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12 Travel Myths, Dispelled
By Ingela Ratledge

You’ve heard that New Yorkers are rude, London is rainy and China is just a shovel away. Here, the truth behind the rumors.

The Rumor: London is always gray and rainy, and the food is terrible.

The Truth: “In terms of rainfall, it’s actually low on the list,” says Nicole Mitchell, a Weather Channel meteorologist. (The statistics: London gets 23 inches a year, while, on average, supposedly sunny Miami gets a whopping 60 and soggy Seattle gets 39.) “Because London is coastal, it gets drizzly during the winter. But, as with any place, you have to pick the right time to visit,” says Mitchell. (She recommends the summer, when it’s warmer and sunnier.) And as for the local fare, it has come a long way since the days of ubiquitous bangers and mash. “There was a time when English food was, by definition, bad food, but that reputation is about 10 years out of date,” says Tim Zagat, a co-founder of Zagat Survey, a publisher of international restaurant guides. “Now it is one of the best places in the world to eat.” (The turnaround is due in part to the increased availability of fresh ingredients.)

The Rumor: It is rude to make eye contact during conversation in Japan.

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The Truth: In the Land of the Rising Sun, do not avert your gaze just yet. “That used to be the rule, back in the old days, during the Meiji and Taisho eras (the late 1800s and early 1900s),” explains Robert Whiting, a Japanese-culture expert and the author of "The Samurai Way of Baseball" (Grand Central Publishing, $15, www.amazon.com). “It was considered disrespectful, especially when talking to a superior.” These days, however, “people in Japan act just like people in the West. Not making eye contact would be considered a bit odd when talking to someone, even the emperor,” says Whiting.

The Rumor: Venice is sinking.

The Truth: Not so much, says Fabio Carrera, a native of Venice and a professor of urban studies and planning at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Massachusetts. “If by sinking you mean that the land is going under and losing elevation, then, no, that is no longer true,” says Carrera. Once upon a time — from around 1900 up until the 1970s — Venice did dip deeper into the water, by nearly five inches, because the aquifer beneath it was being drained to provide water to the mainland. “When people realized what was happening, they stopped pumping water out, and Venice rebounded by about half an inch,” says Carrera.

Still, the city is not totally out of hot water. Thanks to global warming and rising sea levels, Venice — along with other low-lying locales, like New Orleans — remains vulnerable to flooding. But as long as it stays one step ahead of the problem by incorporating preventive measures, like the underwater floodgates currently being constructed, Venice should be the home of many a piazza (and pigeon) for years to come.

The Rumor: New Yorkers are rude.

The Truth: Fuhgeddaboudit! “It’s absolutely false that New Yorkers are unfriendly — they may seem standoffish at first, but that’s just concealing a very big heart,” insists Ed Koch, a former mayor and a quintessential New Yorker. (Hey, someone who appeared in "The Muppets Take Manhattan" should know.) So what is with the gruff exterior, then? Call it a coping mechanism for living in a city of more than 8 million people. “We believe that people want their own space, so we don’t intrude unless asked for assistance. But if you’re visiting from out of town, just walk over to any New Yorker and he’ll immediately help you out,” says Koch. And rather than feeling upset about a brusque cab driver or a bagel guy who seems to toss your change at you, remember that they are just trying to keep the wheels in motion. “People here want to help you get on with your day!” says Koch.

The Rumor: Afternoon thunderstorms in Florida always pass within an hour.

The Truth: “This does not always happen, but a lot of storms are pretty quick,” says meteorologist Nicole Mitchell. “In the heat of the afternoon, there is enough of a contrast between the slightly cooler ocean air temperature and the warmer air temperature over land to trigger storms,” she says. “By late afternoon, there is less of a contrast and you lose the trigger for the storms, so they start dying out.” And Florida is not the only place you should keep an umbrella handy. Mitchell says the same conditions exist up and down the Gulf Coast, making the weather in places such as Biloxi, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; and New Orleans equally erratic.

The Rumor: South of the equator, toilet water swirls in the opposite direction.

The Truth: This one goes straight down the commode. Wondering where that crackpot theory originated? “South of the equator, tornadoes go clockwise, while north of the equator, they go counterclockwise, because of the earth’s rotation and something called Coriolis force. In principle, the same would happen to water in a toilet or a bath,” explains Michael Goodchild, a professor of geography at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a 2007 recipient of the field’s highest honor, the Prix Vautrin Lud. “But the effect of Coriolis force on a small scale is very weak and outweighed by other forces, like the relative positions of the inlet faucet and the plug hole.”

The Rumor: The Leaning Tower of Pisa will eventually topple over.

The Truth: It seems inevitable that the tilting medieval bell tower will take a dive someday. But the structure, which developed its famous wonky posture when its foundation settled into the soft ground beneath it, is actually on surprisingly solid footing. About 10 years ago, the base of the tower was reinforced with a combination of concrete and other bracing methods, decreasing the lean by 17 inches to 13 feet 6 inches. “It was the culmination of years of work and planning — the new foundation will last indefinitely,” says Donald Friedman, a structural engineer at Old Structures Engineering, in New York City. “It is not going to tip. Now it has the heaviest foundation of anything in that whole city!”

The Rumor: In Russia, locally made vodka is cheaper than water.

