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9 Foods to Avoid When Flying

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In this day and age, for every person who takes care about what he or she eats, it seems many more are still fairly careless about it. But even those who watch what they eat may not realize that conditions while flying in a commercial jetliner – especially longhaul – can present issues when it comes to certain foods. And so, there are some you really might want to avoid in order to make your flight as comfortable as possible. Some of these may seem like no-brainers, so consider this simply a re

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7 Travel Health Tips for Your Next Trip

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by Phil Paoletta

Whether it’s a mild cold, a stubborn case of the runs, or occasionally something worse, many of us have had the unfortunate experience of getting sick on the road. Illness of any kind can derail or even ruin your trip, which is why it’s important to avoid catching something in the first place. Some of these tips will seem like no-brainers, but you’d be surprised how easily they can fall between the cracks in the whirlwind of travel. Stay mindful, though, and stay healthy.

Do S

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We love off-season travel because of the reduced crowds and bargain accommodation rates. Last winter we drove from San Francisco to the town of Mendocino to attend its annual Crab, Wine & Beer Days – a fun family experience – especially if you savor the taste of freshly cooked Dungeness crab.

Getting to Mendocino

Starting at San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge on Highway 101, the drive to Mendocino takes about three hours. The last half of the trip from Cloverdale along Highways 126 and 1 w

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New York City may not be the official capital of the United States, but it is certainly our cultural capital. From museums to live theater, galleries to concert halls, historical landmarks to innovative cuisine, New York has it all. Even New York's architecture – both historic and brand new (One World Trade Center) attracts visitors – rivaling Chicago in its draw. What better way to experience the jaw-dropping landmarks of New York City architecture than from a relaxing architecturally-themed cr

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The thrill of seeing a wild animal in its natural habitat
, even if only for a moment, is unparalleled. Some animals are very nice and often stick around for a while – like monkeys. Others are so fast – wild cats, for example – that many times you’re not sure if you saw it or not.

The Costa Rica rain forest is full of wonders and wildlife – you just need to know how to look. Costa Rica is home to more than 5 percent of the world’s biodiversity: 208 species of mammals, 870 kinds of birds, 1,250

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After arriving at the superb Bethany Beach Ocean Suites by Marriott in Bethany Beach, DE (read about our excellent adventure here), the fam (two teen pups + my wife Sue) and I thought that it would be wise to dine in the hotel on our first night rather than venture out to explore the town’s eateries.  Not that there weren’t lots of great choices in the area, but after driving for almost four hours from northern New Jersey and then unwinding for the rest of the day in our awesome rooms, we prefer

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"Bio Dangers" and Tourism

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When we think of tourism security, we tend to think about either criminal acts that often plague the tourism industry such as: pick-pocketing, room invasions, or con artists, or about "traditional" acts of terrorism such as a bomb.  Rarely do we consider the hidden forms of terrorism that can have an impact on the tourism industry. These forms of terrorism are often not detected until it is too late and while bombs are public killers actions such as bioterrorism are often silent killers.

The 

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We began this adventure by purchasing a Porsche Macan S and picking the car up at the Porsche factory in Zuffenhausen, Germany... this road trip is now “official”. This segment of the series is dedicated to our adventures while touring the Salzburg area.

Salzburg Arrival

The drive took about four hours, and everything went smoothly. We did experience a few eye-openers along the way, one being the price of fuel.  We complain about the price of fuel in the States but we were experiencing close to

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Morocco's Mediterranean Beaches

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The city of Berkane is located in the Moulouya valley, at the foot of the Beni Hassan Mountains. Far removed from mass tourism, it is the center of the agricultural region of Trifa and is a dynamic zone which focuses on greenhouse cultivation. Its beaches, the longest in the country, are tranquil stretches of sand on which to disconnect from the bustling rhythm of life in the cities and let yourself be rocked by the waters of the Mediterranean.

Among them, Saïdia beach, one of the longest in Moro

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Wines of the South of France's Gaillac

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With roots in Gaul (an ancient region of Western Europe encompassing northern Italy, France, Belgium, part of Germany, and southern Netherlands) more than 2,000 years ago, the Gaillac is one of civilization's oldest wine-growing regions. Vines imported by Phoenicians in the 4th century B.C. still grow as ancient wild vitis vinifera in local forests, as well as cultivated in vineyards today. Situated on the Toulouse-Rodez highway, rail line, and the Tarn River, the Village of Gaillac has been a w

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Helsinki and South Finland's Luminous Summer

9008620286?profile=originalIn various parts of the world — and nowhere more than in northern Europe — summertime’s fondly considered a bright and cheery idyll, tailor-made for vacations and good vibrations in general. It’d been a long time since I’d been to Scandinavia in summer, and on my recent visit to Finland, I had the pleasure of rediscovering why the warmest season in this part of the world is so appealing — oh, what the heck, I’ll say it: even enchanting.


