Candyce H. Stapen

There are several key steps in preparing your dog for a safe and pleasant journey, according to our travel writer. (Photo courtesy of Candyce H. Stapen)

Make the most of your road trips this summer by taking along your best friend. To meet the growing demand for canine travelers, many hotels now accept dogs, even if the properties tag on hefty fees. Several chains — including Red Roof, Kimpton and Motel 6 — accept pets with little or no added fees.

Make sure your dog feels comfortable in your vehicle, a process that takes time, particularly if he or she has travel anxiety. Drive to the park or playground so your pet has positive associations with the car.

Do not feed your dog for two hours prior to a ride to minimize the chance of motion sickness.

Get your dog accustomed to blaring horns, bus noises and other city sounds by walking her in crowded areas before the trip. You want to be sure your dog does not scare and bolt from you into traffic.

Check your dog’s collar. It should have your cell phone number, not home phone number. Microchipping your dog is highly recommended, and you may want to consider downloading a doggie first aid app on your phone.

Keep a water bowl, bottle of water, leash, treats and waste bags near you. That way when you pull over in a safe place to water and walk your dog, the supplies are handy.

Have two dog collars and two leashes. I learned this the hard way when one of my dogs ripped her leash and the other lost her collar.

Pack grooming supplies, toys and any medications your dog takes.

Stow a doggy medical kit in the trunk. This is not too different from one for humans except for the canine-specific medications.

Consider an insect-repellant dog vest if headed to the woods or other places likely to have mosquitoes and other bugs.

Be sure to have a photo of your dog in case she gets lost.

Dogs are safest in the back seat. Small pups can ride in a crate, but bigger dogs require a pet safety harness.

Do not allow your dog to stick her head out the car window. Debris can fly in her eyes and she can get hurt by a close encounter with another car.

Stop every two or three hours so your dog can relieve himself and stretch his legs.

Patience counts. It may take Fido extra time to feel comfortable enough to “go” on a non-grassy patch or an unfamiliar one.

Enjoy discovering new places with your dog, whose wagging tail will quickly win over strangers.

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More and more dog owners are bringing their four-legged pals along on trips. You and your pooch can enjoy the companionship of the road and new environments, but like any family journey, this one takes preparation. To ensure your road trip with your furry companion remains safe and enjoyable, follow the tips below. 

Dog Days of Summer: Plan a Trip with Your Furry Friend

This summer, take advantage of annual deals for trips to places like Florida, the Carribean and Costa Rica.

To celebrate the official start of summer June 21, 40 hotels and resorts around the world are offering deals as part of 

, with prices averaging about 20 percent to 50 percent less than typical rates. To take advantage of the sale, you must book the deals during a 24-hour period, starting 12:00 a.m. EST on June 21, 2017. You must also include the code.

As with any deal, read the offer carefully and always ask about the fine print —cancellations, additional fees, location and room size. You may not want the pod-sized room facing the parking lot, or that could be just fine for you, since you only plan to use the room to shower and sleep.

Most Popular Vacation Destinations for Americans

Be sure to compare the Cyber Summer Travel discounts with offers from other sites to ensure you receive the best rates.

The recently renovated beachfront property comes with a rooftop pool, a Bliss Spa, and evening entertainment in the Living Room.

Deal: Rooms from $149 per night, includes $25 resort credit and two sip tickets. Valid for travel June 21 through December 23. Use code CYBER.

  Located on Florida’s Treasure Coast in northern Palm Beach County, the beachfront property is also near nature reserves.

Deal: 50 percent off best available rates. Valid for travel through December 23 with blackout dates for holidays. Use code CYBER17

Barbados: Turtle Beach, Crystal Cove and Waves Hotel and Spa  

Sail, sun and swim at these three all-inclusive resorts.

Deal: 40 to 50 percent off. Rates start at $365 per person, per night. Valid for travel June 21 to Oct. 31. Three-night minimum stay required and blackout dates apply. Use code CYBERSUM.

