http://www.kentucky.com/163/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2008 Kentucky.com Travel 60 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:39:40 EST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench webmaster@kentucky.com http://www.kentucky.com/601/story/106513.html http://www.kentucky.com/601/story/106513.html Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:17 EDT herald-leader.com (it should be in JPEG format, at least 3 MB in size and the full image file; no camera phone photos, please), or mail original photos to: Vacation Photos, Lexington Herald-Leader/Features, 100 Midland Avenue, Lexington, Ky. 40508. Photographs cannot be returned, and publication in the paper or on Kentucky.com is not guaranteed.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/610617.html http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/610617.html Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:52 EST
HONOLULU . As our plane circled, making its final descent into the Honolulu airport, the woman in the seat next to me asked, "Which of the outer islands are you going on to?"

When I answered that I planned to stay in Honolulu, on Oahu, she looked at me in disbelief and said, "Oh, I never stay there. I just find it too touristy."

Well, everyone has a right to an opinion, and the outer islands are indeed spectacular, but I couldn't help but think that her comment was akin to saying, "Yes, I'm going to France, but I'm skipping Paris because it's too touristy."

In some respects, my seatmate's observations are correct: Waikiki Beach is now known more for its high-rise hotels than its sand; a stroll through the upscale shopping district along Kalakaua Avenue might put one in mind of New York's Fifth Avenue or Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive, and the city has become a hot spot for restaurants, thanks to the fusion cuisine of chefs Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi and Sam Choy. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/586051.html http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/586051.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:12 EST
Our "Take the Herald-Leader on Vacation" feature has been a little absent the past few months. In the meantime, our mailbox has filled with great photos of readers visiting places all over the world.

Here's a collection of the photos. Click on "CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS" below to see more than 30 vacation photos. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/593976.html http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/593976.html Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:54 EST
EDINBURGH, Scotland . History tells us that Queen Victoria became so enamored of the beauty of Scotland while traveling across the country by train that she decided she must have a castle here. Hence, Balmoral was added to the list of royal residences. Sadly, I wasn't in the market for a Scottish castle, but I was about to follow in Victoria's footsteps by taking a rail journey through the country. Since I would be traveling aboard the elegant Royal Scotsman, it was a safe bet that I would enjoy the same standard of service and luxury that Victoria did.

If the boarding process was any indication of what was to come, I'd say even a queen would be impressed. On an overcast October afternoon at Edinburgh's Waverley Station, my fellow guests and I were ushered aboard the train by Sue, our gracious hostess, to the accompaniment of a kilted bagpiper. Once settled in the observation car, we were invited to nibble on smoked salmon canap.s and handed a glass of chilled Perrier-Jou.t.

"Wow, I could get used to this," I mumbled to myself, twirling my champagne flute.

I decided that I could get even more used to it when I was escorted to my compartment, which, while not large, was lavishly furnished with burgundy tapestry drapes, built-in beds with glen plaid coverlets, and black-and-white etchings of Scottish scenes. I was to discover, however, during the next four days, that the best pieces of art were the Scottish scenes framed by the four corners of my window. The constantly changing vistas . alternately bathed in golden sunshine or shrouded in mountain mist . took in sheep-studded hillocks, bonny braes (that's Gaelic for riverbanks), tranquil lochs, fields blanketed with the last of the summer heather, and the occasional pile of forbidding gray stones fashioned into fortresses meant to repel the oft- invading English. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/593972.html http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/593972.html Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:54 EST
NEW YORK . Feeling bad that you can't afford a vacation? The travel books Don't Go There! and I Should Have Stayed Home might make you feel better. For $15 or so, you'll get a laugh out of vacation horrors that you'll be happy to miss.

Other travel books out this year include coffee-table beauties . big books with luscious photos about places most people only dream of visiting. They're the perfect fantasy escape for the armchair traveler whose budget will not permit a getaway. The big books are expensive . $40 or more . but they make nice gifts as a consolation for someone grounded by the economy. Or buy one for yourself; it's cheaper than a plane ticket.

