FOXNews.com: 12 oldest places in America

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12 oldest places in America Jun 29th 2012, 09:00 Just how far back in time does human achievement go in this country? We challenged ourselves to find out and in the process discovered everything from a prehistoric settlement near St. Louis to a pirate bar in New Orleans. What constitutes "old" depends on where in the world you are--200 years sounds old, but not in comparison with 2,000 or 20,000. But just how far back does human achievement go in this country? We challenged ourselves to find out. We hit the road, spoke to historians, and dug deep in the history books to find the oldest of the old when it came to everything from cities to airports across America. And while not everything on this list is old in the European sense of the word, you'll find that it's some of the 19th and 20th century firsts (the airport, the skyscraper, for example) that established the United States as an important player in the world's history. Of course, there are churches, cities, and archaeological finds that well pre-date our own 1776 Independence, too, thanks to Spanish settlements, Pilgrims, and the Native Americans who have been here all along. Here are the top 12 places for exploring America's past. SEE WHERE HISTORY COMES TO LIFE Oldest City: Cahokia, c. 700-1400 UNESCO officially named Cahokia (15 minutes from modern-day St. Louis) the largest and earliest prehistoric settlement north of Mexico back in the 1980s. It was thought to be just a seasonal encampment, important but not that exciting. Then, in January 2012, reports were released showing that this was actually the first true North American city: 500 thatch-roofed rectangular houses were gridded around ceremonial plazas and stretched eight miles on either side of the Mississippi River; at its peak it had 20,000 inhabitants. Visit the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and get a sense of the scope from the top of Monks Mound, a 100-foot-tall monumental outlook that took an estimated 22 million cubic feet of earth to make. 30 Ramey St., Collinsville, Ill., 618/346-5160, cahokiamounds.org. Suggested donation $4 per person. Oldest Art: Chumash Cave Painting, c. 1000 Art, much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Still, few can debate the impressiveness of these 500-plus-year-old rock paintings in Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park in the Santa Ynez Mountains near Santa Barbara, Calif.. Colorful and abstract symbols, possibly representing mythic figures or natural phenomena (like a 1677 solar eclipse), were applied with crushed mineral pigment for unknown reasons. Is it art? Is it graffiti? Bring a flashlight and theorize away. The paintings are easily viewed behind a protective grate after a short, steep hike. Painted Cave Rd., Santa Barbara, Calif., 805/733-3713, parks.ca.gov. Oldest Community: Acoma Pueblo, c. 1150 Seventy miles west of Albuquerque, N.M., the Acoma people have lived continuously for nearly 900 years atop a 367-foot sandstone bluff. Homes are multi-story, multi-family "apartment complexes" that can be reached only by exterior ladders, much like the cliff cities of Mesa Verde and Gila, where their first nation brethren the Anasazi and the Mogollon lived, respectively. Group tours depart daily from Sky City Cultural Center at the bottom of the mesa, while the Haak'u Museum screens culturo-historical videos, offers fantastic pottery for sale (with plenty more vendors outside), and fry bread with green chile stew in the cafe. Interstate 40 & Exit 102, 800/747-0181, sccc.acomaskycity.org. Guided tours $20 per person. Oldest Timber Frame House: The Fairbanks House, c. 1637-1641 Thanks to the magic of