Candyce H. Stapen

Admire 23 large-scale art installations at Light City Baltimore.

Energize your next getaway by basing it around a festival.  Not only are the theme-focused activities fun, but they also enable you to experience a special aspect of a destination. Enjoy light displays in Baltimore, weekends of ethnic fare in Brooklyn, Native American dancers in Albuquerque, barbecue in Memphis, African American theater in Winston-Salem, bands in Chicago and food and wine in San Francisco.

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1. March 31 to April 8, Baltimore, Maryland

Charm City shines bright during its free Light City festival. Stroll the BGE Light Art Walk along the Inner Harbor to admire the 23 large-scale installations, as well as videos projected on buildings’ walls, and to play with interactive exhibits. In the evening, DJs, bands, and concerts turn the city into a party.

2. Saturdays and Sundays, starting April 1 through October, Brooklyn, New York: 

You can’t beat street food when it’s done right. At Smorgasburg, labeled the largest open-air food market in the U.S., 100 vendors cook up creative eats. Sample finger fare such as Korean-style hot dogs vegan ice cream, Filipino comfort food, grilled cheese, and more. The food fest takes place Saturdays on the Williamsburg waterfront and Sundays in Prospect Park.  

Click to the next page to see festivals three and four.

Above, Native American dancers in Albuquerque. More than 100 artists exhibit at the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow there. Image source: C.H. Stapen

3. April 27 to 29, Albuquerque, New Mexico: 2017 

Watch Native Americans attired in colorful, traditional regalia drum, dance and sing at the largest gathering of Native American Nations in the U.S. More than 100 artists exhibit and sell Native American crafts that include jewelry, pottery, and blankets. The festival kicks off on April 27 with the Miss Indian World contest.

World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 

Chow down on a Memphis tradition: lip-smackin’ barbecue. This year marks the 40

 anniversary of the cooking contest. You can purchase a ticket to taste and judge the competition held at Tom Lee Park on the Mississippi River Bank.

Click to the next page to see festivals five through seven.

With more than 100 events, the National Black Theatre Festival kicks off in July in Winston-Salem.

5. July 31 to August 5: Winston-Salem, North Carolina: 

The National Black Theatre Festival is for anyone who enjoys theatre and live performances. Held every two years, the festival features more than 100 events that include dramatic works, one-person shows, musical performances and workshops. The festival gathers African American theater companies, stars and up-and-coming artists from across the U.S. as well as from other countries.

Chicago celebrates rock, hip hop, heavy metal, rap and more musical genres at Lollapalooza. The three-day festival electrifies the crowds at Grant Park with more than 170 bands on eight stages. It’s a chance to party like you’re still in college, but now you can afford a hotel and VIP tickets.  

7. August 11 to 13: San Francisco, California: 

There’s music at Outside Lands, but the 3-day festival in Golden Gate Park also showcases food, wine, beer, art and comedy too. Although this summer’s music lineup isn’t available, past performers have included Elton John, Lionel Richie, Radiohead and Lana Del Rey.   

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Add another level of entertainment to your getaway plans. Celebrate spring and summer by joining in a festival. From light shows to Native American dancers, rock bands, to barbecue and ethnic food, festivals and celebrations add fun to your vacation or getaway.

7 Can't-Miss Festivals and Food Celebrations This Spring, Summer

Banff National Park contains Lake Louise and other breathtaking scenes. The favorable exchange rate makes Canada an attractive summer vacation option for Americans.

The Canadian Rockies, known for their ski resorts, are glorious in summer. Hike lush river valleys and make your way up mountain paths that wind through forests of tall spruce and larch trees to scenic overlooks. As part of Canada’s year-long 150th birthday celebration, admission to Banff National Park (and other parks) is free throughout 2017. If you need another reason to go, consider the exchange rate. Since one U.S. dollar gets you about $1.34 in Canadian dollars, a trip to Canada stretches your budget.

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Calgary, the gateway to the Canadian Rockies, is situated about 90 miles east of Banff.

