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Beat the traffic: Experience nature, scenery, and culture on these urban waterways. Rivers run through many U.S. metropolitan areas, including the nation's capital. "I love kayaking on the Potomac under the Key Bridge," says Chris Farmer, a Washington, D.C. lawyer. "I can see monuments and nesting ospreys all in one afternoon." Here are six more great paddling cities.

The bathhouse attendant handed me a plain paper cup of hot mineral water collected from the tub spigot and said, "Drink this before it cools. It will acclimate your body from the inside." This was important, said my attendant at the Arlington Hotel Spa in Hot Springs, Ark., because I had just slipped my naked body into water that was hotter than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Locals think the San Saba River is as close to paradise as you can get. After soaking up sun and floating along four of the 47 available river miles in Menard County, I agree. By September, the heat is definitely overstaying its welcome, and a kayak trip that's only a two-hour drive from Austin is a heavenly relief.

Snorkeling was the main thin on our agenda when my husband Larry and I arrived at the Cabo San Lucas marina for a boat ride into the Sea of Cortes. But romance hung heavy in the air - especially when we boarded the 75-foot Turkish schooner named Tu Enamorado, which means “Your Lover.”  Owned jointly by the charter company Barcos Que Cantan and Marquis Los Cabos Resort and Spa, Tu Enamorado is the newest offering in grand romantic experiences for guests vacationing on the tip of the Baja Peninsula.  It’s the perfect setting for an introduction to the Sea of Cortes, once described by oceanographer Jacques Cousteau as “The greatest aquarium of the world.”

Overlapping layers of misty blue mountains fill the landscape between dense green forests and pastel skies. A persistent haze threatens to blend valleys and ridges as it hovers over the Smoky Mountains, softening rough edges into a dreamy, impressionistic vision.

Towering rock canyons, more than 350 caves and two spring-fed creeks make Colorado Bend State Park ripe for exploring. With 16 miles of hiking trails, including 14 miles suitable for mountain biking, the park provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy unspoiled nature.

Clouds of red dust engulf the 4 x 4 Land Cruiser in which my husband, Larry, and I and a family of four from India are riding across the sand dunes of the Arabian Desert. Our driver revs the engine and climbs to the ridge, then zooms along the top, suddenly swerving and kicking up enough sand to cover the windows. Up ad down we go, over steep banks, down hills and then plowing back up again.

“Open House,” Country Lifestyle, July/August 2008

Surrounded by live oaks and known during Lyndon Johnson’s presidency as the Texas White House, this expansive limestone-and-wood, two-story house will soon open to the public.

The Johnson clan gathered here for more than 50 years.  “But now it’s time to share this place with the folks who own it—the American people,” says President Johnson’s daughter, Luci Baines Johnson of Austin. Contact for complete article

“Ogden’s Best,”  AAA Home and Away/ Hoosier, July/August 2008

Travelers in the Old West during the mid- to late-1800s knew the truth in the saying, “You can’t get anywhere without going through Ogden.”  Rail traffic transformed the small Utah town into the “Crossroads of the West,” a position it held for more than 60 years. Contact for complete article

“Come ‘n’ Get It,” AAA Texas Journey, May/June 2008

If you have a hankering for genuine cowboy cooking but don’t want to spend hours stirring beans over an open fire, you can get a taste at these Western heritage events. Contact for complete article

“Out of Africa,” Country Lifestyle, March/April 2008

The sky glowed crimson—the brightest red imaginable—as the plane descended for a nighttime landing in Arusha, Tanzania, last August.

My husband Larry and I marveled at the lush landscape surrounding the cottages at our overnight lodge, even though it was winter in the Southern Hemisphere and dry season in East Africa. Contact for complete article

“A Feast of Life,” Austin American-Statesman, April 20, 2008

Four zebras nestled together, one resting its head on another’s rump, before ambling across our path.  In the scraggly brush, impalas rubbed horns and noses in a nurturing gesture.  Mama elephants led their babies on a constant march over the savannah in search of food and water.  Herds of wildebeests scampered across the plains, kicking up dust where vegetation had been gnawed to the gournd.  And then there were lions—in the midst of mating season—barely visible as they lay in the brown grass.