dendrochronology (a.k.a. tree-ring dating), the Fairbanks House was declared North America's oldest timber-framed house. It's amazing that the wooden house is still standing, about 375 years after it was built. Eight generations of the Fairebanks family lived in this homestead, 25 minutes outside of Boston, first in the two-story, two-room core, and later, as fashions dictated and wealth allowed, throughout its "new" additions. No grand renovation ever unified the various sections, so much of the original handiwork and historical details and construction techniques have remained. The house now exists as a museum and contains furniture, paintings, and other artifacts from the Fairbanks family. 511 East St., Dedham, Mass, 781/326-1170, fairbankshouse.org. Open May 1 through October 31. $12 admission. Oldest Church: San Miguel Mission c. 1710 Although Santa Fe, N.M., can feel a bit like a studio backlot at times, there is some authenticity under all that freshly spread adobe. This is America's oldest capital city, after all, and the third oldest surviving European settlement (after St. Augustine, Fla., and Jamestown, Va.). Minus a few years of Indian occupation and partial razing during the Pueblo Revolt, serene San Miguel Chapel has stood as a compact call to Catholicism from the day Spain planted its founding flag right until U.S. annexation. The Spanish Colonial church was finished in 1710 (it replaced a 1626 chapel that was destroyed in a fire) and anchors the Barrio de Analco Historic District. Mass is still given on Sundays within its cool confines, beneath thick wooden beams and in front of a gorgeously carved wooden reredos. 401 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, N.M., 505/983-3974. Oldest Bar: Jean Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, c. 1722 Nightlife is a murky business--especially when you're dealing with pirates and smugglers, which is how this bar got its start. The squat townhouse is the oldest structure to operate as a bar in the States, and it may even be the country's oldest continuously operating bar, period. Located on the far end of Bourbon Street, in New Orleans, it's the Vieux Carré best remaining example of French briquette-entre-poteaux construction. And the establishment has weathered the centuries, first as a grog-soaked home base to nefarious privateers Jean and Pierre Lafitte, a gay bar in the 1950s, and the laid-back, candle-lit pub that survives today. 941 Bourbon St., New Orleans, La., 504/593-9761, lafittesblacksmithshop.com. Oldest Continuously Operating Museum: Peabody Essex Museum, 1799 Back when museums were officially known as a "cabinet of natural and artificial curiosities," a group of Salem, Mass., sea captains founded the East India Marine Society with a specific charter provision to collect such specimens. That legacy is now the nation's oldest continuingly operating museum. (The Charleston Museum in South Carolina was founded in 1773, but had a period of closure and didn't open to the public until 1824.) Today, you can see the Peabody Essex Museum's 1.8 million pieces of maritime, Asian, African, Indian, and Oceanic art plus 22 historic buildings, including the Qing Dynasty Yin Yu Tang house. East India Square, 161 Essex St., Salem, Mass., 866/745-1876, pem.org. $15 admission. Oldest Public Garden: United States Botanic Garden, 1820 Perhaps it was all that cherry tree business, but George Washington himself had a vision of a modern capital with a botanic garden to teach the importance of plants to the young nation. This didn't become a reality until 1820, when President Monroe and an act of Congress created the United States Botanic Garden on the grounds of the Capitol building. Today's permanent location--a three-acre plot adjacent to the Mall and southwest of the Capitol--was established in 1933. Open every day of the year, the site allows visitors to explore a butterfly and rose garden outside and jungle, desert, primeval, and special exhibitions inside the gorgeous 1933 glass conservatory. 