My pal Sam loves to talk about how much money he's saving by buying a Honda Civic hybrid. So I plan to turn my boy onto Cost2Drive, a new webapp that estimates the fuel cost of any given trip. This is the way it works:

Say, you're planning a drive to P-town this weekend and you live in JP. You go to the site; enter your starting point and destination, the year of your car, along with make and model.
Cost2Drive uses your car's MPG, gleaned from the EPA. They then grab the average price of gas in your area from Oil Price Information Service, and bang it all up against and the distance, which comes via Google map technology, to "galculate" your cost.
After plugging my data into Cost2Drive I learn that getting to P-town in my 1999 Subaru Forester (stop laughing; it's a cool ride) will set me back $15.04; Sam, on the other hand, will only have to pony up $8.60.
Obviously, this calculation isn't high-level math so you could easily do it yourself. But if your car's EPA isn't tattooed to your forearm and if you aren't fully conversant in the current average price of a gallon of petrol in your hood and you want to know whether it makes the most financial sense to drive, take the train or just Fung Wah (or just be green and stay home), this app is worth a try. Besides it's fun.
Thanks to Riverwired for pointing us to this one.

Vacations may be put on hold as Wall Street trembles and high gas prices keep consumers at home. But for those still looking to get away, "lean and green" may be the mantra.
That's one conclusion of a survey of more than 3,000 US travelers from TripAdvisor LLC of Newton, which operates such branded travel websites as airfarewatchdog.com and smartertravel.com.
Many of the survey's respondents said they plan to go hiking or engage in an outdoor activity in a national park, and 11 percent of respondents said they are "likely to participate in an extreme sports activity," up from 8 percent a year ago, TripAdvisor said.
(The photo above this story was taken from smartertravel.com, where people are invited to post pictures from their vacations. According to the website, this photo was taken by Heather Wade, and it shows Bryan Nay bungee-jumping off Bob's Peak in Queenstown, New Zealand.)
No word yet on how many folks qualify as "extreme and green" vacationers, but green thinking is now part of many travel plan decisions.
"Thirty-four percent of US respondents said they will visit an environmentally-friendly hotel or resort in the coming year," up from 30 percent in a previous survey, TripAdvisor said. "Thirty-two percent of those surveyed said they will be more environmentally conscious in their travel decisions this year than they were the year before. Last year, 26 percent said they would be more environmentally conscious."
TripAdvisor's press release included a statement from Michele Perry, a company vice president.
"An emerging trend," she said, "is travelers getting greener."
Posted by Chris Reidy, Globe Staff

Fall foliage is like New England weather—changing every minute, it seems. Last week we cruised the usually foliage-bright Maine coast and saw a lot of green, and little else. This weekend we made a foray through central New Hampshire into Vermont and got a preview of what’s headed our way. Along the upper Connecticut River Valley, it’s not just the Norway maples that have turned color. Red maples, alders, some birches and beeches, and even the occasional sugar maple have started to take on their fall hues. North and west of Lake Sunapee, where the nights have been as crisp as an early apple, about 10 percent of the trees have changed. That’s a long way from peak, but things are coloring up quickly.

Fans of walking vacations swear that this is they are the best way to view see the scenery and feel good while on vacation. Country Walkers has a six-day Vermont Fall Foliage walk amid the green hills and small villages of this gloriously green state. Among the highlights are a walk on Mount Mansfield, the states state’s highest peak; an exploration of the estate grounds of the von Trapp family, made famous by ‘‘The Sound of Music’’; and a visit to the shops, galleries, and restaurants of Stowe. The price of $2,198-$2,398 includes guides, transportation during the trip, accommodations that include a country inn and an alpine resort, and all meals except one lunch. There are several departure dates in September and October.

Posted By Richard C. Carpenter, Globe Correspondent

Francophiles need head northwest this weekend to find a festival celebrating French Canadian heritage. Festival LaMoelle will give its visitors the opportunities to explore French Canadian music, art, craft, literature, genealogy, cooking demos and tastings, history lessons, storytelling and more. The name comes from the French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, who named the center most river in Vermont, the Lamoille River.

The festival takes place in downtown Morrisville on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to dusk. This celebration is centered on family-friendly fun, as well as, free and open to all. Check the schedule of events to make sure you don't miss a thing.

