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11/20/2008

10 great restaurants that reflect Houston's diverse dining scene

James Beard Foundation award-winner Irma's is downtown near the ballpark.
BILL ADDISON/Staff
James Beard Foundation award-winner Irma's is downtown near the ballpark.

A recent sprint through the gamut of Houston restaurants illuminated just how different its culinary canvas is from Dallas'.

Jerusalem's Tower of David shines with 'Night Spectacular'

Lights are seen </strong>as part of the show Night Spectacular at the Tower of David in Jerusalem's Old City.
BERNAT ARMANGUE/The Associated Press
Lights are seen as part of the show Night Spectacular at the Tower of David in Jerusalem's Old City.

The Tower of David ancient walls in Jerusalem come alive in the museum's latest exhibit, a nighttime sound and light show that takes its audience on a stirring open-air tour of Jerusalem's history.

Find unusual gifts at museum, zoo shops
With holiday shopping fast approaching, the thought of overflowing parking lots and wall-to-wall mall shoppers might have you feeling more Scrooge than Santa. The antidote may be as simple as a North Texas museum.

11/13/2008

50 holiday road trips in Texas and nearby

San Felipe de Neri parish church is aglow with luminarias during the Holiday Stroll in Old Town Albuquerque, N.M.
Old Town Albuquerque
San Felipe de Neri parish church is aglow with luminarias during the Holiday Stroll in Old Town Albuquerque, N.M.

Wherever you travel this holiday season, there's a way to celebrate. Check out this guide to events in Texas and its neighboring states.
55 daytrips from North Texas
Hill Country Travel guide
Gas price survival guide
More Holidays

11/19/2008

Fewer folks expected to travel over Thanksgiving
Holiday travel for Texans and other Americans will be down just over 1 percent this Thanksgiving, the first such drop in six years, AAA Texas predicted Tuesday.

11/18/2008

Bush trying again to stem holiday flight delays
Anticipating another holiday travel crunch, President Bush said on Tuesday that his administration was taking steps to prevent frustrating flight delays during the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.

11/16/2008

Disney World offers special on lodging
Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., has a special rate of $59 for rooms at some of its value resorts.

Adjustable ski boot for children comes to the U.S.
Attention, parents: The first children's adjustable ski boot has been launched in the U.S.

Texas & Neighbors: Renaissance Festival in Plantersville

Car-rental fees may be lower away from the airport
If you're planning a holiday vacation to a popular spot, you may be shocked by the high price of rental cars. One way to pay less is to rent at off-airport locations.

11/13/2008

Restful retreats in Texas and nearby

Take a much-needed timeout at Lakeway Resort in Austin.
Lakeway
Take a much-needed timeout at the Lakeway Resort in Austin.

For all the joys of the holidays, they're stressful, too. So much running and buying and cooking and partying and chattering and singing and overeating and over-everything. What you need most for the holidays may be some peace and quiet. Let us help with suggestions for places to go.

11/09/2008

In Iceland, the travel deals are so hot, they're cool
Standing on its unguarded edge, a man feels the spray and power of Dettifoss near Iceland's Arctic coast.
DAVE LEVINTHAL/DMN
Standing on its unguarded edge, a man feels the spray and power of Dettifoss near Iceland's Arctic coast.

"Our Loss – Your Gain ... Devaluation Is Silver Lining for Americans," entreated a page on the official Iceland tourism Web site. They aren't kidding.

11/13/2008

Planes likely to be stuffed with holiday travelers for Thanksgiving

Airline industry experts expect tplanes to be packed during the holiday travel season.
AP

Economic problems probably will reduce the number of people flying, but airlines have also cut capacity.
Find cheap flights from D/FW Airport, Love Field
D/FW Airport Guide
Blog: Airline Biz

Survey: 20 most popular vacations
The most popular vacation options, according to a survey conducted by Travel Leaders (formerly Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates):

Magazine makes a must-see list for kids
You've probably heard of 1,000 Places To See Before You Die , the best-selling travel book by Patricia Schultz. Travel + Leisure is offering a shorter list geared to pint-size travelers: 10 places to see before you're 10.

11/12/2008

15 travel deals on cruises, hotels and resorts
If you need a stress break, there's no need to drop big bucks. Hotels and travel suppliers are luring travelers with discounts on cruises, hotels and travel packages good through the fall and in some cases, even during the holidays. Here are 15 offerings.

11/02/2008

Colorado trails that local skiers love
A classic problem skiers and snowboarders face when visiting new resorts is determining which runs will offer the most fun.

11/11/2008

Hotel rooms vanishing quickly for Inauguration
Heading to the capital city to be part of history on Jan. 20? Good luck finding a room.

11/09/2008

Western ski resorts opening; look for bargains
Colorado's Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, Keystone and Wolf Creek ski resorts were scheduled to open this weekend, following in the footsteps of Arapahoe Basin and Loveland, which began limited operations in mid-October.

