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.

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.

"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.

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

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.

Last Tuesday, Tokyo Skytree made its public debut. The lofty broadcast tower rises 2080-feet, but it still comes in second among the world's tallest structures. Here's a look at what tops the list as well as other towering structures. -- Jason La, Los Angeles Times

For the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this year, tributes don't get bigger than this -- at least not yet.

A kiss can last forever, at least on San Diego's waterfront.

The smooth, quick and quiet Manta family coaster that debuted over Memorial Day  weekend at SeaWorld San Diego is just the type of thrilling ride the marine park sorely needs.

Members of the military who like to play golf will get a break on green fees and score free replays at more than 25 Marriott golf courses nationwide. The deal honoring servicemen and women was rolled out in time for Memorial Day and runs through Veteran's Day.

The clean, crisp modern lines of "Tron" have been replaced by the chaotic, rose-colored acid trip of "Alice in Wonderland," but outside of an extensive cosmetic makeover, little has changed now that Disney California Adventure has rethemed its nightly dance party from ElecTRONica  to the Mad T Party.

1. Carnival Corp.is building a $65-million cruise ship center on the Bay of Maimon, Dominican Republic, that's expected to open in 2014.

You can fly round trip from LAX to Moscow on Transaero Airlines for $741, including all taxes and fees but subject to availability, for travel between Oct. 1 and April 30. You must stay over a Saturday night.

This app offers a simple, no-frills way to store, sort and map places you want to visit on your next trip.

I felt as if I had my own private hacienda overlooking the historic grounds of the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, along the Santa Cruz River and Anza Trail in Arizona. If you want peaceful luxury, this is it. A real plus is the easy access to the Southwestern art shops of Tubac. Doubles from $114 midweek, depending on the season.

Here’s how I keep a cellphone charged and out of the way: Bracketron's new Universal USB Power Dock Pro Flex.

Alison Lowell and her husband, David, spent a weekend at Castleburn Lake near Durban, South Africa last July. One morning, they encountered a scene unexpected for Africa.

Now it snows?

Want to go to the No. 1 beach in America this Memorial Day weekend? It's closer than you think.

As if there's not enough happening in San Francisco this weekend, the battleship Iowa is set to begin its voyage Saturday from the Port of Richmond and under the Golden Gate Bridge as it makes its way to the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro.

It’s going to be an incredibly busy summer for London, starting with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee June 2-5, followed by World Pride Week in June, the Olympics in July and August and the Paralympics in August and September.

Starwood, which owns Sheratons, Westins and other hotel brands, is offering half off a second night at selected properties in California, Hawaii, Arizona, Colorado and other places for guests who pay with a MasterCard. If you aren't particular about what credit card you use, this is a simple way to save on your next stay.

Some revelers this Memorial Day weekend will be celebrating the 75th birthday of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, but some drivers may be cursing.

When Pixar undertook the animated feature "Brave," it sent a team to Scotland to scout out locations that would inspire the fictional setting for the film. The movie’s DunBroch family castle was going to be based on a home in the country’s famed Highlands. But when creators saw the striking medieval fortress Dunnottar Castle on the northeast coast, they changed their minds and chose instead to place the castle at a more dramatic seaside outpost.

Memorial Day is a day off for many of us, so as you’re lighting the fire and throwing another burger on the grill, consider this quiz, which talks about the meaning of the day. If you get all 10, well, pop open a beverage and have another dog.

If you’re planning a Memorial Day road trip, you’ll be in good company, AAA says. More than 2 1/2 million Southern Californians are  expected to hit the highways for the long holiday weekend, the auto club says, a 1.6% increase from last year.

Here's one of those deals that sound too good to be true: $395 for an eight-day vacation in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, Europe and other destinations. The deal from Zozi, online discounter of travel trips and outdoor adventures, offers lots of options near and far at that price.

As travelers gear up for Memorial Day, families flying coach on United Airlines who don't have "elite" flier status may need to pack an extra dose of patience. United has dropped the “families can board first” do-si-do from its boarding process.

LAX officials estimate more than 750,000 travelers will pass through the airport Memorial Day weekend, representing a decrease of 7.4% compared with the four-day holiday period in 2011. Higher fares resulting from higher fuel prices are being blamed.... The angler who pulls in the grand prize tagged trout will win $50,000 at Big Bear’s fourth annual Fishin’ for $50K Trout Derby on June 9 and 10. Entry is $55 for adults and $30 for participants under 16; www.bigbear.com or (800) 424-4232.... Festival Mozaic presents a summer program July 11-22 along the Central Coast. It features musicians from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Baltimore Symphony and other orchestras across the country; www.festivalmozaic.com or (805) 781-3009.... Yosemite fire managers say grasses and other vegetation at the lower elevations have...

