Secret Weapon coaster to debut at U.K.'s Alton Towers in 2013

England's Alton Towers is set to unleash the latest salvo in its arsenal of Secret Weapon roller coasters in March 2013 with the addition of a $25-million "world's first" ride aimed squarely at thrill-seekers.

On the Spot: How will Greece's economy affect tourists?

Question: What is the anticipated effect of the financial problems in Greece on tourists this summer?

Alaska: $294 round-trip airfare to Anchorage on JetBlue

JetBlue will take you to Anchorage and back for less than $300. Best of all, the deal runs from late spring till late summer, when the days are long and Anchorage is at its finest.

Dog owners, snap a collar on this app, and quick!

This historic high-desert homestead may be our favorite B&B. Roughley Manor offers a variety of accommodations, including suites in an elegant stone manor and renovated ranch buildings, some pet-friendly. Go to hike (it's just outside Joshua Tree National Park), see stars, bird watch (a pair of great horned owls nests on-site), rock hunt or just relax. Unique and magical — and no farther from L.A. than Rancho Mirage.

Keep your shirt on -- and cuddle up and carry Fido all at once

For lovers of (little) pets, the Cuddle 'N Carry Shirt may be barking up just the right tree.

Chile: VIP package to Lollapalooza fest and parties in Santiago

Lollapalooza on the flip side of the world? The 2012 mega-concert is slated for August in Chicago's Grant Park, but here's a way to get a jump on the music.

Swamp alligators slither into New York City (not from the sewers)

Swamps aren't very sexy. Dank places filled with slithering creatures don't scream tourism, unless you're from Louisiana. So how would one fare in New York City?

Friday Travel Ticker: TSA accused of $5,000 theft

A TSA screener stole $5,000 in cash from a passenger's jacket as he was going through security at John F. Kennedy International Airport, authorities said Thursday. They say a surveillance video showed the agent taking the money from a jacket pocket, wrapping the cash in a plastic glove and taking it to a bathroom . . . . The average admission price into Sunday’s Super Bowl was holding steady at $3,395 as of late Thursday afternoon, the Indianapolis Star reports . . . .  To fight the winter blues, New York City has installed a pop-up indoor park, with birds, grass and blossoming bushes. “It's our rebellion against winter,” says Jonathan Daou, founder and CEO of Openhouse Gallery, the company that holds the lease on the space where the park was installed . . . .  Carnival won't say exactly how much bookings have dropped since the Costa Concordia, which it owns, ran aground on...

Arizona: Winter stay and extras at Loews in Tucson for $195

Finding a bargain at Arizona desert resorts is pretty easy during the triple-digit heat of summer, but winter deals present more of a challenge. Enter LivingSocial, with a limited-time offer at Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson that comes with extras -- and nice temperatures. It costs $195 for a one-night stay that includes spa discounts, food credits and more.

Canada: Freaky hues of northern lights from this Alberta outpost

The northern lights bring fabulous streaks of greens, blues, yellows and pinks across the night sky in northern climes including Alaska, Canada, parts of the northern U.S. and Europe.