Who says puppet shows are just for kids? Southern Vermont’s sixth annual Puppets in the Green Mountains Festival Sept. 12-21 features troupes from around the world with shows for all ages. Sandglass Theater co-directors Eric Bass and Ines Zeller invited fellow puppeteers from Sweden, Brazil, France, Quebec, Bulgaria, and Taiwan to perform in Putney, Brattleboro, and Bellows Falls. Sandglass, known as a mecca for creative puppetry in Putney, opens the festival Sept. 12 with the world premiere of “Ballad,'' an original puppet musical at the New England Youth Theatre in Brattleboro. (Performances repeated Sept. 20, 21). Geared to teens and adults, “Ballad” is set to the music of Keith Murphy of Nightingale. Brazil’s Pia Fraus troupe presents “Animals of Brazil,” a musical without words and 50 huge inflatable puppets in Brattleboro and Bellows Falls. One of the most unusual settings is an orchard in Putney where Quebec’s Les Sages Fous travel in a mythical ship among the trees in search of imaginary creatures. See www.puppetsinthegreenmountains.com for full schedule.
Tickets can be ordered at website or 802-251-5070; advance reservations recommended. Festival box office opens Aug. 28 at Latchis 4 (next to Latchis Theatre), 50 Main St., Brattleboro. Evening shows $16, seniors and students $14; family shows $8.

Posted by Jan Shepherd, Globe Correspondent

Everyone knows fall is New England's most spectacular season. Comfortable, sunny days, cool nights, and brilliant foliage to top it all off. Smugglers' Notch Resort in Vermont has put some thought into what's going to entice visitors and is offering several activity-based packages through Oct. 13 to let you take advantage of the season while you can without breaking the bank. Lodging includes a studio condominium or one-, two-, or three-bedroom condominium. You can also customize your own package; call 800-419-4615 for more information.

AutumnFest Family Package: Best for families with kids 5 and younger. Activities at the children's center abound. Families who book three nights get the fourth free. Three nights, $495-$927 (per accommodation for the entire length of stay).

Great Golf Escape: Includes a round of golf and one half-day in-resort golf cart rental. Three nights, $439-$469 (per person).

See Vermont and Beyond: The resort will drive you to Montreal for a day trip and local attractions, like the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory. Three nights, $309-$339 (per person).

Eco-adventure package: Includes a two-hour Segway rental, a guide canoe trip, 2-hour canoe or kayak rental, plus guided hikes. Three nights, $339-$369 (per person).

Creativity package: You get a 2.5-hour art workshop, 2-hour sculpting workshop, a Cabot Creamery welcome gift, and three breakfasts. Three nights, $309-$339 (per person).

Relaxation package: Two 50-minute massages, a yoga classs, a wine tasting at Boyden Valley Winery, a foot reflexology workshop, and a Pilates class. Three nights, $425-$455 (per person).

Adventure package: Full-day mountain-bike rental, 2-hour Segway rental, guided canoe trip, and a 2-hour canoe or kayak rental. Three nights, $369-$399 (per person).

My mother can barely stand to be in the same room as me after I cook with garlic. When a recipe calls for two cloves, I use eight. When the recipe calls for six cloves, I might throw in two whole bulbs. I love garlic and that's true for fresh herbs that bust with flavor. Apparently I am not alone. Bennington, Vt. holds its 13th Annual Southern Vermont Garlic and Herb festival August 30-31.

Never had garlic ice cream? How about garlic jelly? Come experience area restaurants as they rendezvous under one tent and get cooking with a large variety of garlic-inspired dishes from their respective menus. Garlic bulbs of every variety will be available to sample and purchase. Kids will be entertained with a slew of children's games and activities such as a hay maze, face painting, giant inflatables, and hair braiding. There's even garlic golf. Live music plays in the backdrop all festival long as well.

Dog lovers will go to great lengths to accommodate their pets on vacation. The Paw House Inn in West Rutland, Vt., knows this and has a formula down pat: pamper the pets and their owners will come.

The inn has been so successful that it is expanding: the Paw House Inn and Resort at Mount Snow in West Dover, Vt., opens Labor Day weekend. Everything about the Paw House is dog-centric: "tail-proofed" rooms, a fenced dog park, an agility course, a doggie daycare facility, an indoor playground for colder months, trainers, groomers, dog massage therapists, and a custom-built dog bed in every room. There's even a restaurant (for humans) called Fetch.

Nightly rates for two dogs and two humans are $185-$295, including breakfast. Due to the inn's insurance restrictions, children under 10 are generally not allowed, and dogs must be current on vaccinations.