  The beachfront property also offers golf, a spa and a casino.

Deal:  Rooms from $119 per night. Valid for travel June 21 to December 22. Use Code V3.

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, Costa Rica 

The resort is situated on 900 lush, tropical acres near the Arenal Volcano. Explore the region by ziplining, biking and hiking, then come back and soak in the natural hot springs.

Deal: 35-percent discount on rates. Rooms start at $205 per night and include breakfast. 2-night minimum stay required. Use code SUMMER.

Follow Candyce H. Stapen on Twitter: @FamilyiTrips

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You have waited for the real summer deals to show up, and here they are. As part of Cyber Summer Travel Deals, 40 properties offers discounts on hotels and resorts in the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America, but only if you book within the 24-hour period starting June 21. Discounts can typically reach up to 50 percent off. 

Take Advantage of Cyber Summer Deals

Using a few dozen criteria, Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman ranks the best beaches for travel in the U.S.

Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Florida, rates as America’s top beach, according to Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, better known as 

 a professor and director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University. Leatherman likes Siesta Beach for its fine white sands that many compare to baby powder.  He ranks Kapalua Bay Beach in Maui, Hawaii, in second place for its clear waters, which make it prime real estate for snorkeling.

Each year, Leatherman analyzes contenders using 50 criteria, including width at low tide, water temperature, wave size, beach slope, smell, pests, sand softness, water clarity as well as the amount of trash and litter. Leatherman has released a top beach list every Memorial Day since 1991. If you are considering a domestic sand and sun vacation this season, here are 10 top choices.

 Hundreds of yards wide, this white sand beach is a great place for volleyball and other beach games 

Two headlands formed eons ago by lava flows protect the beach, which Leatherman praises as “perfect for swimming and snorkeling.”

Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks, North Carolina 

 Leatherman’s personal favorite, Ocracoke offers wild dune-bordered sands and big surf in summer. Its waves are not suitable for families.

Grayton Beach State Park, Florida Panhandle between Panama City Beach and Destin   

Sand dunes protect the 2,000-acre state park known for its emerald green water and fine sand. Camping is allowed and lodging and restaurants are available in nearby Grayton Beach and Seaside.

Backed by large sand dunes covered with beach grass, Coopers Beach is hundreds of yards wide.

Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts  

Although Leatherman acknowledges the sand is coarse, he likes the picturesque setting of glacial bluffs topped by an old Coast Guard station. For most, “swimming” means racing in and then out of the ocean since the water temperature hovers between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin-Clearwater, Florida

Situated one mile west of Dunedin, Caladesi Island is accessible by boat or ferry. The sand is soft crystalline quartz, the water is clear and the park offers kayak and nature trails.

Hapuna Beach State Park, Big Island, Hawaii   

A standout on an island where black lava flows predominate, Hapuna features white, coral sand and clear waters. However, Leatherman warns ocean-lovers that in winter, big waves that can produce rip currents make swimming risky.

Wide Coronado Beach, a SoCal favorite, offers great ship-watching and in summer, a warm, mild surf. Celebrities have stayed at Hotel del Coronado.

Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina  

Leatherman praises Beachwalker Park, the public beach on Kiawah Island’s southern end, for its bird life and tidal inlets for canoeing and kayaking.  The water, notes Leatherman, is not clear, but it is clean. 

Beach aficionados wait each year for Dr. Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach, to release his list of the US's best sands. This year Florida has three beaches in the top 10 and Hawaii has two. You can find the best of the rest in North Carolina, New York, Massachusetts, California and South Carolina. 

