Dave G. Houser

During his 45-year journalism career, Dave G. Houser has served as an aerospace industry technical writer, university journalism instructor, news & sports writer, corporate speech writer and, in recent decades, as a travel writer. He resides in St. Augustine, Florida.

Articles by Dave G. Houser

• Oklahoma City’s First Americans Museum: A celebration of native culture

  ​The rhythmic sounds of drumming, shaking and chanting of ruffled and beaded Chickasaw dancers echoed…

  Thursday, September 23, 2021

• Hail to the chiefs: An in-depth look at America’s presidential libraries and museums

  America's presidential library system includes 14 libraries administered and operated by the National…

  Friday, September 17, 2021

• 6 unsung American wine regions

  The entire world knows about the Napa and Sonoma Valleys — the nation's premier wine growing regions…

  Tuesday, August 17, 2021

• America’s favorite lakes for family fun

  It's hard to imagine a better way to spend a summer day than by splashing about in a refreshing lake.…

  Friday, July 23, 2021

• 6 of America’s funkiest art towns

  According to a 2019 report from the U.S. Travel Association, nearly half of all vacationers visit an…

  Friday, June 11, 2021

• National Scenic Byways get a boost from Congress

  Just in time for an expected onrush of road trips this summer, the Federal Highway Administration has…

  Monday, May 10, 2021

• Are you ready to plug in?

  If predictions from auto industry experts are right, your next set of wheels could well be powered by…

  Friday, April 23, 2021

• Nicknames:  Every state has one (or more)

  Nearly everyone knows that the United States has 50 named states. What isn’t so well-known is that…

  Monday, April 05, 2021

• Here are the most oddly named towns in America

  Virtually every state in the union has one. We're talking oddly named towns. Veteran road-trippers have…

  Friday, March 12, 2021

• The Social Security shell game

  If you are one of the nine out of 10 individuals age 65 and older receiving monthly Social Security benefits…

  Friday, March 05, 2021

• World’s first African American music museum opens in Nashville

  The world’s first and only institution dedicated to preserving and celebrating African American music…

  Friday, February 05, 2021

• What to see and do in America’s newest national park

  Hidden away in the COVID-19 stimulus package passed by Congress on Dec. 27, 2020, was a pleasing bit…

  Monday, January 18, 2021

• The best places to ring in 2021 with social distancing

  New Year’s Eve is going to look a little different this year. Social distancing and roving shutdowns…

  Thursday, December 10, 2020

• 10 fun turkey facts for Thanksgiving table (or Zoom) talk

  Officially, it’s Thanksgiving Day — but we’ve all come to know it as “Turkey Day” in recognition…

  Monday, November 23, 2020

• Harley-Davidson goes electric

  In the world of motorcycling, it’s no secret that Harley-Davidson — America’s oldest and most iconic…

  Thursday, November 19, 2020

• Revolutionary voice-activated museum opens in Washington, D.C.

  Revolutionary, both for its purpose and its cutting-edge technology, Planet Word, the world’s first…

  Monday, November 16, 2020

• 8 great Florida botanical gardens

  Although most tourists flock to Florida for its gorgeous beaches and fun-filled theme parks, the Sunshine…

  Monday, November 02, 2020

• America’s 4 most UFO-obsessed places

  Data from the nonprofit National UFO Reporting Center, an organization that records UFO-related events,…

  Monday, October 19, 2020

• Top 10 American ghost towns

  Abandoned towns — or ghost towns as they’re most often called — are not as rare as you might think.…

  Monday, October 12, 2020

• Freelance economy surges in the age of COVID-19

  While the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the American economy and created high levels of unemployment,…

  Wednesday, October 07, 2020

• 8 of America’s favorite, authentic diners

  Like baseball, grandma’s apple pie and Elvis, a shiny bullet-shaped diner surely plucks the strings…

  Monday, September 21, 2020

• 7 of America’s best beer gardens

  The beer garden (or biergarten to be linguistically accurate) is a traditional German outdoor pub that…

  Monday, September 14, 2020

• Float through the end of summer on these terrific tubing rivers

  We can't think of a better summer pastime than floating down a scenic river in a big rubber donut —…

  Friday, August 28, 2020

• 8 great family hiking trails

  Taking the kids on a hike — particularly now during the relentless COVID-19 pandemic — can be great…

