And what about dress codes on airplanes? In the last couple of years we’ve heard media reports of women being kicked off planes for being dressed to provocatively, and just this week a man was denied his seat in first class for dressing too casually.

Is it fair to lose your seat because of the way you dress? Read on to learn how the rules of flight - or lack thereof - are sometimes inconsistently enforced.

We the common people tend to think celebrities have it easy. However, we often forget that pop icons can’t go anywhere without being swarmed by paparazzi.

Many of these encounters can be ugly and invasive, but one photographer caught an interesting moment at Los Angeles International Airport this week.

The paparazzo filmed Britney Spears passing through a security checkpoint carrying a Big Gulp. TSA officials surely wouldn’t let the hoi polloi get away with such an egregious security breach, but apparently for celebrities, exceptions can be made.

Perhaps the TSA agents recognized Spears and realized how silly it was to think that she had any malicious intentions with that Big Gulp—yet they routinely hound “suspicious” plebeians like you and me for trying to pass through with a water bottle.

Meanwhile, a United Airlines agent refused to let a man sit in first class this week because he deemed the man’s track suit too casual for the section.

Armando Alvarez, an executive for Best Buy, cashed in his miles for a first class upgrade on his flight from Washington Dulles to Connecticut. After his upgrade cleared, the gate agent told him he was not in appropriate first class attire.

For more, Travel Detective & Middle Seat Columnist Talk Upgrades & Downgrades. Or check out Strategies for Securing Airline Upgrades.

A United spokesperson has said that the airline does not have a dress code for passengers, aside from a general “no shirt, no shoes, no service” policy that requires passengers to cover their bodies and feet in some sort of garment.

The spokesperson said that the gate agent, who speaks English as a second language and was busy assisting another customer, mistook Alvarez for an airline employee, for whom a dress code would be required.

Alvarez reportedly felt humiliated by the incident and ended up spending the duration of his flight in coach.

What do you think? Should there be an airplane dress code? Has a passenger’s attire (or lack thereof) ever made you feel uncomfortable?

Is it fair to deny someone a seat based on the way he or she dresses? How do you feel about the apparent security double-standard for celebrities?

Leave some comments below and let us know what you think.

By Dan Bence for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related Links: Gadling, USA Today, Fox Atlanta

Peter Greenberg Links:

• Southwest Says Sorry For Kicking Off Screaming Child
• Airlines and Airports
• Travel Safety and Security
• Strategies for Securing Airline Upgrades
• Travel Detective & Middle Seat Columnist Talk Upgrades & Downgrades

But that comes with some serious responsibility—make schedule that clearly spells out meals, medicines, appointments, and a list of emergency and doctor’s phone numbers.

Another possibility is to ask around at your local senior center, church or caregiver support group.

They may have resources to help find respite care, and can make the most sense if the person in need of care doesn’t require special medical assistance.

The good news is that some assisted living facilities actually offer short-term stay options.

For example, Sunrise Senior Living, Emeritus Senior Living, and Classic Residence by Hyatt offer full-time care for a daily rate.

Or, the person you’re caring for is able and willing to travel, why not bring them along?

Royal Caribbean offers targeted “special needs” cruises.

Access Tours offers trips to national parks for the disabled and slow walkers, while an agency called Connie George specializes in arranging accessible travel.

Bottom line: If you can be flexible and creative, you may be able to take that much-needed break, which can be crucial.

Learn more in our Senior Travel section.

Looking for more advice? Click here for more Daily Travel Tips.

Find out how you can avoid budget-busting fees and get advice on travel tips that make your travels easier.

The direct link to View from the Bay is here.

Or to view the story in written form, click here.

Get more advice on saving money during the holiday travel season:

• Holiday Travelers Face Additional Airline Fees
• Prevent Lost Bags With Luggage Shipping
• Holiday Travel 2009: How to Get the Best Deals
• Travel Cheap With “Dead Week” Deals
• Budget Travel Tips for Holiday Season Travel
• Last Minute Holiday Travel Tips

I am about to do a huge tour of Napa and California Wine Country for a new book, so I kicked off the research the way anyone would—in the city of San Francisco.

It was just a quickie visit, but the main purpose was to attend a re-corking workshop, something I had never even heard about before.

FERRY TO MARKET

While I was in San Francisco, the Bay Bridge was out of commish, so I took the ferry to, where else, the Ferry Building in time to catch some of the market day.

This time of the year, there’s plenty of pumpkins, tomatoes, pears, grapes, and harvest foods and the Ferry Building has scads of stalls inside and out, and a zillion place to eat something.

My regular haunt is Taylor’s Refresher—originally from St. Helena in the Napa Valley and home of the best garlic fries in the world. Then it was an easy connection over to Ghirardelli Square.

Check out Suzy’s Bay Area Baubles, a San Francisco Shopping Guide.

POPPING MY CORK

I do not collect wine and I don’t know a lot of fancy stuff about wine, so my visit to Cellar 360, a wine shop in Ghirardelli Square was quite an education.

Penfolds, the Australian winemaker, has a series of free clinics held around the world so that collectors can bring in their wines to be tasted, tested, certified and re-corked. The only requirements are that the wine be Penfolds and at least 15 years old.

