding Bakken region. Keep going and you'll end up in Saskatchewan before too long. If that's your thing.  

7.) The other New York, 89 miles.

Route: Lake Ontario Parkway from Rochester to Youngstown, NY 

What to expect: Robert Moses was famous in New York – and to urban planners everywhere – as a man possessed by the need to build highways; one of his greatest follies, the entirely unnecessary Lake Ontario Parkway, stands today, largely empty at any given time, a wide open pathway that's unbeatable on a sunny summer day as a way to experience the mellow beauty – forests, meadows, orchards and vineyards – of the part of New York that belongs to the Great Lakes region. You'll begin on Rochester's bustling lakefront in the Coney Island-esque Seabreeze neighborhood and end in the charming towns of Youngstown and Lewiston, New York, down along the Niagara River.  

Pit stop: Go for a swim at Hamlin Beach State Park, thirty miles west of Rochester along the parkway – far enough out of town to keep things super quiet on weekdays. Once you hit Niagara County, be on the lookout for the many tasting possibilities along the growing Niagara Wine Trail. And of course, just up the escarpment, there are some falls that you may have heard of.  

8.) Leaving San Diego, 45 miles.

Route: Highway 94 from San Diego to Boulevard, CA

What to expect: Southern California has a reputation for sprawl, but if you head just ten miles east on Highway 94 out of downtown San Diego, the suburbs quickly give way to splendid scenery, rugged peaks, green valleys and tiny towns that show no sign of being aware that we're in the 21st century now. You're pretty much at the end of the line here, which you see when you pass the whistle stop of Boulevard and down into the almost ghost-town of Jacumba, California (pop. 561 in the last census); that wall that you keep seeing on your right? That's the border. 

Pit stop: Chill in the charming town of Campo for a dose of history and a taste of the local wines, which are getting better every year.

 

Disney cracks down on FastPass enforcement

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Disney says it's going to boost enforcement of its popular FASTPASS reservation service.

Disney's free FASTPASS reservation system allows guests to come back to a ride at a specified time within a one-hour window if they don't want to wait.

Walt Disney World and Disneyland have been letting visitors come back any time after that window and still be admitted to the FastPass line. Now Disney says it is putting an end to any wiggle room.

The Inside the Magic blog reports that Walt Disney World is now enforcing both the beginning and end times, allowing guests holding a FastPass to only return during the one-hour window stated on the slip. 

"Walt Disney World is now enforcing both the beginning and end times, allowing guests holding a (FastPass) to only return during the one-hour window stated on the slip. And though it will affect regulars who know how to use the leniency to their advantage, most Walt Disney World guests already do return during the designated time window and likely won't notice much of a difference," writes Ricky Brigante of Inside the Magic.

Some say this is the first step in making way for Disney World's yet-to-be-revealed ride reservation system called XPass, where resort guests can reserve their ride times weeks and months in advance. And it is expected to allow for bookings for character meet and greets and key viewing spots for parades and fireworks.

"Given the tremendous popularity of FastPass with our guests, in fairness to all we want to ensure we provide the same opportunity to everyone," said Disney spokesman Rick Sylvain. But, he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "if a guest experiences extenuating circumstances that affect their ability to return, we will deal with that on a case-by-case basis."

Travel adventure: Top the global 9 big scary building inventory

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Thailand qing lai: BaiMiao

BaiMiao still under construction, but this is as much a traditional buddhist temple, and as a white wedding cake, also or like avant-garde art temples are controversial. To get to the buddhist temple, visitors need to pass a BaiQiao, there, terror of fangs, hundreds of white arm and is full of pain like hell from the face of the bridge is stretched out.

Let visitors flinch. Although BaiMiao appearance is bare white, but walked into the inside, you'll find the wall of full set is the shiny gold, even the toilet is no exception.

The Czech kutner khodorkovsky Rachel: bone church

The middle of the s, the monastery of the basement of hundreds of years has become a popular burial. The outbreak of the disease and huth war more let thousands of residual bone accumulation. By the 1870 s, a sculptor was hired to these bones with works, although it will not be easy. There are more than 40000 human church with bone, many are used to decorate the little church, the effect is beautiful and creepy:

Delicate light fixtures, the pendulum clocks are arranged, the adornment of the weird, spread all over the metope of spots and arms is all sorts of bones of carefully to create.

Pyongyang in north Korea: liu Beijing hotel

Liu Beijing hotel in 1987 opened build, but due to the lack of funds have to close. So, the magnificent unfinished buildings will stand in Pyongyang and been nicknamed the "bad luck hotel". It was the Mr. Fashion magazine as among the worst in human history of architecture. Start again in 2008, it has been like a ghost stay in this city sixteen years.

Originally built, it unique style extremely has the modern breath, but time is all the frames. Now, it has become a lonely old, looks macabre.

