Irish at home, worldwide cheer St. Patrick’s Day

Much of the world is turning green Wednesday for St. Patrick’s Day, the annual celebration of all hues of Irishness. Half a million people were forecast to line the 3-kilometer (2-mile) route of the flagship Dublin parade, which is exploring the theme “The Extraordinary World.” It is a nod to Ireland’s increasing multiculturalism — as [...]

Where was the first U.S. Mardi Gras held?

The merriment and mayhem of Mardi Gras comes to a climactic end on Fat Tuesday. But where did the celebration begin? Despite the holiday’s rich history in New Orleans, Louisiana, Mayor Sam Jones of Mobile, Alabama, says the first Mardi Gras celebration in this country actually took place in his city, and most Mobile natives [...]

10 great places to have a slice of National Pie Day

When it’s time for dessert on Saturday, make sure to order pie. It’s National Pie Day — as if the American Pie Council really needed to give us an excuse to have a slice. Whether sweet or tart, flaky or crusty, pie is an American tradition, says Ed Levine, founder of SeriousEats, a website devoted [...]

Fantastic New Year’s Eve destinations

A couple million people will hit Brazil’s Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro as the final minutes of 2009 are counted down, ready for a mix of spiritual observances, fireworks and full-tilt partying. Thousands of miles away, a much more low-key style of New Year’s revelry will be happening on a tiny island off the [...]

Barack Obama’s Hawaii holiday may boost tourism

Tourism officials hope images of a president celebrating a warm Christmas in Hawaii will remind mainlanders that a sunny getaway awaits them if they’d just hop on a plane and leave the frigid temperatures and mounds of snow behind. While officials don’t expect President Barack Obama’s visit to attract tourists immediately, they hope it will [...]

Visiting bathhouses in Budapest, the city of spas

Sometimes called the “city of spas,” Budapest is home to over a dozen thermal spas. The bathhouses make perfect destinations for weary tourists, sore backpackers, and families — as well as hung-over concert-goers. I visited two of Budapest’s biggest and most visited baths, Szechenyi and Gellert last summer. They were filled with 20-somethings wearing bracelets [...]

Southern skiers reveling in snow blast

Skiers in North Carolina have an unusual treat this year: The Blue Ridge Mountains are dressed in winter white from an early snowstorm coating native rhododendrons in iridescent crystal ice and creating a solid base on the slopes. The ski resorts and snow guns are going full bore. The largest and best known ski areas [...]