Southwest will no longer offer any nonstop service from New England to Philadephia when it ends its five daily nonstops from Boston on Feb. 11.

The carrier announced in July that it would halt its four nonstops to Philadelphia from both T.F. Green in Warwick, R.I., and Boston Manchester Airport in New Hampshire in January. A month later, Southwest noted on its flight schedules that it also would halt its Boston service in February.

Southwest spokeswoman Ashley Dillon said that the carrier made the decision because it decided that business was not robust enough to merit keeping the flights.

Southwest is in the process of reviewing its operations after acquiring AirTran last year. But Dillon said that this latest move had nothing to do with that but was part of a continuing review process that the carrier has embraced. In the past couple of years in reaction to higher fuel prices and the soft economy, Dillon said, the airline has taken to keeping tighter reins on flight schedules. In past years it revised service quarterly but now it makes changes as often as every month or two, adding and subtracting flights according to projected demand.

Southwest, which began service out of Logan in 2009, added the flights to Philadelphia in 2010. Going forward, it will offer nonstop service to six destinations -- Baltimore, Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Denver, and Phoenix -- with connecting flights to a number of other cities.

National Park Service says that all 397 national parks will offer free admission from Saturday, Jan. 14- Monday, Jan. 16 to mark Martin Luther King Day. In New England there are more than two dozen parks, with the bulk of them being in Massachusetts (15). On its website, the NPS maps out locations by state.

For those interested in King himself, BudgetTravel offers these suggestions:

Those wishing to learn more about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., can pay a visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta, Georgia, where both the home he was born in and his tomb with the Eternal Flame are on display. Follow in his footsteps along the National Historic Trail from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, now a designated historic byway. If you happen to be on the east coast, visit the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. and sit on the steps from which Dr. King delivered his famous "I Have A Dream" speech, or visit the newly opened Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in the National Mall. Events commemorating Dr. King's life will also take place at Fort Donelson National Battlefield in Tennessee, while the MLK Film Festival will be held at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington D.C. from January 14-16.

One-way fares for this one start at $39 from Boston's Logan International Airport for travel from Dec. 6-Feb. 15, and tickets must be purchased by midnight. Blackout dates are Dec. 16-Jan. 3 and all Fridays and Sundays, and discounts require a 7-day advance purchase. Here is the fine print.

This sale comes one day after Southwest-Airtran launched a four-day promotion, with similar restrictions -- most salient being the blackout days around the Christmas-New Year's holidays (although some with more flexible schedules might be able to work around Southwest-Airtran's Dec. 22-Jan. 3 dates).

As these sales are coming amid news of the American Airlines bankruptcy filing, smart shoppers will want to sniff around a little before buying as other big carriers, hoping prospective travelers will unfairly give American a wide berth, may be in the mood to aggressively match or beat prices.

Even before the Ben Stiller fantasy comedies about after-hours life in museums, a number of institutions hosted nights for children to tuck in next to a T-rex. And the programs, which run from just after the museum closes until just before it opens the next day, tend to be remarkably similar. Typically, children must be accompanied with an adult. Many programs only allow groups to sign up for overnights, but some just schedule dates and invite individual child-parent pairs to roll out a bag. There is a fee for the night, which covers specially-planned activities and at least one meal -- usually a continental breakfast but some places also serve dinner. Here is a list of some places locally and around the nation that offer sleepover programs:

NEW ENGLAND

Museum of Science in Boston.

The Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester

The Children's Museum in West Hartford, Conn.

The Children's Museum of New Hampshire in Dover

Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor

Battleship Cove in Fall River

New England Carousel Museum in Bristol, Conn.

AROUND THE US

American Museum of Natural History in New York City

Field Museum in Chicago

Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago

Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington

The Spy Museum in Washington

National Aquarium in Baltimore

Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh

Natural History Museum in Los Angeles

San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park

SeaWorld in San Diego

Seaworld in Orlando, Fla.

Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, Fla,

By Jan Shepherd, Globe Correspondent

If you've always wanted to see the famous Philip Johnson Glass House but lacked the time for a longer themed tour of the 47-acre property in New Canaan, Conn., there's an alternative this fall. Every Wednesday at 10 a.m. through Nov. 30, the National Historic Trust property offers "The Pure Glass House," a one-hour guided tour of the late modern architect's amazing all-glass home and furnishings where he lived from 1949 until his death in 2005. The iconic house and the other imaginative buildings designed by Johnson opened to the public in 2007. Tickets for the 1-hour tour are $30. The other themed tours of the property ($45-$450) also continue through Nov. 30. Advance reservations required for all tours. Tours begin and end at Philip Johnson Glass House Visitor Center, 199 Elm St., New Canaan, Conn. Telephone 203-594-9884, ext. 0.

Photo by Harf Zimmermann

By Patricia Harris & David Lyon, Globe Correspondents

While the recent soggy weather has us reaching for the Clorox products to banish mildew from the bathroom, our friend and neighbor Larry Millman is enjoying a kind of fungal apotheosis. Well known to hardcore local mycologists for his devotion to the lore of fungi, Millman has a new book out for the rest of us. Entitled Fascinating Fungi of New England (Kollath + Stensaas, www.kollathstensaas.com), it's a field guide to some familiar mushrooms (including many we see in the lawn) and many others we've never noticed. The book is written in non-technical language and meanders just far enough down the path of anecdote to remain truly engaging. Rick Kollath's color illustrations are frankly far better than photographs for diagnostic details. (We actually prefer illustrations to photographs in field guides.) While Millman is not going to let you know where his porcini patch is located (''somewhere between here and Alaska''), he does lay out the differences between the gourmet delight of the yellow morel (found April to October in apple orchards) and the rather dire consequences of dining on the false morel (damage to liver, kidneys, and red blood cells). Millman does address the issue of edibility, noting that his book is not an open-air menu and suggesting that you eat wild fungi at your own risk.

While portions of Vermont have been devastated by last weekend's brush with tropical storm Irene, the state is getting the word out that it is open for business on the heels of two of its busiest tourism seasons.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has launched a new Facebook page, dedicated to helping state business owners who depend on tourist dollars get the word out about what's open, what's closed, and how to get there. While portions of southern Vermont remain inaccessible due to massive road damage, much of the northern part of the state was spared the worst of Irene.

"We reached out to them on Monday and said tell us how you are doing," Betsy Bishop, the president of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce told WCAX. "Are you open? Are you flooded? What should visitors know? So we have reached out to them to sort of populate that information."

Vermont faces enormous challenges heading into the foliage season, as many roads that are popular driving routes like 100 and 4 remain badly damaged and probably will remain so well into the leaf-peeping period, leaving lodging and restaurant owners along such stretches with a serious hit to the wallet. That's an issue that spreads into neighboring New Hampshire, where two significant chunks of the "White Mountains Trail"  - a popular foliage itinerary - the Kancamagus Highway and a portion of Route 302, remain closed. However, attractions along that stretch of 302, including the Cog Railway and Bretton Woods, may still be accessed via alternate routes.See VisitNH.com for more information. 

But while Vermont and New Hampshire tourism bureaus and businesses have spent much of this week trying to relay to tourists what to expect, Irene has forced some event cancellations over the Labor Day weekend. Mount Snow, located in West Dover, Vt., was forced to cancel its annual brew fest this weekend, and as winter approaches, other resorts like Killington, which saw significant damage to various bases lodges, have major repairs and rebuilding to accomplish in time for ski season. Killington officials say they plan to open in time for the upcoming season.

Anyone travelling to Vermont is encouraged to stay up-to-date with the latest road conditions by calling 511, the state's travel information service. Meanwhile, Globe correspondents Patricia Harris and David Lyon just returned from a three-day trip to the Green Mountain State. Read their account here.

Tim Thomas was a big deal yesterday in his hometown of Flint, Mich., where the Bruins goalie had his day with the Stanley Cup. But in East Conway, N.H., Thomas is a really big deal. 