Edinburgh, Scotland: Scott monument

Scott monument with a gothic towering feeling, but also the style of the temple and Thailand are very similar. It is used to commemorate the maisonde walter. , the gothic, at the same time, it is the landmark building of Edinburgh, contains the Scottish people's love. Climb up to 61 meters high monument will not let popular feeling Scott was born in fear, but when you packed into the narrow spiral stairs, fear will follow. The last lap stair is the narrow, you need to have the flexibility of the underground exploration to squeeze out the door.

Edinburgh YinEn mystery writer. Blue gold had fiction of the crime scene, set in the top of the gothic memorial, many of his stories are focused on the rigid bodies from the gothic memorial, narrow spiral stairs move down.

Italian Palermo: card PuJi underground tomb, godsworn

Hundreds of years ago, card PuJi underground tomb, godsworn bodies have be put on their best clothes. At that time, with 8000 from the 16 th to 18 th century body were mummification, to watch for the tourists.

Some body quite complete preservation, still seems lifelike. There, the men and women bodies were placed in different corridor, and women in the corridor in the body, and a used to put a virgin special regional bodies.

Ukraine: 4 chernobyl nuclear reactor

In 1986, no. 4 in chernobyl nuclear reactor appeared the world's largest nuclear leak, 30 km radius after the within the scope of the area has become a no one residential area.

But since 2002, and the opening here, to the industry that "ghost town curious visitors to this view. Where the factory, the house, school, and abandoned amusement park in the wind erosion, sobbing, but they have the appearance of the disaster.

Ottawa, Canada: prison hotel

You want to spend the night in jail? Carlton county prison was built in 1862, has been running for more than a century, but here's the prisoner never complain about accommodation environment and health problems.

If you are a haven't got much money traveler, and don't care your house is a prison cell, your roommate weird behavior, so here is the best one for the night of the election.

Alaska: white Alice

Nome is located in the Atlantic ocean border town, it was once a gold-rush town, now again Ed tower rhode sled dog contest terminal, at the same time, or a typical representative of the dive.

Throughout the whole town, from the bering strait is the top of the mountain to the anvil white Alice, it is the product of the cold war. Look up from a small town, it is like a strange Stonehenge. In the nearly some, it like Victorian war point shooting. During the cold war, the voice of the four huge reflected device used to detect suspicious of the Soviet union action.

Beijing, China: dongyue temple

Beijing Taoist temple is the most is where the nightmarish monasteries. Walked into the temple you will find yourself seemed to arrive the Taoism superempirical essence. Here, people will your own moral corruption behavior and repent, the prayer can get peace of mind.

"Life and death door" is to let you thinking of the holy spirit will finally; "Ghost gate" and "implementation of the door of the violent deaths 15" name intimidating. At the same time, the disease would be in a "disease gate" spread out. Although, no other house so scary but no less interesting. Suggest you choose in traditional Chinese New Year is the Mid-Autumn festival or to visit, because back then is the period of time of the most lively house. In addition, hire a guide is also essential, so you won't miss temple the each sights.

 

 

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US airlines post record on-time rating in January

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Mild winter weather helped the nation's airlines post their best January on-time performance on record.

The government said Thursday that 83.7 percent of flights on the biggest airlines arrived on time in January.

That's up from 76.3 percent in January 2011, and the best January since 1995, when the government changed the way that delays are reported. But it was a dip from December's 84.4 percent rating.

The Department of Transportation said that fewer flights were canceled in January, too. About 1.5 percent of scheduled flights were scratched, down from 3.9 percent a year earlier.

And there were no reports of U.S. flights stuck on the tarmac for three hours or more — or of international flights delayed for four hours or more. Airlines risk a hefty fine if they sit on the runway that long.

Hawaiian Airlines reclaimed its traditional spot atop the on-time rankings, at 93.14 percent. AirTran Airways was next, followed by AirTran owner Southwest Airlines. Frontier Airlines, which has a hub in Denver, had the worst on-time rating, of 77.65 percent.

Airlines benefited from fewer airport-snarling snowstorms. It was the fourth-warmest January on record, and snow cover in the lower 48 states was the third-lightest since 1967, according to government weather scientists.

Mild weather, however, can cause heartburn for airline bean-counters. When flights are canceled, airlines cram displaced passengers on to remaining planes. This results in the airline earning more money per seat because there are fewer empty seats.

This week Southwest's chief financial officer said the airline's revenue per seat — a closely watched measure of financial performance in the airline industry — was lower this winter because fewer flights were canceled.

Whatever the weather, airlines seemed to be doing a better job handling baggage. The rate of mishandled bags fell 23 percent, to about three for every 1,000 passengers. American Eagle was the most likely to lose your bag, followed by two other regional carriers, ExpressJet and SkyWest.