11/06/2008

Sparkling sands put Coronado among best U.S. beaches

Tourists look at seaweed on the rocky shore of Coronado Beach, which is also home to crabs, starfish, mussels, anemones and moon snails.
H.LORREN AU JR./Orange County Register
Tourists look at seaweed on the rocky shore of Coronado Beach, which is also home to crabs, starfish, mussels, anemones and moon snails.

Sometime around 2013, an oceanography professor at Florida International University will declare California's Coronado Beach the best sand strand in the United States. Coronado's pedigree is hard to beat in Southern California.

11/10/2008

Airline Biz blog: TSA says family security lines coming to all airports soon
The Transportation Security Administration says it will roll out its "family line" checkpoint concept to all its airports; it's in 48 right now, including Dallas Love Field.

11/09/2008

Keeping baggage fees in check
Baggage rules are changing. If there's anything you do not want to do, it's to take overweight or oversize luggage.

Marriott will honor cruise
Question: Last year, I earned enough Marriott loyalty points to score a cruise with Carnival for my 25th anniversary. I followed all of the rules. We booked a cabin, and a certificate was issued for the cruise.

Texas & Neighbors: Brenham poinsettia fest

Aircraft carrier museum in New York City reopens
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum reopened Saturday at Pier 86 in Manhattan after restoration and refurbishment.

Bag handle adapter reduces strain on shoulder

Burgers sweeping nation's capital
Never have so many mouthwatering hamburgers been found in such a variety of Washington-area dining venues. And never has there been more competition for diners' hearts and stomachs.

Deals can lift you and bottom line
A shaky economy can actually strengthen family bonds. When jobs and the stock market seem less than reliable, it can be a good time to turn to our loved ones for support, encouragement and fun.

11/06/2008

Caisson unit at San Antonio post gives final salute to fallen soldiers

The Fort Sam Houston caisson moves among cemetery headstones as it carries the flag-draped casket of a soldier killed in Iraq.
JERRY LARA/San Antonio Express-News
The Fort Sam Houston caisson moves among cemetery headstones as it carries the flag-draped casket of a soldier killed in Iraq.

Jonathan Ramirez never expected to end up on the back of a horse when he enlisted in the Army. But since March, that's where the paratrooper has been. He's part of the Caisson Section at San Antonio's Fort Sam Houston that performs a final tribute for men and women who have served their country. We remember them on Veterans Day, on Tuesday.

A traveler learns to stretch his money in Budapest

The River Empress sails past Budapest landmarks. Cruises, prepaid in dollars, can be a money saver.
Uniworld Cruises
The River Empress sails past Budapest landmarks. Cruises, prepaid in dollars, can be a money saver in this Hungarian city.

Being broke in Budapest does have an up side. For openers, it definitely makes your choices much less complicated and allows plenty of time to stop and smell the Hungarian goulash.

11/02/2008

Western ski resorts boast new upgrades

Gladed and bowl skiing appeals to powderhounds at Colorado's Winter Park Resort, which is opening a retail, rental, restaurant space.
Winter Park Resort
Gladed and bowl skiing appeals to powderhounds at Colorado's Winter Park Resort, which is opening a retail, rental, restaurant space.

Many Western ski resorts, in an upbeat contrast to the nation's sluggish economy, are ready to greet the 2008-09 season with an enticing array of new lifts, terrain, lodges, snowmaking and other upgrades.

10/30/2008

10 great ski resorts for deep powder
Grand Targhee, Wyo.
DAN LEETH/Special to DMN
Grand Targhee, Wyo. offers great powder.

Skiing down a powder slope is like floating through a medium that's neither liquid nor solid. No wonder at resorts such as Utah's Alta, columns of downhillers can be seen trudging beyond the lifts just for the opportunity to lay fresh tracks down pristine runs. Here's where to go to have that experience.

11/02/2008

Don't ski? Not a problem at these resorts
My wife, Linda, and I used to enjoy skiing together at resorts such as California's Northstar-at-Tahoe, Idaho's Sun Valley and British Columbia's Whistler. But a work-related knee injury ended her skiing.

For travelers, stronger dollar means better deals
If you're planning a trip to Canada, Mexico, Europe or just about anywhere else soon, the financial crisis has an upside: Your dollars will buy more than they have in a long while.

10/30/2008

5 most scenic ski resorts in the West

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and when it comes to ski areas, some find certain sights more to behold than others.
DAN LEETH/Special
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and when it comes to ski areas, some find certain sights more to behold than others.

An angler once admitted that he loved fly-fishing because trout live in beautiful places. That same eye-candy appeal applies to skiing and snowboarding. The lushest runs often descend to the loveliest locales. So what is the West's most gorgeous ski resort? It's a tough call.

11/03/2008

Ski deals available nearly everywhere
The good news for skiiers is that the penny pinching might not be so bad this year thanks to the creative measures ski resorts are taking to combat the slumping economy.

Thanksgiving vacation: No cooking required
Here are five places where you can forget the slicing and dicing as well as the pots and pans. You'll have more time to relax and enjoy your family.