Dr. Beach Prescribes the Perfect Sand and Sun Getaway

Experience car racing like a professional 

Repay your dad for all the toy cars he gave you by letting him zoom around a track in a real race car during Primland’s Racing Experience. During the resort’s 4th Annual Primland Racing Experience, Dad can buddy up with nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen and other competitors. Highlights of the three-day event include being whisked away by helicopter from the 12,000-acre Blue Ridge Mountain resort to the Virginia International Raceway, where Dad will feel G-force thrills as he’s whipped around the course by a professional driver. Back at 

, there is plenty of time for golf, shooting clays and spa treatments.

Trips that Come with a Taste of Adventure

Plan Ahead: Watch Polar Bears in Canada in October

You and dad can help conserve the endangered white or black rhino on a heart-thumping adventure through the bush. After tracking the prehistoric-looking animal, you assist rangers and a veterinarian in tranquilizing the rhino, taking blood samples and inserting a microchip into his horn. If that horn ends up with poachers, the chip proves their guilt. Before the massive animal awakes, run your hands across his thick folds of skin. At select times of the year, several African  lodges offer tracking and tagging safaris such, as Kwandwe, a private game reserve in South Africa and certain 

 lodges. Add this adventure to your safari in Africa. 

, sprawled across 25,000-acres in Ten Sleep, Wyoming.  Wranglers teach first-timers and guide beginners through advanced riders on trails. You and Dad can learn how to rope, barrel race and assist with cattle drives. The saddle-sore can fish, hike, mountain bike, rock climb, work out at the fitness center or simply kick back and admire the surrounding Big Horn Mountains.

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What dads really want is quality time with their children, so this year, give your dad the gift of a travel adventure for Father's Day. June 18 is right around the corner, and there are many exciting options to make this Father's Day one to remember. Below are more details on how you and your father can share a one-of-a-kind bonding experience. 

Father's Day Excursions: Take Dad on an Adventure

Thanks to a report from TripAdvisor, it is more simple than ever to plan an affordable domestic vacation at some of the best beaches in the U.S.   

New Jersey beaches rate among the top 10 most popular summer trips for those seeking a moderately priced getaway, according to 

 2017 Summer Vacation Value Report.  In terms of the Jersey Shore’s best, Wildwood Crest ranked first place, Ocean City came in second and Cape May holds the no. 10 spot.

TripAdvisor’s report highlights the top 50 domestic destinations for U.S. travelers based on the increase in seasonal hotel bookings. The report also lists the least expensive week for vacationers.

The vast majority of bargain weeks occur before or after the heart of summer season. Arrive at Wildwood Crest at the end of Memorial Day weekend on Monday, May 29 and stay through June 4 for savings of about 60 percent compared to the most expensive weeks to visit. Book a week in Destin, FL, from August 21 to 27, and the savings come close to 50 percent.

In May, children are likely taking final exams and could be back in school as soon as August. So, while neither of these travel times function for families, couples can take full advantage of the information provided by TripAdvisor. The least expensive week to visit Branson, MS, is August 21 to 27, and TripAdvisor tallies the savings at 21 percent. Hang out in Hilton Head, SC, or visit Galveston, Texas, from August 28 to September 3 and save 24 and 23 percent, respectively.

TripAdvisor’s Top 20 U.S. Summer Hot Spots for Value Vacations 

1. Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, $243 average nightly hotel rate

2. Ocean City, New Jersey, $267 average nightly hotel rate

19. Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, $227

Beaches are, perhaps unsurprisingly, hotbeds for summer tourism. This season, eight of the top 10 most popular summer value destinations are East Coast seaside vacations, according to TripAdvisor. For the best deals, TripAdvisor tells you what dates are best to visit the shore in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Maine and Maryland.  

Summer Hot Spots for Vacation Values

Going-to-the-Sun Road in Montana offers some beautiful vistas. Image Source: National Park Service

Americans love road trips. And why not? Compared to trains and planes, car travel costs less, especially for families, and is often easier. You can stop where you want to refuel, take your pets along, and refresh your perspective at scenic vistas. Consider the following seven drives across the U.S., part of Travel & Leisure’s road trip picks, for your summer getaways. If you can’t squeeze in another getaway this summer, plan now to drive the scenic routes in fall.