Stowe, Vermont, is known for its gorgeous views and amazing skiing, but from June 13 through June 22 it'll become a foodie destination as well, as it hosts the Vermont Culinary Classic. The festival is packed with chef-hosted seminars, cheese crawls (think pub crawls without the beer and grease), cooking classics, farm tours, a pancake-eating contest, among other things -- luckily, you have 10 days in which to take it all in. The extravaganza is bookended by two must-attend events: The Bounty Festival on Saturday, June 14, and the 10th annual Stowe Wine & Food Classic, June 20-22. The Bounty Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stowe Mountain resort (admission is free). The Wine & Food classic is a benefit for Copley Hospital in New Hampshire, with a gala dinner, wine tasting, and silent auctions (ticket prices vary). For more information, visit vermontculinaryclassic.com, stowefoodandwine.com, or gostowe.com (or call 802-253-7321).
Posted by Lylah M. Alphonse, Globe Staff

Vermont’s capital city puts a green spin on this summer’s outdoor art project. “SculptCycle 2008” selected Vermont artists to create 25 original sculptures using discarded bicycles and parts as a way to show off the local talent and Montpelier. Placed on sidewalks, plazas, and storefronts all over downtown through Oct. 4, the sculptures are unveiled officially June 7 with a sculpture tour parade followed by an opening

Lochlin Smith & Ward Joyce's "Squashed Bikes" under construction

reception with music and food on the State House lawn. “SculptCycle” culminates with a live and silent/online auction to benefit the artists and the Montpelier Downtown Community Assn. Challenge yourself on foot or bike to find all 25 works without using a map. Visit www.sculptcycle.org for full calendar of related events, artists’ information, and a map.

By Jan Shepherd, Globe Correspondent

Excuse me while I try to overcome an onslaught of peristaltic contractions. I'm not a ride guy. To me, they are like mechanically induced food poisoning: headache, nausea, oy.
But I know some of you are. So our pals at Travel + Leisure (so what's up with the plus sign?) have compiled a list of the World's Top Ten. Now why do you care? Well because our own Six Flags New England in the lovely bedroom community of Agawam made the list with its Superman Ride of Steel. (The good folks at Boston.com have also compiled a list of the top ten in North America, including footage of what it's like on the Superman ride.)
If you want the details, read on. I think I need to lie down. Got any saltines?

FULL ENTRY

The rodeo, with its bronco-riding, calf-roping cowboys and cowgirls, seems about as quintessentially Western as you can get. But the Painted Pony Rodeo, the oldest weekly rodeo in the country, is actually just a few hours’ drive from Boston, in the Adirondacks’ Lake Luzerne.
But tomorrow, the Painted Pony Rodeo crosses into northern Vermont for a show in Highgate. This is professional rodeo, and the event should attract up to 100 men and women from as far away as Texas, who are earning professional points competing in events like bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, and cowgirls’ barrel racing, where riders steer their horses at a fast clip around a set of barrels.
There’s also an opening pageant, as well as rodeo clowns, and a trick roper who can do just about anything with a lasso. Wear your cowboy hat or come early: The first 100 kids children to arrive get a free cowboy hat.
Tickets for adults are $15, for children $10, and ages 5 and under free. Gates open at 4 p.m., and the show starts at 7, rain or shine.
Posted by Kathy Shorr, Globe Correspondent

April showers bring May flowers, of course, but up higher, the greenest of leaves. These shades inadequately captured by a point and shoot camera the other day on a drive from Amherst to Athol. The palette was deeper and sharper, crawling up into distant hills, when seen with the naked eye. Looks like a bumper crop coming this fall...

Once again it's Us vs. Them. Beantown vs. The Big Apple. Final score? 667-142. We lose. Say it ain't so, Papi.
Actually, this isn't about baseball but restrooms in public places as measured by Imodium's Bathroom Finder, an admittedly unscientific, incomplete -- and potentially inaccurate -- yet for our purposes authoritative and informational source of Where to Go in America. (Thanks to Consumerist.com for the tip.)
OK, the battle of Us vs. Them is obviously unfair, they being not only much bigger but so full of it.
But let's see how we stack up against a handful of cities of our approximate size. At 142 we absolutely rock next to El Paso, Texas (94) and Milwaukee (134).
Sadly, though, we compare unfavorably with Seattle (247 -- but all that coffee those people drink...), Denver (200 -- I'm sure it's somehow related to that Mile High thing), and Washington (220 -- perhaps the only American city that could probably outdo New York in per capita generation, given the unfair advantage bestowed by Capitol Hill as well as the White House).
So we end up someplace in the middle. At least this time there's no Curse of the Bambino. Besides, who could wait 86 years?