Vacation horrors

Since 1994, a small Michigan-based publisher, RDR Books, has published a series called I Should Have Stayed Home . Two new editions were added this year: I Should Have Stayed Home Hotels: Hospitality Disasters at Home and Abroad , and I Should Have Stayed Home Food: Tantalizing Tales of Extreme Cuisine ($14.95 each). "Collectively, these stories have become a national archive of trouble travel," publisher Roger Rapoport said. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/590212.html http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/590212.html Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:44 EST
Mickey Mouse just got a lot closer to Owensboro.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air LLC announced plans Tuesday to begin non-stop jet service from Owensboro to Orlando on Feb. 18.

The airline will offer an introductory fare of $69 each way, John Fenyes, director of sales, told a morning news conference in the lobby of Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport.

Tickets can be purchased at that price until Dec. 3, he said. They must be used by April 30. After that, Fenyes said, prices will rise to $89 each way. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/586052.html http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/586052.html Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:09 EST
Club will look at Italy slides

The Lexington Travel Club will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hunter Presbyterian Church, 109 Rosemont Garden. The program will feature Don and Ann Howard, who will show their slides of Italy.

A pre-meeting dinner will be at 5:30 p.m. at Ruby Tuesday at Turfland Mall, 2101 Harrodsburg Road.

For more information, call (859) 277-6900 or (859) 275-1606. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/527468.html http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/527468.html Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:18 EDT
After five years of off and on construction, the Woodford County castle will finally open its doors to guests and charity fund-raisers before the end of the year.

Open, that is, to those who can afford a $1,000-a-night room or $3,000-a-night turret suites in what is now called The CastlePost.

That's what owner Tom Post, a Miami lawyer, has renamed the U.S. 60 landmark that he once called the Kentucky Castle.

For $25,000, you can rent the first floor with ballroom, dining room and great hall for 24 hours. Pony up $50,000, and you'll get a three-day weekend to have your own private Renaissance. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/613087.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/613087.html Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:24 EST
It's home to The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Invitational. The event brings the world's top riders to this bowl-shaped realm of monster waves. The contest goes off only when open ocean swells top 20 feet. It's happened just seven times since 1987. I was lucky enough to see Bruce Irons win in 2004 with a 100-point ride on a 35-foot wave. The three-month waiting period begins Dec. 8. Check it out at live.quiksilver.com/2008/bigwave. There's a monument to Aikau, a lifeguard and surfer who lost his life trying to save the crew of a traditional canoe that broke down in the Molokai Channel in 1978.

Sunset Beach: Along with Waimea Bay and the Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach makes up the trio of the most famous North Shore surf breaks on Oahu. The beach is an almost glowing yellow-gold color with large-grain sand. It's usually easy to visit because of large parking areas on both sides of the highway. The surf break is far out and to the right when viewed from the beach, and you'll need binoculars to follow the action.

Makaha: The leeward shore beach on Oahu has waves to equal the largest at Waimea Bay, though its biggest days are fewer and further between. When it is booming, the outside break at Makaha is a punishing wave that few challenge.

Makaha is where surfer Greg Noll made his legendary December 1969 ride on a wave that some surfers say is the largest ever paddled into. Estimates range from 30 to 40 feet, depending on who is talking. Outside of winter, the inside Makaha break can be manageable for many surfers.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/613086.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/613086.html Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:24 EST
Ten years ago, I said the North Shore was Oahu's culinary outback, where getting dressed for dinner means a dry swimsuit and a fresh pair of flip-flops. Thankfully, little has changed.

If you're looking for some Alan Wong Pacific Rim fusion, head to Waikiki.

If you want simple surf soul food, check out these places:

Ted's Bakery: Your best bet for running into some of the top surfers on the North Shore is to come early to Ted's Bakery in Sunset Beach. Ted's churns out fluffy butter buns and Danish as morning carbo-loading fuel for the surfers making their way to the beach or nearby Pipeline. By 10 a.m. the most popular rolls are sold out, but the store switches gears and starts serving plate lunches. Make sure to try a slice of the famous chocolate haupia pie. There are a few tables and a bench out front, though most customers drive off to eat their goodies on the beach. 59-024 Kamehameha Highway. 808-638-8207.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/611603.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/611603.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:18 EST
According to some, that's because Asheville in western North Carolina considers itself to be the cultural capital of southern Appalachia.

French artisans came to Asheville in the late 1800s to work on what became America's biggest house, the Biltmore. The 255-room mansion on 125,000 acres was the home of George and Edith Vanderbilt.

