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Monday, March 28, 2011

USA Today: 10 great places to see animals in the wild

USA Today: 10 great places to see animals in the wild


College students aren't the only ones on the move for spring break. Animals are migrating now, too, which makes it a perfect time to see them in parks and refuges. "They're becoming more active. It's a good time to go," says Mark Wexler, editor of National Wildlife, the magazine of the National Wildlife Federation, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. There's always an element of chance involved, but you're almost guaranteed an animal sighting at some locations. Wexler shares favorite spots with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

NYT: 36 Hours in Seattle

NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES > WASHINGTON > SEATTLE
36 HOURS
36 Hours in Seattle


By DAVID LASKIN
Published: March 24, 2011

SPRING comes early to Seattle and lasts long. By the end of February, the rains relent and pastel shades of plum and narcissus initiate a progression of color and scent that lasts months. But new flora is not the only thing popping out of the ground in Seattle these days. Seemingly overnight, whole swatches of downtown and close-in neighborhoods — notably South Lake Union and the Pike-Pine Corridor — have transformed themselves into vibrant enclaves of restaurants, bars and galleries. With so many converted and repurposed buildings, Seattle’s cityscape is starting to look as layered as the wardrobes of its inhabitants. The tarry pitch of the timber port never disappeared; it just got plastered over with grunge flannel, tech money, yuppie coffee, Pacific Rim flavors, and more recently the backyard chickens and chard of urban pioneers. Don’t let a passing shower keep you from entering the mix. This is one of the rare American cities where you can be outdoors year-round without either shivering or sweating.

Friday, March 18, 2011

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 14 Tucson, Ariz.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 14

Tucson, Ariz.

EASY GETAWAY FROM Albuquerque; San Diego; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Seattle; Chicago; Dallas; Houston; Salt Lake City; Denver.

WHAT YOU GET Sunny days, starry desert nights, P.G.A. golf courses, pampering spas.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 13 Stowe, Vt.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 13

Stowe, Vt.

EASY GETAWAY FROM Boston; Albany; New York; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Cleveland; Detroit.

WHAT YOU GET Winter sports, farm-to-table dining, New England charm.

WHY GO NOW Softer snow and warmer temperatures at this time of year make skiing, snowshoeing, dog-sledding, sleigh riding and other winter sports more fun. Stowe’s Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield (Vermont’s highest peak at 4,395 feet) remain open through April 17. And with a 200-year-old village full of shops, restaurants and cozy pubs, there is still plenty to do after the slopes close. Spring is sugaring season in Vermont, when trees are tapped and sap is collected for making syrup. There is also a new performing arts center and nearby Vermont landmarks like Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream plant, providing options for everyone in the family. The nearest major airport is in Burlington, Vt., about an hour west of Stowe.

WHERE TO STAY Stowe Mountain Lodge (stowemountainlodge.com), adjacent to the gondola connecting Spruce Peak to Mount Mansfield, has rates from $199 and is offering 20 percent off for two-night stays and 30 percent off for three nights through April 30. The Trapp Family Lodge (trappfamily.com), run by descendants of the Trapp family of “Sound of Music” fame, has a Making Tracks Snowshoe package with rates from $399 a person for two-night stays through March 27 that includes three-course dinners, and guided snowshoe treks. On Main Street, the Green Mountain Inn (greenmountaininn.com) offers rooms for as low as $99 in April.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 12 Snowbird, Utah

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 12

Snowbird, Utah

EASY GETAWAY FROM Las Vegas; Denver; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City; Seattle.

WHAT YOU GET Fresh powder, live music, no crowds.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 11 Santa Fe, N.M.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 11

Santa Fe, N.M.

EASY GETAWAY FROM Los Angeles; Dallas; Denver; Houston; Kansas City, Mo.; Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City; Seattle; St. Louis; Las Vegas; Phoenix; San Diego; Tucson.

WHAT YOU GET Romantic fireside nooks, art galleries, beautiful landscapes, rejuvenating spas, steamy hot springs.

Monday, March 14, 2011

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 10 San Diego

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 10

San Diego

EASY GETAWAY FROM Phoenix; Las Vegas; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; Dallas; Denver; Salt Lake City; Tucson; Sacramento.

