Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello visitor center debuts

Fresh Monticello

Barack Obama isn’t the only president to grapple with piracy. When international trade off the northern coast of Africa was disrupted by pirates more than 200 years ago, Thomas Jefferson sent the U.S. Marines to attack their backers in Tripoli (now Libya). The third president’s legacy got a boost last week with the opening Wednesday of a $43-million visitor center at his home, Monticello, in Virginia. Five pavilions around a center courtyard feature exhibitions about his life, including “Monticello as Experiment: ‘To Try All Things’ ” and “Making Monticello: Jefferson’s ‘Essay in Architecture.’ ” Info: (434) 984-9822, www.monticello.org

-- Mary Forgione

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New Vegas blog

Headed out to Las Vegas? Get the inside scoop from locals on where to play, party and unwind on and off the Strip at VegasChatter.com. This new daily travel blog, from SFO*Media and owned by Conde Nast Digital, is the same lifestyle brand behind popular travel sites Jaunted and HotelChatter. Don’t miss the Hotel Deals tag. VegasChatter hopes to deliver only travel bargains its staffers would take, such as $69 room rates at the Hard Rock and all-inclusive packages at Luxor. Keep your eye on the Vegas Uncorked tag as it follows the hot celeb chef and culinary scene, and the roulette wheel feature that allows you to search a Google map for the most recent Vegas articles from HotelChatter and Jaunted.

-- Jen Leo

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Pass in Pasadena

You can buy books, maps, luggage and other travel gear at Distant Lands in Pasadena, but now you can also book a trip at an American Express travel agency outlet and buy Rail Europe tickets and passes at the store. “We wanted to make a commitment to be a one-stop travel shop,” said manager Angel Castellanos. The Rail Europe service, where staff help customers decipher the dozens of rail-pass options, is available any time the store is open: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. The American Express outlet, which sells tours, cruises and customized itinerary planning (but doesn’t offer currency exchange and travelers checks), is closed Sundays and has limited hours. Info: (626) 449-3220, www.distantlands.com

-- Jane Engle

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A bright read

Hold it right there: Zelco’s new Book Cradle provides innovative options for holding and reading a book. The hard plastic cradle, 7 inches long and 1 inch wide, attaches by way of a 3-inch-long plastic spike that slides onto spine. Two flexible rubber arms can be folded over the left- and right-hand pages, keeping them open. Slip your hand into the adjustable ultrasuede hand-strap on the back of the cradle for comfortable one-handed reading. Or flip out the two rigid plastic legs and the cradle becomes a bookstand for hands-free reading. $16.95. Info: (800) 431-2486, www.zelco.com

-- Judi Dash

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Dream rides

Take a ride on the world’s largest zeppelin ($199 for a 30-minute flight) or check out ultra-sleek streamliner racers, above, and muscle cars April 26 at the Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show in Half Moon Bay. The annual event that brings monster trucks and World War II fighter planes together celebrates all things mechanical. Head to the airport for this daylong event (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Tickets cost $20 for adults, $10 for ages 11 through 17, free for kids 10 and younger. Info: (650) 726-2328, www.miramarevents.com

-- Mary Forgione