100 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, D.C., 202/225-8333, usbg.gov. Oldest National Park: Yellowstone National Park, 1872 With a flourish of the pen, Ulysses S. Grant changed where kids spend their summer vacations forever when he created the world's first national park. Yellowstone was made up of pristine wilderness straddling the Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho territories. (Tthey weren't states back in 1872, and the federal government oversaw the park until the National Parks Service was created in 1916.) Today, Yellowstone continues to be the system's bubbly, geyser-riffic, and wildlife-filled emblem of eco-consciousness. There is some controversy when it comes to which park is technically the oldest, though. Hot Springs National Park, southwest of Little Rock, Ark., was made a "government reservation" back in 1832, but didn't join the parks system until 1921. 307/344-7381, nps.gov. $25 per vehicle. Oldest Skyscraper: Wainwright Building, 1892 When you are done looking at the prehistoric mounds at Cahokia, head into downtown St. Louis for a more modern pile. It's easy to define today's skyscrapers--just look up! But sussing out their more diminutive ancestors can be like figuring out if your great-great-great-great-uncle Jeremiah fought in the Civil War--and might bring architects to just that. One thing all experts can agree on: Skyscrapers must have a load-bearing steel frame. For that, Louis Sullivan's Wainwright Building, in downtown St. Louis, rises as America's oldest surviving specimen. (Chicago's Home Insurance Building, from 1884, was technically the first, but it was razed in 1931.) Dwarfed today by its neighbors, the Wainwright Building's 10 stories of red brick aesthetically defined what modern office buildings were to be in both form and construction. 705 Chestnut St., St. Louis, Mo. Oldest Roller Coaster: Leap-the-Dips, 1902 The Leap-the-Dips at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pa., has been white-knuckling riders for 110 years by roaring down a figure eight of oak tracks at 10 mph with a vertical height of 41 feet. This may sound tame compared with the cheek-blasting G-forces of today's sidewinding behemoths that loop your stomach in your lap, but a rickety ride on the world's oldest roller coaster can still thrill, especially when you consider that it's the last remaining side-friction model in North America--no up-stop wheels bolt it to the track. That nine-foot drop suddenly feels a whole lot steeper. 700 Park Ave., Altoona, Pa., 800/434-8006, lakemontparkfun.com. Park entrance from $5 per person, ticket for Leap-the-Dips $2.50 per person. Oldest Airport: College Park Airport, 1909 You won't be seeing any A-380s touching down at College Park Airport. The runway is only 2,600 feet long (jetliners need about 8,000 feet). We bet Wilbur Wright had no idea what the future of aviation would look like when he first brought military pilots here to train a century ago. Today, you can take the half-hour Metro ride from downtown Washington, D.C., to visit the on-site aviation museum. Temporary exhibitions are put on in conjunction with the Smithsonian, and there are classic aircraft on display, including a 1910 Wright Model B reproduction and the biplane-like Berliner Helicopter No. 5, which made its first controlled flight from here in 1924. 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Dr., College Park, Md., 301/864-6029, pgparks.com. Museum entrance $4 per person.