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

The inaugural Providence Food and Wine Festival Aug. 25-27 promises to be a belly buster of gastronomic proportions. Restaurants and chefs throughout the city are holding three days of nearly 30 tastings, events, and educational panels to showcase the city's culinary offerings. Opening night features "Red, White & Bleu, An American Wine Experience.'' Night owls need to check out the late-night venue program all three nights with free appetizers, drink, and music throughout the city from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dine Around Providence Aug. 27 lets guests, for $40 per person, trek through downtown and sample food at more than 30 eateries. Educational panels include those on understanding wine, eating locally, hosting dinners, wine pairing, and more. On opening night, charity dinners will be held around town, including at The Capital Grille, New Rivers, Gracie?s, Gallery Z, The Federal Hill House, and Centro to support a variety of Rhode Island charities. For exact times and ticket prices, visit the Providence Food and Wine Festival website or call 401-440-8916.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

For a small city, Providence does things big, including New England’s largest public film festival, running Aug. 9-14. The 15th annual “Flickers: Rhode Island International Film Festival,” is one of the few festivals worldwide that is a qualifier for the Academy Awards. Signature events this year include premiere screenings of more than 175 films, gala events, industry seminars, educational programs, and award ceremonies. One of the more interesting events this year is “Family Band: The Cowsills Story” on Aug. 10, a feature-length documentary chronicling the life of the Cowsills – a family band from Newport, R.I. – which rose to international fame in the 1960s, and inspired the hit TV show, “The Partridge Family.” After the screening, the Cowsills will give a reunion concert. Another is ScriptBiz.11 on Aug. 10, a one-day workshop outlining how to become a screenwriter. Attendees can also hit a number of premieres, including the US debut of three short films by Stephen Fry called “Capturing Santa,” “Bunce,” and “Car Park Babylon,” and the North American first peek at a short film by Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam called “The Wholly Family.” If you want to stick around for a spell, the Renaissance Providence Hotel is offering a weekend package Aug. 12-14 for $450, which includes the stay and festival passes for two, which include select movie screenings and access to the closing night filmmaker celebration.

By Katie Johnston Globe Staff

Southwest Airlines is eliminating service between Philadelphia and T.F. Green Airport near Providence and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in New Hampshire, a move the airline said is due to less demand for Philadelphia and not because it is focusing on Boston.

The cuts - four daily flights from each airport to Philadelphia - will take effect Jan. 8. The airline is also cutting its daily flight from T.F. Green to Phoenix.

Southwest will also reduce the number of flights from Philadelphia to Logan International Airport to six from eight daily in January, and to five a day in February.

"In Philly, we've just made a decision to reduce service because we just feel like those aircraft can perform better elsewhere," said Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz.

In short, the airline is having trouble filling planes. To attract more passengers, Southwest is offering $39 one-way sale fares on flights from Philadelphia to all three New England airports.

All together, the airline is cutting 12 nonstop routes in January, including four to Philadelphia, three to Boise, and three to Seattle/Tacoma.

These reductions reflect changes in Southwest fuel purchases that make it more expensive for the airline to fly those routes, said Michael Friedman, a senior equity analyst at Delaware Investments in Boston. And with legacy carriers cutting costs to compete with discount airlines, Southwest no longer dominates certain routes the way it used to.

"Markets which were at one time profitable are no longer profitable, and they're reallocating their resources to address the local markets," Friedman said.

Southwest is also adding two local routes in January, a daily flight from Manchester to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and a daily flight from T.F. Green to Denver. Between the cuts and the new service, Manchester is losing two Southwest flights a day, and Providence is losing one, Mainz said.

"It's not all doom and gloom," he said. "I certainly wouldn't take this as a sign of things to come that they're going to continue to lose service."

FULL ENTRY

By Ben Austin, Globe Correspondent

We practically invented the idea of historical landmarks and now we're going to get beat by Cincinnati?

The Newport mansions, a regional landmark for decades, is reaching out and asking for the support of fellow New Englanders. The mansions are currently neck-and-neck in a race with Cincinnati's Over The Rhine neighborhood in the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "This place matters" campaign. Designed to make sure that America's favorite landmarks get their due, the campaign has a grand prize of $25,000. As of this morning, our friends on New Engalnd's southern boarder were trailing by a mere 200 votes.

