Travel briefs
The Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas were named the No. 1 free attraction in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.com.
In addition to the famed dancing fountains, the top 10 list also included Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.; Waimea Canyon, Waimea, Hawaii; Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco; Angel's Landing, Zion National Park, Utah; the USS Arizona Memorial, Honolulu; Pacific Coast Highway, Route 1, Calif.; the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C.; the Freedom Trail in Boston; and Central Park in New York City.
The list was compiled by Trip Advisor.com editors based on popularity ratings by users of the travel Web site.
If you're planning a vacation in California this summer, consider getting a copy of a free new guide called ''California Road Trips 2008,'' published by the California Travel and Tourism Commission.
The guide includes maps, itineraries and ideas for places to stop, including historic sites, wineries, parks, beaches and lakes. You can order one by calling (877) 867-3748 or view an electronic version at www.Visit California.com/roadtrips.
New this year, the guide divides the state into 12 regions and lists things to do and see along suggested three-day driving routes.
Royal Caribbean International has announced the names of two new cruise ships that will be the world's largest.
The Miami-based cruise operator said that Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas were chosen in a "Name that Ship" contest. The names were submitted by George Weiser of Livonia, Mich.
Oasis of the Seas will hold 5,400 passengers and is scheduled to launch late next year. Allure of the Seas will launch in 2010. Both ships will be more than 35 percent bigger than the current largest cruise ship, based on volume.
AP