The Transportation Department said it received 708 complaints about U.S. airlines in January, an increase of 3 percent compared with a year earlier. Most passengers, however, don't bother to file paperwork with the government, so it's hard to draw conclusions from such small numbers

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Disney opens first phase of Fantasyland

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Walt Disney World in Orlando had a “soft opening” of the first phase of its Fantasyland expansion this week.

Spring break tourists were greeted by changes to the Magic Kingdom's Storybook Circus area, featuring the revamped Barnstormer roller coaster to fit a circus theme and a new take on the popular Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride.

The iconic ride had been closed since January, and will ultimately feature two carousels. For now it has the single carousel, but it dazzles with its a red, blue and gold color scheme. Golden storks are on top the ride, followed by a ring of elephants representing Mrs. Jumbo, Dumbo's mother in the 1941 movie.  LED lighting sets the ride and the water from its fountain alight when the sun goes down.

The multimillion-dollar expansion  --the largest in the park’s 40-year history-- will take place in phases over three years.

Chris Beatty, creative director of the expansion told The Baltimore Sun that Disney has not set time frames or the order the attractions will appear, but everything is expected to be completed sometime in 2013.

Other additions expected for the official opening in late March include a second counterclockwise Dumbo carousel expected to arrive this summer and a return of the Walt Disney World Railroad. The resort will also eventually add a Little Mermaid dark ride based on the movie, a Seven Dwarfs roller coaster and recreation the village from "Beauty and the Beast." 

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5 tips to make sure Fido is safe when traveling

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The thought of traveling may be exciting, although the thought of your dog or cat in the kennel might be a different story. 

Animal lovers everywhere part with their pets for vacation, but you can bring your pet along with you for the trip. It’s certainly not the easiest option, but if you heed a few simple tips, you can enjoy your next trip out of town with all of your loved ones, pets included.

Visit the veterinarian

You need to consider whether your pet is in proper physical condition for the length and type of travel your trip entails. Bring your pet to the veterinarian and make sure that all vaccinations and tags are up to date. You will also need a health certificate for your pet. People will likely ask you to supply proof of your pet’s health throughout your trip. Ask the veterinarian about the health risks that may await your pet at your destination. Let your vet know the exact details of your trip and method of travel. Your pet might require a prescribed tranquilizer or particular diet before a flight. Certain breeds have specific requirements for a safe and secure journey.

Purchase an appropriate carrier

Before flying, you need to buy a pet carrier. The proper one depends on the type of pet you have. If your pet is tiny, and you can carry him or her on the flight, purchase a soft-shell carrier, which you can place easily beneath your seat. Don’t put a leash inside the carrier because that might tangle and disturb your pet. Always attach your contact information to the carrier in case of emergencies. Contact your airline to make sure your pet carrier is compliant.

Find pet-friendly hotels

Before booking your hotel, make sure it is pet-friendly. Online hotel booking websites often clarify whether hotels accept pets or not. Keep in mind that you might be charged more for bringing a pet.

Read the airline’s pet policies

Airlines vary on their treatment and acceptance of pets. Make sure you find an airline that is pet-friendly and meets your family’s criteria. After deciding on a factory, look at direct flights versus connecting flights. Layovers can add undue anxiety to your already confused and anxious pet.

Pack appropriately

Try to bring as many of the amenities that your pet is used to at home, including chew toys and treats. Also make sure you bring enough food to last the entire trip because the brand you use might not be available at your destination. You will need to bring a water bowl with you for the times you’re away from your hotel. As an animal lover, you already know how to best care for and appreciate your pet at home. With the proper precautions it will be easy to do the same on vacation.

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Confessions of a former TSA agent

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By George Hobica

Love them or hate them, Transportation Security Administration agents get a lot of criticism and media attention as they work to keep our skies safe. 

No current TSA agents would talk to Airfarewatchdog.com about their job, either on or off the record; but we found a former agent who would. Here's what he told us during a recent interview.

Q: How long were you with the TSA?

A: Two years.

Q: Why did you choose to leave?

A: Plain and simple, I did not agree with the way they were asking me to treat travelers. While the policy is to be polite, but serious, my station took a more aggressive approach. I watched as my colleagues treated passengers as a factory assembly lineup as if people had no feelings or emotions. There is a way to provide top-notch security while being courteous and respectful. The mundane nature of the job and the constant barrage of security mandates force agents into a rut that turns you into a manic robot. 

Q: What was the most difficult part of the job?

A: Definitely, the repetitive nature. It eats away at you. The only thing that keeps it interesting is the constant variety of people passing through. And when other agents turn that variety into a burden, it becomes too much to handle. I enjoyed talking with people, wondering where they were traveling to, observing their behaviors, and even watching strangers interact with each other. It really tells you something about society. My colleagues, however, wanted everyone to be uniform and flow through the system without a delay. When there was a hitch in that flow, it disrupted them. That hitch could be anything from an elderly traveler to a businessman with too many electronic gadgets 

Q: What are some examples of things that irritated you about your colleagues?