The Truth: The answer is a flat-out nyet, says Paul Richardson, who has visited the country more than 20 times and is the publisher of Russian Life magazine. While locally made vodka can be nearly half as cheap in Russia as the imported stuff we buy here — prices start at around $2 a bottle in Moscow — it still outprices water by a long shot.

The Rumor: If you dug a hole straight through the earth, you would probably make it to China.

The Truth: “It depends on where you start out,” says author Michael Goodchild. “If you dug through the center of the earth, you would emerge at a point opposite to where you started,” he says. “Most of the time, if you started from land, you would end in water. But you would end up in China if you started digging in northern Chile.” Oh yeah, there is one more little catch. Says Goodchild, “You would need a machine that could form a tunnel through liquid metal at a temperature of around 5,000 degrees.” Um, try eBay?

The Rumor: There is a top-secret city beneath Disneyland.

The Truth: Legend has it that there’s a top-secret command center under the theme park in Anaheim, California, but, alas, not even a wave of Tinker Bell’s wand could make this a reality. “There is not much under there — certainly not a city,” says Bob Sehlinger, who has visited the park hundreds of times over the past 20 years and recently wrote "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2008" (John Wiley & Sons, $20, www.amazon.com). It is very likely that this rumor stems from a case of mistaken identity. As it turns out, sister amusement park Disney World, in Orlando, Florida, does have a subterranean setup of sorts, though it is not quite a metropolis. “In Disney World, there is something called utilidors — Disney-speak for a huge system of tunnels under the park, which allow costumed cast members to scurry underneath the property,” explains Sehlinger.

The Rumor: The security X-ray machine at the airport will ruin your film.

The Truth: It turns out that this is a legitimate risk for folks who still shoot with real film. While most rolls can sustain one pass on the conveyor belt, multiple run-throughs in the high-radiation environment — like when the security team is trying to make sure your hair dryer is not a handgun — can expose the film, erasing precious memories in the process.

The alternative? “Get to the airport early, and always ask for a hand inspection,” says Shannon Greer, a professional photographer who constantly travels the globe for his work. Also, higher-speed film, like 800-ISO and up, is more susceptible to damage, says Greer. “The faster the film, the more sensitive it is to light, so generally you are safest traveling with 400-ISO film and lower.” Adds David Lanzillo, vice president of corporate communication at the Eastman Kodak Company, “Never put film in your checked luggage, which is exposed to even higher levels of radiation.”

The Rumor: Using a cell phone midflight could cause the plane to crash.

The Truth: There’s no need to panic, but “some cell phones can interfere with the navigational systems on some airplanes,” confirms David P. Carson, a Boeing engineer and the co-chair of a special advisory committee to the Federal Aviation Administration. While it’s true that many aircraft — typically newer models, like Airbuses and Boeing 787s — are totally unaffected by current cell-phone technologies, the wide variety of planes and cell phones out there makes it impossible to lift the overall restrictions just yet. “You don’t want to say, ‘This one cell phone is good to go, but the other two aren’t,’” says Carson, who notes that cell phone–friendly design guidelines for future planes are in the works.

Never Give an Umbrella as a Gift in Beijing
Knowing the local customs—from how to dress appropriately to which utensils to use at dinner—can save you from embarrassment when you're traveling in a foreign country.
By Robert Isenberg

Whatever you do, never use your left hand to eat a meal in India. When you visit a Japanese household, remember to take off your shoes (and face them so the toes point outside). And always ask before you photograph a Masai warrior.

On the other hand, feel free to loudly slurp your udon soup, belch proudly at a Mandarin dinner table or hold hands with a Kenyan friend of the same gender.

No matter where you go in the world, you're likely to observe unfamiliar behavior — rituals or rules of etiquette that everyone seems to know but you. What may seem like a major faux pas in America might be ordinary behavior across the globe. Learning the norms of different countries can help prevent you from offending the locals — and more important, can allow you to gain a better understanding of cultures and traditions that are different from your own.

Dress for success

It may sound superficial, but how you dress is extremely important to how you'll be perceived abroad. Most Saudi Arabian women — as well as female visitors — are expected to cover their heads as a sign of modesty. In some parts of West Africa, white fabric worn in public is seen as ominous, because all-white garments are typically worn at funerals.

Since Americans tend to be casual with their dress, you should also be aware of distinctions between formal wear (for banquets and weddings) and casual wear (for the beach or the cafe). For example, in many cultures, women wear gowns to dine with friends, and men don tuxes at the casino.

Prepare for your trip by reading books of cultural etiquette or by finding recent photos or films about your destination. A Saigon street might depict young men in cargo shorts, sandals and undershirts (common Vietnamese street wear). A picture of rural Sicilians might feature the locals wearing hats, suspenders and button-down shirts. You don't have to mimic the style precisely, but try to learn what's normal and what's certain to raise eyebrows.

Talk the talk

No matter what the brochures promise, you'll never learn to speak a foreign language in just 15 minutes a day. But knowing a few simple phrases can be both helpful and flattering. Parisians have the reputation of being rude to Americans, but most will open up after you speak a few words of French (no matter how butchered your pronunciation may be). Learn a few basic pleasantries: Hello, good-bye, thank you, excuse me, I'm sorry, how are you? These six little phrases will get you a long way — especially when you can add "Do you speak English?" in the native tongue.

