Nature, history, food and drink, shopping, local lore, and proximity to other mountain destinations make North Carolina’s Transylvania County a smart base camp on your next road trip. Another plus for the destination is that it’s wondrous in winter, gorgeous in spring and summer, and steeped in color in fall.


Festivals celebrate the North Carolina mountain scene, local legends, and local flair. Events, tours, and activities take place year round, with themes that honor white squirrels, mounta

Beachside home for seven with epic views

The Outer Banks in fall might be less hectic than in summer, but if you really want peace and tranquility, head to the small coastal town of Rodanthe. Quieter and more remote than the Outer Banks’ northerly destinations, Rodanthe is known for its easy access to the beach and the sound, giving you unimpeded views of both sunrises and sunsets. The recently-renovated Aloha Too is just three houses away from the ocean, has beach views from the deck, and slee

It’s been known for fun, spring break mayhem, sun-tastic beaches, hot bodies, and—for those old enough to remember—it’s “where the boys are.”

Today, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, still offers all of that and more, especially if you go where the locals go.

So step off the brochure and onto the side streets of sunny southern Florida with our Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Fort Lauderdale, FL …

Unlike single-beach cities, Fort Lauderdale claims eight distinct beaches, each one encompassed by a small

These days, hotel guests have a new standard by which to choose how to spend their travel dollars.

For decades, hotels were judged solely through diamond or star-based rating systems that used rather nebulous criteria to rank accommodations in terms of service, reputation and comfort.

But now the LEED certification system offers a new way for hotel proprietors to entice savvy and increasingly environmentally-conscious guests.



The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green

Home to Scandinavia’s largest city and Europe’s oldest monarchy, the Danish city of Copenhagen radiates both casual elegance and formal pageantry, offset by a liberal sense of humor.

In fact, the U.S. National Science Foundation recently found that the people of Denmark ranked number one in a global “happiness” survey … so by association, hanging out with the locals should make you a happy traveler!

Vikings, museums, architecture, the Little Mermaid, and royalty are a few of the more tradition

Remember those nearby destinations that you’ve been meaning to visit?

Many of the South’s beaches and mountains can be far away, busy, booked, and pricey, so consider some alternatives that are a little closer to home.

Neha Shah reports on one of her favorite one-tank road trips departing from Raleigh to Mount Airy (139 miles), then to the town of Pittsboro (112 miles) and back to Raleigh (38 miles).



Mountains, Music, and Mayberry

Mount Airy, hometown of Andy Griffith, is fondly and ofte

Bollywood, beaches, bazaars, bargains, the Brits and Bombay (now back to Mumbai, the city’s original name) are all part of the many stories of the city’s past and present.

Mumbai, located in the state of Maharashtra is known as the “New York of India,” and not just because the exploding population is forecast to be 28 million in another decade.

The city is so cosmopolitan that world travelers can instantly feel at ease, while still experiencing authentic Indian culture.



It is an eclectic