In other words, New England pride is at stake! The rest of America knows we can get behind our sports teams, but can we get behind one of our favorite landmarks? Here's the chance to prove we can. To vote for The Breakers, email word "yes" to info@newportmansions.org. Don't forget to include your local zip code as well. The deadline for voting is today, June 30, at 4:59 pm.

And just in case you feel like showing just how much New England price you have, Trudy Coxe, CEO of Newport mansions, has made a list of the other ways to show support, such as telling friends and family to vote, sending out text messages, and posting the campaign information on your Facebook page. Whatever you do, don't forget to send your vote. It's time to show that New England pride is on the rise.

Burlington, Vt. and Portland, Maine are among the 10 finalists in Outside Magazine's search for the "Best Town Ever," but both have a lot of work to do if a New England entry is to win the honor.

Both towns currently trail by hundreds of votes with voting closing on June 26. As of today, Burlington had only 274 votes while Portland had only 180. Tucson Ariz. leads the way with 1,861 votes.

By voting on Outside's Facebook page, fans of each town will be entered to win a five-day trip to the one of the 10 finalists. The winning town will be featured on the cover of the magazine's October issue and will have a dedicated segment about it on Outside Television.

By Kari Bodnarchuk, Globe Correspondent

Enter Hostelling International USA’s Bike the Cape contest and you and a friend or two may win a trip to explore the Cape and Islands by bike. Winners receive one free overnight stay at each of the region’s five hostels between June 17-24, a $300 food stipend per group, and ferry vouchers; hostels are located in Hyannis, Eastham, Truro, West Tisbury (Martha’s Vineyard), and near Surf Side Beach (Nantucket). Submit an application by June 1 with a brief video explaining why you want to bike the region and the route you plan to take. You must provide your own bike and gear.

617-718-7990, ext. 15, www.capecodhostels.org/whatsnew.php

Photo: National Geographic

By Kari Bodnarchuk, Globe Correspondent

Cape Cod LIFE, a lifestyle magazine covering the Cape and Islands, has released an app for iPad users, which is available for free through iTunes. You can download a digital version of each issue, the Cape Cod GARDENS and Cape Cod Art special sections, and bonus features such as videos, audio clips, photos, and recipes.

508-419-7381, www.capecodlife.com/ipad

By Kari Bodnarchuk, Globe Correspondent

One Paw at a Time, which offers ground-based pet transport service throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, now provides chauffeur service for dogs, cats, and other small animals to and from the Pet Airways terminal in Farmingdale, N.Y. (Long Island), about a six-hour drive from Boston. Pet Airways, a pet-only airline, puts animals in the main cabin on flights between nine cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver,
Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Los Angeles, Omaha, and Phoenix. Pets must be at least 8 weeks old to travel with Marshfield-based One Paw at a Time; rates depend on the passenger and its destination.

781-974-3889, www.onepawatatime.com; 888-738-2479, www.petairways.com

By Paul S. Makishima, Globe Staff

Massachusetts Port Authority says that it is moving ahead with the construction of a consolidated car rental center at Logan International Airport, which will reduce traffic congestion at the airport and make it easier for rental-car and public-transportation customers to get right to where they need to be at the terminals.

Yesterday, the Massport board approved a $300 million budget for the project, which is part of a $1 billion capital improvement plan the agency approved in February for work at Logan, the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field, and Worcester Regional Airport. The board is expected to meet next month and approve financing for the new center, which will include bonds as well as funds from car-rental fees.

Matthew Brelis, a Massport spokesman, said that the airport has already made some preliminary changes to clear the way for construction, which is slated to be completed in 2013.

The planned four-level garage and customer service building will be located in the southwest corner of the airport property and will bring together the nine car rental companies at Logan. They currently have separate offices near where the new structure will rise around Tomahawk Drive and Jeffries Street.