The seasons can feel almost manic-depressive up here in V

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Chances are you’ve heard of Hannibal, and maybe even that he and his Punic army tried to invade Italy by crossing the Alps with elephants. The city-state he fought for, Carthage, was classical Rome’s biggest rival in the Mediterranean, and one of the big kahunas of the entire ancient world. Even if you’re coming to Tunisia mainly for a warm beach vacation (as so many do), you owe it to yourself to not miss this important UNESCO World Heritage Site (especially if you’re staying in the popular r

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Souvenir Shopping in Latin America

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A few months back, I wrote about souvenir shopping in Europe. Now that the ol’ credit card has cooled off just a bit, I’m ready to tackle the Americas. Again, I’m aiming away from average tourist junk and more toward high-quality items that are both characteristic of the destination and not easily available outside it.


Brazil  

Yes, caipirinhas, caipiroskas, and the like are still the rage. But very few and limited types of their main ingredient, the Brazilian sugarcane firewater cachaça, are e

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The Vikings may be long, long gone, but even these days, getting into the Viking spirit (in a good way) isn’t all that hard: you no longer have to board a narrow longboat with a lot of greasy, smelly chaps and pillage countrysides, but just hop on a jetliner to Copenhagen, then head out into the hinterland.

In Denmark, green landscapes and historic cities and towns are interwoven from one end of the country to the other. For example, the country’s third largest burg, Odense, 147 kilometres (91 m

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9008986886?profile=originalThere is a lot to see and do in Playa del Coco in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, besides hanging out on the beach of this beautiful horseshoe-shaped bay. “Coco Beach” is a fun Costa Rica beach vacation destination.

Called the “Costa Rica Riviera” and “Gold Coast”, the north Pacific region boasts beautiful beaches, nearly always sunny weather, and the highest concentration of luxury accommodations in Costa Rica.

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What to Do in Playa del Coco

Playa del Coco Catamaran Tour: Sailing tours depart from Playa

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This month has not been easy for specialists in tourism security. We first witnessed the terrorist bombing of the Russian aircraft, causing not only death and destruction to innocent civilians but also a major blow to Egypt’s tourism industry. Then, on Friday the 13th, the first reports of the terrible attacks in Paris began to come through the newswires.

It is still too early to provide a full security picture of the events. The French police are correctly holding back information and being

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Rhode Island’s Tasty and Unique Road Food

PizzaStrip.jpg?width=288For a small state like Rhode Island, it’s hard to believe that when it comes to food, the Ocean State has distinct regional dishes that are like no other. So if you thought that the cuisine here is part of one big conglomeration lumped in with Boston and the rest of southern New England, you need to get out and do some tasting!

Cabinets – No these aren’t the type that you store socks in. These are thick milkshakes actually limited to two ingredients: milk and ice cream. How about that? The most p

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Mike Nelson, the hero from the old Sea Hunt TV series (1958-61), starring Lloyd Bridges, has a restaurant fittingly named in his honor in Rancho Palos Verdes, just north of Los Angeles. In the show, Nelson was a former US Navy frogman called to assist with dangerous underwater situations needing his skilled assistance. Many times he had to fight off aggressors doing dastardly deeds to save others or sunken treasures. Teenage girls loved him and future Navy Seals wanted to be him.

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The weekly adv

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A town in Brazil's southern state of Santa Catarina, 130 kilometers from Florianópolis,
Gravatal conserves the architectural and cultural charm derived from its colonization by the Portuguese, then settlement by Italian and German immigrants. It also sits atop an area whose former volcanic activity, basaltic lava and thermal water (with a flow of 2,000 liters per minute at a temperature of 37º Celsius) has enabled it to become a paradise for all those seeking rest, relaxation and well-being on

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9008731294?profile=originalYou didn't know that President Benjamin Harrison was from Indiana? That's okay; Indiana has sexier local heroes, celebrities whose very names make grown Hoosiers weep. Better yet, they feel compelled to honor their heroes in wondrously strange ways.

At age 17 John Dillinger was sent to jail for ten years, got released in 1933, and immediately thanked the “corrections” system with such an energetic bank-robbing spree that, by the time he was shot dead just one year later, he'd become a legend. T

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