USA Travel News May 2012
Following is a round-up of USA travel news posted during May 2012. Included are links to news, feature articles, and quirky pieces related to travel in the United States. Be sure to follow my USA Travel blog and my Twitter feed for the latest travel news and deals.
- (Videos) Time Lapse Portland and Time Lapse Oregon. The Atlantic uncovered these beautiful time lapse videos that let you take quick tours of Portland and Oregon.
- 20 Best Hikes in U.S. National Parks. One of the best ways to enjoy the natural beauty of the United States is to go to a national park. National Geographic provides us with a round-up of the best hikes in U.S. parks.
- Waikiki Rewind: Rebirth Gives Rise to Hawaiian Sense of Place. Throw away your preconceptions that Waikiki is "the soulless, skyscraping antithesis of everything authentically Hawaiian" and give the island another look.
- Humans of New York. A stay in New York City is as much about people-watching as it is about visiting Times Square of Central Park. This Tumblr site introduces us to the wonderful, quirky people who inhabit the USA's largest and most vibrant city.
- Air Rights: Apps to Help You Understand TSA Regulations. I profile the My TSA and FlyRights smartphone apps, both of which may prove helpful for air travelers.
- The Best and Worst States for Driving in the U.S. The folks at The Car Connection review driving data to give us this telling map of America's best and worst driving states.
- The Covered Bridges of New York. Many travelers do not realize that beyond Manhattan, New York State has many rural places. I Love New York, the state tourism board, leads us to some of New York's covered bridges.
- River a Mile Deep. World Hum takes us to the Grand Canyon, where writer Michael Shapiro rafts down the Colorado in the wake of Civil War Captain John Wesley Powell.
- The Antique Carousels of Massachusetts. If you're planning a family vacation to Massachusetts, check out this list of eight antique carousels still in operation. The oldest one dates back to 1876 and is the oldest platform carousel in the United States.
- Just Me and My RV. First-time RV traveler Andy Isaacson rambles through the American West for the New York Times in this lovely long read.
- America's Road Sign Legends.Salon.com provides us with a photo essay of America's bygone roadside advertising.
- 10 Great Places Where Baseball History Was Made.I appreciated this quick round-up of significant baseball stadium moments in USA Today.
- Lobstah and Crafts! A Summertime Guide to Portland (The Real One, in Maine) Maine is a favorite summer hotspot for New Englanders as well as other travelers who want to get away from the searing heat of the rest of the country. The Awl gives us a very thorough look at Portland, from good eats to attractions.
- The Barnes Collection: A Phoenix Rises. Philadelphia's newest museum has been waiting years to make its debut. The Economist profiles the Barnes Collection, what is in it, and the eccentric and cantakerous collector Dr. Albert C. Barnes whose legacy lives on in the fantastic art he collected.
- 10 Ways to See Yosemite Without the Crowds. Frommer's gives us tips on the best ways to visit one of America's most famous national parks.
- Beyond San Diego's Surf and Sun: Suds.Sarah Dickerman dives into the San Diego's thriving craft beer scene in this New York Times piece.
- Vanishing America: The Drive-In Theater. Gadling looks at the drive-in theater, an Americana icon that is slowly disappearing. The piece includes a photo gallery.
- The Frequent Fliers Who Flew Too Much. This business travel story from the L.A. Times tracked two "super frequent" fliers on American Airlines and the airline's attempt to rein in customers who years ago bought an unlimited pass for first class air travel for life.
- James Beard 2012 Award Winners. I provide information and links on the 2012 winners of food awards from the James Beard Foundation. These are the best restaurants and chefs in America for 2012.
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