AP Travel Columns

"Dear American Airlines" (Houghton Mifflin, 192 pages. $22), by Jonathan Miles: There could never be a debut novel more perfectly timed to enter the world than Jonathan Miles' "Dear American Airlines."

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Whether it's sushi and sake or crab and chardonnay, fish and wine pair well. Coastal Living Magazine - http://www.coastalliving.com - has a list of the top 10 seafood and wine festivals in its June issue, including festivals taking place in Hawaii and California this summer.

History runs deep in New York's Hudson River Valley, from Dutch settlers to modern families of the rich and famous, and the region also offers a wealth of scenery and activities to fill your next vacation trip.

BOSTON - If you're traveling overseas, try to leave your computer at home. If you must have it, put only a few files on it and leave as many as possible behind. Encrypt the files you do bring.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. - One of the most popular sites on the Rogue River is a rude one-room cabin of peeled logs and hand-split shingles.

In the mood for an island getaway? Look no further than Ohio and the historic Lake Erie Islands for affordable, easy-access fun.

CALADESI ISLAND, Fla. - The sand and surf of Caladesi Island, a state park in Florida, topped the 2008 list of best beaches from "Dr. Beach," the Florida International University professor Stephen P. Leatherman.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - If you're a parent or grandparent, chances are a kid has stumped you with a text message you couldn't decipher or a brand name you don't know.

WASHINGTON - Budget cuts can be as damaging as bulldozers to pieces of American history, a preservation group said Tuesday in issuing a new list of endangered places that includes the jammed, noisy streets of New York's Lower East Side and the peaceful parkland of California.

Q. I'm thinking about buying a timeshare. Would it be a worthwhile investment?

Grab a ride on the historic Cyclone in Brooklyn or take in a monumental sculpture exhibit in the Bronx if you're heading to New York City with kids this summer.

MINNEAPOLIS - If you are looking for a Fountain of Youth, forget pills and diet supplements. Adventurer Dan Buettner has visited four spots on the globe where people live into their 90s and 100s and outlines how they add years of good life in his new book, "The Blue Zones."

NEW YORK - The last thing any traveler wants is to lose a wallet, whether it's misplaced or taken by a pickpocket, in the middle of a vacation.

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?