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Reporter’s Notebook - Obama, a Little-Seen Visitor, Is the Talk of Martha’s Vineyard - NYTimes.com

Reporter’s Notebook

The Obamas Relax on Martha’s Vineyard

By JEFF ZELENY

Published: August 25, 2009

OAK BLUFFS, Mass. — President Obama is now three days into his Martha’s Vineyard vacation, a visit that has caused a considerable stir on this tiny island. Yet if it wasn’t for the outbreak of commercialism — T-shirts, cocktails and even dog treats bearing the Obama name — it would be difficult to know the first family was even here.

via www.nytimes.com

Museyon Guides Match Travel with Film, Music and Art - 7/9/2009 1:49:00 PM - Publishers Weekly

Museyon Guides Match Travel with Film, Music and Art.

Museyon Guides Match Travel with Film, Music and Art
New travel series emulates Japanese guidebooks
By Lynn Andriani -- Publishers Weekly, 7/9/2009 1:49:00 PM

Museyon Guides, a new series of travel books, frame tourist traps and hidden neighborhoods alike through the lens of movies, art and music. West Berlin’s Zoologischer Garten train station is the setting for a scene in The Bourne Supremacy; a sequence in Traffic captures Mexico City’s Zócalo. The travel publishing field may be jam-packed with expert guides, but Museyon is attempting to differentiate itself by emulating Japanese guidebooks, which editor-in-chief Anne Ishii says are “more delicate, more tactile and cover more range” than American guidebooks. The books, $15.95 paperbacks, feature full-color photography throughout, and are written by local experts who also have extensive artistic knowledge.

36 Hours in Research Triangle, N.C. - NYTimes.com

36 Hours in Research Triangle, N.C. - NYTimes.com.

North America > United States > North Carolina

36 Hours in Research Triangle, N.C.
By By J. J. GOODE, Published: June 14, 2009

TELL North Carolinians you’re heading to the Research Triangle, and they’ll probably ask “Which school are you visiting?” Yet the close-knit cities of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill are marked by more than college bars and hoops fans. Visitors not bound for Duke, the University of North Carolina or North Carolina State come to see buzz-worthy bands, dine on food from farm-worshiping chefs and explore outdoor art. From its biscuits to its boutiques, the Triangle occupies a happy place between slow-paced Southern charm and urban cool.

Hawaii's Official Tourism Site -- Barack Obama's Hawaii

Hawaii's Official Tourism Site -- Barack Obama's Hawaii.

BARACK OBAMA’S HAWAII

“You can’t really understand Barack until you understand Hawaii.” ~ Michelle Obama

Hawaii will always be home for President-elect Barack Obama. There can be no doubt that growing up in this idyllic, multicultural setting was a major influence in shaping who Obama is today.

KAMAAINA: LOCAL AT HEART

The Hawaiian word kamaaina means someone who is native born or who has lived in Hawaii for some time. When Barack Obama returns to Hawaii with his family, he comes as a kamaaina, a local who knows where to go, where to eat and what to do. Here are a few places Obama has visited on his trips back to Oahu...

dBusinessNews :: A North Carolina Frasier Fir Tree Selected for the White House Christmas

dBusinessNews :: A North Carolina Frasier Fir Tree Selected for the White House Christmas.

A North Carolina Frasier Fir Tree Selected for the White House Christmas

Triangle - For the 11th year, a Christmas tree from North Carolina’s High Country is White House-bound. The state has provided the White House tree nearly twice as many times as any other state. Experience the magic by choosing a North Carolina Christmas tree for your house.

Raleigh - The 2008 White House Christmas tree has been chosen from the tiny town of Crumpler, N.C. Jesse Davis of River Ridge Tree Farm grew the tree in Ashe County’s Blue Ridge Mountains just a few hours drive north of Charlotte or west of Raleigh.

The Frasier Fir tree will be cut on Saturday, November 29 and travel to the White House; the next day, it will be placed in the Blue Room. This is North Carolina's 11th year to supply a White House tree and the second consecutive year an Ashe County tree has been selected. ((MEDIA ARE INVITED TO THE TREE CUTTING. DETAILS FORTHCOMING.))

In August, River Ridge Tree Farms won the right to supply the White House tree by being named 2008 Grand Champion at the National Christmas Tree Association meeting in Des Moines, Iowa. Their farms are located throughout the northwest region of North Carolina and southwest Virginia. www.riverridgetreefarms.com

36 Hours in San Diego - NYTimes.com

36 Hours in San Diego - NYTimes.com.

North America > United States > California > San Diego
36 Hours in San Diego
By BROOKS BARNES, Published: September 7, 2008

IF San Diego feels half empty, that's because it is. At any given time, swarms of residents have decamped a few miles south to Mexico or a few miles north to upscale resort towns. Also, the Navy is the area's largest employer, so a sizable chunk is presumably floating around on aircraft carriers somewhere. Is it any wonder, then, that the town leans so heavily on big tourist attractions (Shamu, the zoo)?

