What to do in Abu Dhabi? A smattering of suggestions...

A few weeks ago, we introduced a new magazine feature called "Ask a Park Ranger" where we track down the best advice from the experts about our national parks. We'll be featuring the results in a column in the magazine and here on our blog. Here's our first question.

Q. My husband and I are planning a trip to Acadia National Park on Maine's Mount Desert Island in early September. We made reservations to camp at the Seawall campground. Can you suggest a two-day itinerary (hikes/photo ops, scenic drives, etc.) that would introduce us to the famous and, perhaps, overlooked gems of the park? What should we not miss? -- Kara L.P.

A. We asked park ranger Wanda Moran, who's spent over 18 years at Acadia, for her advice. "Fall is my favorite time here, it's cooler, there are fewer people, and it's really great hiking and biking weather," she said. "Acadia isn't a very big park, so two days will give them plenty of time to explore." Moran recommends a hike along the beach near Seawall, and a visit to the Bass Harbor Head Light to watch the sunset. "My favorite hiking trail is the Beech Mountain path on the west side of the island; there's several different ways to climb it, some moderate, some more strenuous. On the way up you'll get a nice view of Long Pond, and at the hike's peak it offers a gorgeous views out to Blue Hill Bay and the Cranberry Isles." Moran notes that all of the ranger-led programs run throughout the fall, including their boat cruises, walks, talks and hikes. And be sure to visit for the Night Sky Festival if you can, which runs from September 9-13. They'll be offering panel discussions, photography workshops, a night boat cruise, and a "star party" on Cadillac Mountain.

Have a question about the National Parks? Submit them in the comments or email us at Travel_talk@ngs.org. And look for more tips on Acadia in the November/December issue of Traveler. 

[Acadia Park Travel Guide]
[NPS: Acadia National Park]
[NGM: Autumn in Acadia]
[Acadia Photo Gallery]
[Night Sky Festival]
[Ask a Park Ranger]

• Singapore's Changi Airport just recently opened a 40 foot twisty slide in its Terminal 3. Passengers who spend at least $22 in the airport shops will receive tokens for two rides down the slide. This is the latest addition to the airport, which also features a butterfly garden and a rooftop swimming pool. [YouTube]
  

• Atlantic City celebrates the launch of HBO's latest period drama, Boardwalk Empire, about bootlegging during prohibition by offering rooms for the decidedly throw-back price of $19.20. [Hotel Chatter]

• And this is one way to get through airport security. [Vagabondish]
  

Many of our readers have responded to Daisann McLane's latest column in our September issue, "The Lies We Tell," in which she discusses posing as a jewelry designer when visiting a gem dealer in Jaipur, India, and other instances when she's twisted the truth while traveling. An excerpt:

...when I travel, I'll improvise extravagant new identities for myself only with shopkeepers, hoteliers, and strangers I'm absolutely sure I'll never see again. I try on the hats that, but for a few twists of fate, I might have worn (as well as some I would not have): anthropology professor, Peace Corps volunteer, Hare Krishna devotee. If I meet someone who my gut tells me could become a friend (or someone who--hello Facebook--might know one of mine!), I make sure I keep it real.

Some of you were astounded, saying that we had condoned lying or posing under false pretenses. "What kind of article is this, an encouragement to lie as we travel?" reader Jim asked. "I could not believe my eyes when I read her tacit approval of lying to others." Others saw the practical benefit: "As long as it's not illegal, stretching the truth can keep you safer. I once had to fake my way out of an angry protest mob of hundreds," wrote Dave.

For some like Raechal, it was the artifice of adolesence: "Growing up in a divorced family with my mother in Maine and my father in California I would travel by plane, train, and automobile between the two homes. Quite often I would pretend to be someone else, traveling for some other reason to elicit different responses from people. It was a form of amusement for an adolescent during a long and tedious trip."

And for others, it was a white lie, depending on the circumstance. Writes Marce: "I have double citizenship, and sometimes I introduce myself with one or another depending on the situation."

What's your take? Read the piece and let us know.

