Venezuela: Natural beauty for bold travelers

Venezuela should be a tourist mecca. It boasts the world’s highest waterfall, snowcapped Andean mountain peaks and white-sand beaches dotting one of the longest coastlines in the Caribbean. But hurdles to easy, carefree travel — such as fly-by-night tour operators, lack of qualified guides and mediocre accommodations in many remote regions — keep many potential [...]

Dubai’s glamour doesn’t have to break the bank

Dubai has earned itself an unlikely spot amid the world’s ritziest — and priciest — beachside hot spots. Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and David Beckham have all been spotted partying in this opulent Arabian playground, where a poolside beer can easily top $10 and one hotel boasts rooms starting at $1,000 a night. That doesn’t [...]

Adirondack lakes, ponds draw sweaty hikers

The hikers strolled down the rock slab into Crane Mountain Pond, its surface lightly rippling on an overcast summer afternoon in the lower Adirondacks. “When in Rome, right?” Emily Winslow said. The 23-year-old Manhattan native had slipped out of hiking shoes, sweatpants and damp T-shirt into a swimsuit. She waded in. “Oh, it’s cold.” The [...]

Lots of family fun in Sandusky, Ohio

For our first family vacation with our 4-year-old daughter, we had several criteria: It had to be within a three-hour drive, be reasonably priced, provide enough to do in case of bad weather, and keep my husband and me occupied too. Our destination: Sandusky, Ohio. It’s best known as the home of Cedar Point Amusement [...]

Downtown Johannesburg shows city’s artistic side

It’s gritty, it’s hip and it’s downtown in one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Johannesburg’s Newtown cultural precinct is at the heart of life in this city, and a visit reveals just why this is one of Africa’s great metropolitan centers. Newtown is home to a theater famed for its role in [...]

Tour offers a new way to see LA: On horseback

For most tourists, visiting Los Angeles includes stopping in Hollywood and making a side trip to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Getting around means dealing with traffic and freeways. But in historic Griffith Park, known for the famous Hollywood sign that overlooks the city, you can hop on a horse for a sunset ride and [...]

Ski resorts in summer are fun but not for skiing

Looking for a late summer destination? Consider visiting some of the resort towns best-known for winter skiing. Many of the West’s most popular ski destinations offer lots of warm-weather activities, with lodging up to 40 percent off what you’d pay in the winter. Things to do include fishing, golf, horseback riding, kayaking and whitewater rafting. [...]