For visitors to Logan, the project will accomplish two things. First, consolidating all of the offices will allow Massport to reduce the shuttle buses needed from more than 100 to 28 since all car-rental customers will be going to the same place. That should improve traffic both around the airport generally as well as at curbside near the terminals. Finally, the project will also allow the Logan to open up both the arrival and departure roadways not just to car-rental shuttles but also to those coming from the MBTA Blue Line, a boon to public transportation customers. Currently, those passengers getting onto shuttles can only do so on the ground-level arrival roadway, forcing departure passengers to have to take stairs or an escalator up to the check-in desks.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

As associate artistic director of Chicago’s fabled Steppenwolf Theater Company from 2000-2005, Curt Columbus got to know the city pretty well. Columbus, artistic director of Providence’s Trinity Repertory Company since 2006, is showing off the theatrical city he knew in Trinity’s 2^nd annual Chicago Tour, May 12-16. During the trip, Columbus, and his partner, Nate Watson, will provide insider perspective of the city and exposure to some of its brightest theatrical stars.

The tour costs $2,600 per person and includes airfare from T.F. Green Airport in Warwick; four nights at Hotel Burnham, a four-star boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Chicago, with continental breakfast daily, welcome reception and three meals; tickets to “500 Clown Trapped,” “The Hot L Baltimore,” “There Is a Happiness That Morning,” “Stage Kiss,” and “Heartbreak House”;  discussions with artists, playwrights and directors; and all taxes, tips, admissions and service charges.

Proceeds from the tour benefit Trinity’s artistic and educational programming. For information, contact Frank Maher at 401-453-9276 or fmaher@trinityrep.com

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Want to till the soil, pick some fruit or spin a little wool this summer on vacation? Check out Farm Stay U.S., a new venture that ranks “haycation” destinations and lists Vermont as the nation’s number-three spot to get away from it all while lending an agricultural hand. The site lists states and the number of farm-vacation listings they have. Topping the list was Pennsylvania with 73, followed by California with 52 and Vermont at 45.

“Farm vacations benefit both guests and hosts, providing needed income to small family farms and memorable, fun experiences for guests,” says Scottie Jones, a farmer in Alsea, Oregon, a farmer and founder of Farm Stay U.S. “Increasingly, people are longing to eat and support the growing of truly fresh foods and teach their kids that eggs come from chickens, not cartons.”

Farm Stay U.S. was founded in June 2010 and, Jones says, has become the largest online source for farm vacations in America, expanding to 721 listings. The number of farms, ranches and vineyards has more than doubled from the original 320 listings in 46 states when the site launched. The site identifies vacation options ranging from rustic cabins to four-star lodging, where activities range from feeding animals and picking fruit to spinning wool, riding horses, skiing and yoga.

Rounding out the top-10 list, with number of farm-vacation offerings in each, are: Wyoming, 42; Virginia, 38; North Carolina, 34; Montana, 33; Colorado, 31; Oregon, 26; and New York, 25. The rest of New England’s numbers are: Massachusetts, 17; Maine, 15; New Hampshire and Connecticut, six each; and Rhode Island, five.

A few New England offerings: Colonial Hill Alpaca Farm in Petersham, Mass., Simmons Organic Farm in Middletown, R.I., 7C Herb Garden B&B in Preston, Conn., Troika Drafts in Hebron, Maine, and Amazing Planet in Williamsville, Vermont.

For more information and complete list of states, visit www.farmstayus.com

Travel and Leisure Magazine is still poring through data collected for its annual "America's Best Cities" survey, the latest of which was released last fall. This month, the magazine's web site rounds up the top pizza towns in the country based on reader votes. Let's just say the North End has some work to do.

Boston finished ninth out of the Top 20 cities that Travel and Leisure listed. Chicago and New York finished No. 1 and 2, respectively, followed by Providence, R.I. at No. 3, no doubt buoyed thanks to fine destinations such as Caserta Pizzeria and Al Forno.

Other cities that finished in front of Boston were Philadelphia, Savannah, Georgia, Portland, Ore., and - believe it or not - Salt Lake City. As if that weren't enough of a kick, the magazine notes that Boston's barbecue also comes in dead-last. Ouch.