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer -- and of the summer vacation season. So what are you doing on your summer vacation? We're betting you'll be snapping a few photos.

The Tokyo Skytree, the world's tallest communications tower, opened Tuesday. Twice the height of the Eiffel Tower, it stands 2,080 feet tall (only Dubai's Burj Khalifa is taller at 2,716 feet) with observation decks that offer amazing views of the densely packed Japanese capital.

The cables that allow hikers to ascend Yosemite National Park's iconic Half Dome will open for the season Friday. But all the permits required to use them from May through mid-October have been given out by lottery already, right? Not quite.

Imagine inner tubing down a water slide only to realize you've been riding along the back of a hissing 250-foot-long snake and are about to plunge into the gaping mouth of the fang-bearing and venom-spewing King Cobra.

The new racing slide debuting this summer at Six Flags Great Adventure's Hurricane Harbor water park in New Jersey will take riders down the back of a larger-than-life king cobra and into the mouth of the fang-bearing snake.

Phoenix heats up in summer, but maybe air-conditioning and pool fun can offset triple-digit heat. That and an inexpensive room. For $149 a night in summer at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, you can do a lot (or a little) at the resort and cash in on a $50 daily credit too.

The words "government efficiency" may seem like an oxymoron, but not in the case of the new Santa Monica Mountains interagency visitor center, set to open June 9 at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas. The new headquarters for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area will also house the various agencies, all in one place, that manage the sprawling mountain range. Now that's efficient.

Unlike most destinations, the Chocolate Hills are best viewed when they're dried and brown. This is when the hills, located in Bohol Province, Philippines, start to earn their name. During the dry season, the normally green grass covering the cone-shaped mounds turns brown, creating fields of chocolate-colored hills. The hills are formed from coral deposit uplifts sculpted by erosion over time. They are one of Bohol's most popular tourists attractions and a National Geological Monument of the Philippines. --Jason La, Los Angeles Times

The annual solar eclipse in the West on Sunday might be considered a stage-setter for a another solar eclipse coming in the fall — and a reason to travel to Australia. Brownell Travel based in Birmingham, Ala., offers an 11-night trip that features the Nov. 14 total eclipse that will only be seen Down Under. The path of totality of the eclipse, which begins at dawn, is in the northern edge of the country.

Dale Chihuly is the undisputed glass master. His fanciful sculptures have been on display at more than 500 exhibitions worldwide during his career. Now a permanent exhibition called Chihuly Garden and Glass opens Monday at the Seattle Center near the Space Needle. The exhibition features an exhibition hall with eight galleries, a glasshouse featuring one of his largest suspended works and a garden that sprouts red and blue glass reeds. Tickets cost $19 for adults and $12 for children 4 to 12. Go to Chihuly Garden and Glass for more information. -- Mary Forgione

Anyone who needs a quick, inexpensive getaway that's within an hour of Los Angeles, here's a great idea with a great price: Catalina Island packages that come with ferry ticket and hotel starting at just $59 a night per person. 

The Golden Gate Bridge turns 75 on Sunday culminating with a big festival from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. that day with fireworks, entertainment, exhibits and more. The Golden Gate Festival is free and will stretch along the waterfront from Fort Point to Fisherman's Wharf.

Want to say happy birthday to the Golden Gate Bridge? There's an app for that.

Sporting bodacious bodices and over-the-top makeup and wigs, the "ladies" strutting along the Fremont Street Experience hand out coupons for free drinks at one of the newest attractions in downtown Las Vegas.

Question: My wife and I recently returned from a nine-day trip to London, and we noticed that all the hotel staff was from non-British European countries and a few from countries in Africa. We also noticed that all the staff at the restaurants and some of the staff at the pubs where we ate and enjoyed their ales were from other European countries. Is this because these are jobs British workers do not want to do, or are there other reasons for this?

The Northwest in fall is a pretty place to be, and you’ll save some green as well on a round trip from Long Beach to Seattle on Alaska and JetBlue for $160, which includes all taxes and fees.

