Subject:

north america

Sometimes, it pays to look for inspiration from places not traditionally considered "exotic." Today's image comes from the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. Don't overlook places that are local, or just less well-known, for your next trip.

Fall. Summer has left, the harvest is in, and a new color scheme is in full effect. The greens of summer are replaced with a warmer palette full of reds, oranges, and, as you can see from High Park, in Toronto, yellows. What better excuse to do some exploring than to get an eyeful of autumn leaves?

Did you ever wonder how tortillas were made? Martha Stewart got a lesson on her recent trip to Mexico and shares what she learned on her blog.

This is one tree house you wished you had has a kid. The Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver, BC gives you a birds-eye view from its expansive 136 meter skyway built in 1888.

Get your cheap on. Whether you're on a trip and looking for a cheaper place to get souvenirs, or you're looking for a fun day trip in, and around, your home town, the hunt for thrift stores offers something for everyone. Want a unique t-shirt to remember your vacation by, but don't want to drop $20 at a tourist trap? Hit up your local Goodwill and dig through their racks. We've had visitors strike souvenir gold in several different cities, so no matter where you are traveling (at least in North America) you're likely to find something up your alley, while supporting a worthy cause.

The highlight of any American roadtrip is a glitzy, gimmicky roadside attraction. Bright lights, oversized dinosaurs, and miles of billboards telling you to stop. So, what better place to spend the night on a trip down Route 66 than at the historic Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona?

Public art can be, well, bad. If you've had a chance to visit any major American city in the last few years, you've most likely seen the city's attempt at public art geared for tourists. Every summer, they roll out a cast animal sculpture, ask local artists to decorate it, and place them around town in heavily visited tourist attractions. Washington, DC had the pandas, Seattle had its pigs, and Berlin even had bears. While these may have given local artists a chance to express themselves, all-in-all they were pretty uninspiring.

Instead of checking out what the local tourism board has deemed good art, Seattle has plenty of public art to inspire you....for free.

Does this look like Paris to you? Me neither, but Huttopia Versailles is just five minutes from the Palace of Versailles and a mere twenty minutes from the Eiffel Tower. (By car, we're assuming.) If you're into camping, the Huttopia may be the perfect solution for a peaceful retreat just steps away from civilization.

When we're in a new city, I always want to check out its artistic treasures. Instead of always turning directly to the museum, I like to look outside of the big white box. After my eyes (and my wallet) have had their fill of art on the wall, I like to seek out lesser known venues. Public spaces always offer a wide variety of art to see, often for free, regardless of what country you are visiting.

Who doesn't love a good holiday? No work, plenty of relaxation, and time to do whatever you want. In the United States, this often mean hitting the road and getting out of town, along with thousands of your closest friends and neighbors. So, if you're planning on taking that quintessential American road trip, I've got a few times for you to avoid so that you can keep from getting caught in another classic American pastime: sitting in traffic.