A lot happens in the backcountry during five days, particularly when you bring 8 people together to work on a trail crew.
I tried to capture much of it in a story that appeared last weekend in a story in The Boston Globe Travel section. And Dina Rudick, Globe photographer, has more in a series of videos and photo galleries you can find here.

Plenty didn't make it though, so here is another short video:

And a few snippets of dialogue. You imagine the context of the conversations:

"The whole sky just turns into a hotel ice machine. It's so bizarre."

---

"The Corral Bar is great, but you can get beat up. The Bottoms Up Brewery is safe, but you'll never drink, because the waitresses have amnesia."

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"It sits up on the bench. Follows that bench a long way."

---

"Every kind of aquatic species does the opposite of what you want 'em to do. If you want to flow out, they'd swim upstream."

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"When it's rainy, gray and crappy, that's when you say, 'man, this weather is Baltic'."

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"I guarantee if Dick Cheney were going in there fishing, they'd have that cleared out."

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"Gargoyles. Lightning in the form of the anarchy symbol. It just didn't look good."

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"There's a bar in Butte called the Pisser's Palace."

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"Heard something, and I thought it was the wind whistling through my rifle strap. And I look up, and there's about 1,000 sandhill cranes, struggling against the wind."

---

"I did shoot up a microwave with an AK-47 once."

---

"If you get hungry and eat a second one of these, you should be able to know the future or something. If you eat that much sodium."

James Bond's spy-gadget-equipped Aston Martin DB5, which first appeared
in the 1964 film "Goldfinger,'' on display at the International Spy Museum.

Orbitz is offering up to 30 percent off hotel rooms in a number of cities around the nation.
What does this mean? Maybe you want to get your Sean Connery on and go check out the International Spy Museum in Our Nation's Capital? You can score 30 percent off for stays of three nights. This translates into rates starting at $129/night (And this is no dive if TripAdvisor's reviews can be believed: They give it a 4 out of 5).
The only catch is that you have to book by Aug. 31, and your carriage turns back into a pumpkin Nov. 24. Worth a look.

They provide oxygen, reduce carbon dioxide, and help prevent erosion. They give us wood, paper, shade, shelter, and something pretty to look at. And we cut them down. Time to go out on a limb and learn some treeology, a word coined for the study of trees and how to enjoy them.
Tyler Arboretum in Media, Pa., is exhibiting one-of-a-kind tree houses designed and built by local artisans in a show called "Totally Terrific Treehouses." Architects, builders, students, and artists created 16 imaginative structures aimed at exploring those big green things that we most always take for granted.
There’s a metal house, a house with bells hanging through the roof that visitors are encouraged to ring, elevated boardwalks, a full-size replica of Henry David Thoreau’s cabin at Walden Pond, a treehouse shaped like an igloo, and a human-scale birdhouse.
What are you waiting for? Go climb a tree. The exhibit runs through Sept. 28.

We were in New York City a couple of weeks ago, visiting the new Sports Museum of America in advance of a story for this Sunday's Travel section comparing New York City and Los Angeles. The museum is a treasure trove of sports history, with memorabilia on loan from virtually every major sports hall of fame and governing body, but it also movingly tells of sports' impact on our culture and our heritage, with video clips such as Ted Williams at the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park, and Dick and Rick Hoyt at the Boston Marathon along the way. Ted Leshinski, the museum's public relations manager, was showing us around when we came upon a replica of the Statue of Liberty in the lobby. The thing was, Lady Liberty was in Red Sox robes. Leshinski explained that, in advance of the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night, statues representing all major-league teams had been placed around New York City. How did the Red Sox statue end up here, we wondered. Leshinski said he didn't know, then paused. "Actually, maybe Philip had something to do with it," he said of museum founder Philip Schwalb. "He's a Mets fan; I wouldn't be surprised if he got it placed here to tweak all of us Yankee fans who work here." When we spoke to Schwalb later, he called the presence of the Sox statue "a coincidence." He went on to say, "My issue with the Yankees frankly has been a distaste for the ownership. The Steinbrenner regime is really unappealing. I can't bring myself to root for them. I actually enjoy the Red Sox, and I was excited for them when they won." Hmm.... coincidence, eh, Mr. Schwalb? And that, in a nutshell, is what the Sports Museum of America is all about.

The veggie-oil-powered Big Green Bus continues its trek across America. I jumped on board for a few days at the start, and wrote a story for The Boston Globe.

The students onboard have been posting entries on their own blog. All are worth a read, including these:

Ro on biofuel.

John on New Orleans.

Andrew on biophilia.

And of course, Trey on music.

My apologies for getting Elysa Corin's name wrong in the article. Here are some of her reflections from a stop in her hometown.