Wildlife—that’s the defining word for the east African country of Tanzania. Sights and sounds of an African safari put all your senses on high alert. Contact for complete article

No matter where you are in Horseshoe Bay, water takes center stage. While you'd expect a resort built on a lake to center activities around water, that's just he beginning of the sensory experience for visitors. Abundant waterfalls, fountains, and pools, as well as Lake LBJ, offer soothing sounds and cool respite from summer's heat, especially for guests staying at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott, the resorts' only full-service hotel.

From the moment you turn into Horseshoe Bay near Marble Falls - and see the multi-spouted fountain you know this is a special place. Whether you come for a couple's weekend or family vacation, the Hill Country setting combines Southern hospitality with the spirited outdoor environment attached to a constant level lake. Surrounded by stately palm trees, colorfully landscaped gardens and picturesque grounds, it doesn't take long to leave the workday world behind. Contact for complete article

Spawned of necessity during World War II when the country desperately needed raw magnesium for rubber and other war materials, Lake Jackson began as a crude settlement labeled Camp Chemical.

Three thousand houses, 45 barracks and 45 utility buildings were completed in six weeks to house workers building the chemical plant. After the war, the entire community was bulldozed, leaving no traces of the 12,000 inhabitants.

The town did not disappear, however, but was reborn through careful planning to house workers for Dow, the first chemical company in Texas. A.P. Beutel, general manager of the Texas Division from 1949 to 1963, visualized a city among the swamps and forests of the Gulf Coast. He and architect Alden Dow, son of company founder Herbert H. Dow, chose a site, then planned and created what has become the thriving "City of Enchantment." Contact for complete article

The first time many people see the Caribbean is from the deck of a cruise ship, and it's no wonder because the area is loaded with tropical islands luring visitors to fun and sun. With hundreds of itineraries from which to choose, the Eastern Caribbean was the second most popular destination after the Western Caribbean (which  includes Mexico) for many of the 10.2 million North Americans who cruised in 2006.

Sure, you stop at multiple ports. And you might only get a taste of each island. But by venturing beyond shore-side tourist shops, you'll get a better idea of where you'd like to return for a longer stay. Not only will you have exciting adventures, but local guides love sharing history and stories about their native lands. Contact for complete article

In this age of cheap ink-jet printers, some people have lost appreciation for the intricate work of old-fashioned letterpress printing. But not Hath Show Print in downtown Nashville, Tenn., which has been churning out advertising posters since it opened in 1879. Using techniques from the 1500s that meld designing and printing into a creative art form, this shop is still producing concert posters for a medley of stars: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Shania Twain, Wynona Judd, and Coldplay.

One of the oldest letterpress poster shops in America is once again coming into glory. Part working print shop and part historical archive, Hatch annually attracts more than 25,000 visitors, people casually drawn in by the assemblage of placards featuring their favorite performers, the building's museum-like appearance, and the bustling work-in-progress atmosphere. Click for complete article

There's a reason 425,000 people visit Rock City annually, and it's not to climb over all those boulders.

Opened to the public in 1932, Rock City, on Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tenn., celebrates its 75th anniversary in May, the perfect time to visit - or revisit - this delightful family attraction (www.seerockcity.com).

Sightseers in the early 1800's were attracted to naturally formed avenues of the place they nicknamed Rock City. Discovered by two missionaries who came to the Lookout Mountain area to minister to Indians in 1823, Rock City didn't become a major attraction until Frieda Carter developed the large walk-through garden around 1930. Contact for complete article

Multi-generational travel is a great way to celebrate a special anniversary of family reunion. But if cruising on a mega-ship or visiting large theme parks with thousands of other people doesn't meet your idea of quality togetherness, there are other options.