Long Weekends: Quickly Recharge with Spring, Summer Travel

National Pet Day: Hotels that Welcome Your Furry Friends

AMERICA’S MOST ICONIC DRIVES BY TRAVEL & LEISURE

Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia to North Carolina

The 469 mile Blue Ridge Parkway offers scenic mountain and valley views as it winds through Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains.

 Grandfather Mountain, a 5,837-foot-peak offers panoramic views.

A top choice for touring in Montana’s Glacier National Park, Going-to-the-Sun Road’s 50-miles span the park’s width, delivering you to overlooks, waterfalls, and a glacier.

 At Logan Pass, the road reaches its highest elevation, 6,646-feet.

The Columbia River Highway in Oregon. Image Source: Gary Halverson

The first scenic highway in the U.S. to become a National Historic Landmark, the Columbia River Highway follows the river gorge for 70 miles, affording views of waterfalls and the river from cliffs.

 Multnomah Falls is the most visited natural site in Oregon.

Mount Washington Auto Road, New Hampshire

The drive leads you to the 6,288-foot peak of Mount Washington, the highest in the northeastern U.S. The road, short and steep, climbs some 5,000 feet in 8 miles.

 Reward yourself for handling the difficult route by staying at the nearby, upmarket Omni Mount Washington Resort.

Bayous, marshy outlets of a river, define Louisiana’s topography. Highway 31 takes you along Bayou Teche from New Iberia to Breaux Bridge, past thickets of oak and cypress trees and swampy lagoons where alligators reside.

 Dine at Breaux Bridge’s Café des Amis for a Cajun meal accompanied by zydeco music.

Connecting Bryce Canyon with Capitol Reef National Park, Highway 12 delivers sandstone cliffs and hillsides dotted with junipers.

 Chow down at Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm, Boulder, Utah. Located on a farm, the restaurant offers sustainably grown produce and grass-fed lamb and beef.

Highway 513, the Black River Scenic Byway, cuts through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, ending at a harbor and marina. The 11-mile road follows the river, passing waterfalls and dense forests.

 Stretch your legs by hiking at Gorge Falls.

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Scenic road trips deliver some of America's best sites. Follow these seven iconic drives to waterfalls, canyons, and mountain peaks. Several cut through national parks, some follow winding rivers and others lead through flat bayous and ascend mountains, offering panoramic views.  


Road Trips: America's Iconic Drives

Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine, Florida. Image Source: C.H. Stapen

 area for its 20 miles of beaches and take time off the sand to discover the area’s history. Settled in 1565 by Spanish explorers, St. Augustine claims fame as America’s oldest, continually inhabited European settlement. The region offers a laid-back, moderately priced sea and sand getaway with a plateful of good restaurants and a side of history. Follow these suggestions for what to see and do.

A wide swath of soft sands, the beach attracts more families and couples than keg-party college students. Most lodgings and eateries don’t edge the shore — although a beachfront Embassy Suites is being constructed. Cafes and hotels, most of them low-rise, line A 1A Beach Boulevard, the road that parallels the ocean, one block from the beach.

Campers and day visitors haul coolers and chairs to 

, a few miles north of St. Augustine Beach. The dune-bordered beach is wide, especially at low tide. The beach stretches for 5 miles. The park allows shore fishing and bicycling on the sand, best at low tide. The Island Beach Shop & Grill rents bicycles, beach umbrellas and chairs and sells sundries and snacks.

St. George Street in St. Augustine, Florida. Image Source: Florida Historic Coast

 in 1672. Completed in 1695, the fort, held later by the British and the United States, overlooks St. Augustine’s Matanzas Bay, and is the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S. Browse the exhibits, watch the film on loading a cannon, and take in the panoramic city and water views from the gun deck.