It's also good to remember that language isn't just verbal; body language is also a provocative method of communication. Most Japanese people aren't familiar with the American thumbs-up, and many Americans are surprised when Japanese tourists pose for photographs with two fingers raised — what's known in the U.S. as the peace sign.

Learn the religion

Reading up on the principles and daily rituals of a religion can lead to a richer experience abroad. For non-Muslim visitors, Islamic rules and customs, such as wearing burqas or praying multiple times a day, can seem strange and exotic, but they're an important part of daily life in many countries. To secular Americans, the sight of cows in Chennai may seem odd — wandering public roads, unowned and unattended — but for traditional Hindus, the cow is a sacred being.

Every religion on earth has its unique rituals. Even in a globalized, high-tech world, religion is still a major cultural backbone, informing many of our opinions and behaviors. In intensely religious nations, it's important to respect the people and their traditions, even if you don't believe in them yourself. After all, you can never know too much about another faith.

Dine like the locals

Customs around food are often some of the most interesting cultural traditions, as well as the situations that are most fraught with the potential for embarrassment. It would be unthinkable to eat Ethiopian cuisine with utensils — all you need is some injera bread and delicate fingers. Some Indians eat off of banana leaves, using their hands. In many upscale European restaurants, guests dine with the knife in their right hands and the fork in their left (with little or no crossover). Most Americans would balk at stuffing your napkin into your collar, but in many places this is common.

Dietary restrictions are also a part of many countries. Most Indians will refuse beef, and millions are also vegetarians. The Quran forbids alcohol. People who eat kosher meals eschew pork products.

Before you visit an exotic culture, try the cuisine at home, either by cooking simple dishes or by visiting an authentic restaurant. Sometimes you'll need to ask a friendly local to explain the steps to eating that require an insider's explanation, as with sushi (cleansing your palate with pickled ginger) or shrimp in the Mediterranean (eating the head as well as the body). After all, food is a powerful key to unlocking the beliefs of a foreign culture.

Avoid gift faux pas

Gift-giving is more than a nice sentiment; in many places, it's expected. Guests and hosts in China and Japan exchange gifts as a sign of friendship. Givers must choose their gifts wisely, because their meaning and purpose are often heavily weighed. If you're visiting a family, for instance, pick something that both parents and children can use (such as desserts or decorations). Keep in mind that cultural beliefs and superstitions may also limit the gifts that will be appropriate. For example, while you should always bring your Beijing host a gift, never give an umbrella or a green hat; both words are similar to Mandarin words that could be considered offensive.

You may also want to consider bringing something from your hometown when you're going abroad — especially if you've scheduled a home-stay, a visit to a subsistence village or a spiritual retreat. Small gestures are always appreciated, just as you would enjoy a German beer stein or a silk mandala brought by a guest to your home.

Expect mistakes

No matter how much you prepare, you're likely to encounter the unexpected in a foreign country. Cultural guidelines aren't hard-and-fast rules, and stereotypes — even positive ones — aren't true for everybody. Just when you think you should bow, someone might offer to shake your hand instead.

And although you may be courteous, informed and nonjudgmental, you still might accidentally offend someone with your actions. While it's best to try to follow the local norms, that doesn't mean you have to compromise any of your own beliefs or eat something you find objectionable. In every culture on earth, there's a polite way to say no thank you.

A Traveler's Guide to Toilets
Our tips and tricks for seeking out — and using — bathroom facilities around the world.

A Traveler's Guide to Toilets
Travelers are often faced with unfamiliar situations on the road, from language barriers and unusual foods to strange currencies and cultural taboos. And there's no challenge more urgent than figuring out where to go — when you need to go. Here's some advice about what you might encounter.

Public restrooms around the world use the abbreviation "W.C.," meaning "water closet." This was the original term for a room with a toilet, since the bathroom was the place where one also would bathe. Worldwide, signs often say "toilet" in English. Some countries may use only the local language, however, so it's handy to know the written and spoken word for toilet in the language of each country you're planning to travel to. In Arabic, one word for toilet is mirhad; the Arabic spelling appears in the photo above.

Throughout Europe, keep an eye (and a nose) out for freestanding public urinals called pissoirs (a French word describing the activity that takes place there). These convenient stations are easy to overlook, but the smell will usually give you a clear indication of what occurs behind the decorative screen. Pissoirs are for men only; women are out of luck and should continue searching for a public toilet.

On the streets of Beijing and in other cities around the world, strong odors are no longer a problem thanks to high-tech, self-cleaning public toilets. A small fee (exact change is sometimes required) allows you entrance to the unit. When you exit, the doors lock and the interior is automatically washed and sanitized for the next customer.

Not all pay toilets are high-tech, like this one in India. Whether rustic or modern, some facilities are staffed by an attendant who takes money at the entrance. Generally, the presence of an attendant and a fee means the facilities will be relatively clean. It's a good idea to carry plenty of spare change when you're traveling — some places even charge extra for toilet paper!