Yes, it's that time of year again. It's a no-brainer. Sneak a peek at the website and head to the participating shop nearest you, belly up to the counter and score a free cone. This being their 30th year, B&J's is offering up a few new flavors: Coconut Seven Layer Bar (coconut ice cream, fudge flakes, walnuts, graham cracker and butterscotch), Imagine Whirled Peace (caramel and sweet cream ice creams with fudge peace signs and toffee cookies), One Cheesecake Brownie (yes, cheesecake ice cream and brownie chunks), and Cake Batter.
OK, so it could be warmer outside. But we're talking free ice cream here.

The sap has been flowing in St. Albans, Vt., for about two months and buckets of the clear liquid drawn from maple trees have been turned into syrup inside steaming sugarhouses.

Now it’s time to celebrate with the 42d annual Vermont Maple Festival from Friday to Sunday.
Here by the shores of Lake Champlain, St. Albans taps its talent with hearty pancake breakfasts, cooking demonstrations, antiques, a maple exhibit hall, craft and specialty food shows, face painting, sugarhouse tours, a parade, a road race, and plenty of entertainment.
Stroll the streets. Rock, jazz, and country sounds flow from the outdoor Main Street Stage, the thoroughfare lined with purveyors of county fair cuisine. Relax a bit on the benches in Taylor Park under the maple trees.
On Saturday night, get those toes tapping during the two-hour Fiddlers’ Variety Show in the Bellows Free Academy auditorium.
For those who feel the need for a quick nibble on sweets, head to the Exhibit Hall off Fairfield Street. Inside, first sniff and then sample a seasonal cornucopia: maple cream doughnuts, maple syrup, maple fudge, and maple candy.
Sunday’s Grand Parade at 1 p.m. is straight down Main Street, and features marching bands, prancing horses, Vermont Maple King and Queen, shiny fire trucks, and homespun floats.
Many events are free; others require admission: pancake breakfast $6 adults, $3 children from 7-noon at City Elementary School, Bellows Street and fiddlers show 7 p.m. Saturday, with tickets $7.
Posted By Marty Basch, Globe Correspondent

We were recently in Vermont to celebrate my niece’s 17th birthday (you go, Sarah!!) and we made our traditional March visit to Bragg Farm on Route 14 in East Montpelier for sugar on snow, with the obligatory raised doughnut and pickle on the side. What that’s, you ask? Yeah, I said a pickle. You take the cup of fresh-made maple syrup, which is after all what you came here for, and drizzle it over the snow in the bowl. The warm syrup-and-snow combination becomes somewhat stringy, and the flavor of the syrup on the snow is so sweet that .... well, most people find that they need something to “cut” the incredibly sugary concoction. That’s where the doughnut and the pickle come in. Sounds weird, but it works – just don’t ask how they came up with the combination. You get a drink (coffee, juice, etc.), the syrup, a clump of snow, pickle, and doughnut for about $4, and you can enjoy the snack at one of the picnic tables set up inside. You might want to try a maple creemee (for you flatlanders, that’s a soft ice-cream cone) if the sugar on snow doesn’t entice you. Bragg Farm will be serving sugar on snow at least through the end of April, and this has been a record-setting year for snowfall in much of the state. The Bragg family has been producing maple syrup by traditional methods for five generations, and many retired tools of the trade are on display. The farm has a gift shop featuring (duh) their own syrup and other maple products, plus a wide selection of cheese and other food treats and gifts that just say “Vermont.” You can also watch the boiling-down process in the next room and ask questions of the people who are doing the work. FYI: it takes about 40 gallons of maple sap to produce a gallon of syrup, which receives one of four “grades” based on the color and thickness of the syrup. If you are in the Barre-Montpelier area (known up here as the Twin Cities), Bragg Farm is within a few miles of each metropolis. Call 800-376-5757 or go here for more information. You can also go to the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association website for a list of maple syrup makers throughout the state.

