AP Travel Columns

MIAMI - Where else but Florida could a place like Jimbo's exist? Full Story »

DES MOINES, Iowa - Turn a hunt for antiques into a getaway on the 60-mile stretch known as Indiana's Antique Alley. Full Story »

SARASOTA, Fla. - Sarasota and the circus became forever linked more than 70 years ago when John Ringling decided to move the headquarters of his "Greatest Show on Earth" to the lovely Gulf Coast city where he spent his winters. Full Story »

MIAMI - A good guidebook is more than just a compilation of information. It's a travel companion with personality, a sense of humor and usually both strengths and weaknesses. With the proliferation of smart phone guides, a new cast of travel companions is vying to join you on your travels. Full Story »

NEW YORK - It's barbecue season, and if you don't want to get out the grill and smoke up your yard, here are 10 restaurants recommended for their barbecue by Bon Appetit magazine's July issue. Full Story »

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Looking for a beautiful beach without the crowds? Coastal Living magazine recommends 10 secluded beach destinations in its June issue. Full Story »

BERKELEY, Calif. - If you're thinking about a road trip and you need more than a map to help you plan, Avalon Travel Books is out with a new edition of "Road Trip USA" ($29.95). Full Story »

FORT LARAMIE, Wyo. - The frontiersmen who built this outpost in 1834 picked a spot they hoped would enable them to dominate the regional buffalo-hide trade: a valley where two rivers run together and the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. Full Story »

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Are you one of those people with no sense of direction? Full Story »

NEW YORK - The Idaho town of Lewiston ranked No. 1 on a list of top places to live for hunting and fishing. Full Story »

Like a lot of people who use social media, Israel Hyman and his wife Noell went on Twitter to share real-time details of a recent trip. Their posts said they were "preparing to head out of town," that they had "another 10 hours of driving ahead," and that they "made it to Kansas City." Full Story »

MINNEAPOLIS - It may be the last big math problem to solve before school lets out: whether to fly or drive to that summer vacation. Full Story »

HOBOKEN, N.J. - It sounds like a dream job: You have a beautiful old home with extra bedrooms in a location with lots of tourists. You're a great cook and a people-person. Why not open a bed-and-breakfast? Full Story »

NEW YORK - You could pay a lot of money for the privilege of donating your labor to a worthy cause somewhere around the world on a volunteer vacation. Or you could just throw your sleeping bag in the car, drive to a nearby park, and for as little as $150, spend a week in the wilderness rebuilding trails with other nature-lovers. Full Story »

LOS ANGELES - The thought hit as soon as the bus pulled up: "I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance, I needed a vacation, I needed a home in the country. What I had was a coat, a hat and a gun." Full Story »

WASHINGTON - An organization rooted in 20th century car culture is joining 21st century smartphone culture. AAA has introduced a free iPhone application called AAA Discounts, which uses GPS technology to instantly identify nearby businesses offering deals for AAA members. Full Story »

HANALEI, Hawaii - Here is the list of top 10 beaches for 2009 from Stephen P. Leatherman, director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research, also known as Dr. Beach. He has compiled the list annually since 1991 using 50 criteria, including water quality and temperature, cleanliness, weather, sand, safety and facilities. Full Story »

DES MOINES - Several art fairs and festivals are taking place around the Midwest this summer and into September. Full Story »