In Japan, the introduction of the Toto toilet in the 1980s heralded the age of the "high-tech toilet." In 2002, The New York Times reported that at least half of all private homes in Japan had toilets with high-tech features, more than the number of households with a personal computer. Commonly known as the "Washlet," the most popular model offers a dazzling array of features that can include a heated, adjustable seat, water jets, massage options, a blow dryer, flushing sounds and more. Travelers may encounter similar units at Tokyo's Narita Airport; thankfully, you can use the toilet the old-fashioned way and forgo the bonus features entirely.

The Hang Fung Gold Technology Group — a jeweler in Hong Kong — features the "Hall of Gold," a showroom that contains several everyday items crafted in gold, including a 24-karat solid gold toilet. Before the hall was suddenly closed in 2008, a rise in the price of gold led some to worry that the famous toilet might be melted down. The jewelers said at the time that the toilet would remain intact, but its fate is currently unknown.

In Beijing public toilets were once the bane of travelers, who complained they were dirty and smelly and lacked privacy. However, in preparation for the 2008 Olympics, the city spent millions to improve its bathrooms, and China instituted a star-rating system. Some of the nicer public restrooms today offer attendants, carpeted waiting areas and refreshments. One facility was even built to look like a giant insect, perhaps a nod to the days when insects were frequent (and unwelcome) guests around public toilets.

Often referred to as the "Turkish toilet" or "Eastern toilet," squat toilets are common from France to Bangkok. They generally consist of a hole in the ground with a footprint on either side. Proponents of this style of toilet contend that they are more hygienic, use less water and are easier to clean and maintain than traditional facilities. Some even argue that squatting is a more natural position for 1) urination and 2) well, number two.

Even if the squat toilet leaves you squeamish, you might prefer it to communal facilities like the ones at the Roman site of Ostia Antica. Travelers can get a look at this ancient public latrine (no longer in operation) that includes 20 "stations"; it's "flushed" by water that's carried by an aqueduct below each seat.

Enjoying the great outdoors often means having to find a shrub or tree to squat behind when nature calls. In Kootenay National Park in British Columbia, public latrines offer a more civilized — though not exactly private — option for hikers. It's hard to imagine a loo with a more beautiful view.

If you find yourself in the desert, squatting behind a tree or shrub is hardly an option. These portable outhouses in the Sahara Desert give weary travelers a place to ahem, take care of business.

Roadside Distractions: 15 Reasons to Pull Off the Highway

Planning a long road trip this summer? Miles of driving on the interstate might lull you into thinking that every town seems the same. But look closer: There are plenty of unusual attractions that can spice a long, dreary car trip. Here are 15 of our favorites.

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox (Bemidji, Minn.): The folks in Bemidji have long claimed their town is the real birthplace of the mythical, oversized lumberjack known as Paul Bunyan, though tall tales about his exploits and giant statues in his honor stretch from California to Maine. To stake their claim, Bemidji townsfolk built an 18-foot tall, 2.5-ton Bunyan statue in 1937 on what they say is his actual birth site. And because Bunyan was rarely seen without his assistant, a 5-ton statue of Babe the Blue Ox was soon added. These are not the country’s biggest Bunyan and Babe statues, but they’ve been around so long and photographed so often that in 1988 they gained a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

If you go: The statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox stand next to Lake Bemidji in Bemidji, Minn. For more information, visit http://visitbemidji.com.

John Dillinger Museum (Hammond, Ind.): Most highway “welcome centers” offer maps, brochures and clean restrooms. The one in Hammond has all that, plus an unusual museum documenting the life and times of John Dillinger, the gangster whom J. Edgar Hoover named as Public Enemy No. 1 in 1934. In addition to historical artifacts and interactive exhibits that illustrate why “crime doesn’t pay,” the museum displays Dillinger’s lucky rabbit foot and his “death trousers” (the pants the gangster was wearing when police gunned him down outside Chicago’s Biograph Theater later that year).

If you go: Hammond, Ind. is on the Indiana/Illinois border, near Chicago and Interstate 90. For more information, visit http://www.dillingermuseum.com.

Pez Museum (Burlingame, Calif.): The Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia displays more than 720 vintage and modern-day Pez dispensers — every Pez dispenser ever made. Museum owner Gary Doss says the collection includes a rare make-your-own, Mr. Potato Head-style dispenser that was taken off the market because it had too many small parts, as well as the world’s largest Pez dispenser — a record-setting snowman that’s 7 feet, 10 inches tall. Instead of dispensing the classic brick-shaped Pez candy, the giant Snowman Pez offers standard-sized Snowman Pez dispensers, which are the museum’s official souvenir.

If you go: The Burlingame Pez Museum is at 214 California Drive in Burlingame, Calif., near San Francisco International Airport and Interstate 280. For more information, visit http://www.burlingamepezmuseum.com.

Mummies named Sylvia & Sylvester (Seattle): Visitors have been flocking to Seattle’s Ye Olde Curiosity Shop since 1899. They come to see oddities such as shrunken heads, taxidermied twin calves, a pickled pig, a merman and a petrified dog. Mostly, though, they come to see Sylvia, an alarmed-looking South American mummy, and her companion, Sylvester, who is said to have been discovered in 1895 in the Arizona desert, perfectly preserved, dehydrated and complete with his mustache, his eyelashes and all his teeth.

If you go: The Ye Olde Curiosity Shop is at 1001 Alaskan Way on the Seattle waterfront. For more information, visit http://www.yeoldecuriosityshop.com.