No, this just isn't any old Hot Air Balloon Fest...this is the Hillsborough Balloon Festival and Fair! While the show-stoppers tend to be the gorgeous inflatables rising above the mountains, this event has so much to offer, it seems likely you won't be able to fit it all in. There will be fireworks, a 5K, carnival midway, live music and entertainment, tractor pulls, mud bogs, and artist's fair, despite the large balloons filling the skies.

So, you want to take a ride but are afraid...no problem. Alternative Number 1 is to try out Tethering. When a balloon tethers, it is secured to the earth so it will return to the spot from which it took off. Accompanied by the pilot, you will "go up" about 50 feet then come back to the ground. The cost is $10 per person to go up for approximately 5 minutes. Or you can choose Alternative Number 2: Night Glow. A Night Glow isn't a ride, but it is one heck of a show. Once fully inflated, the propane burner is adjusted so as to create a white flame that illuminates the balloon and makes it glow. The night glow is free too. See, no flying needed for full enjoyment.

The festival runs July 10-13 with the 2008 theme of "Celebrating Family & Friends"...easy to achieve in such atmosphere. Parking donation is $5 but general admission is free with extra fees charged for certain events [you can't ride in a balloon without a cool $175]. Leave Fifi at home as absolutely no pets of any kind are allowed on the fairgrounds. Balloon liftoffs and nightglow events are subject to weather conditions, and in the event of rain-out Saturday, fireworks will be rescheduled for Sunday with the festival remaining open until 10 PM.

It's not quite commonplace to celebrate a historic homestead that hasn't changed in over a century, but in Colebrook, N.H., you'll find a town doing just that. The Poore Farm Museum is a historic homestead or settlement that visually documents one family's life from the 1830s-1980s. The house, barns, and outbuildings are in original condition making a visit here is a step backward in time to what existed prior to rural electrification of the northern regions of New Hampshire.

This Sunday, July 6 marks the home's 14th Annual Open Barn & Celebration, commemorating its founder's 123d birthday. So of course, there will be free birthday cake and lemonade open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Traditional bluegrass will be performed outside by Gopher Broke beginning at 1 p.m. So pack a picnic, bring a blanket or chair, and celebrate the good ole days of yesteryear at the Poore Farm. Donations are requested at $8 per adult while children under 12 are free.

This summer, Iceland’s hot. Iceland Experience has a travel package timed to coincide with the July 11 Hollywood premiere of a movie starring Brendan Fraser based on Jules Verne’s novel, ‘‘Journey to the Center of the Earth.’’ Iceland Experience is quick to point out that while its fly-drive tour will not really take you to the center of the earth, it will bring you to the starting point for the adventure that took Verne’s travelers deep into the earth (Snaefellsjokull Glacier ). There are daily departures year-round. Starting at $909 per person, the package includes:

• Three nights’ lodging (with breakfast) in Reykjavik
• Four nights lodging (with breakfast) in the countryside
• Five-day vehicle rental with unlimited mileage

You may not see many celebrities, but you will see lots of geothermal activity. Stops include Sellfoss, in the center of hot springs and waterfalls; Gulfoss, Iceland’s most famous waterfall; and the Geysir, an erupting hot spring.

Besides celebrating a movie premiere, things are really hopping in Reykjavik. The Gay Pride Parade is Aug 7-10 ; Reykjavik Cultural Night is Aug. 23; and the Reykjavik Marathon also is Aug. 23. Tourists in the know will pick up a Reykjavik Tourist Card, which provides admission to all the thermal pools in the capital, city buses, the National Museum, the Reykjavik Zoo, and more. It comes in increments of 24, 48, or 72 hours and costs about $20-$39.

The first time I stayed at Colonial Gables (207-338-4000) in Belfast, Maine, I was 7 years old and my family was moving to town. This time, I’m approaching geezerhood — but the motel and cabin colony on the beach is looking better than ever, thanks to ongoing top-to-bottom renovations. My wife and I booked a small cabin with kitchenette (all new appliances) and a front porch overlooking the ocean for (drumroll) $70 a night in high season. We’d expected something seedy, but instead got a spacious room with new fixtures and a comfy queen bed. And it was hard to beat the view of Penobscot Bay that we enjoyed with breakfast on the porch. It could be a base for exploring anywhere in midcoast Maine from Boothbay to Bar Harbor.

Posted by David Lyon, Globe Correspondent

Poor little Augusta. Who really remembers that Augusta is Maine's capital city? Well, on the 4th of July, it's Augusta's time to shine with its Capital City Riverfront Fourth!

The day is packed with all-American fun so rise and shine, hit the road, and make accommodations to stay over - Augusta's got it going on. A pancake breakfast starts things off, followed by the annual parade at 11 a.m. From noon to 5 p.m., there is an Old Time Independence Day celebration at the Old Fort Western, including a Town Ball game, which is a 19th century version of baseball. For dinner it's a chicken BBQ, where lickin' yer fingers is required while you watch some great area bands perform live. The day is topped off by the Westside Waterfront Park for more vendors and live music, as you await the riverfront fireworks show, which begins about 9:15 p.m.