These content-rich travel apps let you add your own notes as you read about Frommer's favorite destinations.

If you are traveling in Texas, a great dining stop is in the small town of Shenandoah, just west of Houston. Aldo el Sharif, who for years had a famous restaurant in Houston, semiretired here and opened Aldo's Cucina Italiana. He still has the magic touch and turns out authentic meals at moderate prices. With all the marvelous historic sites in the area, a great way to top off a day is with dinner at Aldo's. Pastas from $13, main dishes from $18.

Lorex’s newest video monitor thinks small -- baby small.

Traveling from Utah's Zion National Park to the Grand Canyon in April, Miguel Ramirez and his family stopped at Marble Canyon in northern Arizona for a quick break. Utah had been cloudy, but the sky began to clear during their drive. By the time they reached the canyon, this scene had unfolded.

A rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho isn't just about the water. Yes, there are about 100 rapids to shoot, but there's also time to take a dip in a hot spring, learn the history of the area and hike in canyons along the way. For rafting fans, Mountain Travel Sobek sweetens the pot this summer with a two-for-one promotion for a limited time on six-day trips.

Need a quick, soul-reviving fix of Yosemite? A webcam pointed at one of Yosemite National Park's main attractions, soaring Yosemite Falls, went live this week. It joins Yosemite cameras already in place at Half Dome and El Capitan. Find them here.

If you’re headed anywhere near Jackson, Wyo., this summer, leave open a few hours for the National Museum of Wildlife Art, which turns 25 this month.

Catch the moon rising over Lake Tahoe this summer with West Shore Café & Inn’s “Full Moon Rising” celebrations. The series kicks off in Homewood  on July 3, and other events take place Aug. 1 and Aug. 31; (530) 525-5200 . . . . One of America’s best train trips gets even better this summer as the Alaska Railroad combines rail travel with glacier and ice climbing, in a day trip out of Anchorage; www.ascendingpath.com and www.alaskarailroad.com . . . . Still looking for a Memorial weekend escape?  More than 200 works of art will be on display during the three-day “Art Along the Creek ,” a free, dog-friendly fest along Mission Creek in  Santa Barbara; (805) 965-3434 or log on www.s-c-a-p-e.org/...

Memorial Day looms like a giant prize for the work-weary. But where to go?

It took 15 years, but a group of hardy volunteers has completed a modern-day Doomsday survey of London’s public open spaces — 2,500 gardens, parks, squares, churchyards and cemeteries.

British Airways thinks 1952 was a very good year -- and a very good price for an airfare sale. Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne that year and celebrates her Diamond Jubilee this year. The airline has a special offer for those who want in on the celebrations: Fly in style in business class round-trip from L.A. to London or Manchester for $1,952.

This post has been corrected. See note at the bottom for details.

Sailing aboard the Californian is a throwback to the era of tall ships and re-creates what 19th-century travel by sea was like. The Martitime Museum of San Diego offers three sailings to Catalina Island aboard the topsail schooner where participants take turns standing watch, setting sail and learning other on-board skills. (Yes, there's a motor so you won't be stuck in the doldrums.)

Fade to ... almost dark? An annular solar eclipse will be visible in part of the West on Sunday hours before sunset when the moon will cover up all but a sliver of the sun. Inside what's called the annular path, a "ring of fire" will appear as the moon passes in front of the sun.

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside has a special offer for active and veteran members of the U.S. military this month: $159 a night for a room that includes dinner for two and valet parking. It's a good discount off the usual rates -- and might make for a nice Memorial Day getaway.

You may think you know Yosemite National Park,  but you can get to know it  intimately through the Yosemite Insider Experience, a two-night, three-day adventure. Even better, new dates have been added for fall.

Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania rises 19,340 feet above sea level, the high point on the African continent and one of the "seven summit" high points of the world that's special to climbers. Outdoors retailer and travel operator REI will offer 20% off a six-day trek to the top of the peak for those fit enough -- and motivated enough -- to make it to the summit.

Switzerland is small, but not when it comes to clocks. The country, known for its cuckoo clocks and ubiquitous watch brands, is also home to Europe's largest church clock face. Atop the tower of St. Peter's church in Zurich, you'll find four clock faces (one on each side), each measuring about 28.5 feet in circumference.