Today the Biltmore is the No. 1 tourist destination in Asheville, where tourism is the No. 1 industry. Its minor-league baseball team is the Tourists.

Asheville is a different but very appealing destination. It is charming, eclectic and cosmopolitan with an edgy California vibe. Its setting in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains makes it a mecca for outdoorsy people.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/611719.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/611719.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:18 EST
All you need to see the greatest surf event of the year is a ride to the North Shore of Oahu, the luck to find a parking space and a blanket to spread out on the golden grainy sands that slope down to the Banzai Pipeline. At the 2007 Pipeline Masters contest, fans swarmed the surfers after each heat.

"It's awesome to see great surfing in such a relaxing place," said Paul Mastracchio, 36, of San Clemente, Calif.. "I've been to the Super Bowl, but at the Super Bowl you can't run down on the field and talk to your favorite player after a great game. Here, you can walk right up to Kelly Slater and say 'great ride.'"

Banzai Pipeline - also called Pipeline or just Pipe - is a legend on an island filled with surfing legends. The spinal cracking tube was immortalized in Bruce Brown's 1966 classic surf film, "Endless Summer."

Each December, Pipeline is the final stop of the Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour. After events in Australia, South Africa, California, Brazil and Tahiti, the top surfers crown the season at the birthplace of board riding, Oahu.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/611595.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/611595.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:08 EST
On Nov. 22, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix opened "Chihuly: The Nature of Glass." The outdoor installation contains 17 large Chihuly works such as "Sun and Moon" and "Chandeliers," which will be displayed amid the cacti, succulent gardens and wildflower trail.

Chihuly's work is in major museums around the world, but many travelers know him best for the enormous flowering chandelier that hangs above the lobby of the Bellagio resort in Las Vegas.

The exhibition runs through May 31. Timed tickets will be sold through www.dbg.org or at 480-481-8188.

Tickets are $15, $13.50 for seniors, $7.50 for students and $5 for children ages 3-12.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/603870.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/603870.html Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:16 EST
The most famous street in the French Quarter is so geared to tourists that all you're guaranteed is place after place where "Brown-Eyed Girl" is played well, poorly or so-so.

Instead, head over to Faubourg Marigny ("mare-a-nay"), the neighborhood just to the east, where off-work musicians and locals convene to hear the cultural gumbo of the Big Easy - jazz, blues, zydeco, klezmer and more. Its hub, Frenchmen Street, is neither as crowded nor as loony as Bourbon. But I did see a pair of howling-drunk young drifters at Frenchmen and Chartres asking passersby for money: They said they were honeymooning right there, inside an abandoned Lucky Dog wiener pushcart.

This is New Orleans, after all.

The French Quarter trickles out to the east into quiet houses and warehouses. Cross Esplanade Avenue and you nudge into Marigny, a warren of curb-close two-story bungalows and an occasional dilapidated mansion. The area was developed in the early 1800s by a Creole gambler-politician named de Marigny and settled by aristocrats' black mistresses and their mixed-blood offspring. The neighborhood remains naturally integrated. Local artists, priced out of the French Quarter, entered the mix in recent years.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/603872.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/603872.html Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:16 EST
Lionel Batiste was born in Treme, the next neighborhood north.

"I grew up in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of St. Philip with six sisters and nine brothers in the house," he says. "My dad was a blacksmith and a baker. We had all kinds of musical instruments in the house and Dad would play for the kids in the neighborhood - the only one he didn't was harp. Three of my brothers played guitar, a sister played drums and guitar and I started playing at age 8 - rhythm sticks and bells. I didn't want to play brass - you get funny lips from that. And playing a reed instrument affects your teeth and you get sore jaw muscles.

"I started snare drum at 9. I didn't like the aspect of hauling drums but loved the beat that propels the music."

At 15 or 16 he was in the 6th Ward Dirty Dozen Kazoo Band, playing banjo and a kazoo made from a coat hanger, and tap dancing.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/603868.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/603868.html Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:16 EST
The iconic 1983 holiday film about Ralphie Parker and his dream of getting a Red Ryder BB gun from Santa is marking a big anniversary this month.