It seems that many collectors are hanging onto older bottles not knowing whether the wine is good or not. Storage methods, travel across the seas or simply time can bring a wine past its “sweet spot.”

If you’ve ever been to a restaurant and served a bad wine, you know that it’s generally “corked” … meaning air seeped in from the cork and ruined the wine inside the bottle. By re-corking, the capsule and cork are removed, a scant 15 ml. of wine is removed then tested and tasted. If it’s up to par, it is certified by Penfolds and by Christie’s.

If the wine isn’t so hot, it gets a white dot and the owner is advised to drink it immediately—or, in extreme cases, dump it.

Don’t miss Suzy’s Roadtrip from San Antonio to San Francisco.

Once the tasting is completed, a few drips of new wine are poured into the bottle and it goes into a vroom vroom machine that seals, re-corks and then pressure cooks the capsule seal. A sticker of certification goes on the bottle. Once a bottle has been re-corked, it can never be re-corked again because 15ml of new wine won’t affect the taste but further dilutions could do so.

Penfold’s has re-corked more than 95,000 bottles since they began this program in 1991 and has three international teams traveling the world. Since every single bottle of wine can be different, even from the same vintage, it’s not odd for someone to arrive with a dozen bottles in hand.

The re-corking is still free. Better yet, the winemaker will tell the owner when is the best time to drink that specific bottle or how many more years it can be held without damage.

Looking for restaurants? Don’t miss Three Days, Nine Meals: San Francisco.

HOTEL SECRETS

From Ghirardelli Square, I jumped on the cable car for the Fairmont Hotel where I was invited to a wine tasting in the newly re-opened Presidential Suite.

At 6,000 square feet, this baby wraps around the entire city with terraces and tile work that would make you weep with wonder. There’s a two-story library with domed ceiling and a pool room (billiards, not swimming) created in the style of the Alhambra with Moorish tiles on floor and walls. The first person to use the suite since it re-opened was Gina Gallo (yes, that Gallo) who was married there last week.

San Francisco Travel articles:

• Suzy Gershman’s Bay Area Baubles
• Off the Brochure Travel Guide: San Francisco
• Three Days Nine Meals: San Francisco
• 5 Tips for Photographing San Francisco

Although the Fairmont is one of the most famous hotels in San Francisco, I then scooted over to my secret find hotel, a few blocks away.

The Warwick Hotel is an insider find, right on Geary Street and only two blocks from Union Square. It’s across the street from the A.C.T. Theatre (where we were going that night) and near many restaurants and attractions. The rates are also attractive … get this, rates begin at $99 per night!

The hotel is intimate, an architectural landmark from the early 20th century and possessed of enormous charm. Best still is the little-known seventh floor. You take the elevator to six and then walk up a half flight of stairs to a few rooms that are decorated in Edwardian splendor—complete with canopy beds and fireplaces.

After a good night’s sleep, we were into the traffic, off to the Golden Gate Bridge and on the way to Napa. I’ll be doing so many wineries in the Napa area that I’m going to have to do a Bottle Blog for you—stay tuned!

Uncorked Kisses,
SuzyKG

By Suzy Gershman for PeterGreenberg.com. Join Suzy on the road this spring on her “Born to Shop” trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from March 10-15, 2010, with an optional Bangkok extension. Guests will stay at the InterContinental Asiana and participate in “In the Know” shopping experiences filled with authentic local experiences and off-the-beaten path venues. For more information, contact Sarah at srlahey @ gmail.com.

• Suzy’s Postcard from Hanoi, Vietnam
• Suzy’s Postcard from Santa Barbara, California
• Suzy’s Roadtrip from San Antonio to San Francisco
• Suzy’s Postcard from Shanghai, China
• Suzy’s Postcard from El Paso, Texas
• Suzy’s Postcard from Paris, France
• Suzy’s Adventures in Las Vegas

- Mike Boyd, aviation consultant and president of Boyd Group International, discussing the top stories in the week of travel news;

- St Lucia historian Jacques Compton sharing his unique knowledge of the region;

- Rebecca Ruiz, health reporter for Forbes.com, discussing her article on the H1N1 virus;

- Naturalist and avid hiker Adam Toussaint sharing his favorite trails and places to hike around the island;

- Joe Brancatelli, “Seat 2B” columnist for Portfolio.com and editor of JoeSentMe.com, sharing tips on deals and travel trends;

- Grayson Schaffer, senior editor for Outside Magazine, talking about the new rules of survival;

- St. Lucia local Karyn Allard discussing diving in St Lucia;

- Terry Maxon, aviation writer for the Dallas Morning News, discussing airline trends and legislation that can affect your next trip;

- Charles Veley, founder of MostTraveledPeople.com, talking about Grenadines and Aves Island around St Lucia.

Call in with your travel questions at 1-888-88-PETER (1-888-887-3837), or email Peter at peter@petergreenberg.com. (Write “ASK PETER” in the subject line so it doesn’t get rejected by our spam filters.)

First entrepreneurs developed sub-orbital spacecraft that could theoretically put rich folks into orbit for a few hours - for a hefty fee. Now a Barcelona-based company has put together a concept for a galactic space resort and expects to receive its first paying guests by the year 2012.

