Chicago Sun-Times

Kyoto offers plenty for family vacations

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 02:35:36 -0500

KYOTO, Japan — Rocks to the left of us, rocks to the right. With the Hozu River rushing in between, our oarsman swung the boat hard, threading the boulders as water splashed overboard — and on to my 10-year-old daughter’s lap. You never know how kids will react to new experiences, but not to worry. “Daddy,” my daughter said, beaming as we headed for more rapids, “this must be the best summer ever!” Any parent who has charted a family vacation hopes for that kind of reaction. But when my wife and I made plans to take our son and …

Oaxaca Riviera paradise

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:33:13 -0500

ZIPOLITE, Mexico — “You’re going to like it here in Zipolite,” Daniel Weiner, the owner of Brisa Marina hotel said with a wry smile as he handed me the keys to my quarters. “You’re not going to want to leave in five days.” A few lazy days later, I began to realize why so many guests rent their rooms by the month. Whether it’s the laid-back vibe or the tranquil setting, Zipolite has a way of making people stay longer than expected. A sleepy town with one main street and no ATMs, Zipolite (pronounced ZEE-poe-LEE-tay) is one of many tiny …

Fresh fan fare at Graceland

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:33:13 -0500

Planning to visit Elvis Presley’s Graceland mansion home this year? There are two new exhibits to entice newcomers and veteran visitors alike. The newest exhibit, “Elvis’ Hawaii: Concerts, Movies and More!” celebrates the 40th anniversary of Presley’s iconic “Aloha from Hawaii” 1973 concert and his lifelong affection for the islands. The exhibit features never-before-seen footage of his 1957 trip and two-week concert series there, plus memorabilia from his films “Blue Hawaii” and “Paradise, Hawaiian-Style,” and from the “Aloha” concert, including the famous red, white and blue eagle-emblazoned cape that wound up in an audience member’s hands (it has since found …

Queens neighborhoods celebrate their industrial roots

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:54:37 -0500

NEW YORK — A hotel boom is luring tourists out of Manhattan and across the East River to the Queens neighborhood of Long Island City, where 15 hotels have opened since 2006, from boutiques to chains. Many of them boast not just lower rates than hotels in Manhattan but also great views of the city skyline and easy access by subway, taxi or even ferry. Just don’t be put off by the area’s factories, warehouses, and parking lots — not to mention the towering red and white smokestacks of the nearby Ravenswood power plant. Long Island City and the adjacent …

Travel In Brief 03.31.13

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:54:27 -0500

National Parks really ‘Pop’ in new book The National Parks Conservation Association is looking to book lovers for support. Published on April 8, “America’s National Parks — A Pop-Up Book” (W.W. West, Inc.) is a high-end pop-up book (aimed at adults, but great for the kiddies, too) that features a gorgeous look at 18 (six in 3-D pop-up) of the country’s most popular parks. Proceeds from the book’s sales will benefit NPCA — hopefully to the tune of $100,000. The book, a coast-to-coast journey through each of the parks, features text by Don Compton, the pop-up creations of master paper …

Fountain Square a haven for nostalgia in downtown Indianapolis

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:08:42 -0500

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Any stranger can strike up a conversation at the Fountain Square Theatre Building. Late last year some Indy locals told me about the Fountainview Inn, which consists of 11 boutique-style hotel rooms. The inn is above a barbecue smokehouse, a diner with 15 local draught beers, and a popular bar called Imbibe. Want to get a tattoo or a hair cut? The Fountain Square building also offers those services. While you wait. The adjacent Fountain Square Theatre opened in 1928 as a 1,500 seat vaudeville-movie house. The Italian garden-themed theater with twinkling stars closed in 1959. It …

Dublin serves up plenty of free things to do

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:16:04 -0500

DUBLIN — Dublin isn’t cheap. But the flat, compact Irish capital is exceptionally walkable, with a wide range of free attractions easily reached on foot from any downtown hotel. Live music might cost no more than the pint that’s probably in your hand. And exhilarating seaside hikes with a salty breeze are just a 15-minute train trip away. This year, for anyone sporting an Irish surname, Ireland is offering an eclectic and ever-growing list of family-clan events called The Gathering, www.thegatheringireland.com, a yearlong effort by this nation of 4.6 million to reconnect with the tens of millions of O’Somebodys worldwide. …

Modernized Zephyr travels historic route

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:09:00 -0500

EMERYVILLE, Calif. — The journey east on Amtrak’s California Zephyr train is as good as the destination. Riding the rails from the San Francisco Bay area to Reno, Nev., offers beautiful views and a tangible sense of history on the route over the Sierra Nevada mountain range that helped bring America together after the Civil War. Marking 30 years of service this year, the Amtrak train leaves Emeryville, Calif., every morning. The Zephyr’s ultimate destination, 51 hours later, is Chicago. Between Sacramento and Reno, a five-hour trip, it follows the same course as the historic Transcontinental Railroad, according to the …