At the "A Christmas Story" House . Museum in Cleveland, a celebration Nov. 28-29 will feature a reunion of the cast, including Scott Schwartz, who played Flick, the kid who got his tongue stuck to the flagpole, and Ian Petrella, who played Ralphie's little brother Randy.

"People don't realize the movie is 25 years old," says Steve Siedlecki, executive director of the museum. "It's only been popular for 10 years or so, when they started showing it on television."

Even if you can't make the party Nov. 28, you can visit the house anytime.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/602109.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/602109.html Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:52 EST
Companies that specialize in travel for teens are ramping up their offers for student trips to see President-elect Barack Obama sworn into office.

The opportunities might seem too good to pass up, but young people - and their parents - would be wise, inauguration staff members and those in the travel industry say, to read the offers carefully.

Some companies provide well-organized, affordable trips. Others offer inflated guarantees of VIP access and hefty price tags.

Carole Florman, a spokeswoman for the joint congressional inaugural committee, said parents considering sending their kids on inaugural trips should make sure they know exactly what they're paying for.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/611719.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/611719.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:18 EST
All you need to see the greatest surf event of the year is a ride to the North Shore of Oahu, the luck to find a parking space and a blanket to spread out on the golden grainy sands that slope down to the Banzai Pipeline. At the 2007 Pipeline Masters contest, fans swarmed the surfers after each heat.

"It's awesome to see great surfing in such a relaxing place," said Paul Mastracchio, 36, of San Clemente, Calif.. "I've been to the Super Bowl, but at the Super Bowl you can't run down on the field and talk to your favorite player after a great game. Here, you can walk right up to Kelly Slater and say 'great ride.'"

Banzai Pipeline - also called Pipeline or just Pipe - is a legend on an island filled with surfing legends. The spinal cracking tube was immortalized in Bruce Brown's 1966 classic surf film, "Endless Summer."

Each December, Pipeline is the final stop of the Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour. After events in Australia, South Africa, California, Brazil and Tahiti, the top surfers crown the season at the birthplace of board riding, Oahu.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/611595.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/611595.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:08 EST
On Nov. 22, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix opened "Chihuly: The Nature of Glass." The outdoor installation contains 17 large Chihuly works such as "Sun and Moon" and "Chandeliers," which will be displayed amid the cacti, succulent gardens and wildflower trail.

Chihuly's work is in major museums around the world, but many travelers know him best for the enormous flowering chandelier that hangs above the lobby of the Bellagio resort in Las Vegas.

The exhibition runs through May 31. Timed tickets will be sold through www.dbg.org or at 480-481-8188.

Tickets are $15, $13.50 for seniors, $7.50 for students and $5 for children ages 3-12.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/611603.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/611603.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:18 EST
According to some, that's because Asheville in western North Carolina considers itself to be the cultural capital of southern Appalachia.

French artisans came to Asheville in the late 1800s to work on what became America's biggest house, the Biltmore. The 255-room mansion on 125,000 acres was the home of George and Edith Vanderbilt.

Today the Biltmore is the No. 1 tourist destination in Asheville, where tourism is the No. 1 industry. Its minor-league baseball team is the Tourists.

Asheville is a different but very appealing destination. It is charming, eclectic and cosmopolitan with an edgy California vibe. Its setting in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains makes it a mecca for outdoorsy people.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/610617.html http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/610617.html Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:52 EST
HONOLULU . As our plane circled, making its final descent into the Honolulu airport, the woman in the seat next to me asked, "Which of the outer islands are you going on to?"

When I answered that I planned to stay in Honolulu, on Oahu, she looked at me in disbelief and said, "Oh, I never stay there. I just find it too touristy."

Well, everyone has a right to an opinion, and the outer islands are indeed spectacular, but I couldn't help but think that her comment was akin to saying, "Yes, I'm going to France, but I'm skipping Paris because it's too touristy."

In some respects, my seatmate's observations are correct: Waikiki Beach is now known more for its high-rise hotels than its sand; a stroll through the upscale shopping district along Kalakaua Avenue might put one in mind of New York's Fifth Avenue or Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive, and the city has become a hot spot for restaurants, thanks to the fusion cuisine of chefs Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi and Sam Choy. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/586051.html http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/586051.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:12 EST
Our "Take the Herald-Leader on Vacation" feature has been a little absent the past few months. In the meantime, our mailbox has filled with great photos of readers visiting places all over the world.