A: When they would bark at people to push their belongings through the belt. There's no need to be mean about it. It was also frustrating how we forced people into a holding pen for secondary screening like cattle until we were ready for them. It's dehumanizing, and I was embarrassed every time I saw someone standing there. Is there not a better way? One of my colleagues refused to say please and thank you during secondary screenings. He'd tell people to lift their arms, show their feet, remove their belt, etc. in such a forceful way, it was offensive. He once told me that he was there to provide safety and security, not to run a charm school.

Q: What are some things that irritated you about passengers?

A: I always found it surprising that people did not know they had to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, etc. Sure, not everyone has the opportunity to travel, but have these people not picked up a newspaper, watched TV, or spoken with someone else who has flown in the past decade? Another thing people would do is empty all of their belongings into the bins at the beginning of the line and not move down to allow other travelers to do the same. They slowed down the entire process since they kept others from moving through the line. Sure it's tough to juggle multiple things at once, but at least tell people that they can go around you.

Q: What was one of the least enjoyable parts of your job?

A: Having to take away bottled drinks, expensive perfumes and lotions, homemade food items, and other personal belongings and throw them in the trash (usually in front of the passenger) while they wondered what it was all about. The liquid ban really consumes much of our screening activity, and perhaps sometimes, to the detriment of our efforts to search for other dangerous items.

 Q: Why are so many agents seemingly unfriendly and almost barking their commands at travelers? Do they realize that they're part of the reason many travelers are opting to drive or not travel at all?

A: It really is the repetitive nature of the job. Try standing in the same spot having to repeat the same instructions to people and watch them make the same mistakes repeatedly. It's emotionally exhausting. Like with many jobs, the annoying repetition and confusion of travelers eventually turns into what seems like disinterest on the part of screeners. We really do care about safety, but it just takes its toll on you.

Q: How did passengers treat you?

A: Some are nice and courteous. Especially in the morning, people seem either cheery and warm or simply tired and indifferent. Rarely are they rude in the morning. As the day progresses and people presumably become more stressed from work or other personal situations that may have arisen, they become less friendly and sometimes snappy. We're very, very used to having people roll their eyes at us, make sarcastic comments, and treat us like it's our personal decision to make them adhere to these policies. We're just the ones charged with carrying out policies made by someone else.

Q: If agents are so focused and serious about security screening, why do travelers constantly watch and listen to screeners banter about their day, evening plans, a booty call from last weekend, or your favorite movie? Doesn’t that seem unprofessional? Why should we as travelers put faith and believe in an agency that seems to put little effort into presenting a professional image on the front line?

A: I agree. Agents are entirely unprofessional when they discuss their personal lives in front of passengers, yet you see it at almost every airport. The job is so monotonous, it's the only way to get through the day. Plain and simple. It's almost as if the passengers become invisible. We watch their baggage contents. We monitor them as they pass through the checkpoint. But, otherwise, it's as if the factory of bags and people keeps on moving. I believe half of the agents aren't even aware that passengers are listening to them.

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Top three places to visit in Montreal

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Montreal , the largest city in Canada's Quebec province, strikes the perfect balance between small town charm and big city sophistication. This 400-year-old former colonial town is now a center of higher learning, art, live music and ecotourism.  The bilingual residents are renowned for their friendliness and the city has a distinctively progressive feel. Dining is top-notch, and don't forget to try local specialties like poutine --French fries covered with gravy and and fresh cheese curds. To make sure you get the most out of your visit, here are the top three must-see sites in Montreal:

Biodome

This large glass dome, known as the "house of life," contains four life-size dioramas of the ecosystems of the Americas, from the tropical rain forest to the North and South poles. A former cycling stadium, this massive museum is now home to 750 plant species and 4800 animals, including penguins, macaws and lynx. In addition, Biodome scientists study at-risk species by breeding them in captivity. In the Naturalia discovery room, kids can play educational games and experience hands-on contact with the animals. At the permanent fossil exhibition, you can see a beluga whale skeleton over 10,000 years old. Experts are always on hand to answer questions. The museum hours change depending on the season, so plan ahead. Visit the Biodome website for more information.

