Don a costume and hit the slopes for special Pa. spring ski events
Spring is on the horizon, but the fun is not over yet at ski resorts across Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association says it’s a great time to hit the slopes — or the lodge — for a weekend staycation, a spring break vacation or a special event. SkiPA notes...
Maple craving? Here’s where to satisfy that sweet tooth
There’s no sweeter way of getting back to nature than by tapping a maple tree. In Pennsylvania, this is the busiest time of year for the dozens of maple farms that together produced 142,000 gallons of maple syrup during the 2018 maple sugaring season, which runs from February through early...
They’re all good boys (and girls) at Manhattan’s Museum of the Dog
Sure, there are lessons to be learned at the Museum of the Dog: About the symbolism of dogs in art history, and the ways that artists humanize them, and their role as a worker and companion. But if you are a Dog Person — and if you’re here, you’re probably...
Laurel Highlands 2019 guide has new magazine format
The Laurel Highlands 2019 Destination Guide is a new size and a new style. Produced by the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, this year’s annual tourism publication for Westmoreland, Fayette and Somerset counties has arrived with smaller dimensions than past versions and with a shift in presentation from a directory-style resource...
New SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western opens in Somerset
A new SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western has opened its doors near the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Somerset, Somerset County. Located at 165 Waterworks Road, the hotel features 57 guest rooms, each with either a king or two queen beds, a large flat-screen television, microwave and mini-fridge. The SureStay Plus...
SeaWorld removes foam bowls, plates from parks
ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is removing products made of polystyrene foam from its 12 parks. Officials at the Florida-based theme park company said Tuesday the removal of bowls, plates and trays made of the material will prevent an estimated 14 million pieces of polystyrene foam products from...
Partiers in New Orleans will face cold Mardi Gras
NEW ORLEANS — Layers. That seemed to be the key to surviving a cold Fat Tuesday in New Orleans. Temperatures in the New Orleans area were in the 30s and 40s Tuesday morning as thousands of people lined the streets to watch parades and catch beads and throws. People along...
Travel tip: Plan your 2019 vacation with the ‘Happy Traveler’ guide
Vacation planning can be a little easier with the 2019 “Happy Traveler” guide from the Pennsylvania Tourism Office. The annual guide lists fun-filled attractions, historic haunts and outdoor sites across Pennsylvania to help visitors plan their vacation bucket lists. In a section titled “Joy Rides,” the guide explores the state’s...
Study: More sharks bite people in Hawaii, but risk is minuscule
HONOLULU — The rate of shark bites in Hawaii has been increasing slightly in recent years, but the risk remains extremely low — roughly 5-in-1 million — according to new research. Recently published research that looked at 55 years of global data showed shark bites around the world are highly...
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction coming to Disney parksVideo
LOS ANGELES — The world of Star Wars is coming from a galaxy far, far away to become the largest single-themed land created in a Disney park. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is an adventure through the grungy planet Batuu where guests can build their own droids and lightsabers, interact with...
Florida’s Clearwater Beach tops list of 2019’s best beaches
Boy, we all sure could use some warm thoughts this time of year. To the rescue comes travel site TripAdvisor with its 2019 list of the 25 best beaches in the United States. For a second year in a row, Clearwater Beach in Florida lands at the top spot. To...
Smile: Some airliners have cameras on seat-back screens
Now there is one more place where cameras could start watching you — from 30,000 feet. Newer seat-back entertainment systems on some airplanes operated by American Airlines, United Airlines and Singapore Airlines have cameras, and it’s likely they are also on planes used by other carriers. American, United and Singapore...
Southwest hit by computer outage, adding to its problems
DALLAS — Hundreds of Southwest Airlines flights have been delayed as the carrier deals with winter weather and a computer outage. The outage occurred early Friday and grounded Southwest flights around the country for nearly an hour. A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration says Southwest had a problem with...
New Harry Potter roller coaster opening at Universal Orlando
ORLANDO, Fla. — Harry Potter fans should get ready to rev their engines. A new roller coaster modeled after the character Hagrid’s motorcycle will open at Universal Orlando Resort in June. The theme park resort said Thursday that Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure will take riders on a trip with...
Pittsburgh Glass Center plans benefit dinner, Seattle glass tour
The Pittsburgh Glass Center is planning its first Seattle, Wash., glass tour, offering participants a behind-the-scenes tour of museums and private glass studios in the Pacific Northwest city. Tour group members will meet artists and learn more about where they live and work. The May 29-June 2 itinerary includes stops...
Think spring with a trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show
In late winter, a gardener’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of … the Philadelphia Flower Show. Billed as the “oldest and largest indoor flower show in the world,” the annual harbinger of spring is scheduled for March 2-10 in the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Drawing more than 250,000 visitors...
Latrobe among 50 small towns Travel Channel dubs ‘most charming’
It likely comes as no surprise to those who claim bragging rights to Latrobe as their hometown, adopted or otherwise. Travel Channel includes the Westmoreland County town as among “50 of the Most Charming Small Towns in America.” The city gave birth to Fred Rogers, the banana split and Rolling...
Welcome-home illnesses an unexpected ‘bonus’ of traveling
You’ve returned from vacation, and that post glow is fading fast. Your nose is dripping, you’re sneezing and your throat is sore. Or your stomach is upset. Really upset. Why is this your reward for travel, and how can you prevent it? And what if your symptoms don’t go away?...
Travelers beware: Va. lawmakers approve use of speed cameras
Virginia lawmakers have approved legislation to allow the commonwealth’s first speed-camera program, a significant shift for the state, which has been slow to embrace technology that has long been used by law enforcement in neighboring Washington, D.C., Maryland and elsewhere in the national. The legislation, if signed by Gov. Ralph...
‘Golden Girls’ themed cruise to launch in 2020
Gather your pals and confidants, a “Golden Girls” cruise is sailing in 2020. Seems Flip Phone Events is throwing a party and inviting everyone they know — and it’s a “Golden Girls” fan’s dream. The five-night Western Caribbean cruise — aboard the Celebrity Infinity — will set sail from —...
Otter-spotters invited to Cook Forest State Park activity
If you’re looking for a different kind of outdoor winter adventure, you’ll find one on Feb. 23 at Cook Forest State Park. An Otter Watch driving tour is set for 7:30-11:30 a.m. that day along the banks of the Clarion River in the 8,500-acre park spanning Clarion, Forest and Jefferson...
Snowbirds trade vacation homes for winters at 5-star resorts
When Upper East Siders Adelle and Robert Rathe boarded a flight to Saint Martin in mid-January, they left behind a typically cold New York day. By the time they return from their resort getaway in mid-April, the trees in Central Park will have started to bloom. The Rathes are hardly...
Spring break: Planning and flexibility key to successful travel
It’s not too early to start thinking about spring break. The annual rite for sun worshipers, which runs from February to mid-April, isn’t just a stampede toward warmer weather. Many ski resorts experience peak demand, too. If you’re traveling somewhere in the coming weeks, you’ll need to start planning now...
Travel tip: Consider a cruise for a midwinter getaway
Trade your cabin fever for a cruise ship cabin. Cruise Critic offers five destinations for winter vacations on the water: 1. The Caribbean and Bahamas: Warmth and sunlight are a year-round draw. Keep in mind that some February and March cruises fill up with spring breakers and can get rowdy....
American presidents inspired these grand old hotels
Pair history with exploration when you and the family check into a storied hotel inspired by an American leader. Here are five to consider: 1. McKinley Grand Hotel, Canton, Ohio This boutique, independent hotel is the ideal home base from which to learn about our 25th president. Visit the William...