For more information call 207-626-2352.

East Lyme, Ct. gives you three good reasons to spend your long holiday weekend within its town lines. First and second, is the Niantic Lions Club 30th Annual Lobsterfest and Chicken BBQ which is held in the same location as the 48th Annual Niantic Outdoor Arts & Crafts show. Anyone cooking lobsters in mass quantities for nearly 3 decades is surely to have it down pat, and if you couple that with over 100 artists and crafters spread over vast green lawns, you've got the makings for a wonderful summer tradition. Both events will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 5-6, on the East Lyme Town Hall grounds.

Those same days, not far from all the lobster and art, the East Lyme Historical Society will host their Annual Flea Market, Crafts and Collectibles Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Thomas Lee House on West Main in Niantic. These kinds of markets where donations are collected randomly, sometimes provide the most rich shopping experiences. And all of the above benefits some of Niantic's best charitable organizations.

Weather looks good for Thursday July 3, in fact, it looks gruesome hot outside of Boston. Escape the triple-H threat and head to Gilford, N.H.'s Meadowbrook Farm for an outdoor concert of Kidz Bop. Yes, the same name from TV - the commercial that my kids try to act like they know, as they lip sync away to their favorite tunes [and they do a better job than Milli Vanili did too!]. Starting at 4 p.m., the Kidz Bop concert is a series of singalong collections that debuted in 2001. The genius behind the scenes knew that if he got kids singing versions of hit singles, and even cleaned up the language of some big hits, that parents would be all over buying the music for their kids. Kidz Bop collections have sold millions of records, topped the Billboard charts, and make every kid feel like they are in the thick of pop culture.

Tickets range in price from $19-$42 but there are no bad seats at Meadowbrook, which started holding concerts on the grass on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, in the middle of a tree farm. Today Meadowbrook is a big-time amphitheater rivaling the old Greatwoods [that doesn't date me does it?]. Anyway, give the night to the kids, put the twinkle of stardom in their eyes, and you can enjoy a family-friendly night outside under the stars of a N.H. Lakes Region sky.

Western Massachusetts is such a hotbed for fine artisans and varied crafters, and this time of year, the region is flooded with new talent, familiar faces, and much excitement. This weekend, July 4-5, is set for Great Barrington's Berkshires Arts Festival where over 175 juried artists gather to show and sell their wares.

The Festival is geared for families too with live demonstrations and workshops for both adults and children, great food, and plenty of live music. The opportunity to meet and speak with so many talented artists and craftspeople is an inspiring experience. The show is held under large outdoor tents, and in Ski Butternut's lodge. Held rain or shine, the festival is worth the drive out to the Berkshires.

Adults pay $10, seniors $9, and students $5. Children under 10 are free and a weekend pass is available for $13 if you plan on seeing all the festival has to offer - and it will take 2 days! Hours are Friday, July 4, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Want to stay a while? Visit the Berkshire Visitors Bureau for lodging information. And take a peek at last year's show here.

A lot of people will be bound for Cape Cod this summer, and parents in particular might be looking for an alternative to the Wii, the Xbox, and the television. Have you thought about getting the kids onto the Internet? Kidding, kidding. An antidote to all of the above would be fresh air and a new perspective on nature, and to that end, the Mass. Audubon Society has several kayaking programs for all ages and levels of ability. The Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary in the Barnstable village of Cummaquid has some 38 guided kayak trips scheduled this summer, and the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary has 23 trips planned along the Outer Cape.
For example, Long Pasture is hosting a trip tomorrow (that’s June 28) from 9 a.m. to noon that will traverse Cape Cod’s largest barrier beach and salt marsh system, Sandy Neck. Kayakers will explore the many tidal creeks and islands of Barnstable Harbor in search of shorebirds, osprey, horseshoe crabs, and other marsh inhabitants. They will also make a landing at the Sandy Neck barrier beach, a pristine, 6-mile stretch of coastline protected by the town of Barnstable. This trip is intended for those with previous kayaking experience, yet all experience levels are welcome. The cost is $35 for Mass. Audubon members, $40 for nonmembers, and kayaks, paddles, and life vests are provided. To register or for more information, call 508-362-7475. For the first time, the Long Pasture sanctuary will also offer trips this summer to the Herring River in West Harwich and the Bass River in Dennis.
Wellfleet Bay will offer nine twilight canoe paddles across a string of interconnected ponds in Wellfleet. For more complete immersion, sign up for Wellfleet Bay’s “Coastal Ecology by Kayak” program, a four-day course that provides training for shorebird identification and analysis of coastal botany. Two sessions will run: July 30-Aug. 2 and Aug. 13-16. For more information on these programs, go to the Long Pasture or Wellfleet Bay websites and click on “program catalog” on the left side of the page.

