Barrier Free Travels

The much awaited exhibition, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, opens at San Francisco's de Young museum tomorrow. Charles and I had the opportunity to attend the press preview earlier this week, and it's a great exhibition.

If a trip to London is in your summer travel plans, then don't miss the great deal that Heathrow Express is offering to folks traveling with kids. There are some rules and restrictions, but with a little advance planning you can save a few bucks. Plus, I have to say that the Heathrow Express train is the quickest and most comfortable way to get from Heathrow to central London.

In celebration of the release of my newest title, Barrier Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide for Wheelers and Slow Walkers, I'm having a Twitter giveaway for some autographed copies of the book.

No matter how sarcastic you are, there are just certain words and phrases that you shouldn't use at airport security checkpoints. At the top of the list is the b-word. And by the b-word, I don't mean the word for a female dog or for a snarky woman that you just don't like. I mean bomb.

As the summer travel season revs up, more and more people will be hitting the road -- and the airports, and the hotels and the trains. And although it's frustrating when things go wrong, with the increased travel traffic, there are bound to be a few access glitches along the way. From flight delays to lost hotel reservations, anything is possible.

But don't let that discourage you from getting out there and enjoying life. Although there are bound to be a few hiccups in your trip; remember, the best way to resolve those problems is by keeping your cool. With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you get the accessible services you need when things go awry.

It's sad that it has to come to this, but California  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is proposing to close 80% of California's state parks in order to balance our budget. That translates in to 220 state park closures that would net a $143 million savings for the state. I know it sounds like a lot, but really it's just a drop in the bucket.