A good magnet collection by turtlemom4bacon

Blame the change of seasons or how quickly the January 2010 page is approaching in my day planner. But I can’t stop thinking about all the places I’ve visited this year. I was lucky enough to drive the California coast, make it north into parts of rural Canada, and see most Midwestern states. Along the way I’ve picked up books, wine glasses, and sunburns but my quest to find a common souvenir from all the trips has gone unfulfilled. One of my mentors used to collect rocks from each trip she had taken. After a while, she was unable to tell the difference between the stones, and her collection froze in time. Another friend scouted out antique shops for the perfect picture postcard. Me? I haven’t decided yet. But when I was waiting at the Miami airport on Tuesday, I picked up a bright magnet in the shape of Florida along with my overpriced bottle of water. Maybe it was just a lark or the start of something bigger. I haven’t decided yet. So, what do we think? Magnets—too pedestrian or a fun (and easy-to-bring-home) momento?

Have a good collection of your own? Let me know! I may just steal your idea.—Hilary Solan

Photos by Hilary Solan

The days leading up to my departure for Miami Beach were spent refreshing weather.com with an alarming frequency. Wasn’t I leaving the Midwest to escape the endless rain and cool temperatures? Menacing weather icons told me my weekend away was going to be an unpleasant one, full of thunderstorms and high winds. So much for wasting away my days, napping underneath a beach umbrella. In the 11th hour, I accepted my fate and started researching indoor activities.

The Bass Museum of Art? Never made it there. The shops of Lincoln Road? Didn’t see a dime from me. Instead I was on the beach in full sun catching up with a friend and on my reading. How grateful I was that the forecast was way, way off. I may have not left a mile radius of my South Beach hotel, but it was exactly what I wanted.—Hilary Solan

For more pictures from South Beach, visit Rand McNally’s Flickr account.

by Dr. Keats

In the spirit of responsible travel, more and more people are buying carbon offsets to make up for the greenhouse gases released in association with trips. Thanks to Carbonfund.org, an online tool that calculates how much gas is released during certain activities, I learned that my trip to Miami in two weeks will emit approximately 0.43 tons of carbon dioxide. The recommended offset is about $4.50, the price of one of the many Cuban sandwiches I plan on having for lunch. I also used the site to estimate my yearly footprint. My personal and work travel this year alone has been responsible for over 9 tons of CO2 emissions, and that figure doesn’t count my daily commute, which brings my total to about 12 tons. Curious about your own footprint—either while home or away? Here are some other sites in addition to Carbonfund that offer online calculators:

• TerraPass
  
• Sustainable Travel International
  
• The Nature Conservancy
  

—Hilary Solan

Hotel Casa Casuarina, the former Miami Beach home of fashion designer Gianni Versace, by halfmortimer

Miami Beach. Fla.—What was once called the Versace Mansion, the 1930s estate that was home to the late fashion designer Gianni Versace, has opened its doors as a boutique suite hotel. The Casa Casuarina features 10 suites outfitted in the vibrant colors and rich textures that Italian designer incorporated into his clothing and accessory lines before his death in 1997.

Each suite has its own unique décor, but all designs are based on other architectural aspects of the Mediterranean-influenced estate. Rates, which start at $1,200 a night, pay for custom-made beds, satellite radio, plasma televisions, and views of the Atlantic Ocean.

For reservations, visit www.casacasuarina.com or call (305) 672-6604.— Hilary Solan

Tampa, Fla.—Making his way to the 2009 Florida RV SuperShow is Brian Brawdy, known to the RV community as well as environmentalists for his eco-friendly wheels. Brawdy’s Green RV, which uses solar panels and a wind turbine, has all the features of a modern home—from an entertainment center to a queen-size bed. Brawdy will be speaking at the show about his own conservation efforts (such as the water conservation system he installed in his RV) to how other motorists can lessen their carbon footprints. Can’t make the show? Watch the video below for a tour of the green RV. For more information about Brawdy, visit his website, or to learn more about the Florida RV SuperShow, log on to its website.— Hilary Solan

Rendering of the “American Idol Experience” courtesy of Disney World

Lake Buena Vista, Fla.—What’s an American Idol hopeful supposed to do in the off-season? Try going to Disney World. Coming in January, fans of the singing competition can head to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to get in on the action. From auditions to backstage preparations to the finals, guests will get to replicate the show in the new attraction. Hopefuls will sing before a cast of judges after working with a vocal coach and getting their hair and make-up done. Then at the end of each day at Disney, performers with the highest votes will compete in the Grand Finale at Walt Disney World. Winners will then get a special reservation for an upcoming regional audition for the Fox TV show. That means no waiting in those famously long lines. For more information on how to visit or try out, log on to the attraction’s Web site.— Hilary Solan

St. Petersburg, Fla.—Neighbors, art, music, and pucks collide as shuffleboard is reborn. On Friday nights, players young and old gather downtown to try their hand at the sport and enjoy food and live music while doing the St. Pete Shuffle. To see the St. Petersburg festivities, check out the video below. Also, the group’s MySpace page has updates on the action. — Hilary Solan

Credit: Hawaii courtesy rgourley

A great way to find bargains online is right at the destination. Hawaii plans to entice visitors to its sunny shores via its website. Most of the offerings there are airfare, hotel, and car rental packages, so the opportunity to save (relatively speaking, of course—this is Hawaii!) is pretty good. What’s more, there’s no exchange fee for this island luxury. Some other destination sites that offer good local deals: Chicago’s tourism site, which offers specials on attractions, shopping, dining, museums, and entertainment; San Francisco’s vacation packages; and the entire state of Florida. So check out your next road-trip destination—there may be a bargain lurking. — Laurie Borman