So you’ve read up on traveling to Vermont and you're ready to venture into the North Country before the snow melts. Quechee, Vt., is a beautiful area. But what is there to do with the kids? Where's a reasonable, pet-friendly place to stay? And what's going on there this weekend? You wish you had someone who knows the area to tailor your itinerary and plan your outings according to specific needs, right? Voilà! Give the Quechee Lakes Concierge a call. It’s a free service staffed by locals. They can help plan your visit, give you information on local events, and help you find family-friendly lodging and restaurants, babysitters, and even pet care. Call 800-701-3776 or send an e-mail to concierge@quecheelakes.com. The concierge is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Do you like to knit, meditate, AND ski? No problem. Highland Lodge in Greensboro, Vt., is hosting a Mindful Knitting Retreat March 13-16, where you will spend the weekend relaxing and exploring the parallels of knitting and meditation with Tara Jon Manning, author of ‘‘Mindful Knitting.’’ There will be daily sessions of instruction and knit time, yoga, afternoon tea, guided hikes, cross-country skiing, and massage. The retreat costs $635 (for a shared room) or $695 (for a single) and includes three nights’ lodging, meals, activities, a goody bag, and a copy of Manning's book. But before you relax, rush to register: space is limited and the retreat fills up fast.

“I’m tired from yesterday,” I overheard a skier say at Pico today. I looked at him, smiled and added, “And the day before, and the day before, and the day before that too.”

We were part way down a steep trail called KA (named after Pico’s first ski instructor Karl Acker) and had stopped to catch our breath. All the snow that fell last week — 27 inches, they say — lay in soft, puffy moguls beneath us. It was like skiing in Colorado without the hassle of air travel. Except I was so tired — my back in knots, my quads too sore to touch — that I probably should have stayed home. Not that I’m looking for sympathy (and my husband reminds me that I deserve none). But who can stay home when the skiing is this good?

Posted by Globe correspondent Peggy Shinn

FULL ENTRY

Magellan Press is out with a guide for hungry travelers: ''Where the Locals Eat: The 100 Best Restaurants in the Top 50 Cities.'' That's US cities, and Boston is included.

Entries include a range of food and prices. Boston restaurants include Brown Sugar Cafe for the best Thai and the Cask 'n Flagon for the best sports bar.

If you think the $11.95 price is too steep, particularly for a guide that includes only one New England city, check their website for more foodie news and blogs.

And if you have your own local winner, share your tip with us.

If you dream of dancing with the stars, this camp's for you.

July 20-25 and July 27-Aug. 1 Camps for Grownups, LTD. will hold its 10th annual Ballroom Vermont dance camp at the Killington Grand Resort in Killington, Vt.

Daily lessons in a variety of dances -- waltz, foxtrot, rumba, tango, and others -- are followed by practice review sessions.

All dancers are welcome, beginner to advance. The cost is $2,574 for couples, $1,599 for singles. Each session is limited to 50 couples.

Check the website for registration details.

Passengers flying out of Bradley International Airport will be able to fly directly to Memphis this summer.

Bradley and Northwest Airlines are announcing that daily nonstop seasonal service to Memphis International Airport will begin on June 16.

The chairman of the airport's board of governors says the value of this new service will be further multiplied because passengers can use it to connect to other flights offered by Northwest Airlines at Bradley.

Northwest says the daily flights to Memphis, complement daily service to Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Indianapolis and Amsterdam.

The service will be operated by Northwest Airlink partner Pinnacle Airlines using 50 seat jets. (AP)

It gets cold in Burlington. Wind whips off the lake. Not unlike Chicago. But prettier. Much.
And that's why y'all will be pleased to hear that AirTran plans to fly three daily nonstops between Burlington International and Baltimore/Washington International starting May 21. And more good news: Introductory one-way rates start as low as $59 if you book before March 17 and travel before June 12.
Now, I feel obliged to remind you that you won't be able to get there in time for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which wraps up on April 13 (a mere five days after Buddha's birthday). But not to worry. We'll save you some sushi and keep the sake warm. Kanpai.

JetBlue announced today that six of its winter snowbird routes will now be available throughout the year.

For New England, JetBlue will offer year-round service between the Orlando International Airport in Florida and both the Burlington International Airport in Vermont and the Portland International Jetport Airport in Maine.

Those service expansions will give New Englanders additional connecting-flight options for traveling south of the US border.

In March, JetBlue will introduce its first international service from Florida with nonstop service from Orlando to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Cancun, Mexico.

The carrier hopes to begin offering service from Orlando to Bogota later this year but is waiting approval from the US Department of Transportation.
Posted by Nicole C. Wong, Globe staff

A few weeks ago we wrote a Checking In review on Inn Victoria, a truly splendid B&B in Chester, Vermont. Seems we weren't the only ones who were impressed. Innkeepers/owners Jon and Julie Pierce (see photo) recently wrote to tell us that the inn placed #7 in the list of Top Ten Bed and Breakfast Inns in the US in the TripAdvisor Travelers Choice awards.

