The transit of Venus sounds like a bus stop at some extraterrestrial outpost, but it's actually what happens in the sky when the planet Venus moves across the face of the sun. What NASA calls "the rarest of planetary alignments" will begin Tuesday afternoon until sunset -- and then won't be seen again for 105 years.

"In a way, you could call a solar eclipse a transit of the moon," says Tyler Nordgren, astronomer, author and associate professor of physics at the University of Redlands. "Venus will be moving in front of the sun's disk."

People can watch the transit for free between 3:06 and 8:01 p.m. in the coelostat (special solar telescope) and telescopes on the lawn at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. Staff will be on hand to explain what's happening during the celestial phenom. The observatory's website notes the last transit of Venus that was visible in L.A. occurred in 1882.

But don't expect to see an impressive "ring of fire" like the one visible throughout the West during...

If you are planning a trip to New Zealand or Australia, Air Tahiti Nui will fly you there and throw in a free three-night visit to Tahiti. Choose a Sofitel, Le Meridien or Radisson resort for your stay and take the time to explore the French Polynesian island.

The deal: There's a lot of moving parts to reserve with this deal. Prices start at $1,298 per person from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand, and $1,666 per person to Sydney, Australia.

Each package includes a three-day stopover in Tahiti either outbound or on the return flight. The choice of hotels includes the Sofitel Tahiti Maeva Beach Resort, the Le Meridien Tahiti or the Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti. (You can pay extra to upgrade at discounted rates too.)

When: The deal begins Monday, and tickets must be purchased by June 22. The offer is good for stays from Aug. 24 to March 31.

Tested: Because the sale hasn't started, I asked Air Tahiti Nui to give me sample rates for availability on random dates:

--$1,298 per person including...

As Britons celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne this weekend, Anglophiles can mark the Diamond Jubilee without having to leave the Pacific time zone.

Beginning Friday and running through Sept. 3, the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, Canada, is presenting an exhibit of portraits and informal photographs of the queen.

The photos by royal photographer Sir Cecil Beaton – some never before publicly displayed – depict Elizabeth as a princess, monarch and mother. Beaton first photographed the girl who would become queen when she was a teenager in 1942. He was repeatedly invited to photograph her during the next three decades, including making photos of her at her coronation on June 2, 1953.

The photos, which are from the collection of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, are supplemented by excerpts from Beaton’s diaries and letters. Also included are old radio broadcasts and films.

Museum admission, which is about $21 for adults and $15.40 for youths...

Cedar Point theme park in Ohio plans to add a $25-million record-setting winged roller coaster in 2013, according to local media reports.

Photos: Winged roller coaster at Cedar Point

The Swiss-based Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Rider, dubbed "CP Alt.Winged," would be the world's fastest and longest winged coaster with a taller initial drop than any similar ride, according to a memo obtained by the Sandusky Register newspaper.

"We've made no public announcement yet about a new ride or attraction for 2013," said Cedar Point spokesman Bryan Edwards. "We do plan to make an announcement later this summer."

On a winged coaster, riders sit on either side of the track in a winged formation as the train navigates multiple inversions.

To date, B&M has built four winged coasters: Raptor at Italy's Gardaland, Swarm at England's Thorpe Park, Wild Eagle at Tennessee's Dollywood and X-Flight at Six Flags Great America outside Chicago.

Cedar Point's Alt.Winged coaster appears designed to top Dollywood's...

The plunging price of Facebook stock aside, Mark Zuckerberg seems to have become ensnared in a kerfuffle over his apparent decision not to leave a tip on a meal during his honeymoon in Rome.

The online Telegraph newspaper reports the Facebook tycoon failed to leave a tip after spending about $40 on fried pumpkin flowers and sea bass-stuffed ravioli at Nonna Betta in the Italian capital's historic Jewish quarter. What he ate isn't important, but what he should have known about tipping etiquette is.