Did you know that strawberries, though considered a fruit, are technically a member of the rose family? Then you are ripe for the California Strawberry Festival this weekend in Oxnard. On 50 acres, the event features two concert stages and an array of strawberry treats, including strawberry beer. There’s also Strawberryland for the kids. Info: (888) 288-9242 or www.strawberry-fest.org . . . . Speaking of kids, here’s yet another summer activity in family friendly San Diego: Pirate Ship Adventures offers daily cruises aboard an 83-foot sailing ship, including a special July 4 cruise. There are also sunset excursions. Adults, $29.50; children, $24.50. Info: (619) 224-4386 or http://www.pirateshipadventures.com . . . . Strikes by Portuguese air-traffic controllers are expected to disrupt international and domestic flights in coming...

Active U.S. servicemen and women and their families will receive a new perk come Saturday: free passes to more than 2,000 public lands nationwide. The Department of the Interior and the Joining Forces initiative announced Tuesday that passes would be available starting on Armed Forces Day on Saturday.

Accor Hotels, which operate Novotel, Ibis, Pullman and other brands in India, is offering a 15% discount on rooms this summer as well as breakfast for two for just 1 rupee (roughly a penny). The sale is good at 15 hotels, including properties in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

The hills are alive with the sound of Black Hawk helicopters at Denali National Park,  home of the highest mountain in North America.

Question: Can I be a greener hotel guest?

Vancouver, Canada, is very beautiful, very blue and very affordable through June 27, thanks to a $281 round-trip fare from LAX on Alaska and WestJet.

All you need in your pocket or purse to find a hot restaurant.

If you can’t decide between a European tour and a transatlantic cruise this year, YMT Vacations offers a fall trip that combines both. It starts with four days in Amsterdam touring the canals, the Skinny Bridge and a diamond factory. 

The Red & White Wine Bar is across the street from beautiful Lake Como, with forever views, in Tremezzo, Italy. The chef and his wife are charming, friendly and speak English. The food is outstanding: It was the best pasta e fagioli I have ever had, and my husband had the lasagna three days in a row. Prices are reasonable.

The creative engineers at Tumi like to put their own spin on design and function in their swank lines of luggage. The Dror International Expandable Carry-On, part of a new 11-piece collection (each sold separately), is an innovative case in point.

Contrast was the theme of Ralph Whittington's visit to India in January. While there for a wedding, he took the opportunity to visit the South Park Street Cemetery, a historic graveyard in Kolkata. Exploring the mossy burial grounds on an overcast day, Whittington crossed paths with this woman.

If you're hitting the road with Mom this weekend, here are some deals that might just sweeten the trip. Lots of places offer freebies or discounts in honor of Mother's Day this Sunday. Here are some I like.

JetBlue Airways blamed a computer glitch for an 18-month-old girl being removed from a plane in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., because the carrier's employees thought she was on the no-fly list. The girl and her parents were removed after the flight bound for Newark, N.J., had boarded, media reports say.

Dino Land theme park in China recently unveiled the $20-million Dinoconda, a thrilling fourth-dimension roller coaster with independently rotating seats.

Summer in Bhutan means red, white and pink poppies are blooming in the Himalaya's high passes. What better time for a walk in the flower fields?

Spain’s Real Madrid and Italy’s Juventus FC will face off Aug. 5 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas as part of the 2012 World Football Challenge.  MGM Resorts International is the title sponsor with Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino acting as the host hotel for the event. Tickets start at $68, at UNLVtickets.com or by calling toll free (855) 258-5425 . . . . Hostelling International USA will conduct a free travel workshop, “Budget Travel Europe,” Saturday at its Santa Monica store, 1434 2nd St. The workshop is designed for the first-time traveler going to Europe or for those who want a refresher before heading back overseas. To RSVP, please call (310) 393-6263 . . . . Nearly 80,000 beer fans are expected

Loyalty programs for airlines, hotels and other travel services generally are free. But whether you want to be bothered signing up for one might depend on what you get in return. JetBlue Airways is offering a buy one/get one free airline ticket to selected cities for every TrueBlue member -- new or enrolled -- who flies from Long Beach to Alaska.

As if the Summer Olympic Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weren’t reason enough to go to England this summer, here’s one more: a "Downton Abbey" tour.