  Monday, August 17, 2020

• Down on the farm: 6 of the US’ best agricultural museums

  If you've ever tended a backyard garden or tried to raise a few chickens, you know that farming is hard,…

  Monday, July 27, 2020

• 8 US museums you might not know about

  America loves its museums. There are more than 35,000 of them scattered across the country, and while…

  Monday, July 20, 2020

• 5 of America’s top tiny house resorts

  Tiny houses have become all the rage in America over the last several years. Widely featured in TV coverage,…

  Monday, July 06, 2020

• Rare-earth elements spark resource war

  Rare-earth elements (REE) — also known as rare-earth minerals or rare-earth metals — are a group…

  Wednesday, July 01, 2020

• What’s next for e-bikes?  An inflatable, portable form of transportation

  Brilliant minds in the transportation industry worldwide are pulling out all the stops in an effort to…

  Tuesday, June 16, 2020

• How to fend off bugs — naturally

  Summer has returned — and for most of us that means two things for certain: we'll be outdoors a whole…

  Thursday, June 11, 2020

• Trails for two-wheelers: A look at the United States Bicycle Route System

  Missouri’s Katy Trail State Park is a cyclist’s dream. Created by repurposing a 237-mile-long stretch…

  Monday, June 01, 2020

• America’s 8 favorite mountain towns

  There's something special about mountain towns. Fresh air and scenic eye-appeal are givens — but life…

  Monday, May 18, 2020

• Pandemic origin controversy aside, Wuhan still harbors zoonotic viruses

  With global cases of COVID-19 pushing past 3 million — and with approximately a quarter-million deaths…

  Monday, May 04, 2020

• Vintage trailer park resorts deliver retro bliss

  Shortly after World War II and before the advent of modern motor homes, thousands of Americans hit the…

  Monday, April 20, 2020

• 6 of America’s newest state parks

  America is justly famous for its broad array of 400-plus national park sites — but the country's more…

  Monday, April 06, 2020

• It was inevitable: Synthetic liquor and wine

  In the wake of the "fake meat" phenomenon, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Alcoholic beverages…

  Tuesday, March 31, 2020

• Chef Andrés to the rescue

  If there's one thing you can count on during the coronavirus crisis, it is the unwavering benevolence…

  Wednesday, March 25, 2020

• Drive-in theaters: A blast from the past

  With coronavirus (COVID-19) sweeping across the country, life in America is undergoing dramatic change…

  Monday, March 23, 2020

• 7 of the best national parks for a spring visit

  It is always a good time to visit a national park — but certain parks are at their very best in the…

  Monday, March 09, 2020

• Threats on tap: Why America’s water woes are even worse than you thought

  Unregulated perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — chemicals stubbornly resistant to environmental breakdown…

  Friday, February 28, 2020

• Are flying cars and electric airplanes the next frontiers for transportation?

  The world’s auto and aviation industries and an ever-evolving list of innovative startups are increasingly…

  Wednesday, February 19, 2020

• Frank Lloyd Wright buildings gain UNESCO World Heritage Listing

  Eight buildings designed by America’s best known and arguably most accomplished architect, Frank Lloyd…

  Monday, February 17, 2020

• Elevated camping in an Airstream treehouse

  Treehouses have long been a source of youthful fantasy, promising a leafy escape from earthly demands.…

  Monday, February 10, 2020

• America’s top 10 castles

  While fairytale castles are most commonly associated with medieval Europe, you don’t necessarily have…

  Monday, February 03, 2020

• An RVer’s guide to campground etiquette

  Unless you are about to embark on your first RV road trip, you probably already practice the basic, common…

  Monday, January 20, 2020

• White Sands: America’s newest national park

  Just before Christmas 2019, White Sands National Monument in New Mexico became White Sands National Park.…

  Monday, January 13, 2020

• Diminishing bug populations may cause ecological ‘collapse’

  We have a major bug problem — and ironically it is the bugs, not we humans, that are threatened. The…

  Thursday, January 02, 2020

• Good reasons to visit the Badlands

  Protected as a national park since 1978, the Badlands are definitely a good choice for visitors. The…

  Thursday, December 12, 2019

• 7 small American towns with superlative Christmas festivities

  For some small American towns, the Christmas season comes with an invitation to light things up and throw…

  Monday, December 09, 2019

• Food halls: An easy way to taste a city’s eats

  The food hall concept is booming across America. Surveys indicate there are more than 200 of these conglomerations…

  Tuesday, November 26, 2019

• Thanksgiving: It’s not just an American celebration

  It seems like an all-American holiday, but Thanksgiving is more universally celebrated than we might…

  Monday, November 18, 2019

• The cities of the future, here today

  About 12,000 years ago, the Neolithic Revolution marked the transition in human history from nomadic…

  Wednesday, November 06, 2019

• Where to see fall bird migrations

  Just the mention of wildlife migrations brings to mind the frenzied scene of millions of wildebeest,…

  Monday, October 21, 2019

• E-scooters: A blessing or a curse?

