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UTAH
The annual roundup of bison by volunteers is a chance to see the enormous animals, icons of the American West, up close.
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ISLANDS
The islands have unstable weather but steady culture and constant beauty. >>
NEW YORK CITY
Balthazar, Café des Artistes, Daniel, Dévi, Jean-Georges, Tao and 21 are among restaurants offering lower-cost alternatives. >>
FOURTH OF JULY
It's Fourth of July weekend. My wife, Kathy, and I have a bag full of red, white and blue pinwheels, some Stars and Stripes-brand snack cakes, and a packet of mini-flags. We're nearly set for a holiday blowout in the country. >>
ON THE GO
Once known for some of the best fishing in the state, the recreation area's attraction is a great way to spend a weekend up a Lazy River. >>
MORE FOR YOUR MONEY
Group rates, a free night, a round of golf -- deals can be found online. But do business with reputable companies. >>
The Coastal Commission's 'Beaches and Parks in Southern California' has more than 50 color maps and about 300 color photos. >>
SAN JUAN ISLAND, WASH.
In 1859, the U.S. and Britain almost went to war again -- over a dead pig. Today residents celebrate how forebears used words, not weapons, to avert conflict. >>
NEED TO KNOW
Next stop, Havana >>
Question: What's the recommended information to include (and not to include) on one's luggage tags? I know people say you should put your cellphone number on them, but I don't keep mine turned on. >>
LETTERS >>
MUSEUMS
The National Museum of Crime & Punishment and the International Spy Museum are two creepy, interesting alternatives to the Smithsonian. >>
CALENDAR
NORTH PLAINS, ORE. >>
The Faroese tourism industry markets the islands as a bastion of environmental and social consciousness -- clean air, clean water, good salmon and trout fishing, huge flocks of migratory birds, magnificent scenery, great hiking, fine museums and a rich cultural heritage. >>
SAN JUAN ISLAND, WASHINGTON
If you goThe National Historical Park, devoted to sharing the story of the Pig War, is on San Juan Island, one of the more than 70 islands in a chain bearing the same name. In the "rain shadow" of the Olympic Mountains, the San Juans get only half as much rain as Seattle and have an average of 247 sunny days a year. The summer months are the most popular for tourists, though Washington state ferries ( www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) take passengers and their vehicles on scenic voyages to the islands year-round. >>A few homes away from home>>UTAH
Bison Roundup >>
New York's Restaurant WeekFor more information, check out New York Magazine's "Recession Specials: Your Definitive Guide," www.nymag.com/daily/food/2008 /11/recession_dining.html. >>TRAVEL INSIDER
A paper airline ticket? You're kidding. >>
LONDON IN AUTUMN
At a time when travel deals seem to dry up overnight, here's one you can count on: Air New Zealand is offering an LAX-London round-trip fare of $780, including taxes (about $160). The offer runs from Sept. 3 to Oct. 25 and requires a Saturday night stay. For more info on restrictions: (800) 262-1234, www.airnewzealand.com >>
KANSAS CITY
In the heartland, there are lots of 'cue places to get fired up about. A visit reveals old faves and surprises. >>
OREGON
In Portland, nothing says 'hip hotel' like nude mannequins in the lobby. Relax, Mom and Dad -- a few conventional touches and a friendly staff widen the appeal and make for an enjoyable stay. >>