Calgary, a business center, remembers its wild west heritage with its annual Calgary Stampede, a 10-day festival of professional rodeo roping, bull riding, bronc busting and steer wrestling, kicked off by a grand parade with floats, marching bands and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police looking spiffy atop their horses. July 7 to 16.

WinSport (the Canadian Winter Sport Institute), uses facilities of Canada Olympic Park, site of the 1988 Olympic games, to train athletes and entice tourists. Glide on a zip line, go mountain biking, and for adrenaline thrills, zoom and twist down the Olympic bobsled run at speeds up to 50 mph under the guidance of a professional bobsled pilot.

Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in North America. With its abundance of summer visitors, the tiny town of Banff can feel crowded. That said, the national park offers 2,564 square miles of exquisite alpine scenery, from river valleys and forests to craggy, skyscraping peaks. You can canoe, rock climb, horseback ride and fish.

For panoramic views without the work of climbing, ride the gondola to the 7,486-foot summit of Sulphur Mountain.  

Lake Louise is our favorite base for exploring the region. Situated at 5,000-feet and flanked by mountains, the emerald green/turquoise lake glistens in the sun. The peaks of Victoria Glacier, its slopes covered with ice, rise just behind the lake. For an easy trail, walk the 2.5-mile path that circumnavigates the lake. To avoid the crowds, start your walk early in the morning.  

 has an idyllic setting facing the lake. The hotel is an especially nice treat for those who crave a massage and a good meal after a hard day’s hike.

If you're looking for a scenic, outdoor adventure this summer, visit the Canadian Rockies. Zip down an Olympic bobsled run in Calgary, ride a gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain in Banff, and explore the trails in Banff National Park and around Lake Louise. 

Guides will lead you through Soberania National Park in Panama, showing you the rainforest but keeping you close to modern comforts. Image source: C.H. Stapen

I prefer the wilderness without a good deal of the work. Yes, it’s a character flaw, but nonetheless, I seek outdoor adventures that offer spectacular scenery plus an assist with supplies, tents, cooking and cleaning. Here are three possibilities: a tent and breakfast camp in Alaska, a guided canoe tour of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota, and rainforest walks and kayaking at a resort near the Panama Canal, Panama.   

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: To enjoy rugged Alaskan scenery and wildlife, but still get home-cooked meals and guided tours, try 

Across the Bay Tent & Breakfast Adventure Company

, across the bay from Homer, Alaska. This unusual variation of a traditional B&B comes with a spectacular location in a sheltered cove in Kasitsna Bay. Opt to stay in rustic cabins with carpets and mattresses — bring your own sleeping bag – and enjoy indoor showers and a sauna. Cook your own meals at your site or make arrangements for breakfast and dinner in the main lodge.

At the property, go tidepooling for anemones, mussels, crabs, sea stars and maybe even an octopus. On a kayak outing, you’re likely to spot seals, sea otters, harbor porpoises and even bald eagles. Catch some halibut and cook it yourself or ask if the lodge would prepare the meal. 

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), parts of which straddle the Canadian border, cover more than one million acres within northeast Minnesota’s Superior National Forest. Rocky cliffs and towering pines frame the more than 1,000 glacially formed lakes. For paddle and portage enthusiasts, the region offers more than 1,200-miles of canoe trails. Permits are required.

, one of several outfitters offering guided camping trips, obtains the permits, plans the route, put you in ultra-lightweight Kevlar canoes, sets up camp, leads the trip and prepares meals.   

Soberania National Park isn’t the deep wilderness, but it does off the excitement of the rainforest and its wildlife. 

, situated on 340 lush acres within the 55,000-acre Soberania National Park, and just a 30-minute drive from Panama City, is located where the Chagres River empties into the Panama Canal. The resort offers eco-adventures and modern comforts in the heart of the rainforest. The popular aerial tram lifts riders 77 feet into the jungle canopy, making it easy for even young kids to search for birds and howler monkeys in the branches. After a short walk from the tram landing, you reach a 90-foot tower. From the top, accessed by gradually inclined ramps, enjoy the impressive view of the famous canal and the big ships passing through.

