Travel & Adventure:

History and Adventure Await Just Outside New Orleans - Visitors to New Orleans generally want to see two things: the French Quarter and a plantation. Unfortunately, there are no plantations in the city itself, but there are plenty open to visitors who are willing to venture outside the city.

Christmas in San Antonio - As we gathered speed I tightened the grip on my handbag in trepidation. Glancing down, I saw that the tarmac was moving faster and faster very near our feet. Then we were off the ground and flying. An array of Christmas lights spread before us, shining like welcoming holiday beacons amid the darkness.

It All Happens at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin - The route to Elkhart Lake, Wis., runs through green countryside and past red barns, finally winding up at a city limits sign that reads "Population: 1,019." That would suggest the small, sleepy resort town harkening back to a different era that it is. The surprise, however, is that the village is also home to a world-class racetrack that attracts the likes of Tim Allen and Mario Andretti and frequently roars to life with the hum of motorcycles and automobile engines.

A Whale of a Good Time in Alaska - "Orcas on right, 9 o'clock," someone cried out, and I tried desperately to spot a spout or tail or fin a mile and a half out. Still, it was the closest I'd ever come to a whale up to now, and I could be patient.  

Animals, Culture and History Make Tanzania Unforgettable - Anyone thinking about visiting Africa should definitely not overlook Tanzania. This country facing the Indian Ocean offers fabulous game-viewing; fascinating history; astounding archaeological sites; Kilimanjaro, the world's favorite mountain-climbing site; and the exotic island of Zanzibar.

Kid's Home Library: Kids Can Learn More About Traveling With These Enlightening Books - Young readers love books that open their eyes to the rest of the world. These new books provide "Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know" about U.S. cities the world's grasslands, the Dominican Republic and ancient Greece.

Going on Board the Titanic Centennial - It's never too late to board the Titanic.

Outdoor Fun in the Hill Country of Texas - The small town of Fredericksburg in the Hill Country of Texas attracts 1.4 million visitors annually. They come for the scenic countryside; the old-fashioned Main Street lined with cafes, restaurants and curio shops; the German cuisine of the town's founding fathers; and important stops such as the Lyndon Johnson Boyhood Home and Ranch and the National Museum of the Pacific War. But there's something else to consider in this area: the great outdoors.

Apalachicola Serves Up True Unspoiled Nature - Vast stretches of beach with vacation rental homes on the water, like these on Alligator Point, beckon visitors to Franklin County on Florida's Panhandle.

Jackson Hole Holiday Yields Luxury, Adventure - A hot tub happily gurgling away in a frozen landscape does wonders for a person's psyche, especially when it is on a mountaintop ledge that looks down on the Snake River Valley and across the expanse to the Grand Tetons.

A Culinary Renaissance in Ojai - It sounded like a feast for the eyes — and it was. But I was surprised by another, more literal kind of feast, too. This non-cooking, eat-to-live anti-foodie discovered food.

Juneau: America's Most Scenic State Capital - "If you encounter a bear, remain calm. Do not approach, chase, feed or run from a bear."

Alaskan Excursion Train Takes Visitors on a Trip to the Past - Today thousands of tourists aboard luxury cruise ships land each year in Skagway under crisp, blue skies if they're lucky. They may not be seeking gold, but they carry the same spirit of adventure held by the earlier fortune seekers, and many are fulfilling long-held dreams "to climb the Pass."

Music to the Ear -- From Classical to Rock in France - With much fanfare, music is played in astonishingly beautiful public and private venues all over France. Free organ and voice recitals are held in great 12th century Gothic cathedrals and rock and pop in first-century B.C. Roman coliseums, while classical and jazz are found from major cities to tiny medieval villages.

Out and About in New York's Central Park - My mom read her morning paper on a park bench that was "adopted" by the Madoff family (yes, that family). My own daily park route takes me past William Shakespeare and Sir Walter Scott on the Literary Walk.

Remembering JFK in Dallas - We may never really know who shot President John Kennedy. Was it Lee Harvey Oswald? Was he set up to take the fall? Was Jack Ruby involved? Or was there some unknown sharpshooter on that grassy knoll? In an effort to learn all we could, we took a tour in Dallas that was aptly named "The JFK Conspiracy Tour.

Don't Dismiss Detroit - For Michael Jackson devotees, the best place to pay homage to the late entertainer may be the site where the Jackson Five got their start professionally — in Detroit's Motown Museum. In the unassuming double building, visitors learn that Motown Record Corp. founder Berry Gordy worked his magic from 1959 to 1972 (the company was originally named Motortown).