Here are some tips designed to help you save money and book with confidence as well as understand how to best work with property owners and management companies to secure a vacation rental in Santa Barbara that meets and exceeds your expectations.

Contributor: Graham Farrar
Published: Sep 06, 2010

Wineries seem to be popping up all over the place. To date every state in the United States boasts at least one winery. Some of the wines produced are very good and some are excellent.

Contributor: Chefs.com
Published: Sep 06, 2010

Car rides don't have to be boring. A few travel games can make time in the car pass quickly and painlessly.

Contributor: Lawrence Stephens
Published: Sep 06, 2010

A perfect day in Key West with the kids is easy! How about chasing after tropical fish in ankle deep water, or taking a sunset cruise on a pirate ship? You can do it all in the Conch Republic!

Contributor: Megan Champion
Published: Sep 06, 2010

Look out for tropical storm Hermine, heading towards the Texas/Mexico border

Contributor: Amy
Published: Sep 06, 2010

My memories for Marseilles were wiped out by pretentious people. I will keep in my mind a different Marseilles full of sparkles; my trip down to memory lane is now just a transition between what I was and what I will be.

Contributor: Alessio Brotto
Published: Sep 06, 2010

The Boulder Fire is spreading across the Colorado foothills and evacuations are being made today.

Contributor: Amy
Published: Sep 06, 2010

By Silvia Viñas

The blog El-Salvador [es] discusses the difference between what tourists and other occasional visitors see in El Salvador (fancy malls, four-star hotels, expensive cars, big homes and people wearing international brands) and the reality lived by the majority of Salvadorians.

By Ndesanjo Macha

That African Girl is a blog with a series of posts written by Africans around the world about their childhood. It is a blog about growing up in an African family and learning to live in two worlds. The bloggers sharing their memories have lived both in Africa and the West.

The blog was started by Makafui Fiavi and Adey Teshome. Makafui was born in Togo and grew up in the United States and Adey is young Ethiopian-American.

This is Makafui's introduction:

During the college years, many people take the time to better understand themselves and their place in the world. Most people do it by trying out different identities, or exploring different social circles and ideologies. For me, the 4 years brought an exploration of my various sub-identities and a strong desire to learn how to live between 2 worlds. Born and raised in Togo and growing up in the United States has given me the desire to explore and understand various cultures, to listen to stories and to learn about what brings people together. That African Girl (TAG) is the culmination of ideas, conversations and a desire to continue learning and sharing. Here’s where I share about things, people, places, stories, dreams and passions that inspire me.

Adey Teshome considers the blog as “a place for the cultural hybrid, multi-interest, eclectic children such as ourselves to air our thoughts”:

When I first agreed to contribute to this blog, I was super-inspired by Mak’s idea–a place for the cultural hybrid, multi-interest, eclectic children such as ourselves to air our thoughts. And as I like to say, this is why we’re friends. She has such an eye for self-expression and such cool views to share. And I loved the thought of being part of that. So that’s who I’ll try to be for this blog– a young Ethiopian-American, recent (well, in the works) college grad, trying to figure out my place and get my grounding in life, who can put in her two cents every now and then.

Liz A. is a contributor from Uganda/Kenya living in the United States. These are her childhood memories:

1) Being beaten as punishment. I always found it interesting when my White or Asian friends would talk about being told to sit in a corner, or were sent to their room as a form of punishment. For us, we were beaten. My mum would usually get very thin branches that had fallen off the trees in our compound and my dad would get the thick ones, sometimes we would be sent to get them ourselves, and we would be given a few lashes on the calves of our legs.

In America, it seems that such a thing can result in social services being called in to review the situation or children here feel some sort of resentment towards their parents for it. But I have

Labor Day is here and the fishing effort is intensifying, with the fish even seeing fit to cooperate a little bit.

Contributor: Jeffrey Weeks
Published: Sep 06, 2010

Hummus is Mediterranean spread made from garbanzo beans (or chickpeas) and tahini (sesame seed spread). Hummus is high in protein, contains no transfat or cholesterol and is very nutritious and delicious. Here are recipes to make hummus.

Contributor: Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben
Published: Sep 06, 2010

My opinions and thoughts as a resident of New York City.

Contributor: Syd Stanton
Published: Sep 06, 2010

Jet-setting to another country in search of sun, sea and surf is a popular pastime for British holidaymakers. What will you do if you or a family member falls ill or has an accident? How should you use your EHIC when you need it the most?

Contributor: Sophie S
Published: Sep 06, 2010

If you are traveling to Walt Disney World Resort with a little girl, then Cinderella's Royal Table in the Magic Knigdom is a must. She will meet the princesses, pose for pictures, collect autographs, and enjoy a Medieval banquet.

Contributor: Jenny Sperandeo
Published: Sep 06, 2010

British air travel has stringent rules and regulations in place during domestic UK, as well as international flights.

Contributor: Sophie S
Published: Sep 06, 2010

Here is another haunted hotel in the series. This one is in San Antonio, Texas

Contributor: Faye Fairley
Published: Sep 06, 2010

The confiscated homes of some of the most notorious crime bosses in Sicily have been turned into beautiful B&B's. Could you enjoy a peaceful night's sleep where the Godfathers slept? It will cost you about 45 euros.

Contributor: Michele Starkey
Published: Sep 06, 2010

Washing clothes the same way it's been done for hundreds of years.

Contributor: michael sherer
Published: Sep 06, 2010

Englewood, Florida, is a little beach town snuggled between Sarasota and Fort Myers. It's a perfect place for a vacation, but once you get here you just might find you never want to leave.

Contributor: Barbra Davis
Published: Sep 06, 2010

What do barn quilts, the world's largest popcorn ball and the Chautauqua movements of the early 1900's have in common? They are all connected to Sac City, Iowa.

Contributor: Killeen Gonzalez
Published: Sep 06, 2010