On the morning bird walk along Pipeline Road, you’re likely to see flocks of toucans and parakeets. Enjoy the thrill of kayaking on the Panama Canal or boating to Monkey Island, known for its white-faced capuchin monkeys.

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Stay at a tent and breakfast camp in the Alaskan wilderness, go on a guided canoe trip through Minnesota's Boundary Waters and stay in a resort in Panama the gives you rainforest adventures, and kayak trips on the canal as well as comfortable rooms.

GoBe, from Royal Caribbean, offers tours in popular U.S. Cities, such as New York.

, which has long made money by offering its passengers shore tours, recently launched 

. What’s unusual is that the site isn’t just for cruisers. In an interview with Skift, GoBe’s managing director Billy Campbell said “Ninety-six percent of world travel is going to be not on a cruise ship, and that’s what we’re focused on.”

At launch, GoBe offers “more than 1,000 travel experiences in hundreds of cities,” according to the company’s website. Most, but not all, are in cruise-heavy destinations such as the Caribbean and Bermuda as well as European ports. However, users can also book walking tours in Macedonia; in Orad, Romania; and in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Although GoBe offers many tours in such popular U.S. cruise ports as Miami, San Francisco and New York City, some of the highest number of tours offered are in the non-cruise  ports of Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C.

The World’s Best Airports: Travel in Comfort

Like most tour booking sites, GoBe promises to connect users with local guides who provide authentic experiences that “head off the beaten path.” To make booking easy, GoBe lists its tours by destination and also by interests, grouping activities into “Family,” “Culinary,” “Romance” and “Adventure.” GoBe is still figuring out how to enable real-time reservations.

GoBe is the latest major launch of a site dedicated to booking tours and activities. Last week, Marriott International announced its investment in 

, a site that offers more than 100,000 experiences in 800 destinations. Marriott intends to enable the 100 million members of its three loyalty programs — Starwood Preferred Guest, Marriot Rewards, and Ritz-Carlton Rewards — to access PlacePass’s experiences.

, a way to book tours and activities in a destination, in November 2016.

 in 2014 to add tours and activities to its booking site.

· Google, Expedia and Booking.com have all added the ability to book tours and activities.

What does this mean for you? Reserving tours and activities on a site that showcases the options in a clear format makes choosing and booking easy. That likely translates into more reservations and money for the site and the guide. But does that correlate with better experiences for people?  Maybe, and maybe not. As always, let the buyer beware.

Royal Caribbean Cruises is the latest large company to launch a tour booking site. GoBe doesn't just target cruisers. The site aims at land-based travel. Booking experiences for travelers is big business.

Don't be fooled by the glassware. That's a proper Georgia brew in that pint glass. If the Hinman Dental Meeting brings you to Atlanta this week, be sure to savor some of the city's craft beer. 

's HopCity, where this photo was taken, has a great brew selection, and the market itself offers numerous dining options. Image credit: Joe Hannan

Craft breweries are part of the new Atlanta’s Southern charms. The city taps into the craft beer trend, featuring some 20 breweries and craft beer bars in town, plus more in the surrounding neighborhoods.   Since each brewery and bar offers a different ambiance and roster of brews, buddy up with colleagues to go on a beer crawl or book a beer cruise by guided van to find the brew worth toasting. 

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On a brewery tour and tasting, learn about the brewers’ backgrounds, signature brews and taste samples. Contact the brewery or pub to see if reservations are required. 

: Founded in 1993, Red Brick Brewing Company is Atlanta’s oldest, continually operating craft brewery. Hoplanta is among their award-winning brews. Red Brick’s tours include tastings of six beers. $12

Started by college roommates and named after a Georgia creek, SweetWater’s signature beer is the 420 Extra Pale Ale. The brewery lists their SweetWater Georgia Brown as “smoother than a Bill Clinton apology.” Tours include six samples. $12

The brewery’s café-like ambiance adds to the fun as does the tie wall, a play on relax-and-take-your—tie-off. Previous visitors have left their neckties on the wall and you can too. Popular brews include Drafty Kilt Scotch Ale and Eyepatch IPA. Monday Night plans to open a second location, the dinosaur-themed Garage, in Atlanta’s West End. Tours include six samples. $12

: A Belgian-style brewery, Three Taverns melds Belgian traditions with American products to create something new. White Hops, named after a long-forgotten Atlanta beverage of 1898; and Departed Spirit, an Imperial Stout, are among the well-liked bottles.

