For most of us, summertime is all about making the most of bright sun and long days by spending as much time as possible outside. And getting together with friends and family is the best way to enjoy this season. Here are some fresh ideas to create a festive and delicious backyard party.
Increased gas prices and the slow economy have caused us to change the way we travel. With a careful eye trained on every expense, long vacations are becoming short, and short trips aren't straying as far from home.
A handful of smaller cities are pulling in visitors that normally would set off for grander locales. Charleston, SC and Fort Meyers, FL, for example sustained double-digit growth rates in January 2009. Tuscan, AZ, Palm Springs, CA, and Portland, OR have also seen surges. Even Philly is on the upswing.