A cabbie accused of preying on arriving passengers at New York's Kennedy Airport has pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment after driving off with passengers when officers approached. Authorities say the driver locked the doors and took off, then got into a car crash. Queens Dist. Atty. Richard Brown says driver Bhupinder Singh is facing six months in jail . . . . Planning your summer camping? Note that of the 12 campgrounds in Yellowstone, five of them – containing more than 1,400 individual sites – can be reserved online at www.YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com or by calling toll-free (866) 439-7375 . . . . Santa Barbara’s solstice celebration has grown into the city’s largest arts event. Running June 22-24, it will draw more than 100,000 spectators and feature more than 1,200 parade...

Dinoconda, China's first fourth-dimension roller coaster, opened outside Shanghai at the Dino Land theme park.

I'm such a sucker for anything having to do with mountains -- hiking up them, watching climbers ascend  them, snapping pictures of them -- that even phony peaks give me a thrill.

Train tracks carry a lot of history. In 1862, President Lincoln inked the Pacific Railroad Act to fund construction of a transcontinental rail route. Seven years later it was completed with the symbolic golden spike ceremony at Promontory Summit in what was then the Utah territory.

Imagine flying into Las Vegas and renting a self-driving car that zips you around the Strip and anywhere else you want to go? That fantasy may not be so far off.

Seventy percent of beaches on Maui, Kauai and Oahu are going through long-term erosion, the U.S. Geological Survey says in a study released this week  . . . . The average hotel room rate in central London for the Olympic period this summer: $341 a night . . . . Happy 100th birthday to the Beverly Hills Hotel, which celebrates the milestone Saturday . . . . . Newport’s Balboa Bay Club & Resort is hosting its ninth annual celebration of fine food and wine over the Memorial Day weekend with tastings, barbecues and brunches.  For tickets, call (949) 630-4146 or visit www.balboabayclub.com  . . . . Tickets are now on sale for the 2012 Monterey Beer Festival June 9. Baseball’s Frank “Big Hurt” Thomas will be the event’s MC

The Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia will be free of charge today (Tuesday) to honor the author of "Where the Wild Things Are" and other children's books who died Tuesday following a stroke at the age of 83.

While some of us were hunting for a good, dark spot to gaze at the biggest moon of the year on Saturday, Jarrod Lyman headed over to Yosemite National Park where he captured something other than the moon with his camera: a moonbow.

Here's a Mother's Day offer in which Mom gets to give as well as receive. Loews Hotels offers a $20 donation card from DonorsChoose.org for mothers who come to brunch Sunday to mark their special day. There's also a card for Mom that kids can decorate. 

Universal Orlando's salute to 100 years of filmmaking history replays more than 200 clips from the movie studio's vault on a watery canvas in the theme park's lagoon.

Despite centuries of wear and even a fire, Europe's oldest wooden bridge continues to charm tourists in Lucerne, Switzerland. The Chapel Bridge, which cuts diagonally across the Reuss River, was built in the early 14th century. About 300 years later, the bridge was adorned with a series of triangular paintings depicting events in the city's history. In 1993, fire nearly destroyed the bridge. It was largely restored in 1994. -- Jason La

Eighty-four percent of Americans planning to travel this summer expect to travel primarily by car for at least one of their trips, a survey from Choice Hotels International found.  Those same Americans plan on racking up an average of 1,172 miles on all their summer vacations . . . . The biggest celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge’s 75th birthday takes place May 27, the anniversary of its opening. Organizers are inviting the public to share personal stories and photos of the bridge online at goldengatebridge75.org . . . . Mother’s Day tip: The historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside is hosting a “Miss Manners Afternoon Tea” Saturday. Priced at $45 per person, it offers seatings at 2 or 3 p.m.  It includes a one-hour session of Miss Manners Charm School and a...

The nonprofit Consumer Travel Alliance is urging federal officials to force airlines to be more transparent about their fees wherever they sell airline tickets. The action comes on the heels of budget carrier Spirit Airline's recent announcement that come November it would increase baggage fees. Among the new prices: a $100 charge for a carry-on bag if you check it at the gate.

Lumeria Maui started life in 1909 as a home for old plantation workers, built by one of Hawaii's big sugar families. In its 100-plus years, the North Shore property had been repurposed as military housing and then as dorms for a women's college. Now it emerges as a small, graceful retreat center that accents local culture and relaxation under the moniker "edventure." Prices start relatively small too, with an introductory offer of $299 a night.