: The Porter Beer Bar’s menu features some 700 beers, of which 40 are on draught. The place receives high-rating for its pub grub. Try the Porn Dog sausage, mussels, Cuban sandwich and Belgian fries.

, Nine Mile Station calls itself “an elevated beer garden in the heart of Atlanta.”  The seasonally-inspired fare features sandwiches and plates to share as well as a dozen draught beers plus a panoramic view of Atlanta’s skyline. Reservations suggested.  

Craft brewery guided tours come with a few benefits: Someone else does the driving, the van goes to top-rated places, and your guide points out each brewery’s signature beers. Check dates for availability and reserve tours in advance. 

On Atlanta Brews Cruise’s four-hour program, you typically visit three breweries for tours and samples. Brews Cruises depart Thursday and Friday from 3:30-7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:15-5:15 pm. The fee includes beer and snacks on the van. $59.99.

: Justin Hall and Jonathan Oliver created these tours to share their passion about the growing craft beer movement. Most tours feature tastings at three breweries, often in private rooms where guests sample three to four half-pints. The Atlanta Brewery Tour focuses on downtown, $64.99, while Sippin in the Suburbs covers breweries in Atlanta’s suburbs. On the popular Brewery and Baseball tour, enjoy a two-hour pre-game party at a few breweries, samples included, plus see an Atlanta Braves game. The tour fee includes the general admission ticket to the stadium plus a Chick-fil-A sandwich to munch. $74.99.  

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If you're heading to the Hinman Dental Meeting this week, drink to trendy Atlanta's southern charms at craft breweries and bars. From the more than 20 breweries and bars with beer on tap in town, pick your ambiance from rooftop gardens to brick-lined pubs and industrial decor bars. There's a brew or a cocktail for every taste in Atlanta.

Hinman Dental Meeting: Plan Your Night of Craft Beer and Bars

Does departing from or having a layover at a top-ranked airport make your journey better? Of course it does, especially for international travel, and certainly for those of us more accustomed to sitting in the back of the plane than the front. Even ordinary passengers — those without club passes — can take advantage of 

 T2 terminal, ranked the best in the world in 2017 by Skytrax, a researcher and tracker of airline and airport performance. In the terminal, passengers can recharge between flights by using the easily accessible showers, nap cabs (sleep pods), and quiet areas with lounge chairs.

Arrive early at the Munich airport for some good food. Airbräu, the indoor beer garden, is fun and T2 offers many other options. Skytrax rated the Munich airport as the fourth best airport in the world for 2017, and as the tenth best in the world for dining. Houston International Airport received ninth place for world’s best airport dining. No other U.S. airport made the top 10 best dining list.   

The Skytrax World Airport Awards are often called the “Oscars of the aviation industry.” The award for top-rated airport in the world went to Singapore’s Changi Airport, ranked best by travelers for the fifth consecutive year.

For the 2017 ratings, Skytrax analyzed 13.82 million airport survey questionnaires completed by 105 different nationalities of airline customers. The survey covered 550 airports worldwide and included analyses of check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration through to gate departure.

With seats getting smaller, legroom shrinking and charges for everything from food to luggage to  overhead bin space increasing, consider treating yourself to a top-ranked airport when it fits into your flight plans.

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The World’s Best Airports and Airport Hotels

Click to the next page to see which U.S. airports made the top 100 list.

The indoor beer garden at Munich airport. Image credit: Candyce Stapen

Click to the next page to see the top 10 regional airports in North America.

Denver features the second-best regional airport in North America.

You'll find the best shopping at London Heathrow airport.

Add some comfort to your airplane travel by choosing to fly from or layover at a top-ranked airport. Munich International Airport's terminal 2 is rated the best airline terminal in the world for 2017. Enjoy diverse dining, including a beer garden, as well as showers, sleep pods and quiet areas for recharging.  