WHAT YOU GET Salty ocean breezes, lush public parks, downtown waterfront, family fun.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 09 San Antonio, Tex.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 09

San Antonio, Tex.

EASY GETAWAY FROM Atlanta;Charlotte; Chicago; Denver; Los Angeles; Memphis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Orlando, Fla.; Phoenix; Salt Lake City; San Diego; Tampa, Fla.

WHAT YOU GET Spanish missions, Chicano art, Tex-Mex fare and Texas hospitality.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 08 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 08

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

EASY GETAWAY FROM Los Angeles; San Diego; Phoenix; Denver; Houston.

WHAT YOU GET Miles of golden sand, sunsets on the Malecón, open-air dance clubs, whale watching.

Friday, March 11, 2011

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 07 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 07

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

EASY GETAWAY FROM New York; Newark; Atlanta; Miami.

WHAT YOU GET Sparkling blue waters, laid-back luxury, sun-soaked beaches.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 06 Palm Springs, Calif.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 06

Palm Springs, Calif.

EASY GETAWAY FROM Los Angeles; Denver; Salt Lake City; Seattle; San Francisco; Sacramento; Phoenix; Dallas; Portland, Ore.; Las Vegas.

WHAT YOU GET Midcentury modern glamour, a retro pool party scene, gay-friendly dance clubs, easy hiking.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 05 Negril, Jamaica

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 05

Negril, Jamaica

EASY GETAWAY FROM Atlanta; Baltimore; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; New York; Orlando; Miami.

WHAT YOU GET Easy snorkeling, live music, cliff diving and general laid-back island vibes.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 04 Montreal, Quebec

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 04

Montreal, Quebec

EASY GETAWAY FROM New York; Boston; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Chicago.

WHAT YOU GET French cuisine, an indie music scene, European flair.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 03 Kiawah Island, S.C.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 03

Kiawah Island, S.C.

EASY GETAWAY FROM: Atlanta; Baltimore; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Detroit; Miami; Nashville; New York; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.

WHAT YOU GET A golfer’s paradise, bike trails, several miles of beaches.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 02 Destin, Fla.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 02

Destin, Fla.

EASY GETAWAY FROM Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas; Houston; Miami; Niagara Falls, N.Y.

WHAT YOU GET Emerald-green surf, Southern charm, family-friendly everything, dolphins frolicking offshore.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 01 Breckenridge, Colo.

14 Easy Weekend Getaways 01

Meggan Haller for The New York Times
The race is on in Destin, Fla. More Photos »

By MICHELLE HIGGINS
Published: March 11, 2011

FORGOT to plan for a spring break? Haven’t gone skiing yet this year? It’s March, people!

Which means two things: You’re overdue for a break, and it’s not too late to plan one. Even if you just slip away for a weekend.

Want to be on the beach by midafternoon? There are new flights to Destin, Fla., and the Turks and Caicos that are ready to make that happen. Feeling the urge to hit the mountain before the snow melts? Heavy snowfall and spring rates as low as $99 a night are making resorts like Breckenridge, Colo., and Snowbird, Utah, good bargains. Or are poolside cocktails more your style? There are plenty of options in Palm Springs, Calif., where newly renovated hotels are showing off freshened digs.

So, here you go. Whether you want high desert landscapes, powdery slopes or pristine blue water, we’ve done all the heavy lifting for you. Here are 14 top-notch escapes that require fewer than four hours in either a car or a plane from more than a dozen major cities. Wherever you live, we’ve got you covered.

Breckenridge, Colo.

EASY GETAWAY FROM Denver; Kansas City, Mo.; Austin, Tex.; Dallas; Houston; Chicago; St. Louis; Minneapolis; Oklahoma City.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

La Brea Tar Pits

La Brea Tar Pits


DescriptionPaleontology Lab, George C. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles, California
라브레아 타르피트 공원
Date1 March 2011
SourceWikimedia Commons
AuthorJoe Mabel
Camera location.
PermissionGFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 granted by photographer
AttributionJoe Mabel
LicensingThe copyright holder of this work has published it under the following licenses:


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