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FOXNews.com: Coney Island's Cyclone roller coaster marks 85 years of thrills, chills and inspections

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Coney Island's Cyclone roller coaster marks 85 years of thrills, chills and inspections Jun 29th 2012, 13:25 NEW YORK –  The ride begins with two train cars, filled with as many as 24 passengers, cautiously trekking up a hill of wooden tracks. The rattle of the ascent slowly grows louder. As the cars reach the coaster's 85-foot peak, there's a short pause — followed by a swift 60 mph plunge to the bottom that has made stomachs churn and eyes water since Calvin Coolidge was in the White House. Such a timeworn ride requires a great deal of attention to ensure the safety of its passengers, say workers responsible for the Cyclone, the 85-year-old New York City landmark and international amusement icon that will be feted Saturday with a birthday party including 25-cent rides — the same price they were on its debut on June 26, 1927. "It takes a lot of work to run a very old roller coaster," said Valerio Ferrari, president of Central Amusement International, which operates the coaster. Each morning beginning at 7, maintenance workers hike the coaster's tracks along the walk boards in search of damaged wood and loose bolts. The cars, which are originals from 1927, are dismantled every winter before they undergo nondestructive testing and are reassembled. The Cyclone may not be the oldest or tallest coaster in the nation. But it became a worldwide symbol of America's emerging leisure class in the early 20th century. Towering above Coney Island's boisterous boardwalk at the corner of Surf Avenue and West 10th Street in Brooklyn, the Cyclone went up after brothers Jack and Irving Rosenthal invested $175,000 to build a dynamic new coaster that would satisfy the demand for more attractions in the area. The result was a ride that included 2,640 feet of track, 12 drops and 27 elevation changes. For a minute and 50 seconds, passengers aboard the Cyclone were jerked from one edge of their seat to the other, as the coaster would slow around the bends before heaving its riders down steep dips. This was all done by design, said Jennifer Tortorici, the Cyclone's operations manager. "It's 2,640 feet of track, so if it wasn't slow in certain areas, the cars would wind up on the beach somewhere," she said. Still, the turbulence is sometimes so forceful that passengers have seen personal belongings fly out of their pockets. Lost items range from the typical — keys, wallets and cellphones — to the more obscure, like dentures, wigs and underwear, Tortorici said. Safety issues have at times dogged the Cyclone. A worker died on the ride in 1985, Tortorici said, and in 2008, the family of a California man who died after fracturing his neck on the ride sued the city for failing to keep the coaster safe. A Law Department spokeswoman said the city has been indemnified and the case is pending. The city's Buildings Department conducts safety inspections up to three times a season, according to spokeswoman Ryan FitzGibbon. Beyond its age, what distinguishes the Cyclone from contemporary steel coasters is that it's made of wood, from the cars to the tracks they ride on, though it rests on a steel base. Ferrari said this construction makes for a ride that has "a lot of energy." "Wood has that feeling, that vibration. It's more alive," he said. He added: "Going for one ride on this coaster is like going through, someone said, a car accident." The sentiment has been shared throughout the years. The coaster's employees have no qualms about perpetuating a legend that in 1948, Emilio Franco, a West Virginia coal miner who had been mute since birth, spoke his first words — "I feel sick" — after plummeting down the Cyclone's precipitous 60-degree drop. Even Charles Lindbergh, the American aviator who became the first person to fly a nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, said several years after it opened that riding the Cyclone was "greater than flying an airplane at top speed," according to The New York Times. These days, the Cyclone's paint has chipped, and the steel beams have rusted a bit. But patrons still enjoy the same rush. "You can describe it in just one word: intense," said Laurie Rosen, of Burke, Va., who rode it Tuesday. The Cyclone, also known as the Big Momma of Coney Island, carries about 250,000 riders every season from April through October. By 1988, the city declared the coaster an official landmark, and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. According to the Parks Department, the Gravesend Historical Society's president wrote in a letter requesting the landmark status: "Unlike the Dodgers, the Cyclone will never leave Brooklyn."