Habitat 67

Architect Moshe Safdie designed this groundbreaking structure as his master's thesis at Montreal's McGill University, but it was then built for the 1967 World's Fair in Montreal. Comprised of 354 identical concrete cubes, Habitat 67 makes up almost 150 unique residences arranged in various geometric combinations. Initially meant to revolutionize low-cost urban housing, the building has become an architectural wonder and one of the most famous and significant structures in Canada. While the development was first funded by the Canadian government, private residents now make up its populace. Visitors can still walk around this stunning space, with planes and intricacies that give the illusion you are walking through a cubist painting. This modern wonder of interconnected homes, walkways and gardens spans almost 12 stories high.  Habitat 67 sits on a man-made peninsula directly across from the Old Port of Montreal. For more information and photographs,

Notre-Dame and the Old Port

The Notre-Dame Basilica is an icon of Gothic Revival architecture. First built in the 17th century, the church continues to stun visitors with its gold trim and black walnut woodwork. Make sure to note of the intricately carved pillars, whose rich, dark color is offset by delicate gold details.  Just a few steps away, you will find Montreal's Old Port.  The French store signs lend to the area's distinctively European feel. Quaint buildings line cobblestone streets, and the main street overlooks a sparkling harbor. Pause and linger at the Place Jacques-Cartier or enjoy a hot chocolate in the tree-filled square. Even with all the historic charm, this port is still a bustling part of the city and a center of shopping, dining and live music

 

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Taking the kids to Mayan territory

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By Eileen Ogintz

The next time the kids don't want to do their homework, remind them that knowledge is power. That's what the ancient Mayans believed. Those with the most knowledge -- astronomers, priests, doctors -- lived closest to the temples. We learned this, and more, when we visited the ancient city of Tulum, a spectacular, oceanfront ruin located along the Mexican coast, 75 miles south of Cancun. Tulum is one of the last cities inhabited and built by the Mayans.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention we're less than a year away from Dec. 21, 2012, the date the ancient Mayan Long Count calendar forecasts will signal the end of all humanity. But experts aren't convinced and I'm not worried.

Though safety is a major concern for tourists traveling to Mexico, here on the Yucatan Peninsula -- a glorious stretch of Caribbean, which runs more than 80 miles along the coast, starting just 10 miles south of Cancun and including the seaside village of Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Akumal and Tulum, as well as the amazing Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, no one I met was worried. They were too busy enjoying that perfect combination of sun, beach and water (snorkel in the largest natural aquarium in the world at Xel-Ha Park), foreign culture (great place for the kids to practice their Spanish), food, and, of course, time-traveling back to an ancient culture. This area, after all, is more than 1,000 miles from the region specified in the U.S. State Department's warning about travel to Mexico. Even better, you may get a bargain. 

You have your choice of more than 300 hotels from tiny 15-room beachfront hotels like the Playa Azul in Tulum to massive all-inclusives like those from Barcelo and Iberostar to small upscale condos like the Condo Hotels right in the heart of Playa del Carmen with its pedestrian Fifth Avenue that teens especially will love. (Book three nights or more and get 15 percent off, plus breakfast. Book seven nights and get an additional 10 percent off.) 

Let's not forget manicured resorts like the Fairmont Mayakoba, which has taken the lead in sustainable tourism and makes efforts to incorporate local culture in all of its programs, even the spa, which features local herbs, oils and extracts and treatments, including Mayan clay purification. Resort shops feature local Mayan handicrafts. (Check out Fairmont Savers rates that can save you 30 percent off the best rates.) Many people think your only options here are big all-inclusive resorts. Actually, 75 percent of hotels here have fewer than 100 rooms. (We loved the 88-room, all-inclusive Ceiba del Mar Beach and Spa Resort, just south of Cancun.) 

Another small all-inclusive, the 148-room Azul Beach Hotel, is ideal for young families with its gourmet baby food, Fisher-Pricetoy loaner program, kids club and beachfront playground. (Book from May 1 to Dec. 22 and kids 13 and under stay free here and at the larger Azul Sensatori Hotel by Karisma and adults are 20 percent off.)Wherever you stay, you should get out and explore.

Tulum -- at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries -- is one of the best preserved Maya sites and the high cliffs surrounding this coastal town protected it from hurricanes even in ancient time. It is a great ruin to visit with the kids because it is relatively small and when you are finished, you can walk down to the beach and cool off in the water.Our guide, Gabriel Morales, explains that perhaps only 800 people -- those with the most knowledge -- lived within the city while thousands more lived outside. (Note: It is smart to get a guide at the entrance. It's less than $50 for four people.)

Time travel on a beach vacation? That's not all. Swim in an underground cenote (deep water-filled sinkholes). These underground river systems crisscross this region. You can even explore a cave. Yes, we did that too at Rio Secreto and it might be one of the most unique experiences I've ever had, though I wouldn't bring kids younger than six.Our guide, Alfredo Kuri Ogalde, led us as we sloshed through water, squeezed through narrow openings and floated along taking care not to touch any of the amazing formations. The only light is from the light on our helmets.What makes this cave so unique is that it's the only discovered cave not completely flooded. The formations -- orange, sparkling crystal, calcium blue gray -- are also so fantastic -- there are thousands of stalagmites overhead; big ones, small ones -- because the petrified coral reef is more porous, allowing the formations to grow more quickly.

