Navy Pier hosts WinterFest
CHICAGO -- Navy Pier hosts the Eighth Annual Bank of America Winter WonderFest now through Jan. 4. The indoor festival at the shopping/entertainment center features visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, 750,000 lights, 25,000 ornaments, indoor ice skating and new attractions and entertainment encompassing 170,000 square feet. | Festival calendar

Easy going for some, not so easy for others
HOT weather greeted the opening day of the Braaiketts KwaZulu-Natal Open and Junior Tennis Tournament at Kershaw Park yesterday. One of the KZN Open?s star attractions, fourth seed Neville Godwin, was the first on court and cruised to a 6-0 6-0 victory over Ross Hemsley.

Save Baguio City
Baguio City is celebrating its centennial this year. It should be an opportune time to focus on the attractions, potentials, and the many problems of the supposed Summer Capital of the Philippines, a city which I am sure holds a special spot in the hearts of many Filipinos.

Coming Attractions: Hard rockers, New Orleans funk joins Madison lineup
NEW SHOWS/UPDATES MUDVAYNE w/ Nonpoint and In This Moment, 7 p.m. Feb. 18, Orpheum Theatre, www.frankproductions.com GEORGE PORTER w/ Mama Digdown's Brass Band, 8 p.m. March 28, Capitol Theater, www.overturecenter.com THE HARD LESSONS w/ My Dear Disco, Great Lakes Myth Society and Deastro, 8 p.m. March 28, High Noon Saloon, www.frankproductions.com MUSIC/COMEDY In arenas/theaters BOBBY ...

Jordan planning to launch new initiatives
The 112th Assembly District has cows, fall foliage and cultural attractions, but what the area known as "The Valley" is missing is a common brand image to promote tourism -- along with apples, maple syrup and cheese produced in Washington County and rural portions of Saratoga and Rensselaer counties, said new state Assemblyman Tony Jordan, R-Jackson.

South Carolina ending daily welcome
Following in the footsteps of its northern neighbor, South Carolina has decided to close its official state welcome centers two days a week, starting Tuesday, to save money. The nine welcome centers, which provide visitors with information about nearby attractions and hotels, will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, according to Marion Edmonds, spokesman for the S.C. Department of Parks, ...

Grand Canyon, Loch Ness compete as nature wonders
GENEVA - The Grand Canyon, Mount Everest and Loch Ness will vie with more than 200 other spectacular places in the next phase of the global competition for the New 7 Wonders of Nature, organizers said Wednesday. The 261 nominees from 222 countries include some of the most famous mountain peaks, lakes, and other attractions, such as the Great Barrier Reef and Niagara Falls.

Discover the real Malmo
First trip to Malmo? Here's some insider advice to help you get the most out of your visit.

Kyoto Attractions
Kyoto celebrates "The Tale of Genji," one of the most influential works in Japanese literature. Lantern-lit alleyways, grand temples and ancient shrines make the city one of Japan's prettiest.

Thousands Of Bowlers Will Boost Local Economy
With an estimated 10,000 bowlers visiting Green Bay from now until early May, the USBC Bowling Association Tournament will be a welcome sight for local hotels, attractions, restaurants and retail...

Watch out Vegas! New York hears wedding bells
With a gleaming marriage bureau makeover, New York City aims to become the new No. 1 place to tie the knot.

"Fun Cities" Bring in More Money
Most cities are looking for ways to bounce back from the sting of the economy. New research shows how "fun" a city is could be the key to how much money it will bring in. Having attractions like museums and parks deem a city "fun."

Navigon Teams with Rand McNally for Scenic Routes
A partnership with the atlas manufacturer will allow Navigon GPS users to get out and explore the countryside, with new routes designed especially for their scenic value.

City centre bans bouncy castles
Bouncy castles and large inflatable slides are banned from Preston's Flag Market in a bid to improve the area's image.

Boxing spotlight: Young fighters on cusp of breakthrough in 2009
A new year hopefully will bring new boxing attractions ready to make an impact. Fighters over 30 -- and in Bernard Hopkins' case, someone who will turn 44 on Jan. 15 -- dominate the sport's current power structure.

Play up entertainment, design consultant says
A design consultant on Monday recommended revitalizing San Bernardino's tattered core by supporting the entertainment attractions of downtown theaters.

Space Mountain Closing For Renovation
Disney World's Space Mountain will be closing in the spring for a renovation.

Wolfe takes reins at Missouri State Fair
The 2009 Missouri State Fair will include many of the attractions that made it successful last year, with some added bonuses, said the new director. Mark Wolfe, 46, of Marshall, took over for former fair director Marion Lucas Friday, after about a five month transition.

Forensic delays stall flamingo case
THE Forensic Science Centre's chronic backlog of cases has struck again, this time delaying the infamous "flamingo-bashing" case.

1,800 Germans dug up from 1945 mass grave in Poland
WARSAW - The remains of 1,800 German civilians who perished in 1945, towards the end of the World War II, have been exhumed from a mass grave in Malbork, northern Poland, officials said Wednesday.