My son ate the last strawberry of 11 pounds this morning. I found myself with a free morning this week, and had the light bulb appear above my head reading, "Father's Day means strawberries in New Hampshire." That was always the notion in my childhood home. So off I went to my old faithful strawberry fields at Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, N.H.

Once I weighed in my re-usable tray, I was off to the first five rows, ran half way down, and carefully stepped into the middle of the row. Thirty minutes later, I paid for my berries and ate strawberry shortcake, fruit salads, and plain old snacking berries for 2 days, until my son had the last lonely one this morning.

Besides pick-your-own crops of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples and pumpkins, you'll find a bushel and a peck of everything grown in soil, on vines or up a tree inside Brookdale's. And to complement its foods, it's gift shop offers more well known names such as Stonewall Kitchen or Burt's Bees, as well as some unique items made in New Hampshire. Know someone interested in bird houses, iron garden sculptures or bulbs?...It might be a time for some pick-your-own-pleasures and very early holiday shopping at Brookdale.

Beyond the obvious splendor of what's in front of your eyes, you can take pleasure knowing food at Brookdale is delicious, nutritious, and safe. In today's world of genetically altered everything [Have you seen the size of today's children!?], Brookdale has received awards for staying true to clean water and air, healthy soil, sustainable forestry, improved habitat and open space, and a quality environment for all. It was also one of the first orchards in New Hampshire to adopt integrated pest management strategies to reduce pesticide use and enhance environmental quality. So breathe easy popping those strawberries!

Pick-Your-Own Strawberries at Brookdale is located just behind the Farm Stand on Rte 130 (Broad St) in Hollis, N.H. It is about an hour's drive from Boston, with no tough-to-decode directions. Those gorgeous plump berries come with a Pick-Your-Own Hours (Weather Permitting) schedule as well: Mon.- Fri. 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Sat. - Sun. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. I'm all out, so maybe I'll see you there!

The Big Green Bus still runs on diesel when needed, but the goal is getting around by burning old grease. On-board tanks hold more than 200 gallons. So much of the first day was spent making a strip mall crawl heading toward the New Hampshire coast to ask restaurants for leftover grease.

Bennet explains what they're looking for, then strikes out at McDonald's.

As more people convert diesel engines to run on grease, a booming mini-market has emerged. The team is aware of the competition and controversy, and is careful to ask managers in each restaurant if they have grease to spare. First, though, it's worth a quick look.

The Big Green Bus crew hit paydirt near midnight, after more fixes and grease-hunting, when the manager of a Chinese restaurant in Woburn let them siphon a hundred gallons or so from a dumpster out back.

Twelve hours late, the Big Green Bus finally rolls toward DC. More soon on whether the students make it to meet the senators.

Running a school bus on waste vegetable oil takes a bit of doing. The students are building on work from Big Green Bus trips each of the past three summers. This year's plan was to leave at 11 a.m. on the first day, with a goal to get to Washington D.C. to lobby senators and their staffs at noon the next day.

Not so fast.

First, the team spent an extra few hours in a Stratham, New Hampshire parking lot, where Trey Roy worked on some wiring.

And Bennet Meyers fixed some hoses.

Even a working bus would need a hundred gallons of old grease to get to DC. More on that soon.

If you find yourself on Cape Cod over Fourth of July week, you might want to take advantage of a couple of programs designed to lure people to Hyannis, which is the downtown village in the town of Barnstable and arguably the region’s central business district. On Thursday, July 3, the galleries and studios of Pearl Street (just a couple of blocks west of the major Main Street intersection with Center Street and Old Colony Road) will host “Artscape 1st Thursdays.” Studios include the Shirley Blair Flynn Center for the Creative Arts, the Guyer Barn, ArtSpace, Breakdown Lane, and a new cooperative gallery called The Cultured Pearl. Complimentary appetizers and beverages will be served, and attendees can receive a 20 percent discount on dinner at participating restaurants by getting their brochure stamped. Another Thursday evening staple, the TD Banknorth Summer Stroll, with entertainers livening the Main Street scene, begins the same night and runs from 6-9 p.m. The Amazing Richard, a magician, will perform near Palio’s Pizzeria at 435 Main Street. Inca Son, an Andean musician, will play across the way near Kandy Korner at 474 Main Street, and Rebecca Marona will draw caricatures and do free face-painting in front of R&S Avenue, a children’s boutique at 547 Main Street. Go to hyannismainstreet.com for more information on the 120 shops and 40 restaurants in the district.

A dozen students from Dartmouth College set out last week from New Hampshire on a 12,000-mile roadtrip around the United States. In a school bus. Powered by waste vegetable oil.