The chic Shorebreak is welcoming to kids and dogs. The location and prices are attractive, but there are some kinks to work out. >>
ST. LOUIS
Craft brewers are fueling a robust industry that's tapped into what St. Louis locals and visitors like. >>
Luxury hotels, hit hard by the downturn, really want your business. Expect rate cuts and credits, and an emphasis on guest relations. >>
Several Chicago-area tourist attractions prepare for the barrage of visitors that the new Johnny Depp film is expected to bring. >>
TOURS & CRUISES
DUBLINFootloose in IrelandImmerse yourself in Irish history with Sceptre Tours' "Dublin City Package," which allows you to plan your own agenda. Rarely have we seen a price this low -- $399, including airfare from New York and four nights' lodging. >>'Beaches and Parks in Southern California' includes more than 50 color maps and about 300 color photos. >>
Kamaka Hawaii, started in 1916, makes serious handmade instruments -- prices begin at $650 -- from the prized Hawaiian koa wood. >>
LETTERS
Avoiding ATM fees abroad >>
Question: I am planning to fly with my 5-year-old grandson from Roanoke, Va., to Mexico City. Does Mexico require a car seat? >>
CDZ SLOTTED/AD edited
The National Museum of Crime & Punishment and the International Spy Museum are two creepy, interesting alternatives to the Smithsonian. >>
CALENDAR
WEB BUZZ
StoodThere.com can inspire your next trip by letting you see photos from travelers who have already been there. You won't be intimidated by glorious artsy travel photos impossible to re-create for your own albums, but you will find snapshots of places you might visit one day. >>
FOOD
The word "barbecue" is thought to have derived from the Taino and Carib peoples of the Caribbean and South America who slowly roasted meats over a bed of coals called a barbricot, which the Spanish pronounced barbacoa. In his book "Savage Barbecue," author Andrew Warnes theorizes that Europeans who encountered this way of cooking mixed the word "barbacoa" with "barbarian," and the word "barbecue" was born. It's not always easy to say what barbecue is, but purists will say what it is not: It is not grilling meat over an open flame. Barbecue is a slow method of cooking -- low heat, lots of time, lots of patience. Sauce may play a part, but might not be part of the cooking process. Here's a look at some of the regional differences. >>
Fiorella's Jack Stack, 4747 Wyandotte St., Kansas City, Mo., (816) 531-7427. Other locations: 13441 Holmes Road; Kansas City, Mo., (816) 942-9141; 9520 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Kan., (913) 385-7427; 101 W. 22nd St. Kansas City, Mo., (816) 472-7427; www.jackstackbbq.com. >>
John Dillinger toursUntouchables Tours offers daily tours year-round through the historic streets of Chicago. Adult tickets are $28; (773) 881-1195, www.gangstertours.com. >>FILMS & PROGRAMS
CALIFORNIAPresentationEric Peterson discusses his book "Ramble California: A Wanderer's Guide to the Offbeat, Overlooked and Outrageous." >>READERS RECOMMEND
OREGON >>
SUMMER VACATIONS IN THE WEST
The pleasures of a summer visit: hiking, swimming, fishing. Oh, and don't forget the cribs of the rich and kooky -- a Viking palace, a movie mafia stronghold, secret tunnels and more. >>
SUMMER VACATION IN THE WEST
Explore the valley behind the wheel of an American classic -- a 1929 Model A or a 1916 Model T. Just don't be surprised if paparazzi follow. >>
AIRFARES
TRAVEL | U.S.