But is it safe? How much will it cost? Is it even feasible? Keep reading to find out the fantastic details of a space vacation…

Brave visitors would begin with a two-month astronaut training crash course at a spaceport on a tropical island. Two astronaut pilots would then lead guests on a day-and-a-half-long journey to the space resort via rocket ship.

Learn more: Mass Space Travel: Real Possibility or Ridiculous Pipe Dream?

The proposed hotel would be large enough to accommodate four passenger-guests, and two astronaut guides.

Located 280 miles above the earth, the space resort would complete one full orbit every 80 minutes and guests would see the sun rise 15 times a day. They would also be outfitted with Velcro suits to help them navigate the the pod-like suites in weightless conditions.

A stay in the space hotel won’t come cheap.

If you want to plan a weekend getaway at the Galactic Suite Space Resort, you’d better start saving now. Architects estimate that a three-night stay at the hotel, which includes the two-month tropical training course, will set you back an astronomical $4.4 million. (There is no word as to whether or not that fee includes HBO or wireless Internet access.)

Find more high-end travel experiences in our Luxury Travel section.

Xavier Claramunt, CEO of Galactic Suite Ltd. and a former aerospace engineer, thinks the space tourism industry is about to take off.

A facility known as Spaceport America is currently under construction in New Mexico. The port would be the first of its kind to exclusively cater to commercial space travel. Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic plans to use the facility launch stargazers on $200,000 sub-orbital jaunts through space.

Critics of the project have said that the 2012 target date is unrealistic, but 43 people have already made reservations, with another 200 reportedly expressing interest.

By Dan Bence for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related Links: Galactic Suite, Times Online (UK), Reuters

Peter Greenberg Links:

• Luxury Travel section
• Mass Space Travel: Real Possibility or Ridiculous Pipe Dream?
• Space Travel Today
• Alternatives to Space Travel

Then when checking in, identify yourself as an allergy sufferer so you can sit as far away as possible.

Another tip is to figure out which airlines are the LEAST pet-friendly, and fly those.

The most expensive U.S. airlines for flying pets in the cabin are United and Continental, which charge $125 each way.

Delta, US Airways, JetBlue, and Alaska Airlines charge $100 each way.

The most affordable airlines to fly pets are AirTran and Southwest.

The bad news is that pet allergies can be triggered by pet dander on the owner, as opposed to the animal itself.

So even if there isn’t a pet onboard, you could have a reaction, and there’s only so much the airline personnel can do to help.

In the end, your best bet is to plan ahead, carry your medication, wash your hands often, and avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes.

But there’s good news: there’s a new airline called Pet Airways dedicated to transporting pets. So maybe fewer people will bring their pets on planes meant for humans!

Get more advice, visit our Pets & Travel section.

Looking for more advice? Click here for more Daily Travel Tips.

Never again.

Those were the last words out of my mouth when I planned our last extended family Christmas vacation to Mexico two years ago.

At that point, airlines and hotels were asking for the usual holiday super-premium pricing for any travel between December 21 and January and I was banging my head against the wall trying to find something affordable and appealing for all tastes and ages.

In the end, we had a terrific getaway and I’d do the work over again in a heartbeat. After all, spending the holidays in a vacation destination can be much more relaxing and fun than staying at home.

The upside of the economic downturn for travelers is that there are unprecedented deals and specials, even during peak holiday travel dates in some destinations. However, due to decreased capacity, the flurry of inexpensive airfare are coming to a close—which means it’s time to jump on a good deal NOW. Moreover, many airlines are now charging additional fees for travel on peak days.

There are basic holiday travel tips that extend to everyone, kids or no kids. The issue for parents is that travel nightmares are extra painful with kids in tow.

Be diligent about the dates & logistics. By avoiding peak travel days, you are more likely to avoid crowds and this year’s airline surcharges—see Fare Compare’s List of Peak Travel Surcharge dates. Opt for alternate, smaller airports when possible and take non-stop flights.

Check out America’s Best Alternate Airports: New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco and find others in More of America’s Best Alternate Airports: Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Washington, DC

Normally, I’d say it is important to book seats at the time you purchase the flight, although I was shocked to read that some airlines are charging new fees for reserving seats over 24-hours in advance.

First flight out. Catching an early flight out increases your chance of an on-time departure. If a flight gets canceled, you have a better chance of getting on another one that day.

Check in online and arrive early. People carrying gifts and extra carry-on luggage dramatically slow up the security line. Avoid being stressed in long lines by arriving early with plenty of time for delays at one point or another in the check-in process.

Prepare for delays. Wise advice from Nancy Solomon, a mom with 4 kids under 10, “I plan for the worst and assume that we may get stuck or delayed and that our luggage may get lost. Included in my carry-on (usually a small rolling suitcase) is a change of clothes for everyone, food (mostly fruit so we can avoid carb-loading), medicines, and electronic chargers for the airport. Without the chargers, I become this crazy mother, rationing battery juice to ensure that the games, iPods, computer will last through the flight.”

For more, check out Nancy Solomon’s A Traveling Mom’s Tips for Visiting London With Kids.