Why?

Andrew Zabel, a senior and director of this year's team, explains:

Check back in the coming days for updates from the road.

If your kids are into Bob the Builder and are mesmerized by construction vehicles and any type of building block, consider a trip to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach.

No, that's not a typo. The aquarium is undergoing a $25 million renovation, so the "Little Builders" exhibit (on loan from the wicked cool Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland) seems a perfect fit for a work in progress.

The exhibit, which runs through Sept. 14, is designed to be ultra hands-on, so you might find yourself creating houses using Duplo blocks and PVC pipes, climbing through four levels of a construction site, or transporting objects by turning the wheels of a hand-operated crane.

The aquarium has even added live animals to the mix -- animals that build a mean dam, nest, or reef of course -- including beavers, alligators, finches, and corals. This exhibit has enough to keep the adults interested, too. Just try to keep your hard hat on.

When you visit Cape Cod for that much-needed “staycation” this summer, you may grow tired of lolling on the beach and trolling for fried seafood. Why not break the monotony by making a break for Monomoy Island, where you can watch seals as they loll about and troll for food? For the 20th year, the Mass. Audubon Society’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is offering cruises to see the seals off the coast of Chatham. The seasonal cruises, which are guided by a naturalist, start Tuesday, June 17, and provide a close-up look at hundreds of gray seals. There are harbor seals around and about most of the time as well. These creatures can make the ordinary pastimes of resting and swimming very entertaining. The cruises are about 90 minutes long and will be held every Tuesday at 9 a.m. through Sept. 2, and every Sunday at 2 p.m. from July 6-Aug. 31. The cost is $40 for members of Mass. Audubon, $45 for nonmembers, and children 12 and under pay $5 less. Registration is required, and the trip are limited to 17 participants. Contact the wildlife sanctuary at 508-349-2615 or go here for more information.

Have you ever gotten up early to watch the sunrise? Let me rephrase that: Have you ever gotten up early to drive to the top of the highest peak in the Northeast to watch the sun come up over the Atlantic Ocean? The Mount Washington Auto Road is opening early on three Sundays this summer (June 29, Aug. 3, and Aug. 31) to allow drivers extra early access to the summit of Mount Washington. On June 29, the auto road will open at 3:30 a.m., on Aug. 3 it will open at 4 a.m., and on Aug. 31 it will open at 4:30 a.m. The regular rate applies ($20 per car and driver, $7 each additional adult, $5 for ages 5-12, and children under 4 free) as do certain vehicle restrictions. These rates include that famous bumper sticker and an audio tour on CD or cassette in English, French, or German. On a regular day, most vehicles take about 30 minutes to make the 7.6-mile ascent. Just don’t wait until the last minute to arrive. The popularity of last year’s sunrise drives showed that it may take as long as 30 minutes just to get through the Toll House at the mountain’s base. Someone once said, ‘‘We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise if we have waited in the darkness.’’ So what’s a little exhaust?

Over the next few weeks, Americans will become ever more familiar with Big Brown, a racehorse whose quest to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years will play out in the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in New York on June 7. Whether the big bay colt wins or not, New York City will keep the equine in the spotlight with “The Horse.” The exhibit, a comprehensive look at the enduring bond between horses and humanity, opened last Saturday at the American Museum of Natural History and will remain on view until Jan. 4 of next year. “Other than humans themselves, the horse is perhaps the single most important species in human history,” said Ellen V. Futter, president of the museum. “The story of how we have shaped horses and how horses have shaped us is profound and complex.” The exhibit explores early interactions between horses and humans and shows how horses have influenced major changes in warfare, trade, transportation, agriculture, sports, and many other facets of human life. Visitors are immediately captivated by a high-definition video projection of a thoroughbred moving across a giant screen. They also encounter equipment such as a full suit of armor from 15th-century Germany (above left) and a horse-drawn fire engine from the 19th century. Call 212-769-5100 or visit the museum website at amnh.org for more information.

Combine tickets to the Red Sox and a day of discount shopping and it's a perfect getaway for many. That's just what Boston Marriott Copley Place Hotel and Wrentham Village Premium Outlets are offering with their "Short Stop and Shop" Package.

Although they tout this for international visitors, it's available to all. Included are:
- three-night or four-night accommodations for two
- two tickets to Red Sox game
- round-trip transportation for two from the hotel to the outlets, for a day of shopping
- one $25 Chelsea Premium Outlets gift card
- one $5 VIP Chelsea Premium Outlets discount coupon book

Four-night package dates:
- July 5-9, with tickets on July 7 or 8 (Boston vs. Minnesota)
- July 25-29, with tickets on July 28 or 29 (Boston vs. Los Angeles)
- Aug. 31-Sept. 4, with one set of tickets on Sept.1, 2 or 3 (Boston vs. Baltimore)

Three-Night package dates:
- Aug.17-Aug. 20, ith baseball tickets on Aug. 17 (Boston vs. Toronto)

The four-night package price is $919; three-night $739 (including tax; excluding alcohol, parking, and gratuities). Availability is limited. For reservations, call 1-800-228-9290 and ask for promotional code ZJL.

