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How the Travel Industry Supports U.S. Military Veterans

Travel industry supports U.S. military with free flights and other discounts

On Veterans Day, let’s salute our active and retired U.S. military personnel. Let’s also salute the travel industry for the ways it supports American soldiers, sailors and Marines. The travel industry gets lots of headlines for cruise ships that have to be [...]

2011 Car of the Year Finalists Include Electric Cars, Hybrids and Sportscars

Which 2010 or 2011 model gets your vote of the most desirable vehicle of the year? The best green car? There are three important awards being announced at the press preview days of the important 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show next week.

First, is the title of Automobile of the Year, awarded by Automobile Magazine. [...]

Top Ten Steepest USA Streets

If you think the steepest streets in the USA are in San Fransisco, you would be wrong. A list of the ten steepest streets by an outfit called Infographics rates the Waipio Road in Hawaii, in the historic Waipio Valley, as the steepest, at an astounding 45% angle. And according to this list, Los Angeles has more steep streets than San Francisco.

Be sure to drive, bicycle or walk carefully on any of them, and if you park, be absolutely, positively sure to engage the emergency parking brake before you get out of the car.

The entire list of the top 10 steepest streets in the USA is on the next page…..

A video of riding a Segway up Baldwin St. is on the page after that ……

Top Travel Apps for Holiday Road Trips

There is a mind-boggling number of iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry applications on the market to download to help make your driving and travel experience more user friendly. So which ones are best?

These are my picks for the five best travel apps for holiday road trips, to help keep you save and get [...]

Where to Visit Around Rhinebeck Chelsea Clinton Wedding Site

Chelsea Clinton wedding to Marc Mezvinsky in historic Rhinebeck, NY (c) Getty Images photo

The former Astor estate in where the Chelsea Clinton wedding took place, is just one of the fabulous millionaire mansions in the Hudson Valley around Rhinebeck, which was founded in 1686 by Dutch settlers. Mansions and smaller estates built or owned by familes named Vanderbilt, Roosevelt, the artists who founded the Hudson River School of painting, and signers of the Declaration of Independence are nearby and open for touring.

So you didn’t get an invitation to this wedding of the year, maybe even the wedding of the decade. There are plenty of historic and romantic spots to visit around Rhinebeck , also with picture postcard views overlooking the Hudson River:

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Home, Library and Museum — FDR’s forbears moved to the Hyde Park area in the early 1800s, and he was born here and grew up in this house. FDR did his famous World War II ‘Fireside Chats’ from his study here. The late president and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, are buried in the Rose Garden. There are lovely walkways and paths to enjoy, along with the 40,000 book library and family artifacts. Nearby is Val-Kill Cottage, the only National Historic site dedicated to a First Lady. Eleanor Roosevelt spent her last years here, when she was “First Lady of the World”, and where she hosted celebrities and politicians, including future president John F. Kennedy.

Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, near Rhinebeck site of Chelsea Clinton wedding, is one of many historic estates to visit in Hudson Valley

Vanderbilt Mansion Naitonal Historic Site – In the days before air conditioning, wealthy New Yorkers escaped to the Hudson Valley in summer for cooler temperatures. That’s what Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt did, rather than building in Newport, Rhode Island, where his Vanderbilt relatives went. This 54-room Beaux Arts beauty, dating from 1895, features Mrs. Vanderbilt’s gilt and gold bedroom that will make you think of Marie Antoinette’s boudoir in Versailles. Yes, it is that opulent. Over the top, actually. The Vanderbilt mansion is immediately next door to the FDR site, and if you plan well, you can visit both in one afternoon.

The FDR and Vanderbilt sites are a few miles south of Rhinebeck. Clermont and Olana are must-see historic sites a few miles to the north.

Holiday Driving Safety 101 Starts in the Driveway

It’s safety first for any holiday driving, including this long Fourth of July weekend. Every family road trip should start with a ten minute check of the car in the driveway to give you peace of mind on the road ahead. Ten minutes now can save you headaches, time [...]

Five Best Places for July Fourth Fireworks and Concerts

Macy's Annual July Fourth Fireworks in NYC is largest in US

The Fourth of July and fireworks displays go together like hot dogs and mustard, kids and ice cream. Here are five of the best places in the United States to watch Fourth of July fireworks:

New York City — The biggest and best, of course, is the annual Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks display. This year again, the pyrotechnics are from barges parked in the Hudson River, near the Statue of Liberty, who will be basking in the glow of 40,000 shells in a 26-minute display synchronized to music. A special symphony of patriotic music, Broadway show tunes and other favorites is being provided by The New York Pops orchestra, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as well as a capella, gospel, choral groups and barbershop quartets. There’s a FREE download of the music on the Macy’s website. The show is being televised by NBC at 9 p.m. EST, which will be broadcasting from the brand new cruise ship Norwegian Epic, berthed in the Hudson River.

Earth Day 2010 Festivals in USA

Earth Day 2010 Respect and Protect the Environment

Thursday, April 22nd is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and there are observances around the world to remind us about protecting and saving our beautiful green earth. Here is a High Five recognition of some of the biggest planet-friendly Earth Day observances in the USA:

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