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 USA Today put together a roundup of 10 train trips that take you through leafy landscapes. Here are three and read the full story to find out about all 10.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
Chama, N.M.
America's highest and longest steam narrow-gauge railroad starts in northern New Mexico, and climbs over a 10,000-foot pass, covering 64 miles before ending in Antonito, Colo. "You've got tremendous steep grades and you can hear the chugging," Heimburger says. "You almost feel like you're in the engineer's seat, struggling your way up these mountains." 877-890-2737; cumbrestoltec.com Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
Cumberland, Md.
The 32-mile route through rugged Appalachian scenery passes through the Narrows, a mountain cut that was once a gateway to the West. When the train arrives in Frostburg, Md., passengers can watch the locomotive rotating on a turntable for the trip back. It's located about 140 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. 800-872-4650; wmsr.com Napa Valley Wine Train
Napa, Calif.
This train combines three of Napa's world-famous attributes: wine, food and scenery. The three-hour, 36-mile route attracts 100,000 passengers a year, who are drawn by on-board white tablecloth dining and regional wine tastings. "It's a great experience, something you won't forget," Heimburger says. 800-427-4124; winetrain.com
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 This Saturday museums across the country open their doors to the public and waive all admission fees. More than 1,300 museums are participating to celebrate the 6th annual Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day. To take advantage of the free admission, download and print the official Museum Day Ticket from Smithsonian.com. The ticket grants museum entry for two.
 My kids are back in school so we won't be going on any big trips for the next few months. But if we could getaway, I'd want to check out the fall foliage--or at least that's what I found myself wishing I could do after reading Budget Travel's round up of five fall drives. Here's a look at the first drive...click here for the full story. VERMONT ROUTE 100
Stamford, Vt., to Newport, Vt., 216 miles
Snaking through the center of Vermont all the way from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian one, Route 100 feels less like a state highway than one long, rambling backcountry path. A strict billboard ban preserves every vista as the road winds between the peaks of Green Mountain National Forest and passes through quaint valley towns like Hyde Park and Weston (population 631). With only farm stands, country stores, and covered bridges breaking up the landscape, you'll consistently feel 200 miles from the 21st century.
Don't miss: The seven-mile stretch through Granville Gulf State Reservation, a favorite for leaf peepers, is also home to the multitiered, 35-foot-tall Moss Glen Falls, which can be seen from the road.
Trip tip: The Vermont Curiosities guidebook ($16) goes beyond foliage, introducing travelers to little-known gems around the state, from roadside barbecue joints to hole-in-the-wall museums.
Where to stay: The Old Red Mill Inn, in the heart of Wilmington, retains rustic charm from its previous life as a sawmill (18 N. Main St., Wilmington, oldredmill.com, from $70). Homemade cookies and intricate quilts create a homey vibe at the Brass Lantern Inn, but be sure to leave the property from time to time to explore Stowe's award-winning restaurants (717 Maple St., Stowe, brasslanterninn.com, from $99). Read the full story
 I scream! You scream! We all scream for ice cream!Summer isn't over yet! There's still time to treat your family to a cool treat.USA Today put together a roundup of our country's best ice cream parlors. They asked local travel experts to name one great ice cream shop in each state and the District of Columbia. Here's a sampling of the top 50, and click here for the full story. Alabama Founded in 1985 as a roadside fruit stand, Peach Park in Clanton developed such a following of its homemade ice cream, flavored with fresh Chilton County peaches, that had co-owner Frances Gray burning more than a little midnight oil to keep up with demand. Now a full-scale operation selling preserves, from-scratch fried pies and BBQ, it's one of the best Interstate 65 pit stops. 