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FOXNews.com: Taking the Kids -- and hitting Orlando's parks like the 1 percent

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Taking the Kids -- and hitting Orlando's parks like the 1 percent Jun 29th 2012, 15:47 He's not only a human park map and knows the most arcane details of every attraction, but, best of all, he has a magic FASTPASS that allows instant entry to every attraction -- even when all the FASTPASSES (which give you a time to return to the ride without waiting) are gone for the day. He'll procure hard-to-get meal reservations and can even guarantee that you hit every major attraction at the four sprawling parks (DisneyWorld stretches over more than 47 square miles) in one day -- from Soarin' and Test Track at Epcot to Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios to Expedition Everest and the Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom and Space Mountain and Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom. He'll position you in exactly the right spot for the parades and he'll keep the kids entertained along the way, as they hunt for hidden Mickeys. No waiting for buses, navigating crowded parking lots or walking more than you or your kids can take. Hall whisks you around Walt Disney World in a private car that he parks exactly where you want to be. "We are here to make your visit as efficient as possible," the affable Hall says. "We do in a matter of hours what it takes some people a week." Nice, right? And very much a word-of-mouth business, Hall suggests. Such VIP tour services don't come cheap, of course, prices range from $175 to $315 an hour, depending on the season and the cost of your admission tickets. You've got to book a minimum of six hours too. But if you've got the bucks, this and other VIP options at theme parks certainly can de-stress the experience, especially when parks are crowded in summer. Take Universal Orlando's VIP Tours ($2,000 for a private one-day, one park all day tour plus park admission that could include a dozen of your favorite people). Our Universal VIP guide whisked us right into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions where the waits for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey were 90 minutes long and people were on line for a half-hour just to get into Ollivanders wand shop. You can also sign on for a tour along with other families for $150 per person that also gets you backstage access, free parking, discounts and unlimited front-of-the line Universal Express access after the tour. The downside: You might not hit all of the attractions you want (email VIPTours@universalorlando.com). LEGO lovers who don't want to wait can buy The Hero Pass at LEGOLAND Florida for front-of-the-line access on all of the rides and premium seats at the shows throughout the day. The pass must be purchased from the park on the day of your visit. But being treated like a VIP doesn't always have to mean busting the budget. (Check here for more affordable options.) For example, stay at one of Universal's three Loews resorts, and your room key guarantees you front-of-the-line access at most attractions. You can also buy a Universal Express Plus ticket (cost varies depending on season. Check here for details) for that same privilege. At Walt Disney World, we joined a two-hour Family Magic scavenger hunt designed for kids 4 to 10 that took us through the Magic Kingdom in a new way -- our goal was to save the Magic Kingdom from the dastardly plans of a Disney villain. It cost just $35 a person. "This is totally different than what we've done before," said an enthusiastic Joe Falton, who has been coming here since he was eight and was visiting from Jacksonville, Fla., with his wife and two young sons. The family hunted for "clues" through the park with an enthusiastic leader. The kids were engaged; so were the parents. "And it's something we can all do together," another of the moms said happily. We all want experiences like these -- especially at huge theme parks -- that make us and our kids feel special. That's why so many little girls line up to be transformed into princesses at Disney's Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques. (Prices start at $49.95. Savvy princesses bring their own gowns and princess shoes from home.) Boys get transformed into pirates for $29.95 (click here for more). Animal lovers can join the Elephant Keeper Experience ($199 for up to six guests) for 90 minutes at Busch Gardens Tampa, where you can also go behind the scenes for an interaction with tigers and orangutans (again $199 for a group of six) and help the zoo staff prepare their food and perform routine health exams. If you can't afford a safari but dream of one, you'll think the Wild Africa Trek at Disney's Animal Kingdom is a bargain at under $200 a person. (Kids must be at least eight. Call (407) WDW-TOUR or (407) 939-8687 to find out about saving $50 per person on summer afternoon tours.) I've been to Africa and thought this was as authentic as you are going to get without being there -- hiking over the savanna, crossing a rickety rope bridge above crocodiles and having lunch at a remote safari camp staring at hippos and giraffes. Did I mention you get a CD of photographs of your adventure too? Maybe you can encourage a future marine biologist by signing your teen up to become a trainer for a day at SeaWorld Orlando ($399 for those over 12) where there are also a variety of other far less expensive immersive animal connection experiences. Ready to kiss a Beluga or pet a penguin? Remember, it's about the memories -- and the pictures, of course. For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow "taking the kids" on www.twitter.com, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments.

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FOXNews.com: Midway Airport back in business after power outage

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Midway Airport back in business after power outage Jun 29th 2012, 17:07 Planes are flying again at Chicago's Midway International Airport after a nearly four-hour shutdown caused by a lack of runway lights. Chicago Aviation Department spokeswoman Karen Pride says a problem with the lighting equipment caused the outage at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Pride says 85 flights were canceled or diverted while the airport was closed. Flights resumed early Friday, and airlines are working to get back on schedule. The outage didn't affect the terminals, so passengers aboard planes when the runways went dark were returned to the terminals and taken off the planes. Commonwealth Edison spokeswoman Martha Swaney says the outage wasn't caused by a ComEd power failure, but she says the utility's crews worked with Midway's personnel to help them get their equipment working again.

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FOXNews.com: Want to drive a tank?