Photo: Martin La Delfa, My Shot

This weekend I took advantage of a free Zozi deal I blogged about last week and tried out stand up paddleboarding for the first time. After driving about an hour southeast of Washington, D.C., to YK Kiteboarding and Stand Up Paddleboarding in Maryland's Chesapeake Beach, I got my sea legs, so to speak, on a wide and surprisingly stable board and managed to hold my balance while cruising the bay without falling off. I wouldn't quite say I'm a master, but I did take home enough tips to share them.

• Stand up paddleboards are boarded two ways: either you step directly on the far side of the board with one foot, then the other, or you climb on the board with your knees and then raise yourself to a standing position. I chose the former, as it seemed slightly less complicated, though it was odd to feel as though you're stepping on water.
  
• The paddle is quite long, and can reach up over your head as you're switching hands. The owner of the rental company recommended making a scooping motion with the paddle as you move it from front to back. (I really have no idea whether I succeeded in doing this, but I do know my arms got a workout.) I typically took about two to three strokes on each side of the board before switching.
  
• The same rules apply to weddings as they do to paddleboards. Don't lock your knees while standing too long or else you'll end up falling over. It's best to bend them slightly and try to ensure that your weight is evenly distributed.

• The Boston Public Library has just opened an exhibit of hundreds of postcards depicting the city in the early 20th century. It's a companion to their popular exhibit of vintage travel posters which opened earlier this year. Both are on display at the Central Library at Copley Square. [Boston Globe]
  

• How do you make 11 million Brazilians in São Paulo disappear? Hint: it involves soccer. [The Offside]

• And because we know you're curious, our good friends over at Neatorama have compiled a list of beer facts from around the world. One thing of note: Arthur Guinness has a 9,000-year lease on his brewery in Dublin, so the iconic stout should be around for a long, long, time. And Nevada tops the U.S. in beer consumption, with 44 gallons per person consumed each year. [Neatorama]

Photo: Vintage postcards courtesy The Boston Public Library under a Creative Commons license

Jeff Probst travels a lot. As the host for CBS's Survivor, he knows a thing or two about zipping around the globe and what happens when you drop everyday people into exotic countries. Curious to know what he's learned from a life on the road, Andrew Evans caught up with Jeff on a steamy beach in Nicaragua, where he's currently filming the show's 21st season, to find out how the man behind Survivor handles his extensive travels and what it's like to sleep on the Great Wall.  

How many countries has Survivor taken you to?

18 countries over 11 years.

What's the best part of traveling with Survivor? 

All the things you experience, like sleeping on the Great Wall of China or visiting Samburu tribes in Kenya. We spend so much time in each area that we usually develop friendships with local families or the locals who work on our show. Those connections are very rewarding. In the Amazon, most of our locals had never earned any money before--their lives were based on barter. But there are times when bringing money into a community via local hires and spending with local vendors can kick-start a city into new growth.

As a person who travels constantly, do you have any "survival" tips for fellow travelers?

I've learned to be much more prepared than I was before Survivor. I am always thinking about where I am heading, what papers I need, etc., and I always carry power for my phone and laptop along with snacks for layovers because most airports are not like LAX with a coffee shop and a "food court" in every terminal.

In your opinion, what makes someone an "Intelligent Traveler?" 

Thinking ahead and anticipating problems. One of the downfalls of traveling with Survivor is that our security team meets me when I land and take off in any foreign country. They handle my passport clearances and visas. They are always thinking forward, anticipating problems. But they take such good care of me that I have to really pay attention to what is happening, so that when I'm traveling without Survivor, I still remember what to do!

Travelers who missed being in New Orleans to observe the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina will have the opportunity to discover what really happened during the storm beginning this October 26, when the Louisiana State Museum opens an exhibit devoted to the hurricane and the wild, wet weather that has influenced the Gulf Coast in its history.