Portland, Maine also finished in the running, at No. 17.

For our roundup of 10 of the best pizza spots in New England, click here.

By Kari Bodnarchuk, Globe Correspondent

Skiers and snowboarders can receive special discounts at nine Vermont resorts when they use the new Ski Vermont Insider mobile application. The free app lets you know when it is snowing at your favorite mountain, and offers discounts on skiing, lodging, and dining. Participants include Killington Resort, Mad River Glen, Mount Snow, Okemo Mountain Resort, Smugglers' Notch, Stowe Mountain Resort, Stratton Mountain Resort, Sugarbush Resort, and Suicide Six. You can get the application online, or download a mobile version for your Android smart phone through Android Market or by texting SkiVt to 25827; iPhone users stay tuned.

802-223-2439, www.skivermont.com

Photo credit: Ski Vermont

Icelandair holds The Last Bostonian Skating at the Community Ice Skating @ Kendall Square rink in Cambridge on March 5 to raise money for the Special Children Travel Fund and Children’s Hospital Boston. Five teams will compete in a series of airline-themed challenges that test endurance, speed, showmanship, and creativity, in a quest to win a trip to Iceland. They will race to see who can pack their luggage and deliver it to a flight attendant the fastest — on ice. Meanwhile, you and your friends get free admission and skate rentals (based on availability), and will be treated to family-friendly Icelandic music and entertainment. Donations welcome. The competition runs noon-3 p.m., but the rink is open to the public 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

617-492-0941, www.icelandair.us/lastbostonianskating

Graphic: Icelandair

The creators of "Granite State of Mind," a light-hearted video tribute to the state of New Hampshire, have come out with a sequel to the wildly-successful clip entitled "Plow Guy Boogaloo." The brainchild of New Hampshire comedy troupe Super Secret Project, the video hit YouTube last night and already has nearly 20,000 views. 

Super Secret Project's original tribute, inspired by rapper Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind," has racked up almost two million views since debuting last March. The sequel features a number of cameos from New Hampshire natives including comedians Mike O'Malley and Sarah Silverman, San Antonio Spurs forward Matt Bonner, and meterologist Al Kaprielian. 

"I just kind of sent out e-mails at will trying to get people on board," Super Secret Project member Christian Wisecarver told New Hampshire TV station WMUR. "With Sarah Silverman, she was a fan of the first one. I was a little apprehensive to even bother her with it, but she was like, 'Yeah, sure.'"

According to WMUR, the video, set to Jay-Z's "Run This Town," was still being shot as of yesterday morning. 

You can catch the original below.

Let's call it a fare war. Southwest launched a big sale a few days ago and yesterday, we pointed out that US Airways had jumped on. Now Smartertravel.com is reporting that American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, and United are now in too. To get discount fares on Southwest and US Airways you must purchase before Feb. 18 for travel through late May. Smartertravel suggests that the competitors will likely drop discounts around then too.

And here's a new one from Southwest: It's no secret that Boston-Baltimore is perhaps the most competitive route out of Logan. Southwest is putting Baltimore flights on sale with one-way prices starting at $59. Besides Logan, this deal also applies to T.F. Green outside Providence and to Manchester. To get discounted prices you must purchase before March 15 for travel March 3-May 25. But travel is limited to Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with a blackout day of April 26.

By Kari Bodnarchuk, Globe Correspondent

Whether you are stranded at Logan Airport or simply don’t feel like driving home from Boston after a late night, you can get a last-minute room at a bargain rate through a new mobile application, HotelTonight. Each day at noon, HotelTonight releases three featured hotel deals hip, elegant, basic — in each of six cities: Boston, New York, Washington, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Once you download the free app (available to iPod, iPhone, and iPad users) and register, you can look through details and photos of each featured hotel, and book a room as late as 2 a.m. One recent deal featured a Copley Square Hotel room for $144 (normally $229).
800-208-2949, www.hoteltonight.com

Photo: Copley Square Hotel