A deeper look, however, will reveal more personality than you think. A necklace of quirky, sun-kissed neighborhoods rings downtown, from surfer hangouts like Pacific Beach to gentrifying neighborhoods like University Heights. Restaurants are flourishing, too. There is even an emphasis on preserving history, which, for Southern California, is a headline in itself.

US National Arboretum Fall Foliage Photo Gallery

US National Arboretum Fall Foliage Photo Gallery.

Arboretum Plant Photo Gallery
Fall Foliage

If you are looking for your fall foliage fix, you don't have to go very far. In fact, stunning fall foliage is closer than you think at the U.S. National Arboretum! The season begins in late September as dogwoods begin their subtle transformation to red and purple, and often lasts through early December with Chinese fringetree and willows casting a golden light on the landscape. Check out the arboretum's Asian Collections, Fern Valley Native Plant Collection and Gotelli collection, in particular, for some fantastic fall foliage. Fall color is generally at its peak in mid- to late October in the Washington, D.C., area.

	If you can’t make it to the arboretum this fall and just want to see some nice autumn foliage, continue to the Fall Foliage Photo Gallery.
	If you are the inquisitive type, check out our page that explains the hows and whys of fall color.
	If you want a list of good fall color plants - check out our Selected Plants Providing Colorful Autumn Foliage List (with links to those specific plants that we have in our Fall Foliage Gallery).

Portal to Maya Underworld Found in Mexico?

Portal to Maya Underworld Found in Mexico?.

Portal to Maya Underworld Found in Mexico?
Alexis Okeowo in México City
for National Geographic News
August 22, 2008

A labyrinth filled with stone temples and pyramids in 14 caves—some underwater—have been uncovered on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, archaeologists announced last week.

The discovery has experts wondering whether Maya legend inspired the construction of the underground complex—or vice versa.

According to Maya myth, the souls of the dead had to follow a dog with night vision on a horrific and watery path and endure myriad challenges before they could rest in the afterlife.

Fascinating.. this find reminds me of the great books by Jeff Long, Descent and Deeper, which are about his vision of an underworld beneath Earth.. the link above is to his Web site...

Visiting Charleston, S.C., on a Budget - NYTimes.com

Visiting Charleston, S.C., on a Budget - NYTimes.com.

North America > United States > South Carolina > Charleston
Charleston on the Cheap
By CHRIS DIXON, Published: July 25, 2008

WHEN celebrities and other well-heeled travelers fell in love with Charleston, S.C., drawn by its air of 19th-century elegance and its palm-fringed seacoast setting, the $400-a-night hotel room and the $100 dinner entree inevitably followed. But this progressive and mystically lovely city, surrounded by water and wilderness, can still be a destination for the budget-conscious, too.

[Above, screenshot of article photograph...]

Many of the area’s most captivating historic attractions are essentially free. Beaches and an outstanding farmers’ market are open to all, and the sweet tea and fabulous food can be found in off-the-beaten-path restaurants well known to the locals. With some careful shopping in advance, even a hotel room or condo can be affordable.

In Gettysburg Cyclorama, a Big Touch-Up for the Blue and the Gray - NYTimes.com

In Gettysburg Cyclorama, a Big Touch-Up for the Blue and the Gray - NYTimes.com.

Big Touch-Up for the Blue and the Gray
    By LISANNE RENNER, Published: July 7, 2008

GETTYSBURG, Pa. — The pair of soldier’s shoes is battered and hard-worn; a hole in one leather sole suggests the many miles trudged en route to battle with a rifled musket and canteen.

These Civil War-style shoes are being pressed into duty for a battle that ended 145 years ago — not for last weekend’s re-enactment of the Battle of Gettysburg but for a conflict that still rages on the canvas of an enormous painting in the round. The Gettysburg Cyclorama, as it’s called, is to reopen on Sept. 26 after a five-year restoration, and for the first time in more than a century, viewers standing in the middle of the wraparound canvas will see it as its artist originally intended.

Finding the Hits, Avoiding the Errors - Interactive Graphic - NYTimes.com

Finding the Hits, Avoiding the Errors - Interactive Graphic - NYTimes.com.

June 8, 2008
Finding the Hits, Avoiding the Errors

A culinary scorecard for all 30 major league baseball stadiums. Read the related article and share your thoughts on the best and worst food you've tasted at a ballpark.

Nude Vacations: No Shoes, No Shirt, No Worries - New York Times

Nude Vacations: No Shoes, No Shirt, No Worries - New York Times.