Pre-ship luggage and gifts. Although shipping can be expensive, the new airline baggage fees reduce the cost difference. Logistics at the airport are much easier without piles of luggage. We’ve used FedEx for luggage and found that it is expensive but easy. The good old U.S. Post Office is more affordable and works fine, as long you ship at least seven days ahead of time.

Moderate sugar intake. Treats and sweets are everywhere over the holiday period. A welcome distraction in some instances, but it’s a nightmare if you need your kids to be calm and patient during a flight delay and they are on a sugar rush. Set expectations with your kids that sugary sweets will be limited in and around your travel days. Request that family and friends to minimize treat-related gifts.

Get creative with activities. At this point, it’s amusing how often I find myself not following my own family travel advice. On a recent four-hour road trip with my 6-year-old, I had no plan to entertain him on the way. Not surprisingly, we were all going nuts halfway through the drive. Given the likely travel delays over the holidays, meticulously plan entertainment options.

I love that babies are entertained with simple things like car keys and Starbucks coffee sleeves, however, entertaining toddlers and younger school age children is a different story. Check out Ciao Bambino’s long list of ideas to help keep kids entertained on planes –essential reading if you need new ideas and insight.

Or get more information on traveling with kids in our Family Travel section.

Leverage the Web. I like to have little structure when I’m on vacation and typically avoid making many reservations ahead of time. However, the holiday period is a different story. It’s worth taking the extra time to book restaurants, special events, and babysitters weeks before you leave.

The Internet is a phenomenal resource to research and book restaurants and activities for an upcoming vacation. Many concierge desks answer emails now too—you may not even have to pick up the phone to book all you need.

Select and book babysitters well ahead of time. If you know you want an adult-night out, do the legwork a few weeks in advance. For liability reasons, most hotels will not book a sitter on your behalf, but instead, will refer you to a local agency. The upside of an agency is that you can check references and get detailed information on available sitters. The downside of an agency is that they often charge steep fees for their services, and surprise, surprise—many will charge premium service fees over the holidays. We publish average starting rates for babysitters for all properties in the Ciao Bambino portfolio under Families Should Know.

I’m able to track general availability and price trends through the requests that go to our portfolio of properties. Although highly coveted beach destinations and properties seem to be at capacity over the peak holiday period, there is still availability and fantastic family-oriented specials running in appealing destinations for families. A few of the options that caught my eye include:

Kimpton’s oceanfront Vero Beach Hotel & Spa in Central Florida is running a hotel package for stays through December 30, including accommodations for two adults and two children, a goodie bag of pool toys, a two-hour bike rental for two adults and two children, an in-room movie, milk  and cookies, and a donation to the Homeless Family Shelter equal to 5 percent of the room rate. Rates for a family of four start at $175 per night.

The ideally located Le Parker Meridien in New York City is offering a 20 percent discount off best available weekend rates from November 20-25 and December 20-27.

More travel ideas from Amie O’Shaughnessy: 7 Reasons to Choose a Family Ranch Vacation

The Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, Montana is offering an incredible Christmas package including a personal Santa for every family, Christmas Eve dinner and kid’s party, a tree in every guest room complete with a personal stash of decorations, a holiday horse-drawn sleigh and wagon ride, ice skating, holiday games, and a Christmas Day Brunch.

The starting rate for accommodations and breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day for a family of four is $9,543 for a five-night stay. Available from December 22-29.

On October 17, 2009, Peter was broadcasting from the Resort at Paws Up. Click here to check out guests from the show. Listen to the show online here:

• Hour 1
• Hour 2
• Hour 3

And check out more destination information with our Ask the Locals Travel Guide: Greenough & Missoula, Montana.

Mammoth Lakes is known for early, fantastic snow conditions (typically, skiing is well underway by Thanksgiving) and now they have direct flights into the area from Los Angeles, San Jose and Reno (connections from Seattle and Portland). The Village Lodge at Mammoth has condo rooms that are ideal for families and there is holiday inventory available, although rates are not discounted, there’s a laundry activities in town in addition to this area’s phenomenal skiing including an outdoor ice rink, snow tubing, and dog sled tours. Rates for a family of four start at $254 over Thanksgiving and $569 over Christmas/New Years.

Get some Tips for Finding Family-Friendly Villa Rentals.

Hawaii is one of my favorite beach destinations for families, although flights there can be very expensive. One strategy to find more reasonable fares is to fly to Honolulu on Oahu where there is more flight traffic and options from which to choose.

Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore is located far away from the bustle of Waikiki and the wide variety of oceanfront rooms, suites, and villas set this property apart from the other hotels in this quality category. They are running a Christmas/New Year promotion where the fifth, sixth, or seventh night is free and includes a complimentary room upgrade (based on availability). Rates for a family of four start at $289 per night.

By Amie O’Shaughnessy for PeterGreenberg.com. Amie O’Shaughnessy is the editor of Ciao Bambino!, a family travel resource offering tips and advice for travel with kids and comprehensive reviews of the best family-friendly accommodations.

Related links:

• 7 Reasons to Choose a Family Ranch Vacation
• Family Travel section
• America’s Best Alternate Airports:
• Tips for Finding Family-Friendly Villa Rentals
• A Traveling Mom’s Tips for Visiting London With Kids

Authorities arrested the first suspect Keith Wilson King, 61, three weeks ago when he was caught stealing a bag from the Sky Harbor International Airport. After being released following that incident, police began conducting surveillance on him, and caught him trying to steal bags from the same airport again on November 2.

