May 2003

FIRST CLASS MISCONCEPTIONS
The truth is, with hotels, first class isn't the best. In fact, it's decidedly midrange. [Read More]

SIZZLING SHANGHAI
The centuries have brought many changes to old fishing village situated where the great Yangtze River finally filters into the East China Sea. [Read More]

ENJOYING A CUP OF COFFEE
While regular and decaf are widely understood most places English is spoken, ordering a cup of coffee can get complicated elsewhere. Getting what you want means knowing what it's called. [Read More]

SEVEN WEEKEND ESCAPES
Sometimes a quick getaway is exactly what the travel doctor ordered. In this issue of the magazine National Geographic Traveler selected seven destinations for a delightful mini-vacation. [Read More]

SEEING SHERLOCK'S SWITZERLAND
On this day in 1891, Sherlock Holmes plunged to his death over Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland, locked in the death-embrace of his fiendish arch-enemy Professor Moriarty. [Read More]

TAKING AN RV ON VACATION
Some voyagers are venturing further off the beaten path. Instead of renting a car, they rent a recreational vehicle. [Read More]

ESSENTIAL GREAT SMOKIES
The southern Appalachians rank among America's most ecologically diverse areas. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best places to explore these ancient mountains. [Read More]

HEADING TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND
Over the last 25 years, the shoe-shaped island situated at South Carolina's southeast tip has been transformed from a sleepy, secluded summer resort into a vibrant, year round destination. [Read More]

SELECTING A SUMMER CAMP
All across the U.S., millions of kids are anticipating the prospect of going to an overnight camp this summer. We offer some selection considerations. [Read More]

CAMPS FOR ADULTS
Our offspring don't have to have all the fun. More adults are finding a vacation at camp can be more rewarding than a week at the beach. [Read More]

EMBRACING CULTURE SHOCK
Often, the best journeys have a way of altering entrenched perspectives and introducing new ways of thinking about life.
[Read More]

DALI-ING ON THE COSTA BRAVA
"Esmerelda, rosada y azul;" green for the trees, pink for the rocks, blue for the sea. That discribes Spain's 137 mile Costa Brava, the fierce coast. [Read More]

A GUIDE TO REEL PLEASURES
Dropping a fishing line in exotic waters was once a pursuit limited to the wealthy and adventurous. No more. Here's a quick catalogue of a few of the world's best fishing spots. [Read More]

FISHING IN UNGAVA
The Ungava Peninsula defines the northeast edge of Canada's Hudson Bay. Despite the fact that they're teeming with giant brook trout, some Ungava rivers have never been fished. [Read More]

A KENAI ADVENTURE
One hour's drive south of Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula is a slightly abridged, user-friendly version of Alaska, packed with postcard panoramas. [Read More]

TOURING TOSCANA
Tuscany, the province in the northwest corner of Italy's boot, is a Mediterranean paradise. A combination of natural beauties and cultural bounties draws travelers from around the world. [Read More]

THE SIGHTS OF SIENA
Situated in Italy's central highlands, Siena is a modern city, but the roots of its charms are centuries deep.
[Read More]

A HIGH VIEW OF FLORENCE
Defined by the river along which it grew, Florence spawned a cultural renaissance. Its central core remains an inseme, a collection of structures that blend into a seamless whole. [Read More]

GETTING LOST IN LUCCA
Massive red-brick walls still completely surround the city of Lucca in western Tuscany. Built to repel invaders, they have also withstood the ravages of 20th-century tourism. [Read More]

SHAPING MARBLE IN PIETRASANTA
Since Roman times, the mountains of Tuscany have produced the world's purest marble. One town is known for shaping the stone, whether for fine art or adorning sky-scrapers. [Read More]

IN THE LAND OF THE JAINS
For a thousand years, Sravanabelgola, a small city is southern India has been a center of Jainism, a religion whose adherents believe in detachment from all earthly matters. [Read More]

CALIFORNIA SCREAMING
Amusement parks across America are debuting new attractions, but the emphasis seems to be as much dream and scream as theme. Consider these recent west coast additions. [Read More]

THE GREEN TORTOISE
Tired of the hectic pace and jack rabbit rush of travel? When you ride the Green Tortoise, getting there is more than half the fun. [Read More]

AULD GREY ST. ANDREWS
For anyone who's ever picked up a putter, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews is mecca, the place where the game is most revered, where it's been played for five centuries. [Read More]

PLAYING THE IRISH LINKS
Scotland may be the cradle of golf, but four Irish links courses rank among the world's top ten: Ballybunion, Portrush, Royal County Down, and Portmarnock. [Read More]

 

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