  Once serving only as children’s toys, scooters have taken on a new life these days in cities across…

  Wednesday, October 09, 2019

• Up, up and away at 6 top hot air balloon festivals

  Few man-made sights are as colossal and colorful as hundreds of hot air balloons ascending from a picturesque…

  Monday, October 07, 2019

• State fairs: More than just funnel cakes and Ferris wheels

  Beginning in 1841 in Syracuse, New York, state fairs have convened largely to showcase and celebrate…

  Tuesday, September 17, 2019

• 10 terrific American rodeos

  Country music legend Garth Brooks once observed, "It’s the ropes and reins, and the joy and pain. And…

  Tuesday, September 03, 2019

• Popular European RV website launches in the US

  Following its successful introduction in Europe in 2015, CaraMaps, a French collaborative website and…

  Monday, August 19, 2019

• Eating insects could help save the planet

  If predictions from United Nations food scientists are right, menus of the future might include such…

  Friday, August 16, 2019

• Touring America’s musical instrument makers

  America’s musical instrument industry is humming right along. It netted $6.2 billion in revenues in…

  Monday, August 12, 2019

• The 127 Yard Sale: 690 miles of roadside shopping

  The 127 Yard Sale is commonly known as "The World’s Longest Yard Sale." It is a serial shopper’s…

  Monday, August 05, 2019

• America’s 10 deadliest national parks

  Last September, Tomer Frankfurter, an 18-year-old student from Israel, was hiking in Yosemite National…

  Monday, July 22, 2019

• Why meatless madness won’t be going away any time soon

  There’s no doubt about it — we Americans love our meat. We eat more of it per-person than any country…

  Tuesday, July 16, 2019

• Visiting America’s industrial past

  If you’re growing tired of conventional vacations — the beach, mountains, amusement parks, etc. —…

  Monday, July 08, 2019

• STDs: A public health crisis

  It’s not exactly a topic for dinner-table conversation — but the often-unspoken reality is that sexually…

  Tuesday, July 02, 2019

• Are you ready for a ‘nakation?’

  Travel trends come and go — from eco travel to medical tourism and spiritual travel to tornado tourism.…

  Monday, June 24, 2019

• America’s best whitewater rafting trips

  Summertime is clearly the best time for whitewater rafting as melting snow and dam releases power up…

  Friday, June 14, 2019

• Do you have a ‘Real ID’ yet?

  Enacted in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks, a federal law called the Real ID Act was passed by Congress…

  Monday, June 03, 2019

• 7 of the best living history parks and museums in the US

  Living history parks and museums invite us to step back in time — and into our ancestors’ world —…

  Monday, May 06, 2019

• Springfield, Missouri’s Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium is a tribute to the outdoors

  Here’s a multibillion-dollar American success story that began in the unlikely setting of a small-town…

  Monday, April 29, 2019

• Finding the right walking tour for your trip

  Imagine yourself trekking through the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone National Park or hiking into…

  Monday, April 22, 2019

• The best museums for planes, trains and automobiles

  America has a long and proud history of being at the forefront of transportation technology. Examples…

  Monday, April 08, 2019

• 7 sensational sites for wildflower watching

  Spring has sprung across much of the country, and with the change in season comes an eruption of color…

  Monday, March 25, 2019

• 10 US dark-sky parks worth a visit

  Since the dawn of time, the mysteries and splendors of a starry night sky have been filling us with wonder.…

  Monday, March 11, 2019

• Top 10 US whale watching sites

  Few wildlife watching experiences can match the sighting of a breeching whale for pure excitement. There's…

  Monday, February 18, 2019

• Visiting the Grand Canyon during winter

  Grand Canyon National Park celebrates its centennial season this year, and the nation's second most popular…

  Monday, February 11, 2019

• 8 great national parks for a winter visit

  Summer may seem the ideal time for visiting America’s vast network of national parks, but winter offers…