St. Augustine Lighthouse in St. Augustine, Florida. Image Source: Florida Historic Coast

, a white structure with a thick ribbon of black spiraling down the tower, still serves St. Augustine, although now the light is automated. Climb the 219 stairs for a sweeping view. The Victorian-furnished keeper’s house is also open for visitors.

The city has a long and lively history. Although, for our tastes, we found much in the historic district to be kitschy, there are gems. Don’t miss the fort. Stroll the St. George Street pedestrian mall for its cafes, restaurants, shops and historic attractions. 

 offers a 23-stop, hop-on, hop-off tour with free parking, historic tidbits and transportation to different sites.

The seafood paella at Columbia Restaurant in St. Augustine, Florida. Image Source: C.H. Stapen

 eatery opened in Tampa in 1905. Now the family-owned and operated chain offers very good Spanish fare in seven Florida areas, including St. Augustine’s historic district. Try the paella.

, located St. Augustine’s historic area, serves such New Orleans inspired cuisine as blackened red fish and Louisiana fondue.

Even though the restaurant is located in a small, somewhat empty shopping center in St. Augustine, persevere. 

 offers a contemporary industrial look and modern Italian cuisine that includes pizza, pork chops, chicken and seafood.

St. Augustine, Florida, makes for an ideal summer vacation destination for two reasons. The first, it's 20 miles of beaches. The second, St. Augustine, America's oldest continually inhabited European settlement, boasts an ample number of historic sites. Here's what to do while you're in town.

St. Augustine: Your Beach Vacation Guide

If you can dream it, Vegas probably has it!

Glitzy, gaudy, often gauche and always entertaining, Las Vegas shimmers like a desert oasis. High-energy casinos, dazzling shows, body-to-body nightclubs, plus scores of top-rated restaurants make Sin City a 24/7, top-rated destination. Attendees of the Academy of General Dentistry conference, which takes place July 13-15, have no shortage of entertainment options after they’ve absorbed some continuing education and walked the exhibit floor.

Casino-hopping on the Vegas Strip pulls you into the city’s conga-like rhythms.  And if it takes a drink beforehand to better appreciate the theme-park architecture, so be it. Along the Strip — a 4.2-mile stretch of South Las Vegas Boulevard — the Eiffel Tower rises in lights at Paris Las Vegas, the pyramid at Luxor points a powerful beacon into the night sky, gondolas float on canals at the Venetian, a volcano spits fire at the Mirage, and the Stratosphere’s 1,049-foot-tall tower tops the skyline.

Admire the city’s otherworldly skyline from the Stratosphere’s observation deck. Among the thrills for adrenaline junkies: jumping bungee-like off the Stratosphere’s 108th floor on SkyJump, or dangling 866 feet over the tower’s edge on X-Scream. For a much less gut-wrenching ride, board High Roller, a 550-foot roller coaster at The LINQ.

Some Strip casino resorts aim for elegance. Fresh flowers and fine art adorn the fountain-fronted Bellagio. Encore Las Vegas reigns as a Forbes five-star and AAA five-diamond resort. The Mandarin Oriental is another five-star luxury winner and the Cosmopolitan creates élan with its oversized rooms and sweeping views.

The Strip doesn’t own all of Sin City’s dazzle. The Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas’s downtown creates a canopy of lights that links casinos and restaurants along a five-block pedestrian stretch. Throngs mass for the free show-stopper: a light show that pulses to music delivered on a screen that measures 1,500 feet long by 90 feet wide. Immerse yourself in the experience at SlotZilla, where you get tethered to ziplines that glide you through the flashing light canopy.

Remember the phrase, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”? Well, mostly, what stays is your money. After all, casinos win far more than they lose. But gambling is entertainment.

The newest kind, interactive gaming, adds the social element so de rigueur for millennials. Forget about standing quietly behind players, watching them at a poker table. Now your posse cheers for you. Caesars Entertainment recently launched Gamblit Poker and Cannonbeard’s Treasure, a game similar to blackjack. At 42-inch, tablet-like tables, you and others play for prizes. The systems are currently at Planet Hollywood, Harrah’s, Paris Las Vegas, and The LINQ.