Ship Shape — More families, fewer all-inclusive options in 2013

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 06:02:35 -0500

NEW YORK — Cruise trends for the 2013 season are shaping up to include a bigger focus on multi-generational groups, more specialty food offerings, and continued efforts to wow passengers with new onboard firsts like an aquapark, a glass walkway and a vertical garden. Here are some details on what’s new in cruising. THE NEW ‘IT’ SHIPS CruiseCritic.com editor Carolyn Spencer Brown says two of the hottest new ships debuting in 2013 are the Norwegian Breakaway, which will be the largest ship ever to homeport year-round in New York City beginning in May, and Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess, launching in …

Travel Briefs 03.10.13

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 06:33:39 -0500

D.C.’s Cherry Blossom prime time Washington’s famous cherry tree blooms are expected to be at their best between March 26 and March 30. National Park Service cherry tree expert James Perry made the prediction for the peak bloom time at a press conference this past Monday. The average peak bloom date is April 4, but last year’s peak came earlier on March 20, due to the warm weather. Perry says the trees are blooming a little bit earlier than 50 or 75 years ago. The cherry blossoms draw about 1 million visitors to the nation’s capital each spring. This year …

New owner makes Route 66’s Wagon Wheel on National Register shine again

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 06:28:39 -0500

CUBA, Mo.— Life spins around. And when it settles into a deep rut, I hit the road. I have found myself at the Wagon Wheel Motel in modest Cuba, Mo., about 85 miles west of St. Louis. Most people think the arch in St. Louis is the gateway to the west. I think it’s the Wagon Wheel, which is the oldest continuously operating motel on Route 66. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I’ve made two memorable stops to sleep at the Wheel. My first visit was in the summer of 2005 when I test drove my …

Cirque du Soleil set to debut Michael Jackson show in Las Vegas

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:48:37 -0500

Cirque du Soleil announced today that its latest homage to pop music stars will be the long-awaited “Michael Jackson ONE.” The show, produced with the cooperation of the Jackson estate, will put down stakes at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas in May. “ONE” boasts a cast of 60 and will make use of Jackson’s original masters of his No.1 hits. Previews are scheduled to begin May 23 with the official world premiere slated for June 29. “ONE” is the second time Cirque has partnered with the late pop singer’s estate. The first joint effort produced “Michael …

Panhandling Florida: Enjoy what’s free and fun

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:15:08 -0500

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The gleaming white sand beaches and turquoise waters of Florida’s Panhandle draw millions of visitors each year, but this area isn’t known for glitz, glamour and high-end hotspots like some of Florida’s other beaches. Instead, the Panhandle offers a laid-back vibe, Southern hospitality and family atmosphere. The region caters to budget-conscious travelers who often drive from nearby Southern cities like Atlanta, Birmingham or New Orleans. Hotel and restaurant costs climb during the peak summer months, but even the priciest Panhandle resorts are generally less expensive than Miami Beach, Naples or the Florida Keys. And the Panhandle offers …

Following Twain through Italy

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 06:10:44 -0500

FERRARA, Italy — I came to Italy to test a French adage by way of an American writer, Mark Twain. “Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.” The more things change, the more they remain the same. The saying had been on my mind while traveling before, usually with a book from the past clutched in my hands. On a 1991 honeymoon in the Greek Cyclades with my pockets full of love and a 1964 Nagel’s travel guide in my hands, the descriptions still fit some of the small fishing ports and dusty museums. But when I returned to …

Bakersfield dreamin’

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:36:13 -0500

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Every long road can lead to a golden valley. The drive southon I-65 into Nashville heads through the lush gorges of West Tennessee and the Wigwam Village in Cave City, Ky. I’ve made a couple trips from Los Angeles to the oil valleys of Bakersfield, Calif., through the majestic Tehachapi Mountains. Bakersfield — the stomping ground of my hero Merle Haggard — remains wide open with a renegade spin. Nashville, though, has always been a step ahead of Bakersfield as a more polished recording center. And now Bakersfield has come to downtown Nashville in the ambitious exhibit …

Travel Briefs 02.17.13

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 06:40:29 -0500

Smoking banned at U.S. Virgin Islands beaches The U.S. Virgin Islands has banned smoking at all beaches inside its national park system. The smoking ban covers cigars and pipes as well as cigarettes and is enforced from within 50 feet of the shoreline. The ban applies to all 12 of the territory’s protected beaches, which are on the island of St. John. Rangers are not yet issuing citations but rather educating the public. The ban was approved to eliminate secondhand smoke and reduce the number of cigarette butts tossed on beaches. Grand Canyon river permit deadline nears Anyone wanting to …