Mayan warriors had to find their way through the cave before going off to war. The theory was that if they confronted the nine gods of death and survived, maybe they could cheat death again in battle.The Mayans believed that when they died, their souls had to pass through the underworld to be reborn ... as we will be when we return to the surface, we're told.

I don't know if we've been reborn. But when we get back outside, everything seems much brighter -- and different somehow.

For more Taking the Kids, visit takingthekids.com and also follow "taking the kids" on Twitter, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments.

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In Seychelles, scary moments described aboard ship

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Hot and tired passengers disembarking from a disabled cruise ship Thursday in the Seychelles said they had prepared to abandon ship when fire broke out in the engine room three days ago, causing smoke to billow from the vessel that was suddenly adrift in waters prowled by pirates.

Life boats were lowered, passengers said. Austrian Thomas Foaller said some passengers began to panic. Couples that were separated were calling out to each other, he said.

Among them were American couple Gordon and Eleanor Bradwell of Athens, Ga. They were separated when Eleanor went to the couple's room to get a life vest. A crew member had handed the 72-year-old Gordon his own as dark smoke rose from the ship.

"Those were the worst moments," said Gordon.

But the fire that broke out Monday was brought under control and the more than 1,000 passengers and crew wound up staying aboard the Costa Allegra, which suddenly had no engine power, no air conditioning and no running water for showers or toilets.

Eleanor Bradwell said that the initial response to the alarm seemed to be disorganized but overall she and her husband felt the shipping line had handled the emergency well.

"It could have been worse than it was," said Gordon. "It could have been disastrous ... we're here, we're alive."

The couple ate cold sandwiches for three days and moved their bedding onto the deck to escape the stifling heat after the fire left the Costa Allegra without power.

"The toilets were running over, there was no electricity. It was very hot," said Eleanor.

Foaller, the Austrian, said after the fire was contained the situation was fairly calm, if not comfortable.

"It was not dramatic. It was quiet. After (the fire was out) it was just boring," he said.

The fire came only six weeks after the Costa Concordia, owned by the same factory, hit a reef and capsized off Italy, killing 25 people and leaving seven missing and presumed dead.

"I know it was bad luck for these guys but they are doing the best they can," Albert said. "They have a lot of image building to do right now but I've seen a very professional team."

The crew of the Costa Allegra formed up and clapped as passengers disembarked and were hustled to buses for onward travel. A dozen crew members lined up at two pay phones to call their families. One crew member used a reporters' phone to call India and check on his 8-year-old daughter.

The Seychelles Red Cross set up tents to assist any passengers needing medical help and embassy and consular officials were at the port to receive their citizens. Tour operators lined up dozens of buses to take passengers to either the airport or a Seychelles resort.

"The focus of the operation is to get them a warm meal and a shower," said Guillaume Albert, head of Creole Travel Service. "I think the happy ending is the people coming off the boat."

The average age of passengers onboard the ship is 55 years, he said.

A Seychelles official suggested on Wednesday that the journey may also have taken longer because the French fishing vessel towing the cruise ship had refused to give way to two faster tugs sent by the Seychelles. Although assistance to people at sea is free, assistance to ships is often paid.

On Thursday, Lt. Col. Michael Rosette, the deputy chief of staff of the military, said the tug boats were more appropriate than the fishing vessel but that the decision not to switch towing vessels was up to the cruise line company.

The Allegra, whose Italian name means "merry," or "happy," left northern Madagascar, off Africa's southeast coast, on Saturday. The liner was carrying 413 crew members and 627 passengers, including 212 Italians, 31 Britons and eight Americans.

About 375 people are taking advantage of the company's offer of a free 15-day vacation in the Seychelles, including the Bradwells. They will also be reimbursed for the $8,000 they spent on the cruise.

"The fact we have a carnival on, the weather is great, and the fact they want to continue their holidays is great for them and great for us," said Srdjana Janosevic, spokeswoman for the president of the Seychelles. "It means this potentially tragic situation has a happy ending."

The Seychelles is a chain of white-sand resort islands with a population of just 87,000. It depends on tourism for most of its revenues and is just recovering from a drop in visitors in 2009 because of the threat of pirate attacks. There were no reports of pirates approaching the stricken Costa Allegra or even being seen.

As passengers continued to disembark, Gordon Bradwell used a reporter's phone to call his daughter in the U.S.

"Karen, can you hear me?" he asked. "We wanted to let you know that everything is OK."

 

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Secrets to the 10 most popular cruise ports

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If you're planning a cruise in 2012, chances are high that you'll be traveling to the Caribbean. 

According to CruiseCompete.com's annual report, nine of the ten most popular cruise ports in the world are in the Caribbean (or close enough to count).

The website's list, which is compiled from cruise quotes requested by potential customers, shows that Alaska is also a perennial favorite for cruisers. Several Inside Passage ports made the cut, with Juneau coming out as the most requested cruise stop in the 50 states.