11/02/2008

10 best eco-friendly places in America to visit
A baseball stadium, a birding center and a couple of skyscrapers are on Travel + Leisure magazine's list of 10 American green landmarks that deserve recognition for modern, sustainable design.

Parking lot near famous Las Vegas sign to increase safety, access
Las Vegas' famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada" sign at the southernmost end of the Las Vegas Strip is getting a parking lot, according to the Travel Weekly industry newspaper.

Web Buzz: AeroChannel unknots airport angst

Texas & Neighbors: Albuquerque opens ski museum

Events: cruise show, gourmet food in Paris program

On the Web: Find ideas for inexpensive trips

After relocation, London's provocative Saatchi Gallery opens with exhibit of Chinese modern art
Fans of modern art are flocking to a renovated building on London's King's Road after the reopening Oct. 9 of one of the United Kingdom's most celebrated and controversial contemporary galleries.

Tips for flying during holiday season
Believe it or not, it's time to start shopping for holiday flights. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

NASTAR ski program is an extra thrill for downhill racers
Two skiers approach the starting gate. The wife grabs the yellow lane on the right. Her husband goes for the green one to the left.

History and hospitality shine in Montgomery, Texas
MONTGOMERY, Texas – This community of 489 souls could be what some old-timers call a "poke-n-plumb" town: Poke your head out of the car, and you're plumb out of town.

For $100,000, a pass to heli-ski, snowboard in Canada

California longboard event features downhill racers on 14-foot skis
Picture racing down a slope at 40 mph balanced on 14-foot-long skis that can't turn, while holding a long pole between your legs as a brake.

Gotta-have-it gear for ski season
Every ski season brings the temptation of cool new gear for the slopes.

Heli-skiing is a grand adventure
For some well-heeled schussers, an annual heli-skiing trip is the norm. For the rest of us, such an outing – costing more than a grand a day with most outfitters – is the trip of a lifetime.

A variety of fun attractions awaits skiers who venture beyond slopes
The mountains beckon. Powder-packed trails swoop down hillsides, their delectable surfaces begging for turns. At the bases, resort communities serve up a smorgasbord of lodging, dining, sipping and shopping.

Snow country's boutique hotels: upscale on a small scale
Boutique hotels in snow country are drawing upscale skiers with innovative room designs, distinctive character, rooftop and outdoor hot tubs, and nearness to resort chairlifts.

Amtrak extends USA Rail Pass to U.S. residents
Amtrak's USA Rail Pass is now available for purchase in the U.S.

10/26/2008

Puerto Rico's Guajataca Beach is a scenic site to relax
QUEBRADILLAS, Puerto Rico – Across the blue water off Guajataca Beach, surfer after surfer anticipates the perfect wave and glides toward the exquisite sandy shore ringed by palm trees.

10/30/2008

Skiing: The best blue (intermediate) runs
Almost every year, the covers of major ski and snowboard magazines feature dynamic photos of an expert soaring off a cliff, plummeting down a steep slope, cavorting in hip-deep powder or performing some high-flying aerial stunt.

10/26/2008

A scenic lodge along Canada's Icefields Parkway
Icefields Parkway provides one of the most scenic drives in the world. The two-lane highway snakes between Lake Louise and Jasper, cutting through both Jasper and Banff national parks and paralleling the Continental Divide.

10/29/2008

Domestic air fares hit 13-year high, transportation officials say
The U.S. Department of Transportation said domestic fares averaged $352 in the second quarter, up 8.1 percent from the same period in 2007.

10/23/2008

Hunt for Halloween haunts in ghost-filled New Orleans

Antoine's Restaurant  has had dozens of spectral sightings in its 120-year history, including many in this hallway.
JOY TIPPING/Staff
Antoine's Restaurant has had dozens of spectral sightings in its 120-year history, including many in this hallway.

A parapsychologist who has spent years investigating New Orleans and other cities worldwide, calls it "the most haunted city in America, per square inch, no doubt. ... It's had so many fires, wars, diseases, it's really not all that surprising." Check out our haunted weekend guide to the Big Easy.

10/26/2008

Tulsa remains devoted to its enduring art deco buildings
Think art deco architecture, and what places pop into your head? New York. Miami Beach. Los Angeles. Tulsa. Yes, that's right. Tulsa.

10/29/2008

Airline Biz blog: Liquids ban may be lifted
The Transportation Security Administration is talking about lifting restrictions on liquids carried through airport security checkpoints in about a year.

10/26/2008

Texas & Neighbors: Birding fest in Harlingen

November travel calendar for the Southwest
Dates and sites may change. Before planning to attend an event, contact the chamber of commerce or tourist office to verify details.

Old ballplayers, managers enliven cruises
As Gen. Douglas MacArthur famously put it: "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."

A dozen friends bike four days along C&O Canal
CUMBERLAND, Md. – Can we all just get along?

10/23/2008

Australian meat pies selling like hotcakes for 70 years at Harry's

Jan Slavicek serves up a Tiger pie at Harry's Cafe de Wheels in Sydney.
ROB GRIFFITH/AP
Jan Slav