Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Travel

By Stephanie Allmon LEIPZIG, Germany -- For this group of 33 American tourists, most of German-Lutheran descent, arriving in the city most closely associated with Johann Sebastian Bach evoked the same throat-tightening, glassy-eyed, profound reverence that might consume Elvis fans the first time they see Graceland or baseball die-hards when they get to Cooperstown.

Looking for an excuse to show your support for Florida beaches? The Beaches of South Walton -- a destination of 15 Gulf Coast beach communities in Florida's Panhandle -- are offering a $250 gift card for shopping at Silver Sands Factory Stores or for future travel on Southwest Airlines for visitors who book three or more nights at one of more than 100 participating lodging partners for a stay by Sept.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share

By Gary A. Warner You don't have to leave the boys of summer behind when you go on vacation. Baseball, in fact, can play an MVP roll in a vacation for fans and family.Here's a lineup of some baseball travel all-stars, the "starting nine" of spots related to the national pastime.Best modern ballpark: PNC Park, PittsburghSmall is beautiful.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share

By Tracey Myers On Independence Day at 5:40 a.m., I stood just beyond the base of Barr Trail overlooking Manitou Springs in Colorado. I was about to hike Pikes Peak.I looked at the experience as a symbol of what I wanted to get back to in my life.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share

By Beth J. Harpaz Before Disneyland and Six Flags, before steel coasters went 50 mph and rides were named for cartoons, movies and superheroes, there were trolley parks.The parks were built by trolley companies at the end of the line in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as a way to get workers and their families to ride streetcars and railways on weekends.

Things are really heating up in Hot Springs, Ark. The first round of heavy lifting begins Friday and Saturday when the Strongest Man National Championships takes center stage in the air-conditioned Summit Arena to hoist large stones, carry large timbers, lift automobiles, and pull hefty motorcycles on sleds.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share

By Anne Wallace Allen Are you trying to figure out how to afford a vacation this summer? Or maybe you have your heart set on visiting Cancun for Christmas.Either way, finance-management website Mint.com can help you calculate how many lattes you would have to skip to pay for a plane ticket, resort or any other expenses for your dream trip.Since 2007, Mint has been helping spenders big and small set goals for their personal and household needs.

-- FamilyTravel.com Oklahoma more than OKVisit Oklahoma and enjoy family-friendly destinations and activities where the price is right: free.Nature trails. Make your way to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, where the kids will love viewing the bison and spotting prairie dogs.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share

By Jane Engle Rent an RV, hit the road and save gobs of money on your next vacation.Really? Maybe not, even some advocates concede."You could probably pack four people in a car, eat at restaurants, stay in hotels, and I imagine it's about the same cost," said Chuck Woodbury, editor of RVtravel.com, a consumer website offering tips and tricks for RVers.But consider the intangibles."The real advantage of the RV is that the family's together, and you can cook and eat healthy meals," Woodbury said.

By DERRIK J. LANG UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- More than two years ago, a fire ravaged the Universal Studios Hollywood back lot, turning several famous outdoor sets into ashes and apparently setting iconic giant gorilla King Kong free.