With so many people wanting to go to the same places, you might worry about crowds—but you don't need to. It turns out that even the hottest port has a few places where you can get off the beaten path. Here are some recommendations that will make you feel like you're in the know, before you get off the ship.

 

Nassau, Bahamas

Just 180 miles from Miami, the Bahamas are usually the first or last stop on an eastern Caribbean cruise (even though the archipelago is technically in the Atlantic). People love the islands—there are approximately 700 in all—for first-class snorkeling, casinos and fine dining, and it's top four ports are Nassau, Princess Cays, Great Stirrup Cay and Half Moon Cay, it's the most requested country in the world for cruising, according to CruiseCompete. Two of them made the list for the top ten most visited ports in 2011, including the capital, Nassau, which is a major shopping center.

Secret: If you'd rather mingle with locals than join the crowd heading to Senor Frog's, take the Number 10 Jitney to Arawak Cay, where you'll find several stands serving up fried seafood. Go to Goldie's, and order a cold Kalik beer with some conch fritters; if you go to the back porch, sometimes you'll see workers pulling up the conch from the water.

Cozumel, Mexico

Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula continues to draw sun seekers who want some culture with their cruise, particularly this year when the Mayan calendar predicts the end of days. But there's plenty of room for fun, too. Cozumel, an island off the coast, offers countless snorkeling and water-based activities, as well as gorgeous beaches: Corona ads are often shot here.

Secret: Can you stand the heat? If so, the Mayan Steam Lodge/Temazcal experience—a spiritual sauna-like ceremony that includes native rituals—may be for you. Afterward, you'll jump into the property's freshwater cenote (underground spring) to cool off (there are also showers, if you'd prefer to rinse off there). The four-hour excursion costs $80 per person, and includes transportation to and from the ship.

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

If you're on an eastern Caribbean cruise, you'll probably stop in St. Thomas, as it's one of the world's busiest cruise ports. A Mecca for duty-free shopping, the Charlotte Amalie port has plenty of jewelry, perfume, and electronics stores; check prices at a few shops before you buy to ensure the best deal. St. Thomas can also be a good place to unwind on a beach or provide a good jumping-off point for exploring the nearby island St. John, which is quieter and less developed.

Secret: While everyone else on your ship heads for the famed Magens Bay beach, pick up some groceries at Crown Bay Marina for a picnic lunch and catch a ferry to Water Island, sometimes considered the fourth Virgin Island. Not only is the sea at the island's palm-lined Honeymoon Beach calm, the cove is quiet—you won't find the shops or tour operators here that you see on other St. Thomas beaches.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten / St. Martin

One island, two cultures: With portions settled by the French and the Dutch, the island is one of the smallest to be governed by two countries (don't worry, though, almost everyone speaks English). Philipsburg, on the Dutch side, rivals St. Thomas for duty-free shopping, while the towns of Marigot and Grand Case on the French side are filled with  fine and casual restaurants with French flair where you can find dishes like escargot (snails) or bouillabaisse (fish soup).

Secret: If you don't want to join the crowds breathing jet fumes at Maho Beach, take a short cab ride to French Cul-de-Sac, where you can catch a ferry to Pinel Island (regular service starts around 9 a.m.). The uninhabited island off St. Martin has several restaurants where you can rent beach chairs, have drinks and go snorkeling; there's a designated snorkel trail in a protected marine reserve on the island's south side, where you can spot sea fans, urchins, turtle and rays among the coral.

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Known for offshore banking, the Cayman Islands have a natural side beyond the shops of George Town. Grand Cayman is one of the few places where you can see the world's most endangered iguana, the blue iguana, and thousands of tourists converge on Stingray City to watch the sea animals. Seven Mile Beach offers an uninterrupted view of the Caribbean that seems like a postcard come to life.

Secret: If you like Jimmy Buffet music, catch the Grand Cayman's resident beach bum, the Barefoot Man (in real life, George Nowak). He plays most Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Reef Resort on the island's East End. If you don't have time to catch a show, pick up a CD for $16 in one of the souvenir shops in George Town.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

It's hard to escape history in Puerto Rico; its capital, San Juan, dates back to the 16th century. The immense San Felipe del Morro fortress anchors Old San Juan and Ponce de Leon, the island's first governor, is buried at the Cathedral of San Juan. If you venture off into the countryside, you'll find beaches, rain forests and a bioluminescent bay where you can kayak.

Secret: Puerto Rico's cuisine is infused with unique Latin flavors that you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in the Caribbean. Why not spend a few hours learning how to duplicate the recipes at home? Flavors of San Juan teaches you how to make either tapas or Puerto Rican food in two-hour group classes that include a full meal and a recipe book that you can bring home. SanJuanfoodtours.com, advanced reservations required, $98 per person for a 2-hour group class

Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos

Although technically in the Atlantic Ocean instead of the Caribbean, the island chain of Turks & Caicos has the glorious, talcum-powder-soft sand beaches and turquoise skies that make the region famous. While luxury vacationers flock to Providenciales and celebrities such as Bruce Willis, Christie Brinkley, and Keith Richards have homes on Parrot Cay, Grand Turk has become the country's main cruising center, with a large terminal and new shops.