  Monday, January 28, 2019

• A look at 2 new institutions dedicated to civil rights in the Deep South

  This year’s 34th annual observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday on Jan. 21 draws…

  Monday, January 14, 2019

• America’s dozen daffiest New Year’s Eve drops

  It was way back in 1907 that the now-famous New Year's Eve ball made its maiden descent from the flagpole…

  Monday, December 17, 2018

• At last, a roadside screening test for THC

  November’s midterm elections added three states — Michigan, Missouri and Utah — to the growing…

  Wednesday, December 12, 2018

• Christkindlmarkts right here at home

  Europe, and Germany in particular, is justly famous for its colorful Christkindlmarkts. In Germany alone,…

  Monday, December 10, 2018

• Where was the first Christmas in the US?

  Most Americans probably assume that the country’s first Christmas was celebrated in one of the original…

  Wednesday, December 05, 2018

• Thanksgiving trivia to enjoy with the turkey

  Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving leads off the winter holiday season in America.…

  Wednesday, November 14, 2018

• 5 tips for planning a winter RV camping trip

  Some RVers choose to avoid the crowding and hustle and bustle of the regular camping season by venturing…

  Monday, November 12, 2018

• Winnebago surprises with its Revel 4x4 camper van

  Best known for its larger motor homes, Winnebago has surprised the RV world with the introduction of…

  Monday, November 05, 2018

• Ghost tours: Exploring the supernatural

  Halloween is upon us once again, and there’s no better way — for those of us beyond the age of trick…

  Monday, October 22, 2018

• Road rage:  It’s more common (and dangerous) than you think

  Let's say you’ve just pulled out of your neighborhood Chinese restaurant when some idiot in a red Corvette…

  Friday, September 28, 2018

• 4 new attractions open in Times Square

  Often described as the "Crossroads of the World," New York City’s Times Square is one of the planet’s…

  Monday, September 17, 2018

• 6 surprising fall foliage destinations

  It’s a New England tradition as the weather cools and the leaves begin to change. Leaf peepers come…

  Monday, September 10, 2018

• 8 great American air and space museums

  As the very birthplace of flight — and as the world leader in aviation development and space exploration…

  Monday, August 27, 2018

• Peppers, potatoes, pineapples: How the ‘real discoveries’ of Columbus changed history

  Although Christopher Columbus is credited with "discovering" the New World amid a search for riches,…

  Thursday, August 16, 2018

• Big Sur back in action as Highway 1 reopens

  California’s most famous road trip is back on. For the first time in 14 months, Highway 1 — aka the…

  Monday, August 13, 2018

• Going underground: America’s most amazing cave tours

  With more than 50,000 caves within the United States, there’s a mysterious and intriguing world to…

  Monday, July 30, 2018

• E-bikes grow in popularity around the world

  Perhaps you can’t afford a Tesla, but you’d still like to avoid high gas prices and polluting the…

  Tuesday, July 24, 2018

• Tech advances, new ideas vital to feeding the world’s fast-growing population

  In 1798, English cleric and scholar Thomas Robert Malthus published a study concluding that the world’s…

  Monday, July 23, 2018

• Gateway Arch National Park gets a makeover

  A revitalized Gateway Arch National Park was dedicated during a festive ceremony July 3 in St. Louis,…

  Monday, July 16, 2018

• Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias reopens after massive restoration

  Yosemite National Park’s most popular attraction finally reopened to the public June 14. The historic…

  Monday, July 09, 2018

• 7 sensational 4th of July fireworks celebrations

  For as long as America has existed, the nation has celebrated the Fourth of July by staging grand fireworks…

  Monday, June 25, 2018

• America’s top fossil sites and dinosaur attractions

  With "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" slated to open in theaters on Friday, the fifth installment of…

  Monday, June 18, 2018

• Scandinavian countries top happiness chart: What’s their secret?