The Student and Youth Travel Association (SYTA) has released these Top 10 rankings for US, North America, and International hot spots for student and youth travel from their annual member survey, which polls student and youth travel industry professionals on current and emerging trends:

Top 10 U.S. Destinations
1. Washington D.C.
2. New York City
3. Orlando
4. Chicago
5. Greater Boston
6. Historic Virginia
7. Southern California
8. Philadelphia Area
9. Baltimore/Annapolis
10. Hawaii

Top North America Destinations
1. Toronto
2. Montreal
3. Quebec City
4. Vancouver
5. Cancun & the Yucatan
6. Calgary
7. Edmonton
8. Ottawa
9. Oaxaca
10. Mexico City

Top 10 International Destinations
1. United Kingdom
2. France
3. Italy
4. Spain
5. Australia
6. Germany
7. Greece
8. Brazil
9. Peru
10. China

The LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples, Fla., bills itself as rivaling Miami’s South Beach in ambience, and it has landed on Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice list of golf resorts three years running. It offers a testing golf course along with a private white-sand beach resort, an elegant day spa, and fine seafood dining. And from May 26 through Sept. 30, the resort is offering its “Golf Away the Summer Days” unlimited play package to sweeten the deal. Rates start at $229 a night ($299 on weekend nights) and include accommodations, complimentary valet parking, resort fees, fitness center access, and unlimited golf for two. The Robert Cupp-designed, par-72 course is set up to offer a firm, fast playing surface similar to a true links layout, and 14 of the holes play around or over water. Rates do not include taxes and gratuities, and note that the golf course is closed on Mondays. For more information, call 800-237-6883 or visit laplayaresort.com.

How refreshing to find a hotel "deal" that is actually a bargain! Shell Vacations Hospitality is offering family-friendly summer deals at some of its resorts in the US and Canada. Included are a $15 gas card (OK, that's not even half a tank these days, but at least it's something), room rates ranging from $68-$189 for guests staying four nights or more, and a gift pack of beach games for the kids. Packages are valid from June 2 until Sept. 5 and can only be booked online through Shell's website. Shell's resorts include:
Peacock Suites, Anaheim
Orange Tree Golf Resort, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Legacy Golf Resort, Phoenix
Starr Pass Golf Suites, Tucson
Desert Rose Resort, Las Vegas
Carriage Ridge Resort, Horseshoe Valley, Ontario
Mountainside Lodge, Whistler, British Columbia
Waikiki Marina Resort, Oahu
Kauai Coast Resort, Kauai

This offer from Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel is pricey, but if a Sox fan is willing to pay $175,000 for a once-buried, torn Ortiz jersey, this might seem like a bargain.

Here's the deal: The Waterfront Luxury Suite Baseball Package costs $1,200.
It includes: two field box seats to a Sox game at Fenway (seats are six rows from the field, on the third base line,section 31, Box 78, Row D); overnight hotel accommodations on the evening of the game, in a new Waterfront Luxury Suite; breakfast for two the next morning at Oceana Restaurant; and complimentary overnight parking for one car.

Check the website for games dates (no Yankees games on the list).

You have to pay in full at time of booking and the fee is nonrefundable. Availability is limited, so if this would make the perfect Mother's or Father's Day gift, act now.

It's no wonder. Expedia is out with its eighth annual Vacation Deprivation Survey, and of the more than 1,600 Americans responding, nearly 30 percent say they are vacation deprived and 31 percent say they won't use all of their vacation time.

And Americans are woefully behind our counterparts abroad in receiving and taking time off. On average, workers in the States have 14 vacation days, 26 in Great Britain, 27 in Germany, 31 in Spain, and 37 in France.

Of those 14 days, the workaholics among us report that they will leave 3 vacation days unused.

