AP Travel Columns

NEW YORK - Is a family trip to a science center worthwhile with prekindergarteners? Yes, according to Parents magazine, which conducted a survey of the more than 150 science centers in the U.S. and discovered that about a third of them have galleries designed for kids 6 and under.

PARIS - My electric bike is no batmobile, but it makes me feel like a superhero.

When family rights advocate John De Graff started doing some historical research, he came across a shocking discovery — that medieval European peasants had more vacation time than modern American office workers.

A little poking around on Web sites like the National Park Service can turn up all sorts of new ideas for your next vacation destination, places that otherwise might completely escape your notice.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Looking for a fun way to wind up your summer before putting the beach towels away and sending the kids back to school? Here are some festivals scheduled for Labor Day weekend around the country.

BERKELEY, Calif. - In an effort to get travelers off the beaten path and support destinations in developing countries, a group called Ethical Traveler has published a list of the "10 best ethical destinations."

FORT PIERRE, S.D. - A Fort Pierre-to-Deadwood trail ride, recreating a trek taken by thousands who traveled the route more than a century ago, is underway.

Care for some art with your quiet forest scenery? Maybe a little hiking or fishing before you tackle restaurants and shopping? Take a drive to western Massachusetts and see what the Berkshire hills have to offer for relaxation and fun.

WASHINGTON - The State Department's new passport cards, which are wallet-sized identification cards designed to speed border crossings by U.S. citizens to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, are proving popular already.

QUEBEC CITY, Canada - Baha'i holy places in Israel, the Monarch butterfly biosphere reserve of Mexico, and the historic center of Camaguey, a Spanish colonial town in Cuba first settled in 1528, are among the new sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

NEW YORK - Whether you're summering in New England or on a business trip to Louisville, sometimes you feel like having a cocktail. GQ's August issue tells you where to find the best drinks in America, and the results might surprise you, from margaritas in Maine to Manhattans in Kentucky.

COLLINS LANDING, N.Y. - The Thousand Islands International Bridge is marking 70 years since its opening with a celebration planned for Aug. 16.

WASHINGTON - Salman Rushdie and Tiki Barber are among 70 authors scheduled to participate in the 2008 National Book Festival.

NEW YORK - Savannah, Ga., has made it on to Travel + Leisure's list of top 10 cities in the U.S. and Canada for the first time, according to the results of a magazine reader survey.

Looking for a place you haven't visited before where you can spend your vacation time camping and putting some miles under your canoe or kayak — but without going too far off the beaten path? Fire up your computer and search the Web for routes that have been designated as water trails.

FORSYTH, Mo. - He didn't have to teach my son how to tie the Palomar knot. Didn't have to show him how to find fish on the radar, twitch his wrist just right to "walk the dog" with a Zara Spook.

LONDON - Thousands of England's historic sites and monuments are endangered by threats ranging from neglectful landlords and wet weather to burrowing rabbits, the country's heritage guardian said.

WASHINGTON - Learn to tango, make a quilt, blend Scotch whisky or brew beer.

NEW YORK - If you're joining the "staycation" craze this summer by taking your precious vacation days at home, you might find inspiration in "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Backyard Adventures."

What would it take to persuade you to take this summer's vacation trip to Wyoming? How about a dynamite music festival set against the backdrop of mountain scenery?

NEWTON, Mass. - Maybe you can't live like a king, but you can vacation in a castle.

This is a good summer to take in the sunshine and canyon country scenery around Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona line (assuming you've budgeted for gasoline) because the water in the lake is at its highest level in six years and rising.

DES MOINES, Iowa - If you live in the Midwest and you're looking for an overnight getaway, Midwest Living magazine recommends Duluth. This Minnesota city of 87,000 offers maritime heritage, good food, shopping, beaches and parks, all on the shores of Lake Superior.

NEW YORK - The coming Olympic games in Beijing have spurred production of a slew of new guides to China. Along with books from most of the major travel publishers come four noteworthy new products, each offering readers a completely different experience: a literary companion, Mobil and Zagat guides, and a bilingual map.

Looking for a break from summer heat? Take a drive into Ontario — by going east from Michigan or west from New York.

"Presidential Travel. The Journey From George Washington to George W. Bush" (University Press of Kansas. 328 pages. $34.95), by Richard Ellis: In 1833, President Andrew Jackson was a steamboat passenger when a lieutenant he had once fired asked him if he was, in fact, President Jackson. Jackson allowed as how he was, and was greeted with a punch in the nose.

NEW YORK - If you can't afford to go to Europe this summer but you're looking for some interesting places to visit close to home, check out Travel + Leisure's "50 reasons to love the U.S.A. now" in the magazine's July issue and online at http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/50-reasons-to-love-the-usa-now.

The price of gasoline may be climbing, but that's no reason to completely turn your back on four-wheel transportation when you plan your next vacation.

"Progressive Nation" is described on its cover as "a travel guide with 400-plus inspiring landmarks and left turns."