Top Ten treasures

The top “American treasures,” from a survey by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA):

1. The Grand Canyon

2. The Statue of Liberty

3. Yellowstone National Park

4. White House/monuments of Washington, D.C.

5. Niagara Falls

6. Hawaiian Islands

7. Mt. Rushmore

8. Redwood forests

9. Glaciers/fiords of Alaska

10. Rocky Mountains

Whales on parade

New York (ap) – Chicago had “Cows on Parade,” San Francisco had hearts, Seattle had pigs, and Jacksonville, Fla., had sea cows.

Now the whaling and maritime heritage of southeastern Connecticut is being celebrated with “The Whale Trail.” More than 50 Fiberglas beluga and sperm whale sculptures, whimsically decorated by artists in a variety of themes from angels to flowers, will be on display outdoors throughout the area from July through October.

Locations for the whales include Mystic, Norwich, Groton, New London and Old Lyme, Conn., plus Westerly, R.I., and one each in Boston – at the Ciao Bella restaurant on Newbury Street – and in New York City, at the aquarium in Brooklyn’s Coney Island.

Sculptures from “The Whale Trail” will be auctioned for charity when the display is over.

For details, visit www.thewhaletrail.com.

TripAdvisor can help steer clear of trouble

Needham, Mass. (ap) – Where do you turn for advice when you’re booking a hotel sight unseen?

One source for opinions on the good, the bad and the potentially ugly is TripAdvisor.com.

Search for a destination or hotel name and you’ll find real travelers posting everything from horror stories about bedbugs and thefts, to glowing recommendations about wonderful service and breathtaking views.

The Web site started in February 2000. By January of this year, more than a million reviews and opinions had been posted, and by June, the number of posted reviews had doubled, allowing the Web site to celebrate having reached the 2 million mark.

In addition to those who write reviews, about 12 million people a month visit TripAdvisor to read what others are saying, according to comScore Media Metrix, a research firm.

The Web site contains information on more than 200,000 hotels and attractions worldwide.