World’s largest basket-shaped building (Newark, Ohio): The Longaberger Co. is best-known for its handcrafted baskets. Still, unless you’re ready for it, it’s a shock to come upon the company’s home office, which is a giant replica of one of the company’s wares. The building, which is open to visitors, has offices set around a seven-story, 30,000-square-foot atrium. Daylight streams in from an overhead skylight and from 84 windows in the “basket’s” walls. There are also two basket handles that together weigh about 150 tons and are attached with copper and wooden rivets that look just like those on a real Longaberger basket. The building even has giant, 725-pound Longaberger gold-leaf-painted tags attached to its sides.

If you go: The Longaberger Co.’s basket-shaped building is at 1500 E. Main St. in Newark, Ohio, near Interstate 70. For more information, visit http://www.longaberger.com.

Giant sculptures (Houston): Artist David Adickes is best-known for his oversized sculptures, including a 67-foot-tall statue of Sam Houston in Huntsville, Texas, and the 20-foot-tall busts of U.S. presidents at Presidents Park in Black Hills, S.D., and in Williamsburg, Va. (A bust of President Barack Obama will arrive at the South Dakota park by July 4.) Many of the sculptor’s yet-to-be-placed works and works in progress sit outdoors at his studio/warehouse in downtown Houston, where visitors are welcome to wander through and take pictures.

If you go: David Adickes SculpturWorx Studio is at 2500 Summer St. in downtown Houston. For more information, visit http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/ghcvb_press_kit/Art_Galleries.

Harvey the Rabbit statue (Aloha, Ore.): Years ago, someone brought a 26-foot-tall, wind-damaged statue of a blue-jacketed Texaco gas station attendant to the fiberglass department at Ed Harvey’s boat shop. The repair estimate topped $2,000, so the owner abandoned the statue. That’s when Harvey, who was a big fan of the 1950 movie “Harvey,” starring a giant imaginary rabbit of the same name (as well as Jimmy Stewart), decided to put a rabbit head on the fiberglass man and post him in front of the store. The giant bunny-man was an instant hit. And he still is: His giant outstretched hand has held a Christmas tree, a Thanksgiving turkey, a Halloween pumpkin and even an old freezer decorated to look like a box of Girl Scout cookies.

If you go: Harvey the Rabbit stands outside Harvey Marine at 21250 S.W. Tualatin Valley Highway in Aloha, Ore., near Portland and Interstate 5. For more information, visit http://www.harvey-marine.com.

Superman’s hometown (Metropolis, Ill.): As Clark Kent, comic book superhero Superman lived and worked in the fictional town of Metropolis. You won’t need a disguise to visit the real town of Metropolis, Ill., where there’s a Super Museum filled with more than 20,000 Superman-related items, a newspaper called The Metropolis Planet, a 15-foot-tall bronze Superman statue guarding the courthouse and, each June, a Superman Celebration that features celebrities, Superman Jeopardy and a Superman costume contest.

If you go: Metropolis is in southern Illinois, near Interstate 24. For more information, visit http://www.metropolischamber.com.

The Cardiff Giant (Cooperstown, N.Y.): Most people go to Cooperstown to visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Curiosity seekers who venture beyond baseball will encounter a rare and unusual treat: the “stupendous stone statue” known as the Cardiff Giant. In 1869, when this 10-foot tall “fossilized” man was found buried on a farm near Cardiff, N.Y., it caused quite a furor. Was it an ancient statue, a petrified giant or a hoax? Find out for yourself: Since 1947, the Cardiff Giant has been at rest at the Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown.

If you go: The Farmers’ Museum is at 5775 State Highway 80 in Cooperstown, N.Y. For more information about the museum and the Cardiff Giant, visit http://www.farmersmuseum.org.

Atomic Testing Museum (Las Vegas): The exhibits here do a bang-up job of documenting the history of nuclear testing from 1951, when tests were first conducted at the Nevada Test Site in the desert north of Las Vegas, to the present. Visitors can see Geiger counters and other radiation testing devices, watch a Disney film explaining what happens during a nuclear reaction, learn about the challenges of disposing of nuclear waste and experience a simulated, but safe, above-ground test.

If you go: The Atomic Testing Museum is at 755 E. Flamingo Road in Las Vegas. For more information, visit http://www.atomictestingmuseum.org.

Haines Shoe House (Hellam, Pa.): Col. Mahlon Haines, an eccentric businessman known as the Shoe Wizard, created a 40-store shoe empire, and in 1948 had this shoe-shaped house built as an advertisement for his business. Modeled after a high-topped work shoe, the 48-foot-long, 25-foot-high structure has three bedrooms, two baths, a living room, kitchen and windows decorated with stained glass shoes. In the early days, when the big shoe was a guesthouse, Haines gave away complimentary weekend stays to elderly couples as well as to newlyweds for memorable, if unusual, honeymoon stays. Over the years, the big shoe has also served as an ice cream shop, a store and a private home. These days, it’s open for tours.

If you go: The Haines Shoe House is at 197 Shoe House Road in Hellam, Pa., near Interstate 83. For more information, call 717-840-8339.