Keep reading to find out more about what happened and how you can avoid getting your luggage stolen.

After his second arrest, detectives conducted a search of the home King shares with Stacy Lynne Legg-King, 38, in the suburbs west of Phoenix. It was there that they found a staggering number of bags throughout the yard and home.

Officials say it looked as if a tornado had ripped through the pair’s home, as bags, clothes, and trash were strewn around haphazardly. Police found some suitcases with property still intact, but the tags had been removed from every piece.

King and Legg-King were booked on charges of theft, possession of stolen property, and tampering with evidence. Authorities are not clear exactly what the relationship is between the two.

Neighbors say they aren’t surprised that the duo was up to no good. They became suspicious of the pair after they allegedly held yard sales with conspicuously large amounts of videos, clothes and empty suitcases.

Don’t miss our Luggage & Packing section for more tips.

Neighbors also reported once seeing someone leave the home in the middle of the night with an empty horse trailer, then returning with it full.

Sky Harbor airport officials say they are examining their baggage security procedures and considering bringing back bag-tag checks, which were eliminated years ago due to budget cuts.

So what can the average traveler do to protect him or herself?

If you check your bags when you fly, make sure to pick them up as soon as you can after you land. Since many people have similar luggage, so make sure you clearly mark yours. Consider tying a bright ribbon around the handle to help it stand out from other bags on the carousel.

Keep medications, valuables, approved toiletries, and a change of clothes in your carry-on in case something does happen to your bag. But most importantly, be sure to check that you have all of your valuables

By Dan Bence for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related Links: MSNBC, CNN

Peter Greenberg Links:

• Luggage and Packing
• DOT Steps Up Enforcement on Airline Compensation for Lost or Delayed Luggage
• Avoiding Lost Luggage Woes
• Alternatives to Checking Bags
• The Travel Detective On Lost Luggage & Empty Bladders
• World’s Worst Luggage Incidents

Countries like UK, the Netherlands and Belgium, are transitioning over to this method, while Australia and New Zealand have done it for years.

Now, in general, it’s better to stick with your debit card and withdraw cash from your bank or foreign partner bank when you arrive.

And here’s why: Although many major hotels and shops will let you use your regular credit card without any problem, you can get stuck at smaller places.

In some cases, the new card readers should still be able to read the magnetic strip, but the cashier may not be aware of it. Usually they need to follow a different set of prompts to complete the transaction, so it’s up to you to be insistent.

In some countries, automated ticketing machines for trains and subways rely on the chip-and-PIN technology, so if there’s no cashier and you only have a credit card, you’re out of luck.

Get more advice, visit our Money, Currency & Credit section.

Looking for more advice? Click here for more Daily Travel Tips.

The chance to enter into a world at once mysterious and familiar—populated by creatures that would make Maurice Sendak proud.

Fortunately, for those who prefer our underwater viewing from the safety of dry land, The Virtuous Traveler Leslie Garrett uncovers a trio of incredible aquariums, each offering up a distinct view—and point of view—of our water ecosystems: ocean, river and freshwater lake.

1. MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM, MONTEREY

Monterey Bay in California is one of the world’s best-known aquariums. Most recently, it has earned considerable accolades for its pocket-sized sustainable seafood download, advising foodies which seafood is a do … and which is a definite don’t.

When I caught up with the folks at Monterey Bay, they were attacking an enormous cake in honor of the aquarium’s 25th birthday.

Though it has been 15 years since my first Monterey visit, it seems the aquarium has only grown better … and greener. Long a leader in teaching about conservation, Monterey has ramped up its efforts, making conservation an explicit part of its mandate in 1996.

According to Ken Peterson, spokesperson for the aquarium, not only do visitors expect more of the aquarium in terms of its conservation efforts, but the aquarium staff demand more of themselves. “It all starts with the animals,” he says. “Folks fall in love with the animals in the exhibits, we alert them to the dangers they face in the wild [such as] poorly managed fisheries, industrial-scale fishing and fish-farming, and then we offer solutions.”

Peterson says aquarium staff know that “visitors expect us to speak out and tell them what to do,” a role they continue as the threat to oceans and marine life grows with increasing climate change.

Monterey was one of 10 Affordable Fall Getaways in the USA & Abroad.

But while you may achieve an education and conservation mandate while visiting Monterey Bay, you’ll likely be having too much fun to really notice. The aquarium remains noted for its Great White Shark, the fifth to spend time at the aquarium dazzling visitors and alerting them to the threats it faces, before being released back into the wild.

You’ll also meet Makana, a young female Laysan albatross, which came to the aquarium unable to survive in the wild. Meeting Makana makes clear the point that close to half of these chicks die when ingesting plastic their mothers mistakenly bring to the nest as food.

Monterey’s also one of Six Great Back-to-School Vacations for Families.

Of course, the perennial favorite is the sea otters and an up close view will ensure that you’ll make sea otter protection a priority. New features include a permanent Splash Zone, offering kids a touch pool and interactive exhibits.