The World's Best Airports: Travel in Comfort

The Tabacon Resort offers spas and pools in which guests can relax.

Rainforests, mountains, volcanoes and beaches reward nature lovers visiting Costa Rica, a country that abounds in wildlife. In the Tortuguero region on a canal boat trip, catch sight of sloths, parakeets, and crocodiles, and on the beaches at night, be awed by the age-old spectacle of nesting sea turtles. In the rainforests, howler monkeys scamper through the tree canopy, and brilliantly colored scarlet macaws take flight. In Monteverde’s Cloud Forest, hike through mist-shrouded woods and in the Arenal area, bike at the base of a volcano.

Watch Sea Turtles Nest on the Caribbean Coast: 

Along Tortuguero National Park’s 14 miles of beaches, sea turtle species nest from March through October. The leatherbacks, the largest with carapaces reaching up to 7-feet across, tend to arrive in March and stay through early June. The Atlantic Green sea turtles appear June through October and the hawksbills arrive July through September. The sea turtles come ashore on nearly moonless nights. At first, you may only hear the turtle’s labored breath and the scratchy sound of her flippers as she pulls herself to a spot above high tide level. Satisfied with her site, she painstakingly whips the sand out from under her with her back flippers, then, drops scores of eggs before methodically tossing the dirt back into the nest with her front flippers. Afterward, she slowly lumbers down the beach to disappear into the waves. It’s a mesmerizing site. Tickets and guides are required. 

can obtain both and offers comfortable accommodations.

When Arenal, one of Costa Rica’s most active volcanoes, erupts, watch the red-hot lava snake down the slopes from a safe distance. The scene is most dramatic at night. When the volcano remains dormant, bike the gravel and dirt roads ringing its base. Then soothe your aching muscles with a soak in the area’s naturally heated mineral springs. 

, a hotel and spa, has pools open to day guests as well as lodgers. 

Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve

 a 25,000-acre reserve in northwestern Costa Rica, the winds create clouds that envelop the mountain peaks. You hike through mist-shrouded woods past lush ferns, mosses, vines, and trees, from whose limbs dangle sprays of orchids. The forest shelters more than 400 species of birds, hundreds of varieties of orchids, and such exotic wildlife as jaguars, ocelots, and quetzals, although these are rarely encountered. Since Monteverde often limits the number of people allowed in the reserve at one time, be sure to book ahead for a guide.  

 is known for its scarlet macaws. Bold red, brilliantly feathered, and long-tailed, the macaws are gorgeous. The park’s trails are lined with ferns, massive trees, and tall banyans with intricately fingered roots and thick, leafy branches that form a dense, green canopy.

Take advantage of Costa Rica's eco-adventures. You can watch sea turtles nest on a moonless beach, admire scarlet macaws in the rainforest, hike through a mist-shrouded cloud forest, bike at the base of a volcano, and soak in natural hot springs. You might also see howler monkeys, sloths, flocks of parakeets and crocodiles. 

4 Fabulous Eco-Adventures in Costa Rica

Ponce City Market packs many great dining options into one convenient location.

Atlanta dining goes way beyond fried chicken or the classic meat and three sides. Local farm-to-table fare prevails in many restaurants. Eateries serve ethnic dishes reflecting Atlanta’s multicultural population. And chef-tweaked standards take cooking to new levels. The result: A food-lover’s town with myriad options and a lively fusion cuisine that’s part Southern, part ethnic and entirely its own tasty indulgence.

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 Those looking for a new take on fried chicken should taste chef Asha Gomez’s Kerala fried chicken. The Atlanta resident of more than 20 years incorporates the spices of Southern India where she was born and raised. Among the ingredients she’ll reveal that inspired Bon Appetit magazine and other foodie outlets to label her fried chicken among the U.S.’s best, are coconut oil, mango sauce and roasted curry leaves. Spice to Table, open for lunch only, dishes out her chicken just on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. “until it runs out.” People also come from miles away for the chef’s carrot cake, which, she says, brings together baking traditions of the Indian South and the American South.