We have heard great things about San Antonio, but it remains on the list of "places we'd really like to get to someday." The Alamo is a major lure, and the city also boasts a growing reputation for superb wine and cuisine. Plus there's the River Walk, with hotels, restaurants, shopping, and historic landmarks along two miles of paths that border the San Antonio River. The latest incentive -- for us, anyway -- is the local twilight golf program. Several area courses have joined forces to offer reduced greens fees in the afternoon and evening on some outstanding courses. An ambitious player might even squeeze in 36 holes in the p.m., since some of the specials begin at 1 o'clock, and darkness doesn't typically descend until 8:30 or so between May and July. Dozens of award-winning courses are offering specials that include carts, and there are even discounts off the reduced rates for golfers 55 and older. Courses range from historic municipal layouts to championship venues and world-class resorts. Pecan Valley Golf Club hosted the 1968 PGA Championship, won by Julius Boros by one shot over Arnold Palmer and Bob Charles, and the classic J. Press Maxwell design received a $5.5 million renovation 10 years ago (the 152-yard 3rd hole is pictured). Another highlight is the Westin LaCantera Resort, nestled in the Texas Hill Country just north of the city. Its two courses (the Resort and Palmer) offer gorgeous views of the city, waterfalls, and dramatic limestone outcroppings, and the Resort Course is the longtime host course for the PGA Tour's Valero Texas Open. Not to worry: there are five sets of tees, so you won't have to play it from the same lengths as Justin Leonard did when he took the title for the third time last fall. To find out more about golf around San Antonio, go here.

Is walking on Greenland’s ice cap before it melts on your life list? How about taking a musk oxen safari? Well, here’s an inconvenient truth for you: it’s not getting any colder so what are you waiting for? The Great Canadian Travel Co. has a Greenland Climate & Culture tour this summer to the country’s isolated Arctic high country. You’ll spend two nights at Hotel Umimmak in Kangerlussuaq, experience up close some of the area’s 5,000 musk oxen, stay five nights at the Hotel Arctic in Ilulissat, travel in a specially outfitted 4-wheel-drive vehicle to the ice cap, take a sled-dog tour, and take a full-day boat excursion to the Eqi glacier. Optional excursions include helicopter tours to Ilulissat glacier and a boat tour with evironmentalist David Hatch to the settlement of Ilimanaq. Departures, starting at $3,969 per person, are planned for Aug. 7 and Aug. 14.

If you collect places with interesting names (Truth or Consequences, N.M.; Tightsqueeze, Va.; Dunmovin, Calif. — you get the drift already) have I got the place for you: God’s Pocket, British Columbia. Sea Kayak Adventures has a sea kayak trip July 7-11 suitable for families with teens 13 and older. Stay in a rustic seven-room lodge on a remote uninhabited island in God’s Pocket Marine Provincial Park off the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Paddle by day among the network of waterways surrounding the islands that make up the park, hike into an island rainforest, spot whales, sea otters, and bald eagles, and unwind in the evening with a hot meal (featuring locally caught seafood) and a dip in the hot tub. The five-day tour is $1,699 per person and includes all kayaking gear and instruction, lodging, meals, and certified guides.

Dude, let me tell you. I dig tapas. And flan. The sherry thing I can take or leave, but the food is way cool (I love the olives and the squid -- who knew?). When I used to get sick, Mom used to make flan so... (OK, man, don't look at me like that. I bet you miss the PJs with the feet built in, too).
Anyway, it's that time of year again. Iberia Airlines says that it's planning to ratchet up service from Logan to Madrid (I'll say this once: Bullfights are NOT cool: Think "The Story of Ferdinand'' meets Jason) from three flights a week to seven, starting in mid-June.
Last May the airline launched service from Logan with five flights a week and then scaled back as the weather cooled. So just in time for the summer travel season, Iberia is once again increasing flights as a kind of rite of the season -- kind of like the crocuses or the swallows, or the girls with the big hair at Revere Beach.
Fernando Pollan of Iberia points out that the carrier will be running more flights this year than last and hopes to expand its Logan business year-round.
¡Qué guay!, yes?

Untours, based in Media, Pa., has been creating independent travel plans for visitors to Europe for more than 30 years. As they put it, they let you discover Europe on your own terms. They have helped tens of thousands of “Untourists” discover what it's like to live in a country instead of just traveling through it, through the rental of private apartments, cottages, or farmhouses combined with pre-trip planning services.
They are also acutely aware of how the low dollar and the high Euro will affect travel to Europe this year. The days of Europe being a cheap vacation for Americans are long gone. Here are some cost-saving tips that Untours offers in its newsletter, called the Eurozine:

Attention all slacker moms (and dads): now’s the time to start thinking about summer camp for your kids, in case you haven’t heard. Here’s an option: if the kids whine about adults not having to go to camp, why not take the bull by the horns and go with them? Hog Island Audubon Center in midcoast Maine has one-of-a-kind family camps. The center's Family Birding Adventure (June 29-July 5) focuses on bird-watching activities. Family Camp (July 6-11) is about all things outdoors, including locating Atlantic puffins, harbor seals, and bald eagle nests. The Labor Day Family Retreat (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) includes easy strolls on Hog Island, a boat cruise, and a lobster feast. Hog Island is a 330-acre island about four hours north of Boston and run by Maine Audubon, which supports wildlife conservation. And now, dear readers, a question (or three): Where do you send your kids to camp? Is it a sleep-away or day camp? Do you try different camps every year or stick with tried-and-true camps? This slacker mom wants to know.

