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48 Hours In: Amsterdam The Dutch capital is back in full swing this summer, thanks to the reopening of its top museums. Simon Calder joins the celebration... The Independent Five exotic places you can go without a U.S. passport Longing for a long-distance getaway but don't have a passport? No problem! We've found five faraway places overseas where, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, you won't need to bring a passport... USA Today 36 Hours in Vancouver, British Columbia In this stunning city, even commutes can be attractive. But Vancouver's appeal doesn’t end with the outdoors... New York Times  Tours and Activities Europe's Secret Beaches You've donned oversize sunglasses and slathered on sunscreen for a blissed-out day of sunbathing along the French Riviera -- you and about a million other pasty tourists... The Huffington Post 10 great places for family vacations in national parks National parks not only preserve nature, they also nurture families, says Jonathan Dorn, editorial director of Backpacker magazine and Nationalparktrips.com, a planning site. "These are places where families can unplug from their normal chaos and reconnect"... USA Today At Bar ‘21,’ Rubbing Elbows With History In an age when so many of New York's best cocktail places are downtown, Bar "21" is the rare Midtown drinking establishment that feels energized... New York Times  Cruise Update: Alcohol to Blame for 18-Year-Old's Death on Carnival Cruise Ship An 18-year-old died while at sea onboard Carnival Miracle's February 18 sailing. Multiple reports assert the cause of death was alcohol poisoning... CruiseCritic.com Viking cuts steel for first ocean-going cruise ship In a ceremony this week, Viking Cruises cut the first steel for its first ocean cruise ship, Viking Star, which is scheduled to be completed in early 2015, and to begin sailing that April as part of the new Viking Ocean Cruises line... USA Today  Transportation FAA may clear personal gadgets for takeoff, landing Federal officials could be loosening restrictions on those personal electronic devices airline passengers hate to put away at the beginning and end of their flights... NBCNews.com Airbus A350 flies over Paris Air Show Airbus flew its new Airbus A350 over the Paris Air Show this morning, adding an exclamation point at the end of 50th addition of the event north of Paris at Le Bourget, France... USA Today  Lodging Hotel Review: Hotel Indigo, Hong Kong The 138-room Hotel Indigo has opened in Hong Kong's lively Wan Chai district... The Australian The Big Six: Long Island lodges Retro summer camps, high-society hangouts and chic beachside retreats... The Independent Other and Odd Quran Park: Dubai Sets Sights On Islamic Attraction Dubai has added a new item to its top ambitions such as building the world's largest Ferris wheel and bidding for an Angry Birds theme park – a site honoring the Quran... The Huffington Post Big banks, big pharma and now, big travel? Elizabeth Becker's latest book was in part, born out of frustration. The seasoned journalist, who got her start as a war correspondent, began to notice a growing global economic force; a sector of the global economy changing whole societies and ecosystems but one relegated to the lifestyle section of most major papers... CNN VIP theme-park passes sell exclusivity, intimacy I was about to board Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, one of the most popular rides at Universal's Islands of Adventure, where high-season wait times often top 75 minutes. But, not for me, not this time; I spent a mere 45 seconds in line... USA Today 
TRO Smith The growing social media divide in travel and hospitality A few weeks ago, Travel + Leisure announced the winners of the 2013 Social Media in Travel + Tourism (SMITTY) Awards. From amazing Instagram photos to engaging Twitter accounts and hilarious YouTube videos, it's becoming clear that travel companies are making a huge effort to show up in spades on social networks. As I looked through the list of winners and runners-up this year, a few things quickly became apparent to me... TRO Smith 365 Guide Tip for the Day The Psychology of Travel Consulting – Creativity Where are new ideas born? Does it seem sometimes like all the good ideas are gone and that the energy has drained out of your travel practice? There are a few ways to pump new energies into your thinking and to generate some new ideas for marketing and growing your business... Travel Research Online Today in History The Japanese Attack Fort Stevens, Oregon On June 21, 1942 a federal fortification at the mouth of the Columbia river in Oregon became the only military installation in the continental US to be attacked by the Japanese during World War II... Travel Research Online  | |||