Living With Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond is a $7.5 million exhibit opening at the historic Presbytere in the heart of the French Quarter. "Visitors to New Orleans will see and experience what happened, and see how the region has rebuilt itself to be better than it was before," said Louisiana State Museum Director Sam Rykels. Rykels and his curators hunted down and found iconic artifacts to display -- like the Fats Domino's water-damaged Steinway piano (above) salvaged from the musician's Lower Ninth Ward home and a tarnished menorah, retrieved from a flooded synagogue in Lakeview, an affluent neighborhood. Also in the exhibit: videos that relay stories of survival and rescue like Ken Bellau's - the professional bicycle racer commandeered a loose boat and proceeded to rescue some 400 people from their homes. (Watch one of the videos after the jump.)

Though the State Museum of Louisiana is housed in the Presbytere, a 219-year-old building, it boasts some thoroughly cutting edge technology -- QR codes -- a bar code that will immediately link smart phone users to in-depth additional information. In the museum's case, the QR code for its upcoming exhibit Living With Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond links visitors to the exhibit's Facebook page where they can upload their own thoughts or experiences.

Last October, I took a river trip into Peru's Pacaya Samiria National Preserve aboard the Aqua; my account of this Amazon wilderness is in the latest issue ("The Lost World," page 82). What I found there constituted a trip of a lifetime and the article chronicles why. Alas, for all the deep reporting I did on its undeniable magnetism and natural richness, I drew fire--deservedly--for an error that should not have happened. In the field, despite using several sources, I said that the Aqua was the "only large boat running regular trips down the Peruvian Amazon.... The alternative: industrial banana boats that haul river cargo and offer a hammock for the night." The statement was double-checked by our researchers. Despite all that, it's not true. We goofed.

Two other finely appointed boats of similar scale work these waters. The 120-foot-long luxury Delfin II (www.delfinamazoncruises.com), which began service after my visit, carries 28 passengers and has just struck an alliance with National Geographic Expeditions. International Expeditions' 28-passenger La Amatista (www.IEtravel.com, pictured), an old-style riverboat, has been in service since 1994 and was cited by our now-defunct sister publication Adventure as one of the world's greatest adventure trips. Neither vessel, rest assured, resembles a banana boat. While the undeniable star of the trip is the Amazon itself, these boats can let you experience it in style. Our apologies for the error.

--Keith Bellows, Editor

Photo: La Amatista is one of several boats that makes trips down the Amazon River; photo courtesy of International Expeditions.

Manhattan-dweller and former Traveler researcher Meg Aftosmis recently took a trip on the ZipRider at Icy Strait Point in Hoonah, Alaska and sent us this video of her thrilling experience. Icy Strait Point is a privately owned cruise ship destination near the village of Hoonah, a small Tlingit community on Chicagof Island along the Inside Passage, about 25 miles south of Glacier Bay National Park. Meg gets strapped in and the ride operator releases the gate and "Three, two, one, thanks for coming!"



Icy Strait Point
Hoonah, Alaska
National Geographic's guide to Glacier Bay National Park
50 Ways to See Alaska

• Tucked in treetops in the heart of Swedish Lapland is the new Treehotel, which offers chic, eco-friendly treehouses for grownups. Each house has different design -- one is covered in mirrors while another is designed to resemble a nest; upcoming tree homes will be designed to look like Legos and a UFO. All are heated and outfitted with comfortable amenities inside. [The Guardian]

• Looking for the greatest scoops across the country? USA Today has compiled a list of the best ice cream parlors in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as recommended by local foodies in the know. All I know is that I'm printing it out and keeping it on hand as a resource. [USA Today]

• It's report card time for New York City restaurants, as the city's Department of Health has introduced a new rating system that corresponds with their health inspection score. Eateries must now post their grade in sight of their patrons; the city has also put the database online where you can check to see how your favorite restaurant fares. [Gadling]

Photo: Treehotel

Without cars and structurally unchanged for centuries, mysterious Venice is an anachronism--but don't relegate it to living museum status. In the scenic district of Dorsoduro, modern art and traditional artisans thrive alongside sleek eateries and much loved enoteche (wine bars). This walk through Venice's southwestern side highlights the best of La Serenissima, the Most Serene Republic, both old and new. Linda Burbank explored it "On Foot" in our April 2010 issue. Click here to download and explore the interactive map. 