Comair, an airline providing regional flights under the Delta Connection banner, is beefing up its summer service at Logan, Delta Air Lines said. The carrier will extend through Sept. 6 its once-daily Spring Break nonstop Saturday service between Boston and New Orleans, which originally was planned to run from Feb. 2 to April 26. On May 3 it will reintroduce once-daily weekend flights between Boston and Myrtle Beach, S.C., after having suspended that route in October. And it will resume once-daily summer service between Boston and Quebec City, Quebec, and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, between June 13 and Sept. 7. Big Sky Airlines, another Delta Connection carrier, ended its Quebec City route in December because unusually bad weather, disappointing revenue and record high fuel prices made many of the carrier's operations unsustainable. Additionally, Comair will add a third weekly flight between Boston and Bangor starting June 5.
Posted by Nicole C. Wong, Globe Staff

So, communing with nature sounds great to you -- in theory at least. But the allure of the great outdoors pales a bit when you find the accompanying living conditions a bit too ... outdoorsy, shall we say. Perhaps the latest iteration will make you a more enthusiastic outdoors enthusiast. It’s called “glamping,” or glamour camping, and it combines the best of both worlds for those so inclined: a wilderness camp setting with deluxe comforts, such as hot showers, daily maid service, plush-top king beds, triple-sheeted linens, and gourmet cuisine. These amenities are available in what is billed as California’s newest backcountry “tent hotel,” the Sequoia High Sierra Camp. The camp is perched at 8,200 feet in Giant Sequoia National Monument in Central California, about three hours north of Los Angeles. Guests can drive their own vehicle to a trailhead, then hike an easy, well-marked 1-mile trail to the camp, or hike a moderately strenuous 12-mile route which takes an average of 8 hours, starting at neighboring Sequoia National Park. Recreation options include scenic day hikes and abundant fly fishing, with a picnic lunch. Three California-style gourmet meals prepared by an on-site chef are included in the daily rates, which are $250 per person. Operating dates for the 2008 season are June 13-Oct. 5, weather permitting. Hey, even glamour campers must occasionally bow to the elements. For more information, go here or call 866-654-2877.

So you’re going on a trip and you have a million things to do before you leave. Get organized (or at least pretend you are) with a website a true list maker will love. The Universal Packing List reminds you what do before you leave (wash the dishes), what clothes and shoes to bring (don’t forget the flip-flops), basic documents you may need (visas, student ID cards), along with generic things all travelers should think about (photocopy your passport and recharge batteries). Plug in where you’re going and it will give you destination-specific vaccinations you should think about getting before your trip. Bringing kids? Staying in a hostel? Have you hired Sherpas? A reminder list tailored to your needs will be generated. The list isn’t exhaustive and chances are you will forget something anyway, but hey, a little preventive maintenance still goes a long way.

The SeaCoast Inn in Hyannis, Mass., was named the "best bargain in the world" in TripAdvisor's annual "Travelers' Choice Awards."

The inn, located on Cape Cod, is lauded by consumers posting on TripAdvisor as "fantastic," "immaculate," "comfortable," and "quiet," with a perfect location and friendly innkeepers. The inn is closed for the season, but rates on the inn's website are listed as $98-$148 summer, and $68-$108 spring and fall (higher for holiday weekends),

For the complete list of 325 hotels in all categories, visit TripAdvisor's website.

The winners were determined based on the popularity of a given hotel as measured by both the quantity and quality of postings on TripAdvisor and across the Web, along with traveler ratings of certain attributes such as cleanliness. (AP)

A New Addiction

At the far end of the St. Mary's County Fairgrounds in Leonardtown,
Md., past aisles of vendors hawking sweet potato fries, grilled
Maryland oysters, seafood chowder, and crab cake sandwiches, I found a
little shack selling only one thing: funnel cake.
I'm embarrassed to admit I had never eaten funnel cake before. In fact, I always thought
they were some kind of food in a funnel shape. Cindy Sirk, running the
show that morning at Job's Daughter's, set me straight about the shape
and the name, allowing me to come inside and watch her pour the batter
from a funnel (aha!) into a vat of hot oil.
"We've made funnel cake at the county fair for twenty-five years. We're
the only place that makes them from scratch. We don’t use a mix!”
I couldn’t decide if I wanted the traditional confectioner’s sugar
topping or the avant-garde cinnamon sugar, and was relieved when Sirk
offered to make it half and half. The result was sublime: hot, crunchy,
light, slightly oily (in a good way) and sweet. The pie-shaped
confection filled an eight-inch paper plate. I guessed there were at
least 20 grams of fat in a serving but I didn’t care — I ate the entire
thing. I’m not sure if it’s good to have discovered funnel cake or not,
as now I want to eat one every day.

(Posted by Necee Regis, Globe Correspondent)