 At Miller Union, chef Steven Satterfield aims for “Simple, sustainable, Southern fare with an authentic but modern approach to farmstead-inspired cooking.” Anything but boring, Satterfield’s fare has been called “perfect southern food.”  He frequently adds creative touches borrowed from other cuisines. His duck breast comes with sweet potato, savoy cabbage, farro spaetzli and maple gastrique.

 Chef Kevin Gillespie’s Gunshow takes its inspiration from a combination of Brazilian churrascaria-style dining and Chinese dim sum. Diners choose their dishes from rolling carts. Although the menus change frequently, past items have included Thai style crispy fired whole fish, bison tartare, and chilled Maine lobster with walnut pesto.

Ponce City Market, located in the historic, former Sears, Roebuck & Company building, features the Central Food Hall. Foodies come here to browse the stalls serving southern cuisine, seafood, burgers, ethnic fare and plates created by some of Atlanta’s noted chefs.  Savor plates from two James Beard award-winners at three sites. Chef Anne Quatrano ‘s W.H. Stile’s Fish Camp, a.k.a. Dub’s, features seafood plus chowder and chef Linton Hopkins’ Hop’s Chicken delivers what he calls “honest, clean” fried chicken, and at H&F Burger bite into Hopkins’ famous burger. Try Indian street food at Botiwalla, all-natural beef jerky at Biltong Bar and Cuban sandwiches and smoked tofu buns at El Super Pan.

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Southern fried chicken with Indian spices and a dim sum style Brazilian churrascaria are just some of the tasty finds that make Atlanta a food-lover's town. If the Hinman Dental Meeting brings you to town, you're in luck. Culinary delights await you. Here are a few dining suggestions for your down time.

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Prices in Budapest went down 3 percent, according to Hotels.com's latest Hotel Price Index report.

Americans continue to travel internationally despite general 

 and the economy. Why? The strong dollar and its resultant decrease in hotel prices spurred travel, according to 

 Hotel Price Index (HPI), an annual study of hotel rates in major destinations around the world. The online lodging booking site reported an 8 percent increase in travel abroad for the first 10 months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.

“Americans got out and explored the world with confidence in 2016, with their travel budgets generally taking them further. With so many reasonable hotel prices, U.S. travelers were able to trade up for longer and more luxurious stays,” said Josh Belkin, vice president and general manager North America, Hotels.com.

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The site’s study provides travel inspiration for those considering vacations abroad. Seven of the top 10 international destinations popular with Americans saw what Hotels.com labeled a “significant price decrease.” These included a 7 percent drop for Thailand, with room rates averaging $93, and a 2 percent drop for China, with room rates averaging $134.

A caveat when planning an international trip: Price isn’t everything. For example, hotels in Istanbul experienced a 29 percent drop in rates, the study’s largest average decline. Although rooms for less than $100 mark Istanbul as a budget-stretching destination, the cause of the low prices reflected a 30 percent drop in tourist visits to Turkey. That occurred because of “a series of terrorist attacks and a failed coup,” said Hotels.com. When reviewing Hotels.com’s finding, be sure to factor in why rates dropped, especially if prices declined more than a few percentage points.

The Most Popular Destination for Americans: Europe 

Europe remained the most popular international destination for Americans for the first 10 months of 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015. 

· Visits by Americans to Europe for first 10 months of 2016 rose by 7 percent compared to the same period in 2015.

· 23 European destinations landed in the top 50 overseas destinations for Americans.

· London remained the most popular foreign destination.

· In the popular 23 destinations, prices remained unchanged in two: Athens, Greece, and Prague, Czech Republic. Prices rose in eight destinations, among them: Budapest, 3 percent; Madrid, 3 percent; Barcelona, 5 percent; Dublin, 8 percent; and Reykjavik, 17 percent.

· Hotel prices declined in 13 of the 23 European destinations, including:

     o   Istanbul, 29 percent, average room rate, $88 U.S.

     o   Milan, 15 percent, average room rate, $183

     o   Paris, 12 percent, average room rate, $184

     o   London, 11 percent, average room rate $230

     o   Venice, 5 percent, average room rate $211

     o   Rome, 5 percent, average room rate, $164

Click to the next page to see the most popular Latin American destinations.