Coral Castle (Homestead, Fla.): Don’t be surprised if you leave the Coral Castle feeling glad that Edward Leedskalnin’s fiancée ditched him just a day before their wedding in 1913. If she hadn’t, this slight, heartbroken Latvian wouldn’t have come to America and spent nearly 30 years single-handedly moving, carving, sculpting and transforming more than 1,100 tons of coral rock into a two-story castle tower that features a 9-ton gate, a sundial, a telescope, a bathtub and furniture including rocking chairs, beds and, fittingly, a heart-shaped table.

If you go: The Coral Castle is at 28655 S. Dixie Highway in Homestead, Fla. For more information, visit http://www.coralcastle.com.

Giant jackalope statue (Douglas, Wyo.): A jackalope is a strange-looking critter with the body of a rabbit and a small set of antelope antlers on its head. Impossible to find in the wild, the jackalope was invented back in the 1930s by two brothers who had both taxidermy skills and an offbeat sense of humor. Thousands of stuffed and mounted jackalopes later, the town of Douglas, Wyo., remains Jackalope Central, boasting the world’s largest jackalope statue. Douglas’ Chamber of Commerce, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, even issues jackalope hunting licenses, and says they can be used only between “midnight and 2 a.m. each year on June 31.”

If you go: Douglas is in southeast Wyoming, east of Casper, near Interstate 25. For more information, visit http://www.jackalope.org.

Giant peanut statue (Ashburn, Ga.): A tribute to Georgia's No. 1 cash crop, this 33-foot-tall fiberglass, brick and concrete peanut shrine, complete with bright yellow crown, is believed to be the world’s largest peanut monument (yes, there are others!). You’ll find it in Ashburn, one of several towns that proclaim themselves to be the Peanut Capital of the World; surprisingly, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are not on the menu at the Last Meal Café inside Ashburn’s Crime and Punishment Museum. (Nearby Sylvester, home to the Peter Pan peanut butter plant, has an annual peanut festival each October, highlighted by the Goober Gala and the Miss Georgia Peanut Pageant.)

If you go: The giant peanut statue is on Sylvia Drive in Ashburn, Ga., just off Interstate 75. For more information, visit http://www.turnerchamber.com.

World’s largest ball of sisal twine (Cawker City, Kansas): This string bean of a town is the proud home of the world’s largest ball of sisal twine. At 9 tons, with a circumference of 40 feet, the ball is certainly big, but it wasn’t always this hefty. In 1961, when Frank Stoeber gave Cawker City this spherical oddity, it weighed in at “just” 5,000 pounds. But thanks to the town’s annual twine-a-thon, the ball just keeps on growing. Got time for more twine? The largest twine ball rolled by one man (twine ball-wise, an important distinction) is on display in Darwin, Minn.

If you go: The world’s largest ball of sisal twine is in downtown Cawker City, Kansas, on Wisconsin Street (Highway 24). For more information, visit http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Cawker/twine.html. The world’s largest twine ball rolled by one man is two blocks south of Highway 12 in Darwin, Minn. For more information, visit http://www.darwintwineball.com. Both twine balls can be viewed 24 hours a day.

The World's Most Amazing Hotel Pools

The World's Most Amazing Hotel Pools
Swimming is almost beside the point at these 10 pools found in gorgeous, unexpected locations. Tell the roving pool butlers we say hi.


Hotel: Park Hyatt Tokyo
Why It's Cool: Sure, Bill Murray took a dip here in Lost in Translation, but it's the view from this sleek, 47th-floor swimming pool that's truly remarkable: Floor-to-ceiling windows frame jaw-dropping vistas of Tokyo, and even venerable Mount Fuji, while the steel-and-glass pyramid-shaped ceiling floods the pool with natural light. The 65-foot-long, four-lane pool is striking at night, too, when the city's skyscrapers light up.


Hotel: San Alfonso del Mar, Algarrobo, Chile
Why It's Cool: You can take small sailboats out on this saltwater pool that Guinness World Records calls the largest in the world. At two thirds of a mile in length, the massive stretch of water has room for several man-made sand beaches. For nighttime swimming, head to the temperature-controlled beach inside the pool's centrally located glass pyramid—the water and the sand are heated.


Hotel: Hotel Caruso Belvedere, Ravello, Italy
Why It's Cool: The Hotel Caruso Belvedere is set at the highest point in the sun-splashed Amalfi Coast town of Ravello, so the open-air infinity pool offers unobstructed, panoramic views of one of the world's most dramatic coastlines—and the sea beyond. It doesn't hurt that the pool itself is flanked by 11th-century Roman ruins.


Hotel: Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, India
Why It's Cool: In a massive, 347-room palace overlooking the Blue City of Jodhpur in the Indian state of Rajasthan, this serene, temperature-controlled swimming basin takes advantage of natural candlelight—with rose petals sometimes strewn on the surface. The hotel is run by the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, which shares the property with the palace's owner, the Maharaja of Jodhpur—who has been known to swim laps with the guests from time to time.

Hotel: Viceroy Miami
Why It's Cool: In a city loaded with cool pools, the recently opened pool at the Viceroy stands out. The two-acre pool deck—with Japanese blueberry trees and swanky chaise lounges and beds—features three types of pools: an 80-person hot tub, a wading pool, and a football-field-size swimming pool. Perhaps coolest of all, it's 15 floors above the street, with in-the-middle-of-it-all views of downtown Miami and glimpses of Biscayne Bay in the distance.