The Pacific Ocean provides a dramatic and fitting backdrop to the aquarium and its work, and ensures that the connection between what you see and the wild can’t be ignored.

831-648-4888, www.montereybayaquarium.org

2. TENNESSEE AQUARIUM, CHATTANOOGA

The Aquarium—six stories of glass, chrome and wonder—was created with conservation as its goal, to teach it and to model it, says Jim Fierson, vice chairman of the Chattanooga Green Committee.

But though the Tennessee River ran, literally, past the site, initial plans were to create an ocean aquarium. A brilliant suggestion ensured that the aquarium offer up an insider’s glimpse at a river ecosystem, a departure from many aquariums. The River Journey building, the original built in 1982, focuses on freshwater creatures from the nearby river and around the world.

The building’s architecture—with ramps zigging and zagging along glass walls—ensures that visitors get eyeball to eyeball with spectacular river life and brilliantly engages us in an often overlooked ecosystem.

Visitors get up close and personal with Crayola-colored ducks, vivid butterflies, talking birds, spectacular sponges, and Jurassic-esque fish (the kind one hopes to never find on the end of a fishing rod).

Don’t miss Leslie Garrett’s report on Chattanooga: Unexpectedly Green Cities: Eco-Travel in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The more recently built Ocean Journey building houses, of course, sea creatures, including sharks, sea turtles and the ever-delightful penguins (if you miss them after your visit, you can watch them 24/7 on the museum’s PenguinCam).

Children will find plenty of opportunities to get their hands wet, play penguin or figuratively dive into this bizarre world. They can even get inside a shark cage (sans shark, fortunately).

Movie lovers won’t want to miss the on-site IMAX Theatre, which shows watery films and popular mainstream movies.

800-262-0695, www.tnaqua.org

Don’t miss more great experiences in our Museum Travel section.

3. SHEDD AQUARIUM, CHICAGO

The Shedd has been taking visitors to an undersea world for longer than just about any aquarium in the world—opening its doors to the public in 1930.

It’s an aquarium of superlatives housed in a behemoth building—422,000 square feet—situated on the shores of Lake Michigan and focusing much of its exhibit space on freshwater lake ecosystems.

It boasts the oldest fish in captivity, an Australian lungfish named Granddad, who arrived at the venue in 1933 and is estimated to be at least 80 years old. The Shedd’s Oceanarium is the world’s largest indoor marine mammal facility and houses a Philippine coral reef, the most diverse marine ecosystem in the world.

View Leslie Garrett’s Eco-Travel Chicago: More Green Than Meets the Eye.

What’s more, the building itself is the first in Chicago to have a “soybean” roof, a green roof that is estimated to save 95,000 kilowatt hours annually in air conditioning.

But while all that makes for good cocktail chatter, it’s the exhibits that draw gasps. Check out Belugas, Pacific White-sided dolphins, crocodiles, sea lions, and penguins, along with freshwater creatures—all delivered along with a dose of education and advice on conservation.

You’ll also find eco-minded menus at the Shedd’s numerous restaurants, delivering the point that conservation relies in many of our day-to-day choices.

Unfortunately—or not, depending on your viewpoint—the Shedd’s new show, “Fantasea,” reduces its education component to a few brief, pre-show minutes, then dazzles with a theatrical display that makes clowns of nature’s creatures (though the penguins seem uniquely predisposed to clowniness). However, the audience seemed to love it.

The aquarium is most definitely worth a visit. Fantasea? You can make up your own mind.

312-939-2438, www.sheddaquarium.org

Leslie Garrett is author of The Virtuous Consumer: Your Essential Shopping Guide for a Better, Kinder, Healthier World.Visit her at www.thevirtuoustraveler.com.

Previously By Leslie Garrett:

• Family Travel, Eco-Travel: A Trip to Little St. Simons Island
• Community-Based Tourism: Creating Authentic Travel Experiences
• Off the Brochure(sm) Travel Guide: Toronto, Canada
• Carbon Offsets: Travel With a Clean Conscience?
• America the Beautiful: Postcard from the Edge
• Eco-Beaches
• The Good, The Green and the Downright Crazy Tours
• Green Travel Gadgets
• Green Honeymoons
• Bye Polar: Arctic Travel

But it’s far from easy money, and it’s not an occupation that everyone can handle. Air traffic controllers have one of the most stressful jobs out there and can often involve making life or death decisions under extreme pressure.

Air traffic controllers can make life or death decisions for travelers … so what kind of criteria goes into hiring these folks?

Even though the path to becoming an air traffic controller isn’t as long or difficult as trying to become a doctor or lawyer, it is by no means easy.

Learn more: FAA Reauthorization Bill Includes Passenger Rights, Air Traffic Control Upgrades

It typically begins with a Federal Aviation Administration approved collegiate training program. Some well-known universities like Arizona State, Oklahoma and Purdue offer approved programs, but many are actually offered through smaller community colleges. It isn’t always necessary to have a bachelor’s degree from one of these universities—the FAA will allow you to substitute three years of “progressively responsible” work experience.

The vetting process for the next step is much more rigorous. To qualify for the FAA training program, new candidates must be under the age of 31 (performance diminishes with age), pass medical (can’t be colorblind or have a history of high blood pressure), psychological, security, and written aptitude tests. Applicants must also complete a personal interview where they are evaluated on alertness, decisiveness, diction, poise and conciseness of speech.

