New paperback provides advice for ‘staycations’

New paperback provides advice for ‘staycations’

NEW YORK — If you’re joining the “staycation” craze this summer by taking your precious vacation days at home, you might find inspiration in “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Backyard Adventures.”

The $12.95 paperback by Nancy Worrell, part of the popular Idiot’s Guide series published by Alpha/Penguin Books, promises “close-to-home activities for fun-focused families” from camping out to arts and crafts.

Ideas include planning an “insect safari” for the backyard or a nearby park, or similar excursions to find plant life and various types of rocks; learning new sports or skills, from kite-flying to skateboarding; and connecting with your neighbors through an ice-cream social or even through your pets.

Alabama’s River Trail makes national trail list

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The U.S. Department of Interior has designated the Alabama Scenic River Trail as a National Recreation Trail.

Gov. Bob Riley said the designation should help boost tourism.

The 631-mile trail runs from Weiss Lake on the Georgia border to Fort Morgan on Mobile Bay. The trail officially opened June 6.

Montgomery is near the midpoint of the trail.

Fred Couch, president of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, said being placed on the list of national trails is the highest designation a trail can get.

Key West goes green by adding new hybrid taxis

KEY WEST, Fla. — Key West’s hot-pink taxis are going green.

Five Sixes Taxi has acquired 10 environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles as the first step to convert its entire fleet.

Company officials project the new fuel-efficient vehicles, that are still painted pink, will get about 38 miles per gallon in the city, versus their previous vehicles’ 12 to 13 miles per gallon performance.

Company’s president Jan Doelman says going hybrid “will reduce our emissions factor by 80 percent.”

The company plans to replace its other 13 sedans with hybrids by March 2009, and change its 23 seven-passenger Maxi Taxis when a suitable hybrid van becomes available.

American Girl to visit the Mall of America

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — American Girl is coming to America’s mall.

The store that’s become popular selling dolls and accessories will come to the Mall of America in November, the Star Tribune reported.

The closest American Girl store to Minnesota now is in Chicago, with other stores in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta. The Mall of America location will be in a 20,000-square-foot, two-level space.

Native American museum has reopened

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Museum of Native American Artifacts has reopened in a new location in Bentonville.

The 5,000-square-foot museum west of downtown Bentonville has four times the exhibit space of the converted house that the museum used when it first opened last year.

The exhibits feature artifacts from the private collection of founder David Bogle along with items from the University of Arkansas Museum, which closed in 2003.

Associated Press