MGM Grand launched LEVEL UP in December 2016, the company’s entry into interactive gaming.

“Our goal is to create a fun, social atmosphere featuring a variety of traditional games, as well as games of skill, that showcase the industry’s leading technology,” says Scott Sibella, president and COO, MGM Grand.

Along with such long-time favorites for group play as QuadAir Hockey, Connect Four and Giant Pac-Man, LEVEL UP features a 40-seat arena for table game watchers. To lubricate play, the Live Lucky Bar serves specialty cocktails and 24 craft beers.

Clever Vegas casinos turned the less-busy daytime hours into revenue-producing parties. The revelers don their best bikinis and swimsuits to hang out, drinks in hand, at the pool, moving to the rhythms of DJs and rock bands. Cabanas for rent provide better vantage points and cushy chaise lounges, nice to have if heading toward tipsy. Some of the high-energy happenings take place at Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas, Wet Republic at MGM Grand, TAO Beach at the Venetian, and the Rehab Beach Club at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Of course, you’ll be too busy with continuing education, but pack sunscreen just in case.

In Vegas, it’s easy to savor great food. Many high-end hotels harbor award-winning kitchens helmed by noted chefs. The city’s AAA five-diamond restaurants include Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace, Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand, Twist at Mandarin Oriental, plus Picasso and Le Cirque at Bellagio.

Among the buzzworthy new places are Chica, with its Latin-inspired menu; Hawthorn Grill at the JW Marriott, an upmarket steak house; and Canter’s Deli, a branch of the popular LA eatery slated to open at The LINQ in summer. Foodies also like Cosmopolitan’s three new venues: Momofuku garners raves for its fried chicken with caviar, the Milk Bar’s cake truffles define decadent, and Zuma features Japanese cuisine.

The Venetian’s Dorsey serves inventive craft cocktails, as does Caesars Palace’s Vista Cocktail Lounge. At the Cromwell Hotel’s Bound, the mixologist favors orange marmalade. Experts concoct tableside cocktails at Cosmopolitan’s CliQue, and at the Wynn Las Vegas’ sister lounges, Parasol Up and Parasol Down, tasty cocktails come with views of the resort’s waterfall.

The craft beer craze thrives in Vegas. Drink up at Tuscany Suites and Casino’s PUB 365, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s Goose Island Pub, and Aria’s Todd English P.U.B . Downtown, popular places for suds are Fremont Street’s Banger Brewing; Park on Fremont, a gastropub; and the Arts District’s Hop Nuts Brewing.

Las Vegas’ nightlife is legendary. The bars, lounges and interactive gaming venues mentioned above certainly rate as evening venues. For wrap-around music and body-to-body dancing, go clubbing. Trendy options include Encore’s XS with its outdoor pool; Wynn Las Vegas’ Intrigue, ARIA’s Jewel; Drai’s, located on Cromwell’s rooftop; and Mandalay Bay’s LIGHT.

With twisting, high-energy acrobats and intriguing music, several Cirque du Soleil shows captivate Vegas audiences. KÀ, billed as “an epic adventure of love and conflict,” draws crowds at the MGM Grand; Michael Jackson ONE plays at Mandalay Bay; and Mystère, a suggestive tribute to the human body, is staged at Treasure Island. 

Vegas also gains fame for its residency shows anchored by celebrities. Ricky Martin performs at Monte Carlo’s Park Theater on select dates in June, July and September; the Backstreet Boys take to the stage at Planet Hollywood’s The AXIS; and Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey deliver comedy throughout 2017 at SLS Las Vegas’ The Foundry.