Lumeria Maui on the island's North Shore offers classes, activities, relaxation and, of course, rooms -- 24 to be exact. The refurbished compound once used to house sugar cane workers was built in 1909 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Here's what the new six-acre wellness and educational center looks like. -- Mary Forgione

Question: Many hotels, both in the U.S. and abroad, piously announce that they are helping to preserve the environment and reduce water usage by offering guests the option of not having towels and sheets changed daily. We are instructed to hang up the towels if we are willing to not have them changed. Many hotels do not provide sufficient towel racks, making it difficult to hang up the towels. If we do manage to hang up the towels, they are changed anyway. I routinely complain to the front desk, though I always sense that the staff has no idea and no interest in my complaint. I've even written to a few places. Who do the hotels think they are fooling?

Luzon and the 7,100 other Philippine islands may have extra allure with this round-trip offer from LAX to Manila for $858, including all taxes and fees, on China Airlines.

Flash sales are fun, but the barrage of email alerts is not. Introducing a one-stop shop for all those timed sales.

CUBA

The Swiss Health Resort in Desert Hot Springs is a wonderful place to relax with indoor and outdoor pools, a beautiful desert garden with views of the mountains and daily morning hikes with the owner.

Not so long ago, monitoring your heart rate while exercising required you to wear a chest strap that relayed heart rate information to a watch-like monitor on your wrist. It was uncomfortable and sweaty.

Kathleen Dier-Saltz and her husband, Larry, visited Portugal in September to celebrate his 60th birthday. In Braga, near the country's northwestern corner, the couple happened upon groups of college-age students, some dressed in elaborate uniforms. As Dier-Saltz watched the students, these two young women took a backward glance. The West Hills resident used a Nikon D3000.

Billed as the world's tallest water ride, the $26-million Divertical at  Italy's Mirabilandia theme park will combine a shoot-the-chutes flume and a roller coaster track with an offshore powerboat racing theme.

From the sounds of it, Bodemeister and Union Rags will slug it out for a win at the 138th Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville. But you needn't go all the way to Kentucky to watch. Las Vegas is light on derby traditon but heavy on the mint juleps -- and the betting. Here are some picks for spending derby day in Las Vegas.  

The $26-million racing boat-themed Divertical water ride at Italy's Mirabilandia theme park will combine a shoot-the-chutes flume with a roller coaster track.

The largest full moon of 2012 happens this Saturday, but it's OK if you don't really notice. The moon doesn't really get bigger, it just gets closer to Earth (but you knew that).

Spirit Airlines, the first carrier to impose fees for carry-on bags, starting in November will charge as much as $100 per bag for passengers who bring luggage to stow in the overhead bin. 

The nonprofit California State Parks Foundation offers cool savings on an annual pass that allows entry to more than 200 parks. In light of ongoing budget struggles, the Department of Parks and Recreation raised the cost of an annual pass to $195 on Tuesday. Those who become a foundation member this month will receive a pass for the old rate of $125 and some extra goodies.

Greyhound Express, a new premium bus service, rolled out Wednesday for routes that link Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco and other California cities. The brand that turns 100 next year has tricked out Express buses with free Wi-Fi, power outlets, leather seats, three-point seat belts and extra legroom. Express customers get one more nice perk too: reserved seats.

Tioga Road, the east-west ribbon of roadway that accesses Yosemite National Park's back country, will open for the season at noon Monday, the earliest opening date for the road since 1987.

Six Flags Magic Mountain will reclaim sole ownership of the Roller Coaster Capital of the World title with the announcement that arch-rival Cedar Point will remove one of its 17 coasters before the start of the summer season.

Free nights with minimum stays have become common hotel come-ons, but here's one I like for the luxe factor and the price. Pay for three nights and get two more nights free at the tony CordeValle resort in Northern California, making this a vacation-length getaway with real savings.

One by one, some of the 70 California state parks slated to close in July are quietly being spared in the short term as nonprofits and other agencies raise their hands to take over their operation. 

If you didn't buy an annual California state parks pass yet, prepare to shell out a bit more. The new price of $195 — a $70 leap — goes into effect today (Tuesday).

Looking for an African safari that works for adults and teens? U.K.-based Expert Africa creates itineraries with teens and tweens in mind. The Spotted Hyaena Safari, for example, explores the wildlife-rich South Luangwa River in Zambia and offers nature walks and safari quizzes for kids 12 and older to take on day and night drives into the bush.

Hali Helfgott traveled through Morocco in March but was not convinced about seeing the Sahara desert – a visit would require a 14-hour round trip by car. Thanks to her persuasive guide, the excursion turned out to be one of the highlights of her trip.