  For about six months of the year, Finland has only a few hours of light per day and endures temperatures…

  Wednesday, June 06, 2018

• Little-known facts about Memorial Day

  With our minds focused on beach or pool visits, barbecuing and other activities associated with the unofficial…

  Thursday, May 24, 2018

• Fee increases set for national parks entry

  First, the bad news: visitors to national parks will soon face increased entrance fees for the most popular…

  Monday, May 21, 2018

• Yellowstone: America’s best national park for a family vacation

  America's national parks are always a good choice for a family getaway, but in my mind Yellowstone tops…

  Tuesday, April 24, 2018

• Hit the dunes: 6 super sandboarding sites

  Sandboarding is a relatively new board sport, but it is skyrocketing in popularity. There are nearly…

  Tuesday, April 10, 2018

• Best American cities for street art

  Art lovers are finding that some of the most colorful and evocative art out there nowadays is not confined…

  Tuesday, March 27, 2018

• America’s top 10 religious attractions

  ​Throughout the United States, travelers will find landmarks associated with the nation's religious…

  Tuesday, March 13, 2018

• 8 great day hikes across the US

  From the red rock canyons of Arizona to the rugged coast of Maine, America is blessed with a bounty of…

  Tuesday, February 27, 2018

• 8 US festivals that welcome spring

  ​Following on the heels of the storm-plagued and frigid winter of 2017-18, Americans just about everywhere…

  Tuesday, February 06, 2018

• The big problem with legalizing marijuana

  Regardless of where you stand on the issue, the legalization of marijuana is well underway across America.…

  Tuesday, January 30, 2018

• 8 offbeat American hotels and motels

  ​For a variety of reasons, most RVers will on occasion opt to park their rig in favor of a hotel or…

  Monday, January 22, 2018

• 7 exciting winter destinations

  Winter travel usually brings to mind escaping the cold in favor of warm, sunny destinations. But as temperatures…

  Tuesday, January 09, 2018

• Working in America’s gig economy

  America's workforce has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. It has changed from one…

  Monday, December 18, 2017

• 10 classic American drive-in restaurants

  America's first drive-in restaurant was said to have opened in Dallas in 1921, but these classic eateries…

  Tuesday, December 12, 2017

• Touring 8 historic American prisons

  Reflecting the underside of society, prisons aren’t generally a pleasant topic of conversation. Many…

  Monday, November 27, 2017

• On location: 10 movie/TV sets you can visit

  Movies are sometimes more memorable for the locations where they're shot than they are for their plots.…

  Monday, November 20, 2017

• 8 great American zoos

  ​It's difficult to imagine a more entertaining and educational family outing than a visit to a zoo.…

  Monday, November 06, 2017

• Are infotainment systems putting driver lives at risk?

  Ever vigilant on matters of traffic safety, the AAA Foundation has just put out with another study on…

  Tuesday, October 24, 2017

• 10 top American museum ships

  America is home to more than 35,000 museums — preserving and displaying just about everything from…

  Friday, October 13, 2017

• Florida’s fabulous freshwater springs

  Geologists have identified more than 700 springs scattered across Florida, representing the largest concentration…

  Tuesday, October 03, 2017

• 10 terrific food trucks in America

  A food truck revolution is sweeping across America. Thousands of mobile eateries — once disparaged…

  Tuesday, September 19, 2017

• America’s 10 best urban public parks

  If you're like most RVers, you tend to avoid large cities. There comes a time, however, when you might…

  Tuesday, September 12, 2017

• Wait, it’s National WHAT Day?

  If we are to believe President Donald Trump, there's a whole lot of fake news circulating out there.…

  Monday, August 28, 2017

• 6 tips in case you have to rent a car on your trip

  Let’s imagine you and the family are contentedly cruising into Colorado Springs, about to embark on…

  Monday, August 14, 2017

• 10 truly iconic American diners

  For nearly a century, hungry travelers have relied on the classic American diner for fast, affordable…

  Monday, July 24, 2017

• Hop in your RV and check out this historic solar eclipse

  Solar and lunar eclipses have fascinated mankind through the centuries, and on Aug. 21, the United States…

  Monday, July 10, 2017

• Discovering Wisconsin’s Frank Lloyd Wright Trail

  Timed to celebrate Frank Lloyd Wright’s 150th birthday this year, a new trail has been established…

  Friday, June 30, 2017

• Celebrating a half-century since San Francisco’s Summer of Love

  Throughout 2017, San Francisco is reveling in a celebration of the most iconic cultural event in its…

  Tuesday, June 20, 2017

• 9 oddball American museums

  America loves its museums. There are more than 35,000 of them scattered across the U.S., and they range…

  Tuesday, June 06, 2017

• Collector’s 700-car stash goes on the block

  Most of us are natural-born pack rats. At some point in our lives, we've collected things such as coins,…