Travel outfitter Magellan's says 10% above the service charge is appropriate throughout Italy. Conde Nast Traveler's tipping guide says leave as close to 10% as possible, no more than that, when in Italy. And business magazine Kiplinger suggests restaurant tips of 15% to 20% that are standard stateside would seem far too extravagant in Italy and much of Europe.

I find that my tipping etiquette -- for hotel stays, bellhops, etc. -- is inconsistent at best, even when I'm just tooling around the U....

Travelers heading for Paris, London, Berlin, Tel Aviv and Moscow this summer for a while can save up to 20% on hotel bills at Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts.

The deal: Stay Longer, Pay Less discounts best flexible room rates up to 20% for those staying at least five days at one of 23 hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. (Properties in France and Warsaw, Poland, require a seven-night stay.) You can get this deal online or by calling and asking for the summer offer.

When: The deal is good for travel from July 15-Sept. 22, based on availability. It must be booked at least seven days in advance.

Tested: I checked availability at the Intercontinental Berlin for Aug. 12-18. I found an average nightly rate, with the discount, of $143 a night instead of $204 a night. On the same nights, I found a room at the Intercontinental Budapest in Hungary for an average rate of $87 a night instead of $143 a night. (Prices are converted from euros and approximate.)

Bottom line: The longer-stay...

"Packaged tours" and "bucket list" usually aren't used in the same sentence, but tour operators are out to change all that. The U.S. Tour Operators Assn. is giving away a free trip each week for the next four weeks to bucket list-worthy destinations.

"Gone are the days where such vacations simply meant motor coach transportation and a guide with a sign," President Terry Dale says in a statement. "These are not your grandmother’s trips."

The sweepstakes started Tuesday and will give away these trips including round-trip airfare:

--A 13-day Pacific Delight Tours package to China and the Yangtze River for two this week;

--A 12-day Go Ahead Tours package to Yellowstone, Mesa Verde, the Grand Canyon and other national parks for four the week of June 5;

--A 15-day Collette Vacations tour to Australia and New Zealand the week of June 12;

--A 14-day Globus trip to Brazil, Argentina and Peru for two the week of June 19.

Here's how it works: Start by "liking" the organization's Facebook pageand...

The weather forecast for Legoland California this summer calls for a 100% chance of getting 100% soaking wet.

PHOTOS: Pirate Reef water ride at Legoland California

The new Pirate Reef water attraction opened over Memorial Day weekend at the Carlsbad kiddie park with a pair of life-size Lego pirate ships flanking the splash zone of the classic shoot-the-chutes ride.

For its relatively modest size, the 25-foot-tall attraction built by Florida-based Hopkins Amusement Rides generates a surprisingly enormous splash.

The 15-foot-tall fan-shaped tidal wave delivers a double whammy, with the initial deluge sweeping over the boat like a tsunami only to be followed by a trio of ricocheting blasts that careen off the twin pirate ships and the overhead bridge connecting them onto the boat passengers below.

When I rode Pirate Reef, it felt as if every last drop of the 155,000 gallons of water in the lagoon rose in unison and crashed down upon our collective heads. I couldn't get wetter if I dove into a...

In Las Vegas, swimming pools are as much a destination as the casinos. DJs and stylish settings keep the hip factor high on the Strip and beyond. Caesars Entertainment is offering a deal with low rates on a two-night stay that includes a $25 pool-side restaurant credit.

The deal: The deal is good at Caesars Entertainment properties, including Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, Rio, Flamingo, Bally's and Paris. Prices start as low as $48 a night (Bally's).

When: The offer is good through Dec. 31, based on availability.

Tested: It's best to go in summer when the pool scene is in full swing. I checked availability for July 4 and 5 and found these costs for both nights:

--$215 plus tax for a Roman Tower Room at Caesars Palace with one king-sized bed. Kick back at the  eight-pool oasis called Garden of the Gods. (As a comparison, the same room on the same nights without the deal would cost $119 to $129 a night plus tax.)

--$135 plus tax for a Fab Deluxe Room at the recently renovated...