2300 7th St. South.; 205-755-2065; peachpark.net Recommended by Kim Cross, travel editor, Southern Living magazine Alaska Among the homemade flavors that light up patrons' faces at Hot Licks Homemade Ice Cream in Fairbanks is Aurora Borealis raspberry and blueberry pures swirled into super-premium vanilla ice cream. 3453 College Rd. (seasonal) and Chena Pump Plaza; 907-479-7813 Recommended by the Alaska magazine staff Arkansas When things heat up in Hot Springs, the locals cool off at Dolce Gelato. Located in a busy shopping center in Arkansas' Spa City rather than on a cobblestone street, Dolce Gelato serves up 36 flavors of house-made Italian ice cream. Try the raspberry. 228 Cornerstone Blvd., Hot Springs; 501-525-6580 Recommended by Libby Smith, travel editor, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Arizona Salted butter caramel, cheese-course duo and honey lavender aren't your standard flavors, but Sweet Republic believes ice cream is a reflection of our unique personalities. The Scottsdale establishment uses all-natural, farm-fresh ingredients, so there's no need to feel guilty about your sweet indulgence. Even tried-and-true vanilla and chocolate fans will feel they've entered a whole new flavor galaxy. 9160 E. Shea Blvd.; 480-248-6979; sweetrepublic.com Recommended by Robin Sewell, executive producer and host of Arizona Highways Television
 On a recent summer camping trip, the kids and I stopped by Kirkwood Ski Resort in the California Sierra Nevada. Over summer, the resorts ski slopes become mountain biking and hiking trails and they lure in families with fun activities such as climbing walls and zip lines. My kids were instantly drawn to the zip line and if there weren't a long line of families waiting to try it we would have gone for a ride. A recent article in USA Today highlights the top 10 zip lines across America. Here's a rundown of the first three... read more for all 10.
Hocking Hills Canopy Tours
Rockbridge, Ohio This course about an hour southeast of Columbus is one of the busiest in the country, attracting guests from across the region. The canopy tour includes 10 ziplines, passing over a cave, forest and river. The new Super Zip course lets you zoom along at speeds of up to 50 mph in a prone "superhero flying" position, Smith says. 740-385-9477; hockinghillscanopytours.com Kapalua Adventures
Lahaina, Hawaii This Maui installation is one of the country's largest and most spectacular zipline tours, Smith says. Some segments stretch more than 2,000 feet. "This one has breathtaking panoramic views, and because the runs are so long, you have time to look out at the landscape and the ocean," he says. "It's a real thrill ride." 808-665-3753; kapaluaadventures.com Captain Zipline
Salida, Colo. Guests literally fling themselves off a canyon edge on this central Colorado tour. "When you step off those cliffs, it's a pretty awesome feeling," Smith says. "Your feet are still running while you're in the air." And the landing is just as spectacular. "You come into this ball-bearing-type gravel, and you put your feet down and come to a Fred Flintstone-type stop." 877-947-5463; captainzipline.com Read more
My favorite travel expert Peter Greenberg offers up some tips on last-minute Labor Day travel over at CBS News: Despite all the obstacles they're facing, AAA recently projected that the number of Americans traveling this Labor Day holiday weekend will increase nearly 10 percent from 2009, with approximately 34.4 million travelers taking a trip at least 50 miles away from home.
First, there's the breaking news about Hurricane Earl. The storm traveled across northeastern Caribbean on Monday, and became a Category 4 as it heads toward the U.S. The Category 4 storm is not expected to make landfall, but is expected to swipe North Carolina late Thursday and travel up the East Coast on Friday and Saturday.
The hurricane was officially "named" by the National Hurricane Center on Sunday, August 29. That means, in many cases, travel insurance policies must have been purchased on or before Saturday, August 28 for covered benefits to apply.
If you purchased travel insurance, read your policy carefully to see what is covered. If your flight is canceled, your resort is deemed uninhabitable, or your airport is closed, you're probably covered. But if you can get to your destination and you have a terrible time due to rain and winds, chance are you're not covered. Read the full story
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USA Today put together a roundup of 10 train trips that take you through leafy landscapes. Here are three and read the full story to find out about all 10.
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