'Highway 61' revised
Lake Superior agates aren't the only hidden gems to be found along Minnesota's North Shore. Authors William and Kathryn Mayo are back with the second edition of their handy paperback "61 Gems on Highway 61" ($12.95, Adventure Publications), and there's bound to be plenty of attractions you didn't know about on the storied route between Duluth and the Canadian border. Beginning at Glensheen Mansion and ending at the High Falls of Pigeon River, the mile-by-mile guide covers all the classics (Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse) along with lesser-known spots: the pink rhyolite of Iona's Beach, a campy statue of "Rocky Taconite," the Bear and Bean canyon lakes, the 1929 Naniboujou Lodge and more. It's a nice companion tome for your next North Shore road trip.
Simon Peter Groebner
Flights to Cuba are back
More flights to Cuba are on the horizon. The U.S. Department of Transportation has tentatively awarded a slew of U.S.-Havana routes to five major airlines. The schedule will likely be finalized this month. Last year, airlines clamored for a slice of the 20 available daily round-trip flights from the U.S., only to find weaker demand than expected. The new flights indicate that demand may be creeping up again for travel to Cuba. The proposed flights include routes between Havana and Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boston and Houston. Delta and American Airlines will each fly once daily from Miami to Havana.
Miami Herald
Space hotel, from $791,666
Aurora Station is billed as the "first luxury hotel in space." Houston-based Orion Span hopes to launch the modular station in late 2021 and welcome its first guests the following year. The platform would orbit 200 miles above Earth, offering six guests 384 sunrises and sunsets as they race around the planet for 12 days at incredibly high speeds. The 12-day stay starts at $9.5 million per person, or about $791,666 a night. "We want to get people into space because it's the final frontier for our civilization," said Orion Span's founder and chief executive officer, Frank Bunger. The offering won't be for everyone, however: Launch and re-entry are not for the faint of heart.
Bloomberg
Western Australia for $952
Intrepid Travel has a sale on select Western Australia trips, with buy-one-get-one-free deals for couples and 35 percent off for solo travelers. For example, the Broome to Perth Overland trip starts at $952 per couple; solo travelers pay $619, a $333 savings. Price includes nine nights' lodging in campgrounds, hostels and cabins; 28 meals; park entrance fees; transport via four-wheel-drive vehicle; guide; and taxes. Travel through June 30. Book by April 30 at 1-800-970-7299 (intrepidtravel.com/us/west-coast-sale).
Washington Post
More airfare price alerts
Many airfare websites now offer price drop alerts at no charge, sending out lists of unusually cheap fares (some of them "fat finger" mistake fares) that, while valid for travel over several months, usually expire quickly. Take a look at theflightdeal.com, hitlistapp.com, secretflying.com, exitfares.com and fly4free.com. They often have the same deals, but we suggest signing up for all of them or following them on Twitter. Other sites, such as Kayak, Yapta and Google Flights, will track fares on specific flights and dates and alert you to price drops. When you see a great deal, buy it.
Tribune News Service