T-shirts sport images of bygone attractions -- kitschy and cool -- that flourished along the byways of yesteryear. >>
CATALINA ISLAND
A new tour celebrating the venue's 80th anniversary takes visitors backstage to where big band players and Hollywood stars partied. >>
If you goTHE BEST WAY TO TAHOE:From Los Angeles, it's a 444-mile drive to South Lake Tahoe by U.S. 395. The lake's north shore is 42 miles southwest of the Reno/Tahoe International Airport. >>MORE FOR YOUR MONEY
A cheap beach getaway in summer? Snow in Malibu is more likely. >>
NEED TO KNOW
Be my guide >>
Here are 10 things you probably didn't know about Mt. Rushmore, one of America's favorite landmarks. >>
Question: While traveling in Peru for several months, I have been using my ATM card. No fees were ever disclosed. I have since learned that I have been charged an international transaction fee plus a $5 fee for each transaction. The combined fees have added up to hundreds of dollars. Trying to get a refund has been fruitless. Shouldn't banks make customers aware of these fees? >>
CALENDAR
THE FREE WORLD
At the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, watch as injured animals get back in the swim. >>
WEB BUZZ
Let a former travel agent help you find a hotel you might not know existed on Blue Hippo Travel, www.bluehippotravel.com. >>
Films & programs
ARGENTINASlide showAnalia and Darek Przebieda will present images from the Cuyo region of western Argentina, including national parks and the wineries of Mendoza. >>Vintage car toursWHERE TO STAY:Tin Lizzie Inn, P.O. Box 63, 7730 Laurel Way, Fish Camp, Calif.; (559) 641-7731, www.TinLizzieInn.com. Rates for the suite: Fridays and Saturdays $400 a night, or $750 with a Model T or Model A for a day; Sundays through Thursdays $350 a night, or $700 with a Model T or Model A for a day. >>Tour pricesThe Behind the Scenes tour is at 12:30 p.m. daily; adults, $27.50; seniors, $24.50, and children, $20.50. Another tour of the building, the Casino Walking Tour, has been available for several years, but it visits only parts of the casino that are open to the public. It is at 2 p.m. daily and costs $17.50 for adults, $13.25 for seniors and $15.75 for children. >>$234 to HONOLULU
Delta and Northwest are offering a huge Hawaii deal. For $234 (plus tax), you can purchase a round-trip flight between LAX and Honolulu. No advance purchase is required, and the deal is good any day of the week. But the deal is subject to availability. For info on Delta, (800) 221-1212, www.delta.com; Northwest, (800) 225-2525, www.nwa.com. >>
JAPAN >>
BRITAIN
A FIRST-TIMER'S GUIDE TO >>
ENGLAND
The London area, long a nonconformists' haven, is where Lenin printed his paper; where Blake, Defoe and Wesley are buried; where Oliver Twist learned to pick pockets. >>
MASSACHUSETTS: CONCORD
The city's small-town charms are but the entry point to its big role in U.S. history. Where else do the Revolution, Walden Pond and early literary greats coincide? >>
CALIFORNIA
Today Julian is known for apples, but gold put it on the map. The picturesque mountain town celebrates its origins with a weekend of panning, mine tours and a 'nugget' scavenger hunt. >>
TOURS & CRUISES
The 12-night 'Russian Waterways Excursion' includes onboard lectures about the sights travelers will see between Moscow and St. Petersburg. >>
Question: I'm noticing an increasing number of people who don't turn off cellphones in flight. What exactly are the safety concerns? Perhaps if people knew more about what could happen, they would obey. >>
LETTERS
Brewing up a coastal storm >>
AD edited
1. TOWER OF LONDON >>
CALENDAR
MASSACHUSETTS
THE BEST WAY TO THOREAU COUNTRY >>
Films & Programs
SOUTH AFRICASlide showMaryEllen Schoeman will talk and show slides from her experience volunteering for three months in South Africa with Cheetah Outreach, a conservation and education program that teaches people about the difficulties facing cheetahs in the wild. >>The travel section of Bing ( www.bing.com/travel) is one of the major upsides to Microsoft's new search engine. The level of integration within the search feature makes shopping for travel a more informed experience from the first click -- reducing the number of steps between you and a fully booked trip. So when Microsoft calls itself a "decision" engine, it makes sense. >>
ENGLAND