But any glow over their accomplishment that the Pierces enjoyed was short-lived. They happen to be British citizens. "We have been having some issues with our visa and the US Immigration services do not believe we are doing well enough to qualify for a visa renewal next year," Julie wrote to us in an email. "As we could find ourselves removed from the US next November, we have no choice but to cut our losses. We are considering relocating to Nova Scotia and buying a B&B there when we sell (because contrary to the USCIS belief we ARE great innkeepers!)."

They're also incredibly civic-minded folks who have contributed immeasurably to their local community. When they sell Inn Victoria and move on, New England's loss will be Canada's gain.

Posted by Patricia Harris and David Lyon, Globe Correspondents

A friend of mine once pointed out how vulnerable people seem to be when watching movies in an airplane. Big beefy guys tearing up during romantic comedies. Giddy laughter at suspect jokes. Something about sitting 35,000 feet above the earth, my friend suspects, changes how you see things.

So maybe it's not quite as dramatic to sit in a theater on the other side of the state, or then wander unfamiliar streets afterward, but something about that also makes you consider films differently. Far from home and stripped of the daily distractions of life's routines, you connect more directly to what is being said and shown. You incorporate more - if even only for a few moments - the film's ideas into your own.

That's what I found, anyway, on a recent roadtrip through western New England in search of independent cinemas. You can learn about the adventures of this one-person rolling film festival and the theaters where it played out this weekend in The Boston Globe and online at boston.com's travel site.

But you won't read about what happened on a dark and cold Thursday evening after I sat through a late-afternoon showing of "No Country for Old Men." The film features plenty of violence. Afterward, alone in streets and shops, I had the unsettling sensation of how committing a murder might feel. I wrote in vivid detail about that moment in an early draft of the cinema story. That scene, understandably, ended up on the editing room floor.

Big Sky Airlines, which flies to small and medium-size communities under the Delta Air Lines banner, is ending service to eight destinations on Boston routes after Jan. 7. Those cities are: Allentown, Pa.; Burlington, Vt.; Trenton; and Massena, Ogdensburg, Plattsburgh, Saranac Lake, and Watertown, N.Y. "Sustained unusually bad weather, disappointing revenue, and record high fuel prices have significantly disrupted their operations to the point that they are not sustainable," Delta said. (Nicole C. Wong, Globe business staff)

You're stuck in Rutland and it's Cold. And Dark. You're thinking about gnawing off your right paw (make that the left; you write with your right one).
The only thing that's getting you through is a dim and distant dream that some day when the sun returns you'll be able to snag a cheap JetBlue flight to see the A's in the East Bay. Well, today your dream has come true, and it didn't involve Publisher's Clearinghouse, dudes with video cameras, or a big fake check with your name misspelled in cursive.
The good folks at the Rutland Herald say that thanks to partnership agreements with Cape Air, folks in Rutland can book flights between there and the 15 domestic JetBlue destinations that connect with Cape Air at Logan.
So oil that glove and sing: "The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades....''

I know you're out there because I've seen you all the way down in Florida, those of you crazy enough to drive down the East Coast from New England to the Sunshine State. Yeah, I've done the deed too. The only way it can be kind of fun is if you stop and smell the exits. Road maps and highway signs tell only half the story, which is why you need to carry a copy of "Drive I-95," by Stan Posner and Sandra Phillips-Posner (Travelsmart, $23.95, with 72 full color maps. At bookstores or online, or call 888-GUIDE95). For some reason (maybe because the state is so darn long), Florida wasn't included in their exit-by-exit guide until the recently published fourth edition. So hooray for that!

Some of the invaluable information the Posners impart: detailed services at exits, radio stations, places police officers like to point their radar guns from, Internet availability, pet-friendly accommodations, travel trivia, and off-beat stops. Do you think you could find the Ava Gardner Museum (Exit 95, near Smithfield, N.C.) on your own?

Posted by Diane Daniel, Globe Correspondent

Cambridge had just enough snowfall to cover the irresponsible behavior of
certain dog-owning neighbors when we lit out for the territories, i.e.,
Vermont, for a quick escape on behalf of the Checking In column. But as we
pushed west, the accumulation began to mount. Passing Fitchburg, we saw
snowplow drifts (boding well for Wachusett Mountain) and by the time we
started up I-91 into Vermont, the roadside piles grew higher and higher.
When we parked at our inn in Chester, Vt., nearly a foot of fluffy stuff
covered the town's wide green.

