'Fairtastic' Eats and Treats (Getty Images) State fairs are one the top events for states across the country, drawing millions of visitors each year. These family friendly events were built on the basics: judging livestock, agriculture and food. Recipe judging is one of the oldest kind of competitions dating back to the early 1800s. Today, state fairs are larger, offer rides, special events and, of course, a variety of tempting and tasty treats. In the following pages we highlight some...

Texas Rangers' Mike Napoli, right, celebrates his home run with Mitch Moreland during the third inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday in Arlington, Texas. Where will the two-time American League champs be at the end of the week? They could open Friday at Yankee Stadium in a one-game showdown of wild cards. Or Saturday at Detroit in the best-of-five division series. Or even Sunday at Baltimore.Or perhaps play at home...

Seats from an American Airlines 757 are carried before receiving "Main Cabin Extra Refurbishment" Tuesday at Logan International Airport in Boston. Seats on a third flight came loose as the plane was airborne. (AP Photo/WBZ-TV) DALLAS — AmericanAirlines said that improperly installed clamps caused seats to pop loose on two planes during flights and an inspection turned up four others with the same problem. (MORE: Check Your Flight Status) The airline said Tuesday that it inspected and fixed the seats...

As airlines keep shrinking capacity, holiday travelers may find sharply limited space and higher fares on less-popular routes, said Dean Headley, an associate professor of marketing at Wichita State University and expert on airline performance. Best advice: Book now. (Getty Images) Thanksgiving airline seats and fares are disappearing faster than Aunt Vera's green bean casserole. So unless you want the leftovers, book now. "Of course, there will be last-minute sales, but you'll only get the middle seats on the 6...

In this photo provided by WBZ-TV and WFXT-TV seats from an American Airlines 757 are carried before receiving "Main Cabin Extra Refurbishment" Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012, at Logan International Airport in Boston. (AP Photo/WBZ-TV/WFXT-TV) DALLAS -- American Airlines says it has repaired 42 of 48 planes that were pulled aside and inspected because the seats could come loose. The airline said Friday that all seat repairs on its Boeing 757 airplanes should be done by Saturday. American canceled 44 flights...

Tim Allen, of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., samples one of Jim Beam’s bourbons as his college buddy Woody Parker looks on during a tour of the Beam distillery in Clermont, Ky., on Oct. 3. (AP Photo/Bruce Schreiner) CLERMONT, Ky. — Bourbon fan Tim Allen started his day of sightseeing by sipping whiskeys crafted at a Jim Beam distillery. Where else are pre-lunch nips more commonplace than in Kentucky bourbon country? "That's smooth as silk," the North Carolinian said after sampling Jim Beam...

Earlier this month, several Costco gas stations in Burbank, Calif., were running out of gas due to supply and demand. Customers will finally get some relief as prices decrease. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) NEW YORK — Gasoline prices have begun their seasonal slide. Better late than never, drivers say. (MORE: Cycling More Popular as Gas Prices Rise) The national average retail price has fallen for ten straight days and is now $3.74 per gallon. It could mark the beginning of the...

The typical woman wants seven days and 11 hours notice before even the shortest break, plus three shopping trips, according to a study of 2,000 women. (Getty Images) Women may claim that they desire spontaneity from their man, but a study suggests they actually want eight days’ notice of any “surprise” trip. Three out of five women in the survey confessed to hating surprises and a third said they would hate it if their partner suddenly sprang a short break...

Great American Road Trip: Chicago to Springfield Origination: ChicagoDestination: SpringfieldTotal Miles (One-way):202 MilesPerfect for:Sports fans, wine lovers, history buffs.Best time to go:Late-August, early-SeptemberWeather:Cooling to mid-80s. Travel through American history, visiting some of the Midwest’s most notable landmarks, on this short trip from Chicago to Springfield, Illinois. From Wrigley Field to Abraham Lincoln, you’ll finish this journey with a better sense of the people and places that shaped our country. More: Chicago Landmarks The vibrant heart of the Midwest, Chicago mixes...

A cab driver pushes his taxi cab forward in a line for gasoline in the Brooklyn borough of New York. In parts of New York and New Jersey, drivers are still lining up for hours at gas stations struggling to stay supplied. (AP Photo) Ten days after Superstorm Sandy, Winter Storm Athena added to the high anxiety over gas supplies. Once again, stations that were open had long lines. The AAA estimated that 60 percent to 65 percent of Long...

There are a large variety of insurance policies available for travelers. Check that the plan you are considering will cover you in all situations. Always remember to carefully read through the contract before you decide on a particular policy. Some policies specifically exclude certain sports and activities including scuba diving, motorcycling, bungee jumping, and even hiking. Choose your policy after planning your activities and ask your insurance agent to verify that they are covered. Try to choose a policy that...

Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles go through a demonstration of the Intelligent Transport System at its Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Susono, southwest of Tokyo, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) SUSONO, Japan — Toyota Motor Cop. is testing car safety systems that allow vehicles to communicate with each other and with the roads they are on in a just completed facility in Japan the size of three baseball stadiums. The cars at the Intelligent Transport System site receive information from...