Adopted home of Superman flying high

METROPOLIS, Illinois (AP) -- Passing through southern Illinois on their way to Nashville, Diana Brown and her son Colin saw the signs pointing the way to this town's Superman Square and its colorful bronze statue of the Man of Steel.

Angling traditions endure in remote Maine village

GRAND LAKE STREAM, Maine (AP) -- From his seat at the square stern of his Grand Lake Stream canoe, master Maine guide Randy Spencer points to a splotch of light-colored water along the shore of Big Lake.

Wagon trains give way to rappelling

CITY OF ROCKS NATIONAL RESERVE, Idaho (AP) -- The towering spikes, monoliths and pillars of granite that jut out of the high desert floor along the old wagon trail to California's gold fields were marveled at by thousands of transcontinental travelers more than a century ago.

Rembrandt's year yields bumper crop of visitors

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Rembrandt is getting better with age. Four hundred years after his birth, he's drawing more people than ever to his native country -- for everything from art exhibits to walking tours to a musical.

Looking for an unusual place to stay?

(Budget Travel Online) -- Hotels.com -- to pick just one major booking engine -- says it allows customers to search among and make reservations at "more than 25,000 properties worldwide." Sounds impressive, until you realize the United States alone has more than 47,000 hotels with at least 20 rooms.

Navigating cell phone headaches overseas

(CNN) -- If you're a frequent overseas business traveler, you've likely encountered the frustrations of using a cell phone abroad.

Peru ritual is a shear delight

PAMPA GALERAS, Peru (AP) -- Hundreds of villagers march side by side along the wind-blasted Andean plain, closing in on their prey: herds of nervous, fast-moving vicunas -- the smaller, wilder cousins of llamas and alpacas.

Swans at the heart of Boston Public Garden

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- Elizabeth Ellis first went to the Boston Public Garden out of frustration. She hadn't been able to sell her paintings and was seeking inspiration.

Here's walking on you, kid

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Upper West Side brownstone where Humphrey Bogart grew up has long ago been turned into public housing. But the block, like Paris, will always be his.

Eritrean islands teem with life

DAHLAK KEBIR, Eritrea (Reuters) -- Shoals of jackfish and snapper emerge from the gloom of the scuttled, rusting warship as visitors snorkel past.

Go someplace different this July Fourth

(AP) -- Planning to spend the July Fourth weekend with your usual barbecue in the back yard, followed by the local fireworks? You still have time to mine the Internet for something different to do this year, with possibilities ranging from Western celebrations to patriotic extravaganzas.

How adventurous should your family vacation be?

(AP) -- When Lauryn Axelrod plans a vacation with her teenage son Josh, she begins with one question: What new cultural and physical experiences do I want to give my child?

Nude resorts take off gloves in fight for customers

LAND O' LAKES, Florida (AP) -- The photo of the attractive brunette is strategically cropped, but the ad makes it clear she's wearing nothing but a smile. The pitch: She swims nude at Paradise Lakes Resort and so can you.

Stop along the river

(Southern Living) -- A one-of-a-kind neighborhood exists between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Nowhere else in the world will you see so many beautiful plantation homes, unique accommodations and great gifts. Better still, these stunning structures are open for tours, and all line the banks of the undulating Mississippi River.

Brazil airline cancels most U.S. flights till June 28

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) -- Struggling to pay for fuel and with part of its fleet grounded, Brazil's troubled airline Varig said Wednesday it canceled most flights to the United States and some to Europe, at least until June 28.

Tourism booming in South Africa amid rosy outlook

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) -- South Africa's tourist industry is on a roll. Record numbers of visitors streamed in last year and the future looks even rosier.

Temple Square Utah's top tourist attraction

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) -- Travel brochures can boast about breathtaking Zion, Bryce and Arches national parks. Tourism promoters can roar about Dinosaur National Monument and hawk the state's high peaks.

Not so fast on quickie security checks

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A program to let frequent flyers breeze through airports has been delayed as the government and private businesses grapple with ways to ensure retention of tough security standards.

Researchers look for alternative jet fuels

SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- The spike in oil prices has prompted plenty of drivers to consider biodiesel-powered or hybrid cars for their daily commute, but what about that gas guzzler we use to fly across country?

Take green tactics on the road

(CNN) -- The environmental impact of your next business trip may be the last thing on your mind, but there are some simple ways to make your travel greener.