From LAX, Air New Zealand, British Air, American, United and Virgin Atlantic fly nonstop to London. United flies direct (stop, no change of planes). Continental, Delta and Northwest offer connecting service (change of planes). Restricted round-trip fares begin at $701. Prices in the fall and spring often drop to around $300. >>
CALIFORNIA
WHERE TO STAY >>
ENGLAND
Visiting ClerkenwellBunhill Fields and Wesley's Chapel are on the western edge of the former village of Clerkenwell. The nearest Tube station is Old Street, on the Northern Line. >>CALIFORNIA >>
Barbizon, France: In a May 31 Travel section article about taking a driving tour of villages near Gâtinais National Park, the name of the town of Milly-la-Forêt was misspelled as Millet-la-Forêt. >>
Question: What has happened to the car rental rates at LAX? Last July, I paid about $25 per day for 16 days, including all fees and taxes, and this July, it is more than $1,000 at all vendors for the same car and length of time. >>
'1984' author George Orwell -- whose real name was Eric Arthur Blair -- covered a lot of ground in his short lifetime. Travelers can rent his old Barnhill cottage on the Scottish island of Jura. >>
The golden anniversary of the islands' statehood brings mixed emotions, but observances are rolling out statewide, and culminate with an August conference. >>
I am flying United Airlines from LAX to Honolulu. United is charging me an additional $98 to sit in "economy plus." So rather than $364 for my flight, with taxes, luggage fees and this "economy plus," I'm paying $498. Are all airlines squeezing customers like this? >>
LETTERS
Of noisy beaches and quiet prairies >>
CALENDAR
SAN DIEGO >>
PLACES UNDERRATEDFROM OUR READERS > > >
Nature in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas. Art in a deep Polish salt mine. A friendly Wisconsin town. A hike with views of the Tasmanian coast. Readers have spanned the globe and discovered adventure, history and in many places, peace. Here are some of their discoveries. >>
SWITZERLAND
Every April, the people of Zurich send winter packing with Sechseläuten, a weekend of balls, parades and the ceremonial burning of the snowman effigy Böögg. >>
LATIN AMERICA | PERU
Who needs summer camp when the fabled South American river beckons? A week-long boat trip reveals piranhas, pink dolphins and -- of course -- sloths. >>
ON THE GO
In the off-season, it's just you, your thoughts and a few other friendly campers. And some chilly temperatures at night. >>
MORE FOR YOUR MONEY
Some companies are offering terms under which someone who suddenly loses a job can get a refund. >>
LAS VEGAS
The gold mine was active from 1861 to 1941. Now, it attracts about 10,000 people each year. >>
In Hong Kong and Taiwan, foreigners can learn how Asian medicine uses herbs and other ingredients to fight illness. >>
Galveston, Texas, was no match for Hurricane Ike. Damage remains, but rebuilt businesses are back in time for the expected swarm of spring tourists. >>
Calendar
FRESNO >>
WEB BUZZ
Ever wish you knew a local who could offer advice before your European trip? SpottedbyLocals.com has handpicked bloggers on the ground in 20 cities updating its city blogs with their favorite spots around town. >>
GETTING THERE
SOUTH AFRICA
We found a delightful oasis in Pretoria called the Alpine Attitude. This boutique hotel is modern in décor, friendly, helpful. They served excellent food and went the extra mile in caring for us. >>
CALIFORNIA DESERTS
Take a tour among the turbines and learn about green energy. >>
TOURS & CRUISES
JACKSON HOLE, WYO. >>
WEB BUZZ
Cody Smart wanted to feel something, and so with $430 in the bank, an aversion to "popular society" and a thirst for the open road, he set off to hitchhike from New York to Alaska. He was robbed and nearly raped and killed, just as the naysayers said he would be. He then put together a magnetic "photologue" on CodySmart.com/hitchhike to remember and share his story. >>
TEXAS
The Gulf Coast sanctuary is a refuge for more than 300 species of birds as well as other wildlife, including alligators. >>
HOTEL REVIEW
Camp chic meets a retro vibe in this converted Howard Johnson's that takes greenness and a communal spirit in stride. >>
TEXAS
THE BEST WAY >>
CALIFORNIA
The small town's annual Irish Day bash displays the quirky fun and local wines that make the Calaveras County hamlet stand out. >>
LETTERS
Golden thoughts of San Francisco >>
Calendar
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. >>
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