  Tuesday, May 23, 2017

• 3 Porsches among 700 vehicles at rare car auction

  Most of us are natural-born pack rats. At some point in our lives we've collected things such as coins,…

  Monday, May 15, 2017

• America’s 10 most beautiful coastal drives

  Road trips are rewarding for many reasons, but nothing enhances the experience like the scenic splendor…

  Monday, May 08, 2017

• 8 top US wildlife safari parks

  If an African safari is on your travel bucket list, but not within your budget, don't despair. Consider…

  Monday, April 24, 2017

• 8 tasty American food and wine festivals

  Food and travel go hand in hand these days, as increasing numbers of travelers plan their trips around…

  Tuesday, April 04, 2017

• Forget malls: Visit these 9 thriving pedestrian shopping areas

  ​Dire predictions abound concerning the future of America's shopping malls. A recent CNBC report forecasts…

  Monday, March 27, 2017

• Discovering America’s most beautiful sand dunes

  The accumulation of windblown sand presents one of nature’s most interesting and beautiful phenomena.…

  Monday, March 06, 2017

• 9 of America’s leading craft distilleries

  A couple of years ago, we devoted a feature to the craft brewery craze sweeping the country, and here…

  Tuesday, February 14, 2017

• 10 fun facts about Mardi Gras

  ​With Mardi Gras celebrations set to cut loose in a frenzied parade of feathers, costumes, beads and…

  Tuesday, January 31, 2017

• Ring in spring at America’s best offbeat beaches

  As winter's chill begins to fade, there's no better way to ring in spring than with a trip to the beach.…

  Monday, January 23, 2017

• Discovering America’s best botanical gardens

  If poet Ralph Waldo Emerson was right when he said "the earth laughs in flowers," then get ready for…

  Monday, January 09, 2017

• 10 best year-round flea markets in America

  ​With the holiday shopping season in full swing, creative shoppers are flocking to flea markets for…

  Monday, December 12, 2016

• Violence on vacation: Top 9 crime tours in America

  ​Crime isn't something most cities brag about. But a number of America's major metro areas have a history…

  Monday, December 05, 2016

• America’s most amazing Christmas celebrations

  More than any other holiday, Christmas brings out the urge to decorate and celebrate. Much like Yuletide…

  Monday, November 21, 2016

• America’s most endangered national parks

  ​Celebrations marking the National Park Service's centennial year are winding down. If predictions…

  Monday, November 07, 2016

• America’s dozen favorite Thanksgiving events

  ​When the pilgrims settled into present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the early 17th century and…

  Tuesday, November 01, 2016

• Top 10 U.S. Halloween celebrations

  More than just trick-or-treat, Halloween is a huge happening across the U.S. Thousands of celebrations…

  Wednesday, October 19, 2016

• 11 of America’s best fall festivals

  Cooling temperatures, changing leaves and ripening fields are signaling that autumn has arrived — and…

  Monday, October 10, 2016

• 6 American battlefield re-enactments to check out in 2017

  ​Peering through a cloud of acrid smoke at a wave of musket-firing soldiers and cringing from volley…

  Monday, October 03, 2016

• 7 sensible tips for better smartphone photos

  Not so long ago, a camera was a camera, and a phone was a phone. But that all changed in the late 1990s…

  Wednesday, September 14, 2016

• 10 exciting new (or newly expanded) museums in the US

  It seems hard to believe, but America is home to more than 35,000 museums — double the number from…

  Tuesday, September 06, 2016

• 10 truly curious destinations for science geeks and tech nerds

  Curiosities of all kinds abound in this wacky, wonderful nation of ours. Mysterious and beguiling sites…

  Friday, July 29, 2016

• 6 special US island getaways

  You don't need a passport to experience some of the world's best island getaways. There are plenty of…

  Tuesday, July 19, 2016

• America’s favorite farmers markets

  There's no greater shopping experience than roaming about a busy farmers market, foraging for farm-fresh…

  Tuesday, July 05, 2016

• 10 marvels of American architecture

  ​For many of us, architecture is one of the most exciting aspects of travel. We enjoy seeing how cities…

  Tuesday, June 21, 2016

• The best of America’s Shakespeare festivals

  April 23 marked the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death at age 52. His plays have been…

  Tuesday, May 31, 2016

• Amusement parks rolling out major new additions for 2016

  As theme and amusement parks across the country throw open their gates for the summer season, a compilation…

  Friday, May 20, 2016

• For auto junkies, visiting Old Car City USA is a must

  Deep in the Georgia woods, about an hour north of Atlanta, there lies a sight that excites and delights…

  Tuesday, May 10, 2016

• 5 favorite fishing piers across the US

  As the sun rises over the Atlantic, dozens of anglers line the Jacksonville Beach Pier. It's Saturday…

  Tuesday, April 26, 2016

• Living large in tiny houses

  Tiny houses have been making big news in recent years, with TV coverage on networks like CNN, HGTV and…

  Friday, April 22, 2016

• Is the US the best country in the world?

