Disney's oldest cruise ship Magic gets a makeover

Disney Cruise Line's oldest ship, the Magic, is getting a makeover, including the addition of a children's area themed on Marvel Comics superheroes and a three-story water slide, the company announced Friday.

Tips on ensuring personal safety when you travel

Frequent travelers and those who work in the industry say a few common-sense precautions can go a long way to ensuring personal safety.

Free guided hikes Jan. 1 in parks in all 50 states

For more than 20 years, state park officials in Massachusetts have encouraged locals to get off the couch Jan. 1 and take a hike; nothing too strenuous, but a healthy way to start the new year.

Holiday events: Trees, lighting displays and more

From elaborately decorated trees to drive-through lighting displays to boat parades and train shows, a variety of holiday spectacles are being staged through the end of December and into early January around the country. Here are a few of them.

Disney announces weekly park surprises for 2013

Social media will be a big component of a new program announced by Disney Wednesday in which the company's parks in California and Florida will feature weekly surprise themes and events.

Travel 'Like a Local' with new guidebooks from Peter Greenberg

Peter Greenberg wants you to travel like a local, not a tourist, and he's written a new series of guidebooks to help.

When the Frommers talk travel, they may disagree

She likes Venice as a side trip from Rome; he says do Florence instead. She likes traveling with kids; he says he doesn't — even though he took her when she was young.

Bicentennial events, historic sites in many places, but what was the War of 1812 about?

Pity the War of 1812. Its bicentennial is at hand and events are planned for all over North America, from Canada and the Great Lakes to the Mid-Atlantic and the South. But good luck finding someone who can explain in 10 words or less what the war was about.

Titanic centennial: Museums, events, dinners

A hundred years ago, the sinking of the Titanic was a tragic disaster. Today, it's fodder for an entertaining outing with the kids.

Camping not just pitching a tent any more

These days, camping isn't just pitching a tent in the wilderness on a long hike, or stopping at a campground far from home on a road trip.

New travel guides, from Lonely Planet to luxury

Spring is the time when many travelers plan their biggest vacations of the year: Leisurely road trips, family getaways with kids out of school, and travel abroad over the peak summer season. Here are some of the new guidebook releases from this season to inspire you and help plan your itiner…

Warm up at colorful indoor orchid and garden shows

Flowers from around the world will be on display in Philadelphia, orchids in the Bronx will help conjure up Cuba, and the streetscapes of Paris have been reimagined at a garden in St. Louis.

Interactive NYC tour themed on 'Top Chef' show

Why take a walking tour inspired by a cable series you've never seen?

Travel 2010: Shanghai, Vancouver, Mexico, Orlando

Forecasts for 2010 predict that more people will be traveling, but the numbers are still well below what they were before the recession. Still, if you can afford to get away, interesting events will drawing visitors to destinations around the world, from Shanghai to South Africa to Orlando.

Model Obama homes in garden holiday train shows

Models of the Obama White House, the Obama home in Chicago and the house Michelle Obama grew up in are on display at holiday train shows at the Chicago Botanic Garden and the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington.

Tree-lightings, from Indianapolis to Rockefeller Center

This season's Christmas tree displays include trees made from feathers at a historic home in Indianapolis, a thank-you tree in Boston sent from Nova Scotia, and the Obamas' first National Christmas Tree ceremony in Washington.

Disney offers free entry to 1 million volunteers

Disney is offering a free day's admission to 1 million guests who complete a day of volunteer work next year.

Autumn treasures: Apples, pumpkins, mazes and more

Pick-your-own orchards are expected to have a strong fall season, thanks to consumers staying closer to home for leisure activities and an increased interest in local food and lower prices.

Foliage smackdown: Eastern reds v. Western golds

When it comes to autumn color, New England's reputation is five-star. So are Westerners blowing it out their cowboy hats when they claim their golden aspens and cottonwoods can go head to head with Northeastern maples and oaks in October?

NYC cupcakes: Bakeries, cafes, a hotel and a truck

New York is crazy for cupcakes. There are cupcake classes and cupcake tours, lines down the block at cupcake bakeries, a cupcake tea at a five-star hotel, and a cupcake truck with 6,000 followers on Twitter.

Tips for saving money at amusement parks

Visiting an amusement park for the day with a family of four can add up. But there are ways to cut costs, from discounts on admission to strategies for keeping food spending down.