All eight of the Latin American destinations in the top 50 places for outbound U.S. travelers experienced a drop in average hotel prices. “The ease of travel to Latin America from the U.S., the beautiful and varied landscapes available across the continent and the low prices make it a must-see region for Americans looking for something affordable yet unforgettable,” said Belkin.

· U.S. travel to Mexico increased by 9 percent in the first 10 months of 2016.

· Cancun was the most popular resort area for U.S. travelers.

· Hotel rates in Mexico City decreased by 5 percent, averaging $125. Rates in Playa Del Carmen, decreased by 4 percent, averaging $241. In Cancun, rates decreased 3 percent, averaging $229. In Puerto Vallarta, rates decreased 2 percent, averaging $149.

Buoyed by a strong dollar, the number of Americans who traveled internationally increased over a 10-month period in 2016, compared to the same time frame in 2015, according to Hotels.com. Europe continues to be popular. Hotel prices decreased significantly in London by 11 percent, in Milan by 15 percent and in Paris by 12 percent, making those destinations budget-stretchers.  

The Most Popular Vacation Destinations for Americans

Downtown Austin, Texas. Find out where the city landed on Travel & Leisure's list of best affordable cities.

Budget doesn’t mean bad. Get inspired to go on a reasonably priced getaway — one with parks, tasty, cheap eats, free music and good beer by perusing 

Travel & Leisure’s list of affordable cities to visit

, a top 10 reckoning voted by the magazine’s readers.

Texas came in with three of the top 10 — San Antonio, Houston and Austin – while Tennessee landed two of the top 10 spots for Nashville and Memphis.

Even though Washington, D.C., didn’t make the top 10 list, the city should be on it. All the Smithsonian museums offer complimentary admission, as do other city museums; the Mall and Rock Creek Park provide ample green spaces and inexpensive cafes and bistros bloom along the District’s blocks.

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Some visit Kansas City just for the slow-smoked barbecue. Stretch your sightseeing budget with free admission to three of Kansas City’s art museums, plus complimentary tours at the Hallmark Visitors Center and the 

. Hotel prices remain low, with an average summer rate of $137 per night.

Maintain your music budget by going to the early shows. At the Bluebird Café where a young Garth Brooks once played, the early show is free. Travel and Leisure’s readers also liked the local burgers, cafes and microbrews. 

Remember the Alamo? It’s free, as are the other four historic missions in the city. Browse or bike along the Riverwalk. San Antonio can sizzle in the summer so consider this city for fall.

Parks, more than 20 lakes and 200 miles of biking and walking trails endear urban travelers who want to be outside much of the day. Affordable pubs and cafes serve good food and craft beer.

 Listen to free concerts at the Levitt Shell and pause to toe-tap along to the city’s many street performers. Memphis-style BBQ gets raves.

Click to the next page for cities five through 10

Readers like the city because it’s clean, family-friendly and reasonably priced. Save money by purchasing a Connect Pass that offers discounts on meals and attractions.

Dine on reasonably priced Tex-Mex fare, at such places as Ninfa’s on Navigation, an eatery claiming to have served the first fajitas in the U.S. Enjoy free outdoor classical music concerts at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park.

Stroll through Savannah’s historic squares and along the river to admire the city’s southern architecture and charm.

Grab lunch from the city’s plentiful food trucks serving tasty and cheap eats. Listen to musicians performing at many outdoor, and often free, venues, as well as in Austin’s many clubs.

The city’s lively arts scene is complimented by restaurants serving good food in a variety of price ranges. Stroll the self-guided, free, 2.5 mile historic architecture trail that connects the State House and Brown University. Take advantage of the moderately priced performances and programs at the university. 

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Get travel inspiration for spring and summer getaways in the U.S. from Travel & Leisure's list of the Best Affordable U.S. Cities. Plentiful urban parks, plus free concerts, low-cost historic attractions, tasty cheap eats and good beer make the cities low in cost but high in fun.