Now we know (at least we've heard) that the ski mountains have been open since mid-November, but it's not really winter until the snow's deep enough for snowshoes and cross-country skis. Sure enough, 10 minutes away from the inn, Grafton Ponds opened 15 km of groomed trails for classic Nordic and skate skiing on Saturday and turned showshoers loose on their seemingly endless fields of fresh powder.

Snow is here! (And, as our innkeeper said, rubbing her hands together,
"There's more coming on Sunday.")

Posted by David Lyon, Globe Correspondent

We had the opportunity to visit Hildene, the home of Robert Todd Lincoln and his family, last summer. A trip to the Manchester, Vt., estate in December provides a couple of potential added benefits: seasonal cheer and a respite from the frenzy that accompanies the holiday of today. Florists and home decorators from across the region contribute to making Hildene a Victorian Christmas showplace. The simple elegance of the period enhances the 24-room mansion and gives guests the chance to ponder whether we have indeed improved on the ways of 100 years ago. Candles, pine garlands, wreaths, and winterberries provide the visuals, and on the evenings of Dec. 28-29 from 4 to 6:30, holiday music will accompany guests as they tour the home and grounds. It's no wonder Mr. Lincoln was reluctant to leave Hildene in the winter months, even for warmer climes. http://hildene.org

New England is home to three of TripAdvisor’s "Top Ten Overlooked (and Under Budget) Ski Destinations in the US"
Editors at the Needham-based travel company rated ski resorts that featured mountains with a 2,000 foot vertical drop on average that offered less-expensive lift tickets and more affordable lodging and night life than many of the country's more celebrated resorts.
Jay Peak in Westfield, Vt., (adult ticket, $62) came out king of the mountain. "Located in a snow belt that generates a remarkable 350 inches of snow on average annually, Jay Peak has developed a reputation for its excellent powder skiing with adventurous off-piste opportunities, and with less traffic than Vermont's trendier ski spots," the report said.
Taking fourth place is Cannon Mountain, in Franconia, N.H. ($54). "Experience wonderful skiing and a bit of history on Taft Slalom, one of the first ski trails cut in the US."
Saddleback Mountain, in Rangeley, Maine ($40), came in at No . 9. "After undergoing renovations in the past few years, Saddleback now boasts great skiing along with a new ski lift, additional ski terrain and a new lodge at an elevation of 2,460 feet -- the second highest in New England."
The rest of the best:
2. Solitude Mountain, Solitude, Utah, $55
3. Schweitzer Mountain, Sandpoint, Idaho, $55
5. Durango Mountain, Durango, Colo., $60
6. Taos Ski Valley, Taos, N.M., $63
7. Diamond Peak, Incline Village, Nev., $48
8. Big Mountain, Whitefish, Mont., $56
10. Gore Mountain, North Creek, N.Y., $115 (2 day pass)

Posted by Diane Daniel, Globe Correspondent

I was rushing through Logan last week when I picked up the latest issue of
Travel New England. Located around the airport and in South Station, the
newspaper is free and geared toward travel agents. However, travelers would
be wise to read it next time they're killing time at Logan. In their
"Airports New England" column, they talk about new carriers and/or flights
going in and out of the region. Several years back they mentioned that TNT
Vacations in Boston was starting a new charter flight to Barbados. Their
first flight out was over Christmas week, when prices are usually
exorbitant, to gouge that family traveler who only has two weeks off from
school during the winter months. The TNT charter price was less than half
the price of American Airlines and my family had a great vacation on the
island. Now I read that starting Dec. 17, Skybus Airlines will begin
nonstop service between Portsmouth, N.H., and two Florida
airports -- St. Augustine and Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda. Skybus,
you may recall, was offering incredibly cheap tickets to Columbus, Ohio,
over the summer, starting at $25 each way. They charge extra for
everything, including luggage, but it's still very affordable; certainly
worth a look for people wanting to leave the chill of winter behind.