  Most Americans believe their country is the best in the world. In fact, a 2014 Pew Research Center study…

  Monday, April 18, 2016

• 8 great American jazz festivals in 2016

  Originating in New Orleans around the beginning of the 20th century, jazz is a uniquely American musical…

  Monday, April 11, 2016

• America’s 10 best barbecue joints

  Historians tell us that for many millennia, man has applied low, slow heat to a variety of meats to make…

  Tuesday, April 05, 2016

• 10 best beaches in the United States

  Spring has arrived at last to help us shake off the winter chill — and to turn our thoughts to warm,…

  Monday, March 21, 2016

• 7 spring road trips you don’t want to skip

  Road trips are an American pastime, and the arrival of spring urges us to get out and embrace the fresh…

  Monday, February 29, 2016

• 5 under-the-radar road trips

  It's a given that a road trip is the most fun, exciting and cost-efficient way to see the grand ol' USA.…

  Monday, February 15, 2016

• 8 of the best factory tours across America

  Although it sometimes seems we live in an age of foreign imports, let's not overlook the bounty of goods…

  Friday, January 29, 2016

• 6 tips for traveling safely in cold weather

  Planning a last-minute vacation or a weekend trip to grandma's house? Or maybe you're stuck right now…

  Monday, January 25, 2016

• 7 places not named New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras

  It's Mardi Gras season once again, and while New Orleans is the American epicenter of this festive pre-Lenten…

  Friday, January 15, 2016

• Can you ace this US national parks quiz?

  Visitation to America's national parks set a new record in 2015, unofficially topping 300 million for…

  Friday, January 08, 2016

• Driving tips for slippery weather this winter

  It's that time of year again, when rain and snow can cause slippery driving conditions across the country.…

  Monday, December 14, 2015

• Connect to nature at these 8 national wildlife refuges

  Gearing up for a big 100th anniversary celebration in 2016, America's national parks are getting plenty…

  Friday, December 11, 2015

• 6 sensational sports vacations

  If you happen to be a sports fan, you've got plenty of company. According to the latest ESPN Sports Poll,…

  Tuesday, December 08, 2015

• 9 surprising consequences of climate change

  Climate change is without question the environmental hot-button issue of our time. While scientists,…

  Wednesday, December 02, 2015

• 8 great winter adventures to try before the snow melts

  For those of us born and raised in the northern latitudes, snowstorms always brought long, happy days…

  Tuesday, December 01, 2015

• America’s 10 most walkable cities

  A recent government study found that more than 37 million Americans rated walking as their favorite recreational…

  Monday, November 09, 2015

• You can still get your kicks on Route 66

  Nat King Cole famously crooned in his 1946 hit song: "It winds from Chicago to LA. More than two thousand…

  Tuesday, November 03, 2015

• 8 great American lighthouses

  Down through the ages, America's lighthouses have served mariners as welcoming beacons. These landmark…

  Tuesday, October 27, 2015

• Take a trip to America’s newest national parks

  While conservationists have cheered President Barack Obama's unprecedented designation of 19 new national…

  Tuesday, October 20, 2015

• Turn your next trip into a hall of fame vacation

  Americans love to celebrate the best of just about everything. Nothing makes that more evident than the…

  Monday, October 12, 2015

• Traveling out West? Don’t miss these 8 great ghost towns

  Ghost towns are among the most fascinating of all visitor attractions. Hundreds of these derelict towns…

  Thursday, October 01, 2015

• Foodies, rejoice! These American food trails have what you crave

  A recent study by the World Food Travel Association revealed that nearly 40 million leisure travelers…

  Tuesday, September 15, 2015

• 8 great places for fall colors across the US

  As the calendar turns to September today, it's time to start planning fall foliage trips as the leaf-peeping…

