Even in paradise, bumps are part of the terrain

(Michael Spear Hawkins / Michael Spear Hawkins)

  • Even in paradise, bumps are part of the terrain

    Even in paradise, bumps are part of the terrain

    A family gets a little more ad­ven­ture than they expected in Vanuatu, an island nation in the South Pacific.

    http://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_296w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/11/05/Others/Images/2014-11-05/14868036676_54e6b4c43a_o1415217786.jpg 296 197
  • Connecting the cultures of sister cities Fukuoka and Busan

    Connecting the cultures of sister cities Fukuoka and Busan

    The Japanese and the Korean port cities, only a hydrofoil ride apart, offer dual perspectives on Asia.

    http://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_296w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/11/05/Others/Images/2014-11-05/TR-01241415230386.jpg 296 197
  • The stars, the goats and thou

    The stars, the goats and thou

    At North Carolina’s Goat Lady Dairy, locally sourced food shares the spotlight with the kids.

    http://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_296w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/10/30/Others/Images/2014-10-30/TR-goat0011414684511.jpg 296 222

Travel Deals

This week’s travel bargains

Discounts include hotel lodging in Rosemary Beach, Fla., and flights to Alaska, the West Coast and Istanbul.

What a Trip

Falling in love with France, and French charms

HANDOUT PHOTO. Compostelle. France, Avril, 2014. A shady lane later in the route when the trail was more level. Mary Ann McNamar

A six-week pilgrimage opened her eyes to the charms of France and its citizens.

Enter What a Trip

Bed Check

WILDWOOD, NJ AUGUST 25, 2014-The Caribbean Motel built in 1957 and still open for business. ( Photo by Andrea Sachs/The Washington Post)

Wildwood property stays retro with its mid-century design

The Caribbean Motel: Lodging on the Jersey Shore captures the Beach Bingo era.

AFTON, VIRGINIA - 2014 - The porch at The Farmhouse at Veritas in Afton, Va. (Joe Yonan/The Washington Post)

A soothing B&B in Virginia wine country

The Farmhouse at Veritas surrounds you with grapes and great views — and service.

AMHERST, MASS - AUGUST 2014 - Lord Jeffery Inn is in Amderst Mass. Rooms start at $205. (Photo by Zofia Smardz/The Washington Post)

Amherst’s Lord Jeffery Inn, a most homey hostelry

Bed Check: A Western Mass. hotel shines again after a three-year renovation and update.

HANDOUT IMAGE - The Lord Baltimore Hotel, 20 West Baltimore St., Baltimore, rooms from $149. (Marco Ricca)

Bed Check: The Lord Baltimore Hotel, a happening place

After a multimillion-dollar facelift, Baltimore’s grand dame comes roaring back.

ONANCOCK, VIRGINIA - The Charlotte Hotel & Restaurant, 7 North St., Onancock, VA 23417. (The Charlotte Hotel & Restaurant)

At the Charlotte Hotel, inspiration doesn’t sleep

A couple renovated a 1907 hotel in the shore town of Onancock, Va., imbuing it with a passion for life.

The Navigator

Can the travel industry help calm travelers’ health fears?

Airlines and cruise lines have strict refund rules, and some travelers fear the rigidity encourages risk-taking.

Docking at the Maritime Hotel in New York

Docking at the Maritime Hotel in New York

The nautical theme and hospitality make this stylish Chelsea property a welcoming port-of-call.

This week’s travel bargains

Discounts include hotel lodging in Rosemary Beach, Fla., and flights to Alaska, the West Coast and Istanbul.

In the mountains of Africa, cellphones and cheetahs

In the mountains of Africa, cellphones and cheetahs

A trip to Tanzania’s national parks brings unexpected juxtapositions of wilderness and technology.

The stars, the goats and thou

The stars, the goats and thou

At North Carolina’s Goat Lady Dairy, locally sourced food shares the spotlight with the kids.

Even in paradise, bumps are part of the terrain

Even in paradise, bumps are part of the terrain

A family gets a little more ad­ven­ture than they expected in Vanuatu, an island nation in the South Pacific.

Connecting the cultures of sister cities Fukuoka and Busan

Connecting the cultures of sister cities Fukuoka and Busan

The Japanese and the Korean port cities, only a hydrofoil ride apart, offer dual perspectives on Asia.

Column

Can the travel industry help calm travelers’ health fears?

Airlines and cruise lines have strict refund rules, and some travelers fear the rigidity encourages risk-taking.

7 river cruise companies to consider

7 river cruise companies to consider

Looking for a river escape? Check out one of these recommended companies.

Romania and Bulgaria by bus, train and minivan

Romania and Bulgaria by bus, train and minivan

A Silver Spring couple gets new perspective on idyllic “Old Europe” — which also has a shaded past.

Discussion

Talk about Travel

The Post's travel writers and editors discuss your travel stories, questions, gripes and more.

Spain’s underground art

Spain’s underground art

Some of the best displays of human creativity are on exhibit here — if you go beneath the surface.

Column

If you’re about to hit the road, download 9 helpful travel apps

If you’re about to hit the road, download 9 helpful travel apps

Simplify your life, from booking your trip to picking up your rental car then finding your way.

Don snorkel, see food: Dip into the gulf for scallops

Don snorkel, see food: Dip into the gulf for scallops

A newbie discovers that diving for bay scallops is easy, fun — and, ultimately, delicious.

Detroit’s unexpected, and unexpectedly moving, art

Detroit’s unexpected, and unexpectedly moving, art

Outdoor art installations are a window to a seldom-seen side of the Motor City: one full of hope.

Bay Area baked goods are well done, indeed

Bay Area baked goods are well done, indeed

A pastry-lover’s guide to San Francisco, where we found a cake that’s worth a cross-country flight.

Column

This week’s best travel deals

Discounts include stays at Sun Valley Resort in Idaho, airfares to Iceland and packages to Spain and Morocco.

The Egadis, an Italy the world has yet to discover

The Egadis, an Italy the world has yet to discover

In the little-known island chain, surprises and mouthwatering dishes are just a normal day by the sea.

Discussion

Talk about Travel

The Post's travel writers and editors discuss your travel stories, questions, gripes and more.

Column

When a travel company denies your refund request, insist on knowing why

When a travel company denies your  refund request, insist on knowing why

COLUMN | The reason for turning down customers isn’t too difficult to guess: It’s money.

In rafts, off the grid on Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon

In rafts, off the grid on Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon

In search of wilderness immersion, a father leads a family on a camping-and-rafting trip, with surprising turns.

Travel galleries

A raft of adventures in Idaho

The Middle Fork of the Salmon River offers plenty of fun for rafters and anglers.

The natural beauty of Great Inagua

The Bahaman island features a park that is home to 60,000 flamingos and more than 130 other bird species.

Mind-blowing landscapes in a sparsely populated country

Namibia is one of the least densely populated areas in the world, with 20 percent of its land protected.

Photographing fall foliage

Steve Shaluta has been capturing the changing leaves of West Virginia for almost 30 years.

In Virginia, Blue Ridge bounty

A tour of Va. wine country takes you to bucolic farms and rustic diners, and, oh yes, the vineyards, too.