It’s not always easy to step off the beaten path once you get into Nashville.

The elements that draw you into the city are sure to keep you satisfied for a long time–the streets virtually hum with the sounds of country and bluegrass spilling from music venues, while mainstays like the Grand Ole Opry House made the city into a legend.

Generations of country greats have flocked to Nashville, and with names like Dolly Parton, Hank Williams Sr., Trisha Yearwood, and Martina McBride, they certainly don’t call it Music City for nothing. You also can’t leave the city without tasting old-school Southern barbecue (tangier and spicier than the Memphis variety), washed down by the firewater that is Tennessee whiskey.

But like any good old American city, Nashville has a whole lot more to offer than what you may see at first glance… Dig a little deeper and you may find a secret world that the locals hold dear.

We may advocate traveling in the off season (lower prices, lesser crowds), but odds are you held back on visiting Chicago in the winter. Yes, weather can be a factor.

After all, a common Chicago joke is that the city enjoys only two seasons a year: winter, and construction…

Indeed, statistics show that Chicago tourism is hopping in the summer: 32% of leisure travelers visit the city in the summer months, as compared to 24% in the winter (and only 17% in the fall–as it turns out, winter discounts and programming do draw a decent, albeit chilly, crowd).

Now that summer is here, the thawed-out city is bursting with outdoor festivals and concerts and Wrigley Field is officially open for business.

From celebrated architecture to deep-dish pizzas to soulful blues, the city is known for a lot of things… so we’ve uncovered some of the lesser-known variations of what makes Chicago a hot summer destination.

Hawaii has made its fortune by selling images of grass-skirted hula dancers, hanging ten on white sandy beaches, and pig-roasting luaus.

In fact, in 2006, there were more than 4 million visitors to the island of Oahu (that’s a lot of leis!), the vast majority of which were there for pleasure, not business.

While you certainly don’t need to skip the touristed spots and traditional activities to be a card-carrying contrarian traveler, there are plenty of ways to capture the spirit of aloha by seeking out the local action.

Chances are, you’ll walk away with your own special memories–ones that aren’t replicated in millions of photo albums across the world.

Just ask them to hold the pig.

If you’re like most people, you don’t often think about your airline miles.

You know they’re there, accumulating with each flight you take; then comes that elusive, eventual time when you decided to cash in on a free flight…and they’re impossible to redeem.

So basically, your miles don’t serve much purpose.

But, what if they could?

What you may not know is that you can put those miles to good use by donating them to charity. Many non-profit organizations have frequent flier mileage donation packages, and several major air carriers have developed charitable programs using earned miles. Some are exclusive partnerships geared to one or two specific charities, while others have multiple organizations with quarterly or …

Current Time in Cairo

Cairo, known as Al Qâhirah in Arabic, is a city where ancient and modern civilization comes together in one chaotic experience. A visit to this capital city can be hot, crowded, exhausting…and completely exhilarating.

When to Go
While we advocate traveling in the off season for steeper discounts and fewer crowds, expect some major heat waves in this desertland. (There’s a reason that most of the population is clustered around the banks of the Nile.) The “hot” season runs from May to October, with temperatures rising into the high 90s and the cooler season lasts from November to April when temperatures can drop into …

More and more hotels are offering “pure rooms” or “hypoallergenic rooms” that are largely free of chemicals and allergens. A number of hotels, from the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel to the Premier Hotel in Times Square, are testing out “hypoallergenic rooms.” While there is no set standard for hypoallergenic rooms, most use air purifiers, natural antiseptics, and even ozone mists to minimize bacteria and dust mites. So while the rooms may not be allergen-free, most allergens will be significantly reduced.

But all this specialized cleaning comes at a cost at most hotels. At the Annapolis Waterfront Marriott, for example, there’s an extra $20 charge for “Pure rooms.” Hotels run by Thayer Lodging, which runs some Marriott, Hilton, Doubletree and Wyndham properties, …