Author: Beth J. Harpaz
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No Trump slump in tourism but there could be a Trump bump
NEW YORK — Last winter, the U.S. tourism industry fretted that Trump administration policies might lead to a “Trump slump” in travel. But those fears may have been premature. International arrivals and travel-related spending are up in 2017 compared with the same period in 2016. There might even be a “Trump bump,” says Roger Dow,…
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Summer vacation? Lots of Americans say they can’t afford it
Forget frequent flier miles, last-minute getaways and even road trips. Nearly half of Americans say they won’t be taking a vacation this summer, mostly because they can’t afford it, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The new AP-NORC survey, conducted in May, said 43 percent of Americans…
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Cuyahoga Valley, a national park in Cleveland’s backyard
SAGAMORE HILLS, Ohio – It’s America’s 11th most visited national park, but it’s also a place many never have heard of: Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Nearly 2.3 million visited Cuyahoga in 2015, putting it right behind better-known parks such as Glacier National Park in Montana and Acadia National Park in Maine. But if you’re not…
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Did your dog get skunked? There’s an easy household remedy
Buddy is a city dog, accustomed to bedtime walks around the block on a leash. But on family vacations in rural Maine, I let her out the back door each night unaccompanied. One night last summer, she was gone awhile. I called to her and when she finally stumbled back, she seemed stunned. Her fur…
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Trendy but calm: Adult coloring books selling like crazy
NEW YORK – Adult coloring books are giving Harper Lee a run for the money on best-seller lists this summer. Dover Publications has sold more than 3 million adult coloring books with titles like “Flower Fashion Fantasies.” Quarto Publishing will have 1.3 million in print this year ranging from mandalas to fairies. “Secret Garden: An…
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Want to stand out in cap and gown? Decorate the mortarboard
It’s hard to stand out at graduation when dozens, hundreds or even thousands of your classmates are dressed in identical caps and gowns. But some students individualize their appearance by decorating their mortarboards. Designs range from a simple lettered message such as “Thanks, Mom and Dad!” to an elaborate craft project with images, glitter or…
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Travel: Holiday events, from light shows to menorahs
The dark days of December are being lit up with holiday sparkle all over the map, from creative Christmas trees to giant menorahs. Gingerbread houses, light displays and train shows are part of the fun, too. Here are a few of the biggest and best-known events around the country. TREES Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree…
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Sesame Street marks 45th birthday
You don’t get to be the longest-running children’s show in U.S. TV history by doing the same thing over and over. So even though parents who grew up watching “Sesame Street” still can see old favorites such as Big Bird, things on the street have changed since the show debuted 45 years ago on Nov.…
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Halloween attractions up the scare factor
Halloween seems to be getting scarier, with attractions going ever-more interactive and in-your-face. At Knott’s Scary Farm in Buena Park, Calif., guests are outfitted with neon-green laser guns and ordered to shoot actors portraying zombies by aiming at their heads. At the Dent Schoolhouse in Cincinnati, a butcher appears to demonstrate how to slaughter a…
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How’s sleep-away camp going? Check the photos
NEW YORK (AP) — Not long ago, parents who sent children to sleep-away camp might wait days or even weeks for a letter. And they’d be lucky if their kids’ scribbled notes home said anything beyond “Send candy!” or “I’m homesick.” But now, many camps post photos and even videos online daily so parents can…