We know people who come to Las Vegas just for the shopping, both the high-end fashion buys as well as the discounted outlet finds. If you haven’t “donated” all your dollars to the casinos, and if your stash remains significant, then browse for luxury goods at the 500,000-square-foot Shops at Crystals, where the stores include Christian Louboutin, Cartier, Versace, and Stella McCartney. Las Vegas Bellagio tempts buyers with Hermès, Giorgio Armani, Prada, and Tiffany & Co. Among the luxury boutiques at the Shoppes at the Palazzo are Diane von Furstenberg and Jimmy Choo.

Although the Forum Shops at Caesars sell Gucci and Dior, the facility also houses one of the world’s largest H&M stores, a trend-forward, moderately priced brand. Stretching for 1.2 miles, Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile Shops include such affordable clothiers as French Connection and True Religion.

Whether you’ve blown your budget or just like a bargain, good deals can be found at Vegas’s outlet malls. Three to troll: the 200 or so stores in Las Vegas North Premium Outlets, the 100-plus stores of Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas, and the more than 140 stores in Las Vegas South Premium Outlets.    

So you’ve been to Vegas before and you want to do something different. Commune with more than 200 of Vegas’ iconic marquees at the Neon Museum’s 2-acre outdoor campus. At the facility’s Boneyard, the resting place of the no-longer-needed signs, get up close to classics such as Binion’s Horseshoe, Lady Luck, the Sahara, and the Stardust. You must book a guided tour. The best ones take place at night. Not only is the temperature cooler than during the day, but the signs are hot: Seven of them light up, glowing in the evening like the grande dames they used to be. 

Close to the Fremont Street Experience, the Mob Museum, also known as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, delivers the dirt on Vegas’ gangsters. Find out how the frontier town morphed into a gambling mecca with the aid of Bugsy Siegel, Charles “Lucky” Luciano, and other Vegas kingpins. The museum also provides information on contemporary organized crime around the world, such as human trafficking and cybercrime.

You can go low-tech and hands-on at the Pinball Hall of Fame. Forget virtual. These old beauties have heft, and many still zip and zing. Hit the flippers, get the bells dinging to pile up the points, but at all costs, avoid “tilt.”

Come to think of it, that also turns out to be overall good advice for enjoying your Las Vegas experience.   

·      Choose slow play over fast. The quicker you play, the quicker you use up your allotted funds.

·      Since easy-to-use slots consume tokens rapidly, avoid those machines. Table games extend your gambling time, especially if you join full tables.

·      Off-the-Strip casinos, such as those downtown and in outlying neighborhoods, tend to have better returns per-dollar wagered.

·      Always join the free players club at a casino before you place a bet. Sign up online or at the casino to earn rewards points. The Boarding Pass allows you to accumulate points at 18 casinos.  

Academy of General Dentistry attendees, the bright-lights city is going to set your soul on fire. The AGD's annual meeting comes to Sin City July 13-15. When you're not learning or cruising the convention floor, you'll probably want to take in some of the classic Vegas attractions. Here's how to make sure you have a good time without losing your shirt in the process.

AGD 2017: Viva Las Dentists! Your Vegas Travel Guide

Be sure to add these places to your summer adventure list!

Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Orlando, rate as the top three summer vacation destinations, offering fun at budget-friendly prices, according to 

 recently released study, 2017’s Best Summer Vacation Spots. 

WalletHub’s “worst” locations for moderately priced fun are Cleveland-Elyria, Ohio, in 78th place, Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut, in the 79th spot ,and the New Haven-Milford, Connecticut area, dead last at number 80.

To come up with the rankings, WalletHub, a personal finance review site, compared 80 of the most popular U.S. vacation destinations, according to 38 indicators across the following six key categories: travel costs and hassles, local costs, attractions, weather, activities and safety.

As with any study, especially those driven by big data, be sure to apply common sense. Las Vegas does offer an abundance of shows, restaurants, and activities. However, the really good shows and restaurants can be pricey and so are rooms at the top hotels. Yes, you can find inexpensive entertainment and cheap eats, but to savor Vegas, you’re going to want to splurge, at least a little. Also, remember that WalletHub’s analysis does not include the average donation Sin City’s visitors make at the gaming tables.

Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida, makes sense as a top-ranking — number two — destination for the area’s abundance of attractions. While it’s possible to eat and stay inexpensively, I’ve always found that a theme park visit is a money-eating monster. The rides and attractions are fun for kids and create nice family memories, but the visit is costly, especially in summer.

Years ago when water bottles could be purchased for around $2 at Walt Disney World, I remember spending $12 in about 20-minutes while walking from one attraction to another within the same park. My daughter and I each drank 1.5 bottles and we poured the rest over our heads because the temperature hovered above 90 degrees. Beverages and food add up in theme parks and the special experiences, often the most interesting things to do, rocket up the cost. So use WalletHub’s results as a guide, but always factor in how you and your family would experience the destination.

WALLETHUB’S TOP 10 SUMMER VACATION DESTINATIONS

·       Las Vegas, Nevada, with a score of 73.97 out of a possible 100

·       Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California, with a score of 73.58

·       Orlando-Kissimmee-Sandford, Florida, 72.28

·       Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, 71

·       San Diego-Carlsbad, California, 68.69

·       Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia, 68.07

·       Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas, 66.58

·       Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas, 65.66

·       Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, California, 65.33

·       New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York, New Jersey, 65.24

·       The average flight to a popular summer destination costs $337 and lasts 3 hours and 56 minutes.

·       The Miami metro area has the lowest nightly rate for a three-star hotel room: $25 per night.

·       The Salt Lake City metro area offers the most diverse attractions.

·       Akron, Ohio, is the metro area with the least diversity of attractions.

Find out which summer vacation destinations offer the most fun at the best prices. WalletHub's 2017 Best Summer Vacation Spots ranks 80 locales. Las Vegas comes in as the most cost-effective destination with the most opportunities for fun in the U.S. Use WalletHub's guide to plan your summer trip or to add another budget-friendly getaway.

Summer's Best Vacation Destinations

Long weekends are becoming increasingly popular with American vacationers, who historically have not used all of their paid time off.

Nearly three-quarters of Americans surveyed by 

 plan to take at least one long weekend vacation this summer, and 50 percent of those surveyed said they plan to take more long weekend trips than they did last year.

Travelzoo, which offers deals on hotels, travel packages, restaurants and destination experiences, defines a long weekend as at least one day off from work added to Saturday and Sunday.   

“Long weekend trips are in, and the good news is that there are more options now with lower fares to Europe and the increasing availability of last-minute deals,” said Mike Stitt, Travelzoo’s president for North America. “Even with the ongoing headlines about safety and security, Americans are still eager to get out of town this summer.”

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The long weekend questions were part of Travelzoo’s Summer Travel Trends 2017 survey completed by 1,367 consumers who responded to third-party, online research in early April. While the sample may be small statistically, the findings can provide encouragement for those of us who have not yet committed to a summer vacation. After all, it’s easier to miss one day of work than an entire week’s worth. Think of a long weekend as conditioning yourself to take time off.

“It’s a known fact that Americans don’t use all of their vacation time,” said Stitt. “But it’s encouraging to see Americans’ increasing interest in long weekend trips. … This trend could ultimately mean more trips and more travel experiences overall for American travelers.”

· A majority of respondents are willing to travel three or more hours from home for a long weekend.

· Car travel is the most popular form of transportation for long weekends within the U.S.

· 40 percent of respondents said they would travel by plane or train for destinations more than five hours from their homes.

· More than 65 percent of respondents would travel to Europe for a long weekend if the airfare were $500 or less.

· More than 50 percent of respondents prefer beach getaways for spring and summer.

More Americans plan to take long weekends this spring and summer, according to Travelzoo. Beach destinations are the most popular trips. Most plan to travel by car to destinations. Many will opt for planes or trains for destinations further away.  