AP Travel Columns

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Bell Witch Cave, which has been the subject of ghost stories for two centuries, is among seven Tennessee sites added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Despite historic drought in parts of the Southeast, there's summer fun to be had at Tennessee Valley Authority lakes, reservoirs and dams this year as the nation's largest public power company marks its 75th birthday.

Heading for the beach, hopping a plane to France or hitting the American road with your kids this summer? Some books to prep or pack:

Ready to hit the road for a culinary adventure? There's a stack of new summer road trip-ready books to help.

NEW YORK - Gil Rivera picked me up in his red lady magnet with a lightning bolt decal by some basketball courts downtown. "Let's go to Miami!" I shouted. But Gil, sporting Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses and a black cap, had places to be in Philly, and so did I.

NEW YORK - When David Champion is behind the wheel of a car, he accelerates slowly and brakes gingerly. He tries to drive, he says, as if there were a cup of coffee on the dashboard that would shower him with scalding liquid if he were overzealous with the accelerator or the brake.

OAKLAND, Calif. - Lonely Planet, the guidebook publishing company, is relaunching its series on national parks with four books out this spring: "Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks"; "Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks"; "Grand Canyon National Park"; and "Banff, Jasper and Glacier National Parks."

DUBLIN, N.H. - Yankee magazine's 2008 Special Travel Guide hits newsstands May 6 with all kinds of recommendations for enjoying summer travel in New England, from places in Connecticut for art-lovers, to moose-watching in Maine, to 244 "Editor's Choice" selections, broken down by state and region.

Itching for a road trip but worried about the price of gas? Then choose a relatively short route that packs a lot of sightseeing into your enjoyment of the open road.

NASHVILLE - A guide to faith-based trips is out called "The Christian Travel Planner."

NEW YORK - More beach resorts are offering pools with water slides, no-cost children's programs and other amenities that make them attractive, affordable alternatives for families looking for one-stop vacations, according to Parents magazine.

Q: I'm heading to Europe this summer, and I want to bring my cell phone, but international roaming looks expensive. How do I keep costs down?

MENLO PARK, Calif. - It's the best of both worlds: outdoor green spaces and vibrant big cities. Sunset magazine has recommendations in its April issue for 10 places to enjoy springtime in the West without leaving civilization.

Summer is coming, and that means cookout season. But some cookouts are bigger than others, big enough to be worthy of consideration as travel destinations in the next couple of months. You'll have a good time, get a chance to sample some outrageously good barbecue and hear fantastic music, and maybe pick up some tips for your own backyard banquet.

EDITOR'S NOTE: As more of the world opens to tourism, some who treasured undiscovered places mourn what they have lost. This is one man's lament, from Bangkok Chief of Bureau Denis D. Gray, who has lived, worked and traveled in Asia for more than 30 years.

HODGENVILLE, Ky. - Abraham Lincoln's hometown is making sure the 16th president gets a bicentennial birthday bash.

Q: What can I do if I have frequent flier miles on an airline that ceases operation?

The next time you're thinking of an urban getaway, turn on your computer and see what the Internet can tell you about Denver. It's a lot more than just a place to pass through on your way to a ski resort in the Rockies.

For northerners, it's about time for spring gardening chores again. But before you haul your tools out of the garage, consider taking some travel time down South to see what a few of the region's big gardens are doing to welcome spring. Maybe you'll get some ideas for your own backyard planting.

NEW YORK - Is your heart set on a trip to Europe this summer despite the weak dollar and pricey plane fares?

The scenery will blow you away at any time of year, the weather is great and for variety this pocket of the West also boasts an award-winning Shakespeare festival. And before you start packing, there are plenty of Web sites to help you choose your destinations and plan your fun in the southwest corner of Utah.

NEW YORK - From the tall tower in Dubai to a contemporary art museum on New York's Lower East Side, noteworthy architecture is springing up around the globe. Conde Nast Traveler's April issue picks seven designs as the "new seven wonders of the architecture world." They are:

There's a lot of music in Nashville to fill any vacationer's visit, but in April they really rev it up with a whole series of festivals, awards shows and concerts.

OAKLAND, Calif. - Lonely Planet has long been synonymous with adventurous, no-frills young travelers, but the guidebook company's City Guides are growing up.

ALBANY, N.Y. - New York and Massachusetts are launching an effort to conserve dozens of roadside monuments marking the route taken by patriots who transported the artillery that forced the British from Boston during the Revolutionary War.

Think about getting far away from it all on your next getaway, way out in the middle (almost) of the Atlantic on the island of Bermuda, about 900 miles due east of Charleston, S.C.

BERKELEY, Calif. - If early retirement and an empty nest have you yearning for a new adventure, consider taking your next cue from "The Grown-Up's Guide to Running Away From Home: Making a New Life Abroad" by Rosanne Knorr (Ten Speed Press, $14.95).

NEW YORK - You don't have to be rich to plan a beach vacation. Travel + Leisure's March issue profiles 27 affordable beach resorts, each one charging less than $250 a night, from the Puako Bed & Breakfast on Hawaii's Big Island ($98 a night) to the Hotel della Baia in Italy on the volcanic island of Ischia, known for hot springs and therapeutic mud ($183 a night).

NEW YORK - Two new books are out describing around-the-world trips in search of great food and great golfing.