Hotel: InterContinental Hong Kong
Why It's Cool: Set on the third floor of the InterContinental Hong Kong, the hotel's three pools—two hot and one cold, but all with underwater music piped in—give the almost unnerving illusion that you're floating in Victoria Harbor. After your swim, park yourself in one of the poolside cabanas and gaze out at Hong Kong's skyline.

Hotel: Golden Nugget, Las Vegas
Why It's Cool: You'll swim with five species of sharks (16 sharks in all) at the Nugget's $30 million pool complex. The Tank, as it's called, houses a three-story waterslide, waterfalls, and the pool's pièce de resistance, the 200,000-gallon shark tank. You're in more danger at the Golden Nugget's roulette wheel: The sharks, stingrays, massive Queensland grouper, and silvery jack crevalle are separated from the swimming pool by a four-inch clear acrylic wall.

Hotel: Quincy Hotel, Singapore
Why It's Cool: This brand-new, glass-enclosed pool is cantilevered from the 12th floor of the futuristic-looking Quincy Hotel, suspending swimmers high above the passing cars and pedestrians at street level. At night, special lighting effects make the pool appear to glow. Bask and swim for a bit, then retire to one of the rattan chairs at poolside for a nap.

Hotel: Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat, Muttrah, Oman
Why It's Cool: After an extensive 18-month renovation, this InterContinental property in Oman recently reopened with a major pool upgrade—which the roving pool butlers (you heard us) are more than happy to tell you about, after refreshing your rose-scented spritzer. The spacious, 164-foot-long infinity pool is flanked by shady, palm-studded islands. The water is temperature controlled, so it's always an oasis-like 84 degrees.

Hotel: Anantara Koh Samui Resort & Spa, Samui, Thailand
Why It's Cool: You look straight out into the Gulf of Thailand from the 98-foot-long infinity pool at this stylish resort on the island of Samui, Thailand. If the views aren't soothing enough, order a stiff drink at the swim-up bar and laugh it off with the comical, spitting monkey statues along the pool's perimeter.

Top 10 national park lodges
Nothing says 'summer escape' like a visit to a national park — sleep over in style

Introduction

In the early 1900s, railroad companies built the first lodge hotels to lure well-off easterners westward, promising easy living against a stunning backdrop.

A century later, the clientele has changed but the appeal has not. We chose lodges that are urban and remote, refined and rustic, classic and contemporary.

Some are creaky-old and rife with history; others have gone modern with yoga classes and spa treatments. All say “summer escape,” and fill up fast — so book early.

The Ahwahnee
Yosemite National Park, California

Bound by the craggy Sierra Nevada mountain range and roughly the size of Rhode Island, Yosemite is a park of dramatic backcountry grandeur. Befittingly majestic, the massive granite, glass, and timber Ahwahnee is an impressive piece of the past that dates back to 1927.

In terms of both history and architecture, it is among the most iconic lodges in the country, with a roster of past guests that includes Queen Elizabeth II, Clark Gable, John F. Kennedy, and Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. The design is a blend of Art Deco and Native American styles, and the lobby boasts elegant tapestries, floor-to- ceiling windows, and fireplaces big enough to stand in.

To top it off, almost every room, suite, and cottage offers a prime view of famous natural landmarks — Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and Glacier Point. www.yosemitepark.com.

Many Glacier Hotel
Glacier National Park, Montana

If there was ever a time to visit this park in northern Montana, it’s now: Of the 120 glaciers that existed in the park more than a century ago, only 26 remain. Scientists predict that if global warming continues at its current rate, they all might disappear by 2030, adversely affecting the ecosystem and landscape. For now, the air and water are magnificently pristine, and the species of flora and fauna are practically unchanged since the park’s inception (which is rare).

With more than 700 miles of trails, it’s ideal for backpackers of all levels. At the park’s center sits the isolated Swiftcurrent Lake, next to the charming, Swiss chalet–style Many Glacier Hotel. At 93 years old, the hotel is starting to show its age, but the basic rooms are quaint.

The suites with balconies looking out on alpine views (watch for bears), the cozy lobby where afternoon fondue is served, and, ultimately, the unparalleled location all make the hotel worth seeking out — before the park changes forever. www.glacierparkinc.com/manyglacierhotel.

Banff Springs Hotel
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Built under the auspices of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1887, the four-diamond Banff Springs Hotel has the look of a Scottish baronial castle and the feel of an indulgent weekend retreat.

A Fairmont property, all rooms are appointed with de rigeur comforts and most offer views of the Bow River or Tunnel Mountain. There’s golf, tennis, and mountain biking, but the primo activity takes place at the Willow Stream spa, a 38,000-squarefoot operation fresh from a multimillion-dollar makeover.

Many of the treatments involve native plants and minerals (making the wildflower meadow come to you for a change). Yet even an Alpine Aromatherapy Massage can’t compete with the miles of unadulterated Rocky Mountain beauty just outside the door. www.fairmont.com/banffsprings.

Big Meadows Lodge
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah is an easy and scenic 90-minute drive from Washington, D.C., but feels remarkably remote.

At Big Meadows Lodge, televisions are scarce; instead, guests watch deer and black bears wander through the nearby meadow for which the lodge is named. Accommodations, with views of the sprawling Shenandoah Valley, run from private cabins to in-lodge rooms and suites.

