Skip the elevator: these unique staircases take cool to new heights. (Davide Cazzola) It looks like any old roller coaster, with curves and heart-stopping loops. But instead of zooming by, people are walking—on inclines fitted with steps. This creation in Germany’s Rhine Valley is an interactive sculpture, but it’s also one of the world’s most unique staircases. While staircases are fundamentally a means to get from one point to another, they become cool—and worth seeking out—when the form is made...

Few things compare to staying in a beautiful Autumn-themed hotel room while traveling to view fall foliage. (Photo courtesy of Ashby Inn) Chebeague Island is a short ferry ride from the hipster scene in Portland, ME, but it still moves to a 19th-century tempo. So you can take your time walking among the brilliant fall colors and, when the evening turns cool, cozy up to the fireplace of the Chebeague Island Inn.That crispness in the air is a sure sign...

(Working Mother) You’ll soak up Native-American culture -- not to mention the ubiquitous Arizona sun -- in every corner of this family-friendly “GeoGreen” resort owned and corun with the Sheraton by the local Pima and Maricopa tribes. Tucked between two mountain ranges, the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa in Chandler, Ariz., features a splendid 17,500-square-foot spa, fine restaurants and world-class golf. Cool for kids Swimmers will delight in the 111-foot water slide at one of the resort’s four...

(Working Mother) Though it's famous as a winter wonderland for skiers and snowboarders, Utah's Park City also offers spectacular warm-weather opportunities. Enjoy mesmerizing mountain views from up to 8,000 feet during scenic gondola rides and 400 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Stay in first-rate accommodations, like the AAA Four Diamond Grand Summit Hotel at the Canyons Resort, at off-season rates. Cool for kids Older kids can cruise at 50 mph on the world’s steepest zipline and steer a...

(Working Mother) The city of Hot Springs, Arkansas, features a small but gorgeous national park and is surrounded by a valley of 47 steamy thermal springs. The verdant, clear-water Diamond Lakes region of the Ouachita Mountains affords an array of water sports, fishing, hiking and more. You’ll also discover a 210-acre botanical garden, a combination theme/water park and lodgings to fit all budgets, including the stately Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa in the heart of historic downtown Hot Springs. Cool...

(Working Mother) An oasis awaits you just 20 minutes south of the Cancun airport. As you check into this elegant Mayan/Mexican-style resort, a champagne cocktail is placed in your hand -- a hint of what’s to come at the Ceiba del Mar Beach & Spa Resort in Puerto Morelos, Riviera Maya, Mexico. All rooms and suites have terraces overlooking a swim-up-bar plunge pool and private powder-sand Gulf of Mexico beach. With a holistic aromatherapy spa, tennis courts and myriad amenities,...

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious problems when the mercury starts to climb.It's easy to underestimate how dangerous heat sickness can be. A few common sense precautions can make the difference between life and death.Drink a lot of liquidsIt is easy to get dehydrated in hot climates, especially if you are not used to high temperatures. Always carry a water bottle and drink from it often. Just because you aren't thirsty doesn't mean your body doesn't want water; by...

(Cultura | Getty Images) America’s ‘Nanny State’ Laws A recent proposal by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg looks to ban the sale of sodas and other sugary drinks over 16 ounces at city food establishments. The proposal has many questioning whether New York has gone too far with so-called ‘Nanny State’ laws that are thought by some to be overprotective or interfere too much with individual choice. “Obesity is a nationwide problem, and all over the United States, public health...

From teeth cleaning to “4-D” movies, fliers are finding unusual ways to make the most of their layovers. (iStock/Emre Ogan) En route to the Czech Republic her junior year of college, Rachal Royce was faced with five hours to kill at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport—not enough time to visit the city, but just enough to go a little crazy. Fueled by a few café au laits, she paced the corridors of Terminal 1 looking for something—anything—to keep her occupied...

Ready to Land in Hawaiian Paradise (iWitness Contributor manvog) Business Travel Facts & Figures: Air traffic controllers in the U.S. handle around 44-million flights each year. The agency first began controlling the nation's airspace in 1958. Airport Conditions for: Atlanta | O'Hare (iWitness Contributor qkbbem) Above Orlando, FL Business Travel Facts & Figures: The FAA reports that airliners carried approximately 776-million passengers in 2008! There are currently around 4,000 jet airliners flying in the U.S. to handle that load. Airport...

Historic Post Office Buildings Post offices joined the list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places as a group for the first time. The National Trust for Historic Preservation cited the bureaucratic process for disposing of thousands of post offices, saying developers and community groups interested in rehabilitating the historic buildings end up walking away when they don't get timely or clear answers from the Postal Service. The annual list of America's most endangered historic places includes a variety of...

NEW YORK (AP) -- To snag the best airfares, travelers need to be adventurous and willing to pick up at a moment's notice. OK, now let's be realistic. Most people making summer travel plans need just that: plans. They get a week off, maybe two, and aren't going to spend hard-earned cash on a last-second whim. But great deals are still within reach for those who have even a little flexibility in choosing where and when to travel. The average...