Use a map radius tool to find new destinations

Remember the old song "500 Miles Away From Home"? Think of it as a challenge instead of a lament and you could come up with some good ideas for a road trip.

Poll: Fewer Americans vacationing this summer

NEW YORK | The number of vacationing Americans will be down this summer, according to a new AP-Gfk Poll, and a third of Americans surveyed said they have already canceled at least one trip this year because of financial concerns.

Q&A: Is traveling safe amid swine flu fears?

Here are some questions and answers for travelers regarding swine flu, flights and cruises to Mexico, travel insurance, and how to protect yourself while traveling.

Volunteer vacations on a budget

You could pay a lot of money for the privilege of donating your labor to a worthy cause somewhere around the world on a volunteer vacation. Or you could just throw your sleeping bag in the car, drive to a nearby park, and for as little as $150, spend a week in the wilderness rebuilding trail…

Orchid shows brighten up winter's last gray days

Enough already with chilly gray winter. Time to pick up a bouquet of bright pink tulips and start thinking about spring.

Gifts for travelers: Think local, edible, useful

This Christmas, make an early New Year's resolution: I will not bring home T-shirts made in China as souvenir gifts from my travels.

Fun things to do Thanksgiving weekend

Stuck at home Thanksgiving weekend? You don't have to be in New York's Rockefeller Center to enjoy ice skating or the Rockettes. Holiday train rides, Christmas shows, lighting displays and outdoor winter fun like ice skating and skiing all begin in late November in many localities. Here are …

Fall foliage season is longer than you think

New England's fall foliage typically peaks in late September and early October. But around the country, leaf-peeping season runs longer than you might think.

What's new in theme parks in the Midwest, Florida, Six Flaggs

It's a big year for fans of theme parks and roller coasters all over North America.

Coping with air travel

NEW YORK | In recent weeks, thousands of air passengers have been stranded by airline bankruptcies and flight cancellations. And there may be more disruptions ahead as older jets continue to be scrutinized for safety and the economy bubbles with trouble.

Finding the real Harlem amid changing neighborhood

Harlem is the historic capital of black American culture, but like many New York neighborhoods, it is rapidly changing.

Ski clubs offer trips to snowy places

Last summer, 27 people from Northeast Ohio went skiing together in Valle Nevado, Chile, where the Southern Hemisphere resort was in the throes of winter.

Five tings to know for your first cruise

More than half of those who've never taken a cruise would like to do so, according to a 2006 survey by the Cruise Lines International Association.

Hit the road for a scenic fall drive

Fall is the nicest season for rolling down the car windows, taking a drive and enjoying the scenery. Stop along the way to pick pumpkins, visit a winery, or stroll a woodsy trail sparkling with reds and golds. Watch the cranberry harvest in Massachusetts, take a moose tour in Maine or an elk…

New spas look to history for inspiration

Most spas take pride in providing a thoroughly modern experience, offering the latest product formulas, complex therapies and state-of-the-art facilities.

Plan ahead, way ahead ..

Need a passport in a hurry? Good luck!

Littlest travelers

Christine Louise Hohlbaum and her husband took their children to Venice when they were 2 and 4 years old. Looking back, she wishes she'd waited until they were a little older.

Learning to think like a fish, with help from an expert

"I see it!" said my 8-year-old son, Nathaniel.

How to hurricane-proof your vacation

Despite forecasts of a busy hurricane season, the idea of a summer vacation on a tropical beach appeals to many travelers. And there is one advantage: It costs less now than at other times of year.

50 years of Europe on just 'dollars a day'

Arthur Frommer first saw Europe in 1953 from the window of a military transport plane.

Secret gardens

It's lovely to visit a garden on a spring day, surrendering to the scents, colors, and even the sounds, of birds chirping or the breeze rustling a dogwood tree heavy with blossoms.

Asia, European river cruises hot in travel for the new year

Destinations in Asia and river cruises in Europe are among the hottest new trends in travel as 2007 begins, while changes in passport regulations and a growing awareness of environmental issues may also affect where and how people vacation in the new year.

Hit the slopes

For skiers, the best time of year is at hand.

Nature Navajo style

You can't drive around on your own in this canyon, or hike where you please. And you should ask permission before taking pictures of the Navajo Indians who still live and farm here.