You can quickly replace technological connectivity with personal connectivity when family members bond over shared experiences - and everyone benefits. When planning your next vacation, consider excursions such as these. Contact for complete article

Love water activities but hate sticky saltwater at the beach? Then rent a houseboat on Cumberland Lake in southeastern Kentucky. From Lexington, head to Grider Hill Marina on the northern end of the lake or check out Water Way Adventures to the south - either provides a prime location for renting houseboats. You can cruise on your own private resort and park in a secluded cove. Large, luxurious houseboats easily sleep 12, and several boats can be moored together to accommodate larger groups. Contact for complete article

Free-falling from a parachute seemed a bit risky, so I took a safer alternative, but one with similar sensations. When visiting Oahu, I satisfied a longtime desire to soar in a glider (not to be confused with hang gliding).

When you fly in a glider, you're still floating in air, absorbing spectacular views while drifting casually toward earth; but instead of hanging limply from a parachute, you are enveloped by the protective cocoon of a non-powered plane.

"It's the most exciting adventure many people have on the island," says Bill Star, asks Mr. Bill, co-owner of The Original Glider Rides.

ENCHANTED ROCK - At first glance, Trois Estate at Enchanted Rock blends into the rocky landscape of central Texas with its Western décor in tan stucco buildings. But wander inside, and you'll find an entirely different world, a myriad of fascinating collections comprised of thousands of historic, artistic, and often eccentric items that Charles Trois has spent a lifetime amassing.

The world's largest cap gun collection. Old West cowhide vests and jackets. Exquisitely beaded Native American purses. Antique tricycles and toy cars fit to ride. An 1870's hurdy-gurdy. The first electric vending machine. Original peace medals given by the U.S. government to Indian tribes. Short wave radios. Tin sculptures. Tip trays. Items literally fill every shelf, wall, and room of this unique place.

"I got hooked and started collecting," Trois says. Click for complete article

Every June in Rachos de Taos, N.M., Martin Dimas has the perfect opportunity to teach his son Adam about ethnic pride. For 25 years, Dimas has been a parish member of San Francisco de Asís Church (also known as Saint Francis of Assisi Church), one of the most painted and photographed adobe churches in the Southwest. Although it has been an icon for nearly 200 years, the church loses about one inch of its mud covering to the elements each year; helping protect it from potential destruction is an annual ritual for the Dimases and hundreds of other loyal parishioners and volunteers. Click for link to complete article.

"How do you know where to ride?" Houston author Dorothy Waldman asked the friend who first introduced her to motorcycles.

His answer — that you experiment and ride a lot of roads that aren't great and get lost sometimes — didn't sound like fun. So she wrote the guidebook she wanted to use herself.

"The Bikers Guide to Texas: 25 Great Motorcycle Rides in the Lone Star State" (Maverick Publishing, $18.95) was intended to help time-crunched bikers ride for fun and ride safely, without worrying about where the road might lead. The result is a book that profiles favorite paths across the state, whether you travel on two wheels or ride in a vehicle with four. Click for complete article

People stare — even giggle and point — as we pass by, but they want to know more about the strange-looking, two-wheeled, gyroscope-balanced devices rolling through the streets of Fisherman’s Wharf.

“You’ll change from being tourists to being a tourist attraction,” warned John Go, general manager of San Francisco Electric Tour Company, as he acquainted the six adventurers in our group to Segways.  Contact for complete article

Visitors come to Ruidoso for the mountains, hiking and biking in summer, skiing in winter. Beautiful views, moderate temperatures in both seasons, and small-town ambience make this New Mexico area a favored destination for outdoor activities.

In recent years, however, it has also gained a reputation as a hub of performing arts.

The reason? Spencer Theater, a striking combination of modernistic architecture and outstanding acoustics built to showcase theater, music and dance. Click for link to complete article.

'Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the largest, fastest and most luxurious catamaran in Alaska. Captain Brad Phillips begins his comprehensive wildlife and history narration as the 137-foot Klondike Express leaves the port of Whittier.

He doesn't tell passengers that he owns the boat or that he has been in the day-cruise business in Alaska for 45 years. Yet his obvious delight in sharing the land he loves with visitors, his sense of humor and his pride in the vessel are all clues that he is more than a hired hand.

last updated on: July 16, 2010 by Brandi Crouch