It's been five years since the floodwaters from Hurricane Katrina consumed the city of New Orleans. Getty photographer Mario Tama was there as the waters rushed in, and has gone back to show how the city has recovered. A gallery of his before and after photos can be found at National Geographic News.

On August 20, 2010 children play in a new development in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward built by the Make it Right Foundation (top), which is constructing houses for families who lost their homes during Hurricane Katrina. The low-lying Lower Ninth Ward took the brunt of the storm's devastation five years ago but later attracted an army of volunteers eager to help rebuild (pictured, Amish student volunteers tour the area on February 25, 2006).

Brasilia-based writer Diogo Alcantara notes that with an increase in international flight options, traveling for Brazilians has never been easier.

International trips for Brazilians for a long time were limited to traditional destinations, such as Buenos Aires, New York, Miami, London, and Paris. But Brazil's growing economy and a stronger currency is changing the scenario, making it possible -- and more common -- to see people flying further and more often. Claudia Gonçalves, a friend of mine who covers the presidency for Record Television in Brazil, is going to Sri Lanka this year, and she has already been in Australia, South Africa, Egypt, and Israel, as well as Europe and the North America. Another friend has just been in Istanbul, other in Doha. It may seem strange, but for us, visiting this many different places would have been unbelievable just one decade ago.

You can see this demand in the increasing number of international airlines that are flying non-stop to Brazil. São Paulo--the main hub in Brazil--is now receiving daily flights from Dubai (by Emirates), Istanbul (by Turkish Airlines), Tel Aviv (by El Al), and more recently, from Doha (by Qatar Airways). Other cities, like Brasilia, are now starting to be a destination for international flights, too--TAP from Lisbon, LAN from Lima, Delta from Atlanta and in November, American from Miami. And if the Brazilian government's predication is right, and we will become the fifth largest economy in the world in the next decade, we should see even more airlines make inroads here.

Old Faithful got some new digs yesterday with the opening of a 26,000-square-foot, $27-million visitor center in Yellowstone National Park. The building, which is expected to earn a LEED Gold certification, features interactive exhibits on what visitors see, hear, and even smell as they watch the iconic geyser erupt. "We're trying to explain the plumbing underground," says public affairs officer Al Nash. "Yellowstone is a place where geologic activity occurs right before your eyes."

[New Visitor Center]
[Yellowstone Park Travel Guide]

• Wednesday marked the annual La Tomatina festival in Buñol, Spain, in which thousands of revelers descend upon the town square for an extravaganza of tomato-throwing. No one really knows how or why the festival began in 1945, but it's apparently just as messy as it sounds - the local fire brigade is on hand to hose off participants afterward. [BBC]

• Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands was on hand for the unveiling of the new Holland Boulevard at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, an ambitious restructuring project that includes a brand new library, living-room-style lounges (complete with pianos, couches and televisions), areas for babies and children, high-class retail outlets, and a variety of food and bar options. The zone is meant to promote Dutch cultural awareness and provide a higher level of comfort for the airport's 40 million-plus yearly visitors. [Moodie Report]

• A report released yesterday names Britain as the country with the fewest visa restrictions, giving its citizens access to over 160 of the 190 world countries and territories with available data. The United States clocks in at number seven, with Iraq and Afghanistan at the bottom of the list. [The Economist]

Photo: flydime via Flickr

We've become accustomed to using the Internet in certain ways when booking travel. For me, I go to Kayak.com when searching for a flight. I always check out my hotel on  TripAdvisor for its reviews before booking. But when it comes to booking activities for my trip, I'm always a little bit at my wit's end. 

Forget swine flu or terrorist attacks. The real metropolitan danger comes from mass pixelation, at least according to this Daily Motion video by Patrick Jean. Today New York City, tomorrow the world!


PIXELS by PATRICK JEAN.