Destination: United States
‘Gas Tourists’ Head for Mexico
by Michael Yessis | 06.25.08 | 10:53 AM ET
It’s simple math for those along the border: The average cost of a gallon in the U.S. has risen above $4, while government subsidies keep prices more than $1 lower in Mexico. It’s been a boom for Mexican gas stations, which have seen a 50 percent surge in sales in border areas from the Gulf of Mexico to Tijuana. The Mexico Tourism Board is even promoting gas tourism, according to the New York Times.
Related on World Hum:
* The $4 Gallon Survival Guide
* Hypermiling Rises Again
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Yahoo! BuzzRecession Travel: Bad News for Theme Parks
by Eva Holland | 06.25.08 | 10:01 AM ET
Slate’s Daniel Gross is just full of bad news for American travelers this summer. Last month, he warned of the looming recession’s impact on the RV industry, and now he explains why the nation’s theme parks—and particularly the Six Flags chain—could be taking a hit, too. What’s next, the souvenir shot glass industry? Say it ain’t so.
Photo by j.reed via Flickr (Creative Commons)
U.S. Train Ridership Up, But Satisfaction Remains Elusive
by Michael Yessis | 06.23.08 | 3:27 PM ET
May was a record month for Amtrak, which reached new highs in passengers carried and ticket revenue. How did a system recently criticized by a magazine called Good as “unspeakably awful” do it? Chalk it up to the high cost of fuel, which is driving many travelers to eschew cars and planes in favor of trains.
Do U.S. Traffic Safety Efforts Cause More Accidents Than They Prevent?
by Michael Yessis | 06.19.08 | 6:11 PM ET
Intriguing story in the latest Atlantic about the unintended consequences of U.S. traffic safety efforts. John Staddon writes: “I believe that U.S. traffic policies are inducing a form of inattentional blindness in American drivers.” By inattentional blindness he means that when we’re looking for one thing, we often miss another thing—something “that should have been obvious.” To illustrate the concept, he points to a familiar video:
U.S. Navy Tries Hand at ‘Propamanga’
by Julia Ross | 06.19.08 | 10:23 AM ET
The U.S. Navy is appealing to Japan’s otaku to help win hearts and minds. To ease concerns over the arrival of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington in Japan this summer, navy officials commissioned a 200-page manga depicting life aboard the ship through the eyes of fictional Japanese-American petty officer Jack O’Hara. See a PDF here.
Top Five Forbidden Vacations for Americans
by Julia Ross | 06.18.08 | 10:07 AM ET
Fancy a retreat at North Korea’s Mount Kumgang Zen monastery? A leisurely tour of the ruins at Persepolis (pictured)? Dream on. Foreign Policy has a tongue-in-cheek look at five alluring destinations off-limits to Americans.
New Travel Book: ‘Are We There Yet?’
by Elyse Franko | 06.17.08 | 1:30 PM ET
Full title: “Are We There Yet? The Golden Age of American Family Vacations”
Author: Susan Sessions Rugh
Released: May 22, 2008
Travel genre: Travel history
Territory covered: Highways of America
R.I.P. Tu Ciudad Magazine
by Jim Benning | 06.16.08 | 4:47 PM ET
The glossy magazine serving upscale Latinos in Los Angeles had offered an interesting perspective on the city. Unfortunately, it is no more.
The Economics of ‘Shrinking Vacation Syndrome’
by Eva Holland | 06.16.08 | 11:47 AM ET
Slate’s Steven Greenhouse outlines the various factors that contribute to the steady shrinking of Americans’ vacation time—and what Senators Obama or McCain could do about it as they campaign for President.
Photo by Brent and MariLynn via Flickr (Creative Commons)
Understanding America Through the Eyes of Weird Al Yankovic
by Michael Yessis | 06.16.08 | 11:37 AM ET
The man and his accordion wield some intriguing power abroad, at least for one expatriate family in Cairo.
Cross-Cultural Theme Restaurants on the Rise in Los Angeles
by Jim Benning | 06.13.08 | 12:20 PM ET
The Los Angeles Times covers this very cool shrinking planet phenomenon. Just one example: “[I]n Culver City, you will find a New York art collector’s interpretation of a Japanese maid cafe (or “maid-kissa”)—Royal/T Cafe, which opened last month in the Royal/T art gallery. Works by the likes of Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama and Chris Ofili are featured.” I know where I’m going for dinner soon.
Photo by forklift via Flickr, (Creative Commons).
U.S. Image Rebounds Abroad
by Julia Ross | 06.13.08 | 9:35 AM ET
In 10 of 21 countries, according to the latest Pew Global Attitudes survey. Tanzanians are really showing the love, up 19 points in favorable views of the U.S. over last year. Has Obama-mania crept across the Kenyan border? In nearly all countries surveyed, people express more confidence in Obama than McCain on foreign policy. That jibes with this dispatch from Cairo.
A Cartoonist’s Take on Life in New York City
by Eva Holland | 06.12.08 | 12:53 PM ET
Photo by alcebal2002 via Flickr (Creative Commons)
This month’s Cartoonist of the Month blogger at the New Yorker is Michael Crawford. So far, his blog entries—a collection of sketches, paintings and candid shots of New Yorkers out on the town—provide not only a behind-the-scenes look at the origins of the magazine’s famous cartoons, but also an unusual take on life in the city itself. Try Sketchbook: Central Park or Sketchbook: Why They Call It A Hell Of A Town for a start.
Are New York’s Skyscrapers Outdated?
by Julia Ross | 06.11.08 | 10:32 AM ET
That’s the argument this Der Spiegel piece makes, pondering the architectural clash of civilizations between East and West. I, for one, can live without a Burj Dubai in the middle of Manhattan.
New York City is Top U.S. Destination for Foreign Travelers
by Michael Yessis | 06.10.08 | 10:18 AM ET
Last year was a record one for the Big Apple, with 7.6 million international travelers visiting the city—many, no doubt, taking advantage of bargain prices. According to the Commerce Department figures, Los Angeles (2.7 million visitors) was the second most popular place in the United States for international travelers, followed by Miami (2.3 million), San Francisco (2.3 million), Orlando (2.1 million) and Las Vegas (1.7 million).