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?

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.

More and more cities are throwing…scavenger hunts? They can be a great way for the child inside to explore a city, and meet new people.

Popular movies can and do inspire people to travel. Here are some companies that can help you follow the footsteps of your favorite films.

Traveling to space is looking more possible every day, but even if you don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars lying around to go into space, you can still have a space adventure.

We’re heading back west to the great city of San Francisco. When visiting the Bay Area, it’s practically a rite of passage to shop ’til you drop in Union Square, cross the Golden Gate Bridge, and gobble down a sourdough bread bowl of steaming clam chowder at Fisherman’s Wharf.

San Francisco also boasts some excellent museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art and Legion of Honor, where you’ll find the works of Klee, Monet, Picasso, and Rembrandt.

Once you’ve taken the dizzying drive down Lombard Street, we’ve got some more ideas that can make your trip a real San Francisco treat.