An architectural attraction in itself, the interior of the lodge is paneled in native oak and chestnut, while the outside is made of chunky stone mined from the nearby Appalachians. Lately the park has been getting serious about its food, hiring chef Peter Bizon to infuse the menus at Big Meadows and nearby Skyland Resort with Southern-inspired flavors, as well as oversee occasional cooking workshops and wine-pairing dinners. www.visitshenandoah.com.

Jasper Park Lodge
Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

There are more accessible places to play golf, but few are set among such rugged beauty, where clear lakes border wildflower meadows and elk, caribou, and moose roam freely.

The 83-year-old course at Jasper Park Lodge, which was designed by the legendary Stanley Thompson and ranks among the best in North America, is 224 miles away from the Edmonton airport, but it’s worth the trek.

This lakeside Fairmont property is a sprawling compound of cedar chalets and log cabins, with Signature Cabins like the eight-bedroom Milligan Manor, perched right on the fairway. From $499/night; fairmont.com/jasper.

Crater Lake Lodge
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Famous for its intensely blue water, Crater Lake is one of the deepest and most pristine lakes in North America. Hovering near the edge of its steep rim (the lake was formed in a collapsed volcano 7,700 years ago), Crater Lake Lodge is the park’s only actual lakeside hotel and, thanks to a major overhaul in the 1990s, also it's most comfortable.

The lodge originally opened in 1915, and despite the remodel, it retains the feel of days gone by, down to the rustic rocking chairs on the veranda overlooking the lake and the families who claim them for remarkable stargazing after dark. With no modern distractions at the lodge, diversions center around the lake, where there is hiking, biking, boating, or fishing for rainbow trout and kokanee salmon.

From mid-October to early summer, roads to the park are covered in snow, which makes for a short tourist season (the lodge opens in late spring). Consequently, early reservations are essential — especially for the precious few rooms with water views. www.craterlakelodges.com.

Jenny Lake Lodge
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

For those who prefer equal parts rusticity and refinement, there’s no better choice than the classic Jenny Lake Lodge in northwest Wyoming. Grand Teton, as well as Yellowstone Park to the north, get slammed with visitors in the summer, but quiet Jenny Lake offers a respite.

Bordering a bucolic wildflower meadow, the lodge’s 37 cabins have handmade quilts, dark-wood floors, and stunning views of the serrated Tetons towering above. Nightly five-course dinners (jackets suggested) evoke the park’s Rockefeller roots (the famous philanthropist played a major role in its creation); the lack of tech gadgets is in keeping with the sylvan setting.

Conceived as a dude ranch for easterners in the 1920s, the lodge has since hosted Rockefeller offspring, Princess Grace of Monaco and her family, and an exceptionally loyal clientele who return year after year. The loyalty factor, combined with the limited number of cabins, means that early reservations are a must.

Breakfast, dinner, bicycling, and horseback riding are included in the price. Other activities range from fly-fishing and float trips on the Snake River to golf and tennis at the Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club. www.gtlc.com/lodgejen.aspx.

El Tovar
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

The first guests arrived at El Tovar in 1905; a few years ago, it received a $4.6 million renovation for its 100th birthday, including a major sprucing up of guestrooms (the most upscale in the park). In between, the sweeping, multitiered structure has hosted no fewer than eight U.S. presidents, from Teddy Roosevelt to Bill Clinton.

Built during a period of architectural mash-up, the hotel has been described as a cross between Swiss chalet and Norwegian villa, with the interior of a hunting lodge (taxidermy included). Situated just 100 yards from the canyon’s south rim, the view all but steals the show.

It can be appreciated from many angles — on the lounge porch during cocktail hour; in the dining room over buckwheat pancakes drizzled with prickly pear syrup; sitting on the private deck of one of three suites with prize views, which consistently sell out more than a year in advance. www.grandcanyonlodges.com.

Cavallo Point Lodge
Golden Gate National Parks, California

This national park is not one piece of land but a composite of sites in the Bay Area, including spots in San Francisco. In 2001, the park acquired Fort Baker, a historic army outpost a mile from Sausalito in Marin County, and recently transformed it into Cavallo Point Lodge.

Opened in 2008, accommodations in both the new and restored buildings are hardly barracklike — the park wisely partnered with the folks behind Post Ranch Inn at Big Sur, and the results are stunning.

On top of spa services and yoga, guests can take photography classes, train for a triathlon, or channel their inner Alice Waters through a culinary program that includes olive oil tastings and day trips to wineries in the Napa and Sonoma valleys. www.cavallopoint.com.

Paradise Inn
Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington

The last eruption of Mt. Rainier, the 14,410-foot peak an hour drive southeast of Seattle, occurred 150 years ago, and though scientists predict there may eventually be another, the park is safe now for visitors. Its top lodge is the historic Paradise Inn, built in 1916 from hand-carved Alaskan cedar logs.

Closed the for two years for a renovation, the lodge reopened in May 2008.

Besides a few new rooms and a fresh menu at the café, the changes were largely structural. Rooms are still spare and small, but you’ll want to spend your time outdoors anyway enjoying the wildflowers, miles of secluded hiking trails, and spectacular mountain views. www.mtrainierguestservices.com.