Posted by Steven Jermanok, Globe correspondent

I’m always amazed at the number of people who’ve never heard of Roomsaver.com or its affiliate publication Traveler Discount
Guide. The guide -- which seem to be available for free at pretty much every interstate rest stop and state welcome center -- and its accompanying website offer coupons for discounts of up to $20 to $50 off regular room rates at more than 4,000 hotels in 48 states.
This is an example of the kinds of savings we’re talking about. Say you’re headed to Portland, Maine. On a late October Friday, I called a Holiday Inn on Riverside Street and was told the lowest price for a room for two for Saturday night was $109.95. Roomsaver’s coupon rate was $84.95.
Two caveats: Most of the offerings appear to be for midprice major chains on or near highways. So you aren’t going to score a deal for The Pastel Floral Print Chenille Bedspread Inn, or, say, The Ritz or Taj. And, these are pretty much walk-in rates (which means you can’t make a reservation using the discount and if the hotel is booked you’re out of luck). But you might be surprised at the number and variety of offerings. If you haven’t looked, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Admit it. Your nerves take a beating when you live in Boston. To fight the stress levels, a personal suggestion is to chill out occasionally at the Kripalu Yoga Retreat in the Berkshires, located on the Stockbridge line right across from Tanglewood. I’ve been going once or twice a year for many years and while the prices have gone up (not on a par with nearby Canyon Ranch, but certainly more than they used to be), the quality has gone up as well.
I stopped by for a recent massage at the site’s health center (you don’t have to stay at Kripalu to book their services) and was immediately transported by a masseur named Umesh, a true character who has also run Kripalu’s off-and-on, chartered hikes to the Himalayas. We discovered that we were born five days apart, but the main thing was that I left with a refreshed outlook, ready to tackle the city again.
Oh, and the food is great there, too. And they even serve coffee in the cafe. That’s a long way from when I first went to Kripalu when they were based in rural Pennsylvania 25 years ago and the men had to stay in a huge barn with an outhouse, and no caffeine was allowed.
File under: Yoga retreats adapt to the times.

Posted by Steve Morse, Globe correspondent

This month's Conde Nast Traveler touts its 20th annual Readers' Choice Awards, The Top 100.
Twelve New England gems made the list of Top 100 Mainland US Hotels: The Charlotte Inn on Martha's Vineyard (12), Pitcher Inn in Warren, Vt. (23), Blantyre in Lenox (26), Boston's Four Seasons (35), White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine (39), Twin Farms in Barnard, Vt. (44), Nantucket's White Elephant (54), Boston's Fifteen Beacon (62), Taj Boston (65), Boston's Hotel Commonwealth (73), Wequassett Resort and Golf Club on Cape Cod (81), and The Wauwinet on Nantucket (88).
If your favorite place to stay in New England didn't make the cut, think about voting next year.
And be sure to give Boston the nod for top US city. This year it made the cut, but it was No. 10 out of 10.
The winner among US cities: San Francisco.

I usually spend Thanksgiving with my husband’s family (who are scattered across Massachusetts and Rhode Island) but last year, all his siblings spent the holiday having dinner with various inlaws. So my husband and kids took the holiday ‘‘off’’ and stayed at the Eagle Mountain House in Jackson, N.H. They offer a nice, low-key brunch buffet on Thanksgiving. We took a long walk, drank hot chocolate by the fire, played ping pong in the game room, and vegged out in the Jacuzzi. It was one of the most relaxing holidays I’ve ever had.
This year, The Balsams in Dixville Notch, N.H., is open for Thanksgiving (in the past it has closed between Columbus Day and the Christmas holidays). There will be live entertainment, movie showings, and a Thanksgiving feast. Doubles start at $258 (including Thanksgiving dinner) and kids under 10 stay free. Sure, extended family is wonderful and I’m grateful for each and every one of them. But sometimes wonderful is someone making your bed and cooking your dinner.

Tooling around the Hudson Valley last week I stopped where tables flanked the road at what I learned was a weekly flea market. I didn't part with any hard earned cash but I discovered I was in the hamlet of

High Falls, New York (pop. 627) which is really no more than a collection of colorful, quirky, one-of-a-kind restaurants, craft stores, antique shops and a toy store clustered along a bend in the road on route 213.

This is how I ended up wandering into High Falls Mercantile, a country-cozy home store with needlepoint rugs, framed botanical prints, lamps, beeswax candles, luscious Belgian and English linens, commercial and handmade ceramics. I was particularly drawn to Obi Pottery, a
collection of wheel-thrown and hand-built stoneware and porcelain by local artist David Levy. (photo) I didn't stop for lunch but hope to get back before the leaves have completely left the trees.

Posted by Necee Regis, Globe correspondent