Get the latest on air travel safety in our Travel Safety & Security section.

This interviewing and testing process is allegedly extremely competitive. This process is expedited for candidates with military air traffic experience. Those who qualify move on to a 12-week training program at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, where they study FAA regulations, aircraft performance characteristics, controller equipment, and airway system fundamentals.

Even after completing the program, graduates won’t start making six figures for a number of years. Salaries are usually in the $33,000-$56,000 range until they work their way up into positions of more responsibility, which usually require additional classroom study.

At airport towers, air traffic controllers typically work their way up the totem pole starting by providing basic flight information to pilots. They then progress to become a ground controller, who manages taxiways, inactive runways, and holding areas. Local controllers are responsible for active runway surfaces and clearing aircraft for takeoff and landing. The ultimate positions at airports are departure controllers and arrival controllers.

Find out: What Impact Will Obama Administration Have on Air Travel?

In these positions, there is no margin for error. Mistakes can be deadly and even near-misses make headlines. Because of the high stress levels, most air traffic controllers are eligible for retirement benefits at the age of 50, or after 25 years on the job.

Because performance in this field has been proven to diminish with age, controllers are required to retire at 56. However, if they demonstrate outstanding ability and experience, they may receive a federal exemption to work until the age of 61.

If you’re concerned about who is guiding your plane to safety, rest assured that becoming an air traffic controller is not for those who are looking to get rich quick.

By Dan Bence for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related Links: FAA.gov, FAA.gov- How To Become an Air Traffic Controller, FAA on Pay, Benefits and Training, Huliq.com, Collegeboard.com

PeterGreenberg.com Links:

• Air Travel, Airlines and Airports
• Travel Safety and Security
• DOT Investigates FAA’s Air Traffic Control Cover-Up
• The Future of Travel: Possible Solutions for America’s Transportation Problems
• What Impact Will Obama Administration Have on Air Travel?
• FAA Reauthorization Includes Passenger Rights, Air Traffic Control Upgrades
• Bill Boosts Pilot Training Requirements, But Will It Make Skies Safer?

In some cases, you may need to get a medical certificate clearing you to fly within 10 days of departure.

Airlines are within their rights to require a certificate for passengers who require medical oxygen during a flight, have an infectious disease, or—here’s a loophole you can drive a Hummer through—when there’s “reasonable doubt” that the passenger can fly without requiring medical assistance.

Pregnant women flying within four weeks of their due date—which we don’t recommend anyway—are also required to have a medical certificate.

Conditions like anemia, circulatory issues, or heart or lung problems can be affected by low oxygen and humidity in the cabin.

Also, remember long-distance travel and jetlag can interfere with the timing of taking medication.

The bottom line is that you can protect yourself with a little advance planning: check in with your doctor, carry on backup medications, insulin, or other emergency supplies, and keep a copy of your physician’s business card, as well as a medical ID card or bracelet identifying your condition.

This is definitely one situation where it absolutely pays to be prepared.

Get more advice, visit our Travel Health & Fitness section.

Looking for more advice? Click here for more Daily Travel Tips.

Jamie Bovshow uncovers six military museums across the USA where families can celebrate, remember and pay homage to our nation’s finest.

1. NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM

Formerly known as the D-Day Museum, the National World War II Museum in New Orleans stands as our country’s tribute to the more than 1 million men and women who fought in Europe, Africa and the Pacific Islands during World War II.

The museum remembers D-Day and includes galleries, personal artifacts, photographs, stories, never-before-seen film footage, and other important WWII documents.

On November 7, the newly expanded museum celebrates the grand opening of three of its newest venues. The new Solomon Victory Theater showcases an exciting multi-sensory, 4-D film called Beyond all Boundaries, narrated by Tom Hanks and featuring a wraparound screen, multi-layered projection, and other special effects.

The new Stage Door Canteen is a home front-style canteen that takes away from the seriousness of the museum and includes dancing, music, and a new performance entitled “Let Freedom Swing!” Finally, the new American Sector Restaurant includes a brand new dining experience by Chef John Besh, who creates American staples with a modern twist.

For more recommendations, check out last year’s suggestions with Veterans Day 2008: Where, Why and How to Celebrate America’s Veterans.

Start Veterans Day festivities early with New Orleans’ multi-day grand opening celebrations. Saturday, November 7 includes a Free for Family Fun Day and the Victory Stomp New Orleans-style block party at night. On Sunday, November 8, attend a guest lecture by scholar Alan Brinkley entitled “Visions of Peace in an Age of War.”

On November 11, Veterans Day traditional programs will include an invocation, speeches and music, as well as a presentation of a reproduction of the Liberty Bell, given to the museum by visiting French dignitaries.

504-528-1944, www.nationalww2museum.org

2. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio is the world’s largest military aviation museum, with more 400 aerospace vehicles on display. Here you’ll find various galleries that boast exhibits from all generations of aviation history, including Early Years, Cold War, Presidential, Modern Flight, and Missile and Space Galleries.