No Shoes, No Shirt, No Worries
By MICHELLE HIGGINS, Published: April 27, 2008

WHEN Larry Massa says he likes to travel light, he means it. No need for a jacket and tie at dinner, a pristine set of tennis whites when he hits the court, or even a bathrobe to wear when heading from his hotel room to the pool or the spa.

For when Mr. Massa, 74, a retired Navy commander and computer science engineer from Virginia Beach, and his wife, Darlene, go on vacation, they do it in the nude. “If you haven’t tried it, there’s no way I can tell you what a fun thing it is, what an added dimension to a vacation it can be” said Mr. Massa, who has been taking “clothing-optional” vacations since 2001 and whose most recent trip was to an all-nude resort in Mexico. “I’ll never forget the day,” said Mr. Massa, recalling the couple’s first nudist vacation at a Caribbean resort. “The place was full. We went to the far end of the pool and Dar said, ‘I’m going to take my top off.’ I thought I’m not going to wear these stupid swim trunks in the pool. So I jumped in naked. She looked down at me and dropped her bottoms and we never looked back.”

The 86 Greatest Travel Books of All Time : Condé Nast Traveler on Concierge.com

The 86 Greatest Travel Books of All Time : Condé Nast Traveler on Concierge.com.

The 86 Greatest Travel Books of All Time
Published September 2007

THE 86 GREATEST TRAVEL BOOKS
* 86 Greatest Travel Books of All Time
* Methodology and Judges
* Nine Commandments of Travel Writing
* The New Classics
* Bookstores Worth a Trip
* All Booked Up All Booked Up    
* Introducing CNT's New Anthology

Chosen by a literary all-star jury that included: Monica Ali; Vikram Chandra; Jared Diamond; Peter Mayle; John McPhee; Francine Prose; Paul Theroux; Gore Vidal; and more.

Along the Ganges
Ilija Trojanow (2006)
An emigrant from Cold War Bulgaria now living in Cape Town, Trojanow brings a pan-religious enthusiasm to his writings on Asia, and in his journey from the Ganges's source to the chaotic cities along its course, he treats the river and its Hindu devotees with fascination, respect, and an eye for detail. Nominated by Nuruddin Farah (Haus Publishers, $20).

Arabian Sands
Wilfred Thesiger (1959)
Born in Ethiopia to a British diplomat, the writer-explorer was disenchanted with the West and spent five years traveling among the bedouins of southern Arabia, detailing their disappearing way of life. For his dedication and his eloquence, Paul Theroux puts him "on my classics list" (Penguin, $15).

In the Land of the Lotus Eaters - New York Times

In the Land of the Lotus Eaters - New York Times.

North America > United States > Hawaii > Maui
In the Land of the Lotus Eaters
By PATRICIA LEIGH BROWN, Published: September 30, 2007

THE ocean crashed hypnotically as the Venus of Hana yoga gently gave her commands. “Let the sun rise over the crater,” she said, her arm arching into an ethereal halo over her head. She read a poem by Mary Oliver, sang awhile and instructed us to extend our buttocks toward Hana. We closed our eyes, dimly aware of the wind rustling through banana leaves.

Then our yogi, Erin Lindbergh, summed up how it feels to spend a slow Sunday morning on the edge of the earth in a tropical nirvana where all of nature seems to be on Viagra. “There is a bowl of flowers in your heart,” she said.

Nearly 40 years ago, her grandfather — Charles A. Lindbergh — became one of a multitude of seekers to be smitten by Hana, on the east coast of Maui. He is buried in a swamp mahogany coffin at the Hoomau Congregational Church in Kipahulu, not far from his granddaughter's yoga studio, his now-mossy grave rimmed by beach rock. Like the manic hordes who form a human chain in rented Mustangs and PT Cruisers on the Hana Highway, fleeing chain-hotel sterility on the “other side” of Maui, the legendary pilgrim of the skies was restlessly searching for serenity, a sacred sense of apartness.

36 Hours in Asheville, N.C. - New York Times

36 Hours in Asheville, N.C. - New York Times.

North America > United States > North Carolina > Asheville
36 Hours in Asheville, N.C.
By CHRIS DIXON, Published: September 30, 2007

Asheville is an Appalachian Shangri-La. This year-round resort town, tucked between the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains, draws a funky mix of New Agers, fleece-clad mountain bikers, antiques lovers and old-time farmers. And what's there not to like? Charming yet surprisingly cosmopolitan for a town of about 73,000, Asheville has a Southern appeal all its own. There are lazy cafes and buzzing bistros, Art Deco skyscrapers and arcades reminiscent of Paris, kayaking and biodiesel cooperatives and one of the world's largest private homes — the Biltmore Estate, a French Renaissance-style mansion with 250 rooms. No wonder so many locals first started out as tourists.