Secret: If you love stamps (or love someone who does), make a stop at the Philatelic Bureau, located on Church Folly street. The island is known for its colorful and unusual issues, which are prized by collectors.

Juneau, Alaska

An Inside Passage cruise appears on many bucket lists, and no wonder. The state's scenery, particularly its magnificent glacier- and wildlife-viewing opportunities, are unparalleled. Surrounded by mountains and the sea, Juneau, the state's capital, is accessible only by water or air. Nature is all around you: Look for bears fishing in the streams near Mendenhall Glacier, and eagles nesting on the slopes of Mount Roberts.

Secret: Once you get out of downtown, cruise ship crowds disappear, or at least it feels that way; Alaska's vastness has a way of making people seem insignificant. With hiking trails and a stone labyrinth garden, the Shrine of St. Therese, on a peninsula about a 20-minute drive from Juneau (take a taxi), is a reflective place to commune with nature. Visitors often spot seals, whales, and otters nearby.

Roatan, Honduras

The Bay Islands, which lie about an hour north of the Honduras mainland, have become a major attraction for cruise ships, which come for the area's colorful fish and clear, warm waters. Roatan has become the center of commercial development for the islands, and you'll find countless opportunities for snorkeling, diving, and interacting with marine life such as grouper, moray eels, turtles, and rays.

Secret: Give your tastebuds a charge with a jam and jelly tasting at Marble Hill Farms on the East End of the island. Sample flavors include hibiscus jelly, mutton pepper jelly (made with chili cabro, this one has quite a kick) and island plum jelly made from fruit grown on the property. You'll need to take a taxi to get to The Farm; once you're there, have spiny lobster for lunch at their restaurant, the Crow's Nest.

Princess Cays, Bahamas

Eleuthera, one of the Out Islands is the other Bahamas port that made the top ten. Here, you can swim and sunbathe at private beaches and resorts without safety concerns (the U.S. State Department does warn about the possibility of muggings and other crime occurring on New Providence Island, where Nassau is located).

Secret: Located on the island of Eleuthera, the private beach resort owned by Princess gives you a glimpse of how laid back life on the Out Islands can be. Most people spend their time on Princess Cays either on the beach or in the water (head to the sand early to corner a lounge chair and bring your snorkel gear to get up close and personal with the colorful corals, fish, and sponges that blanket the ocean floor). If you want to do some exploring, there's a small local cemetery that contains the graves of some of the island's early 1900's residents. The cemetery is walking distance from the beach—just make sure you wear bug spray and solid shoes for the mile-long trek.

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Top 5 tips for traveling with children

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Small children are a main reason why we plan many trips in the first place, especially trips to family oriented resorts like Walt Disney World. We want to share the joys of travel with our kids and give them the most enjoyable time possible. We also want to get through the trip with our sanity intact. 

Traveling with children can be its own challenge. You need to keep track of your children’s needs, wants and comforts as well as your own. Luckily, it isn’t hard to transform a challenging vacation, juggling a million things, into a relaxing and fun getaway with your family.

Pack essential items in carry-on bags

Make sure you have everything you need in your carry-on items. Anything mandatory such as diapers or medicine should be brought with you so it is available at all times. Keep in mind that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) places limits on how much liquid you may bring aboard a flight, but they are flexible with medications, breast milk, juice, baby formula and food. Take advantage of this opportunity if it will satisfy your children.

Bring fun distractions for lackluster times

Your kids can get easily bored, so to distract them during long hours in the airport or hotel lobby, bring fun and interactive entertainment. For instance, crayons, colored pencils and coloring books can work wonders for many monotonous stretches.

Give your child the window seat

Not only will it be exciting for them to see outside the airplane, but the window seat will keep them protected from the food and beverage carts rolling up and down the aisle. This will also make it less likely for them to aggravate other passengers by leaning across the aisle.

Check hotel room for safety

You have most likely rearranged your home to best protect your children from hurting themselves. As a temporary resident of your hotel, you should do the same there. Plastic plug guards are always a good idea. Check for cords and wires that could pose a potential threat to your child’s welfare.

Stay calm

Remember that even though your children will tell you what they want to do, you are in charge. You call the shots, and your children know this. If at any point, there is a problem with the luggage, a reservation or some directions, remain calm and keep to your task at hand. Frustration can be just as contagious as laughter. You don’t want your kids to sense that you may be irritated. They might become annoyed, too. When traveling with children, try to keep the vibes positive, especially during the worst of times

 

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