Here's a collection of the photos. Click on "CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS" below to see more than 30 vacation photos. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/593976.html http://www.kentucky.com/163/story/593976.html Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:54 EST
EDINBURGH, Scotland . History tells us that Queen Victoria became so enamored of the beauty of Scotland while traveling across the country by train that she decided she must have a castle here. Hence, Balmoral was added to the list of royal residences. Sadly, I wasn't in the market for a Scottish castle, but I was about to follow in Victoria's footsteps by taking a rail journey through the country. Since I would be traveling aboard the elegant Royal Scotsman, it was a safe bet that I would enjoy the same standard of service and luxury that Victoria did.

If the boarding process was any indication of what was to come, I'd say even a queen would be impressed. On an overcast October afternoon at Edinburgh's Waverley Station, my fellow guests and I were ushered aboard the train by Sue, our gracious hostess, to the accompaniment of a kilted bagpiper. Once settled in the observation car, we were invited to nibble on smoked salmon canap.s and handed a glass of chilled Perrier-Jou.t.

"Wow, I could get used to this," I mumbled to myself, twirling my champagne flute.

I decided that I could get even more used to it when I was escorted to my compartment, which, while not large, was lavishly furnished with burgundy tapestry drapes, built-in beds with glen plaid coverlets, and black-and-white etchings of Scottish scenes. I was to discover, however, during the next four days, that the best pieces of art were the Scottish scenes framed by the four corners of my window. The constantly changing vistas . alternately bathed in golden sunshine or shrouded in mountain mist . took in sheep-studded hillocks, bonny braes (that's Gaelic for riverbanks), tranquil lochs, fields blanketed with the last of the summer heather, and the occasional pile of forbidding gray stones fashioned into fortresses meant to repel the oft- invading English. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/613086.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/613086.html Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:24 EST
Ten years ago, I said the North Shore was Oahu's culinary outback, where getting dressed for dinner means a dry swimsuit and a fresh pair of flip-flops. Thankfully, little has changed.

If you're looking for some Alan Wong Pacific Rim fusion, head to Waikiki.

If you want simple surf soul food, check out these places:

Ted's Bakery: Your best bet for running into some of the top surfers on the North Shore is to come early to Ted's Bakery in Sunset Beach. Ted's churns out fluffy butter buns and Danish as morning carbo-loading fuel for the surfers making their way to the beach or nearby Pipeline. By 10 a.m. the most popular rolls are sold out, but the store switches gears and starts serving plate lunches. Make sure to try a slice of the famous chocolate haupia pie. There are a few tables and a bench out front, though most customers drive off to eat their goodies on the beach. 59-024 Kamehameha Highway. 808-638-8207.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/613087.html http://www.kentucky.com/507/story/613087.html Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:24 EST
It's home to The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Invitational. The event brings the world's top riders to this bowl-shaped realm of monster waves. The contest goes off only when open ocean swells top 20 feet. It's happened just seven times since 1987. I was lucky enough to see Bruce Irons win in 2004 with a 100-point ride on a 35-foot wave. The three-month waiting period begins Dec. 8. Check it out at live.quiksilver.com/2008/bigwave. There's a monument to Aikau, a lifeguard and surfer who lost his life trying to save the crew of a traditional canoe that broke down in the Molokai Channel in 1978.

Sunset Beach: Along with Waimea Bay and the Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach makes up the trio of the most famous North Shore surf breaks on Oahu. The beach is an almost glowing yellow-gold color with large-grain sand. It's usually easy to visit because of large parking areas on both sides of the highway. The surf break is far out and to the right when viewed from the beach, and you'll need binoculars to follow the action.

Makaha: The leeward shore beach on Oahu has waves to equal the largest at Waimea Bay, though its biggest days are fewer and further between. When it is booming, the outside break at Makaha is a punishing wave that few challenge.

Makaha is where surfer Greg Noll made his legendary December 1969 ride on a wave that some surfers say is the largest ever paddled into. Estimates range from 30 to 40 feet, depending on who is talking. Outside of winter, the inside Makaha break can be manageable for many surfers.]]>