Outside, the museum’s Memorial Park includes gardens and walkways that incorporate over 500 memorials, plaques, trees and benches that honor those who have served in the U.S. Air Force.

The museum’s more hair-raising attractions include an IMAX theater and a Morphis MovieRide flight simulator, where family members of all ages can climb into the cockpit and experience the thrill of flying.

Check out more museums in our Museum Travel section.

This year, the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight presents two “War in Remembrance” concerts on November 6 and 7 in honor of Veterans Day. The programs will feature a variety of compositions and symphonies representing wars from various time periods, as well as songs and stories from military staff and veterans.

937-255-3286, www.nationalmuseum.af.mil

3. BATTLESHIP COVE MUSEUM

Battleship Cove Museum in Fall River, Massachusetts is home to the world’s largest collection of historic naval ships. Battleship Cove isn’t just about passive exhibitions, but is a hands-on, floating playground of adventure and history. Here, kids and adults can spend the day exploring below the deck of some of the museum’s largest naval ships, including the Cold War destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. and the USS Lionfish submarine.

The museum’s most popular exhibit is the USS Massachusetts, an enormous WWII battleship that museum-goers can get lost in exploring for hours on end. The museum even offers overnight camping experiences for youth groups aboard the Massachusetts as a part of their “Nautical Nights” program.

Find more local travel adventures in our USA Travel section.

This Veterans Day, honor a loved one’s military service by flying an American flag on any naval vessel at Battleship Cove. After this special ceremony, the flag is yours to keep, along with a commemorative certificate with the honoree’s name and the ship it was sailed from. After participating in this memorable event, head to the USS Massachusetts to check out the Massachusetts’ official memorial to all Bay Staters killed in WWII.

508-678-1100, www.battleshipcove.org

4. NATIONAL NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM  

The National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida is home to more than 150 beautifully restored aircraft, exceptional exhibits, and as many as 4,000 artifacts from Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviation history.

Children can experience the thrill of flying in the cockpit trainer exhibit, where they can climb inside the cockpit of a fighter jet, control the switches, and listen to radio transmissions from actual aviators. The museum also includes exciting multi-sensory experiences for all ages, including an IMAX theater, a motion-based flight simulator, and a Top Gun air combat simulator.

One of the most popular features in the museum is the Cubi Bar Café, a perfect replica of the legendary Officer’s Club in Cubi Point, Philippines that includes original military plaques and artwork.

This Veterans Day, you won’t want to miss the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels Squadron perform a free practice air show outside of the museum at 8:30 a.m. Afterwards, be sure to go inside the museum to meet the pilots at a special autograph session.

850-452-3604, www.navalaviationmuseum.org

Korean War veterans should check out Traveling to the Demilitarized Zone: Between North & South Korea.

5. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPS

The first thing you’ll notice at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia is the architecture, where a 210-foot tilted steel mast-and-glass atrium structure emulates the iconic image of the raising of the American flag over Iwo Jima during WWII.

In the Leatherneck Gallery, visitors can learn about the 225-year history of the Marines and explore the museum’s hanging aircraft, tanks, and other historic artifacts. At the museum’s first interactive exhibit, visitors can experience the intensity of boot camp, as well as test their aim with laser-designed rifles and targets.

 Get more information in our Senior Travel section.

Celebrate both Veterans Day and the birthday of the Marine Corps on November 10 for a special cake-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Afterwards, tour the 3-acre Semper Fidelis Memorial Park, where monuments recognize those who served in the Marine Corps. Visitors can also donate a commemorative brick honoring service members and loved ones, which will be included along the beautiful interwoven pathways of the park.

877-635-1775, www.usmcmuseum.org

6. NATIONAL VIETNAM VETERANS ARTS MUSEUM

At the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago, visitors can experience the healing ability of art with the museum’s growing collection of artwork created by veterans of the Vietnam War. It’s the world’s only museum with a permanent collection that focuses on war from an artistic perspective, which includes paintings, photography, sculpture, poetry, and music.

This Veterans Day, be sure to check out the museum’s highly praised exhibit entitled “Above and Beyond,” a stirring 10 x 40 foot sculpture comprised of over 58,000 dog tags of men and women who died in the Vietnam War.

312-326-0270, www.nvvam.org

By Jamie Bovshow for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related links:

• Traveling to the Demilitarized Zone: Between North & South Korea
• USA Travel section
• Museum Travel section
• Veterans Day 2008: Where, Why and How to Celebrate America’s Veterans

Some users have been charged hundreds of dollars because they forgot to turn off international data roaming, or their phone was automatically synchronizing new emails while they were abroad.

According to AT&T, just opening a large picture in an email or downloading a short YouTube video can cost up to $40.

Before you fly, check with your carrier about roaming costs. Some carriers will give you specific rate information for your destination so there are no surprises.

Others have international package that allow you to pre-pay a set amount.

But remember, a “roaming plan” often just applies to voice usage. Data roaming is a whole other package.

And no matter how “smart” it is, your phone shouldn’t be your only resource on the road.

After all, you don’t want your phone to conk out while you’re trying to find your location on Google Maps. Always keep a paper trail as a backup.

Get more technology advice in our Travel Gadgets & Gear section.

Looking for more advice? Click here for more Daily Travel Tips.