  Tuesday, September 01, 2015

• 10 waterfalls you definitely should go chasing

  Waterfalls rank among nature's most alluring features, and there are hundreds if not thousands of them…

  Tuesday, August 25, 2015

• Literary landmarks: Inside the homes of famous writers

  According to a recent report from the Pew Research Center, some 76 percent of American adults said they…

  Tuesday, August 04, 2015

• 5 photo safaris for shutterbugs across the US

  Much like apple pie and ice cream, traveling and photography just seem to go together. Most of us wouldn't…

  Monday, July 06, 2015

• Napa Valley too crowded? Try these 7 wine trails across the US

  As Benjamin Franklin once noted, "Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and…

  Monday, June 15, 2015

• 8 great auto museums across America

  America's love affair with the automobile began well over a century ago, when those first ungainly horseless…

  Tuesday, June 09, 2015

• Hot Wheels opens traveling family exhibit in Indianapolis

  All roads lead to Indianapolis as the world's largest children's museum opens its latest exhibit —…

  Tuesday, May 19, 2015

• 10 new summer attractions pacing amusement park boom

  If the American economy is faltering, as suggested by certain political pundits, you wouldn't know it…

  Tuesday, May 12, 2015

• Break the chain with these 8 oddball American restaurants

  With the explosion of corporate chain restaurants modeled after similar concepts, dining out in America…

  Tuesday, April 14, 2015

• 7 must-see stadium tours across Major League Baseball

  If there's anything more American than apple pie, it surely must be baseball. Since the game's first…

  Monday, March 23, 2015

• Despite PR campaigns, distracted driving continues to be a problem

  In case you haven't noticed, an intensive national campaign is being waged by the U.S. Department of…

  Tuesday, March 10, 2015

• America’s 10 most scenic train rides

  America's rugged seacoasts, rolling plains, towering mountains and colorful desert canyons serve to paint…

  Tuesday, February 24, 2015

• 6 of the silliest festivals in America

  Americans love a good laugh — a fact not missed by festival organizers across the country who play…

  Tuesday, February 10, 2015

• 8 oddball museums across America you simply must see

  According to The Washington Post, there are more museums scattered across America than Starbucks and…

  Tuesday, January 27, 2015

• Explore the US by water with these fun river cruises

  River cruising is all the rage these days. According to the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA),…

  Friday, December 12, 2014

• 7 special places to go glamping

  "Glamping," in case you're not familiar with the term, is what lexicographers call a portmanteau or a…

  Monday, November 17, 2014

• 6 best beer cities in America

  There are nearly 3,000 breweries in the U.S. today. Most are microsized operations, led by creative entrepreneurs…

  Thursday, October 30, 2014

• 10 best budget boat rides

  For some folks, ocean cruising just isn't in the cards. This includes those with a tendency toward seasickness,…

  Monday, October 13, 2014

• Travel insurance: Better safe than sorry

  Emergency medical situations aren't the only circumstances where travel insurance can help save the day.…

  Monday, September 29, 2014

• How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites have you visited in the US?

  Posing a question recently to a group of well-traveled friends, I asked, "What do the Statue of Liberty,…

  Monday, September 15, 2014

• 5 questions to ask when deciding to buy a new RV

  Let's assume you're among the ever-increasing number of Americans who have discovered the many benefits…

  Tuesday, September 02, 2014

• 7 amazing new thrill rides across America

  Driven by technological advances and intense competition among theme parks for Americans' discretionary…

  Tuesday, August 12, 2014

• Ditch the beach and plan a thrill‑seeking getaway

  ​Emboldened by the likes of ESPN's X-Games, NBC's World of Adventure Sports series or the nonstop menu…

  Tuesday, July 08, 2014

• Take a plunge at America’s hot springs hot spots

  ​Are you ready for a low-cost, relaxing — even healthful — getaway that you can enjoy summer or…

  Tuesday, June 24, 2014

• 6 of the most amazing national park drives in the US

  One of the best things the federal government has accomplished over the last 100 years or so has been…

  Monday, June 09, 2014

• Gateway to the galaxies: Visiting Arizona’s collection of telescopes

  Cactus and sagebrush aren't the only things sprouting up on the mountains south of Tucson, Arizona. While…

  Tuesday, May 27, 2014

• 6 All-American Roads that you simply can’t miss

  America's network of 150 National Scenic Byways lead to the heart and soul of this great country of ours…

  Tuesday, May 06, 2014