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Want to drive a tank? Jun 29th 2012, 16:51 For anyone who ever has been stuck in traffic, it's a tempting fantasy: If only you were driving a tank and could roll over everything in your path. Some drivers are now flocking to an out-of-the-way spot in southern Minnesota to turn that vision into metal-crunching reality. A business named Drive-a-Tank offers drivers the chance to pilot surplus military tanks and other armored vehicles around an old limestone quarry and smash junk cars like an action movie hero. The ride is loud, grinding, hot and dirty — ideal for satisfying one's inner Rambo. "It was awesome. I mean, controlling that machine, it's incredible," said Jacob Ostling, 19, of New Canaan, Conn., among the customers who took a turn under the turret on a recent Saturday and flattened a car in an explosion of glass. Owner Tony Borglum, a construction and heavy equipment contractor, opened the tank park three years ago after seeing similar attractions during a visit to England. He said he knew it would fit nicely into American culture — a more visceral version of what millions of guys are doing in video games anyway. He began buying up old Cold War-era surplus and now has 11 armored vehicles available for use on a 20-acre site near this town 50 miles southwest of Minneapolis. Customers spend hours churning up and down a hilly, wooded course, getting a firsthand sense of what armored warfare might be like. "It's not as glorious as it looks like on TV," said Borglum, a short-haired 25-year-old who wore camouflage pants, a tan polo shirt and boots at the session. But it satisfies the curiosity of those who have watched tanks in war movies. "It was very realistic," agreed Brad Walker, of Amboy, Ind., who brought his 21-year-old son, Nick, for an outing before the young man got married. "It kind of gives you an idea exactly how hard that job is." Nick Walker, who squeezed his 5-foot-11, 230-pound frame into the cramped compartment, added, "It's not a big person's job." Drivers sit in the small space in front between the tracks and navigate by looking out the hatch. "It's very noisy. Lot of vibration. Kind of warm but not uncomfortable. Took a little getting used to the maneuverability, but it's just ... a blast," said customer Marvin Bourne. A basic package that includes driving a tank and shooting a machine gun costs $399, with more expensive options for driving several models and shooting other weapons such as assault rifles. Drivers who want to smash a car pay an additional $549; for about $3,500, a customer can drive a tank through a trailer house. Learning to control the lumbering machine with its two steering sticks takes only a few minutes. It was "easier than I expected," and "an awesome Christmas present," said Bourne, 58, an insurance man from Richmond, Va., who brought his wife, Karen, along as passenger. He was among several visitors who had a gotten a tank ride as a gift for a special occasion. Borglum said his tank park wasn't the first in the United States but he knows of no others still operating. Event coordinator Kessa Baedke said more than 600 packages have been sold this year. One of the attractions on display is a British Chieftain Mark 11 featured in the 2002 Matthew McConaughey dragon invasion movie "Reign of Fire." Another Chieftain nicknamed Larry, weighing 60 tons and with a top speed of 30 mph, makes short work of any obstacle in its path. "To have that much weight on just two brake handles, it's awesome," said Ostling after the tank rolled over a car and rained glass around his head. The car "was like a tin can," he said. If You Go... DRIVE A TANK: http://www.driveatank.com or 507-931-7385. Located in Kasota, Minn., about 75 miles southwest of Minneapolis. Open several days a month; often fully booked ahead of time. Package that includes driving a tank and shooting a machine gun, $399. Additional $549 to smash a car.

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FOXNews.com: Jack White announced for 2012 Voodoo Fest lineup

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Jack White announced for 2012 Voodoo Fest lineup Jun 27th 2012, 17:26 NEW ORLEANS –  Touring in support of his critically acclaimed debut solo album, "Blunderbuss," Jack White has been added to the lineup for the 2012 Voodoo Music and Arts Experience. White joins other headliners for the event, set for Oct. 26-28, including Grammy Award-winning trio Green Day and Neil Young & Crazy Horse. Other talent previously announced include The Avett Brothers, electronic dance music star Skrillex, Justice, Tomahawk, Say Anything, funk bassist Bootsy Collins, blues-rock guitarist Gary Clark Jr. and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Three-day general admission passes are $175. Tickets are available via www.thevoodooexperience.com . For the first time, this year's festival also will offer on-site camping inside New Orleans' historic City Park.

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FOXNews.com: Cancun Underwater Museum gets more ghostly figures

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Cancun Underwater Museum gets more ghostly figures Jun 29th 2012, 13:33 Cancun is probably best known for its warm weather, beautiful beaches and the bluest water you may ever see.  But beneath those turquoise waves is a popular tourist attraction that is about to get a bit bigger.   The Cancun Underwater Museum, features a maze of 400 ghostly looking, life-sized sculptures submerged the bottom of a national marine park. In July the museum will complete its final installation of about 60 new sculptures designed to become a new habitat for marine life. This unique and popular site, which attracts about 750,000 visitors annually, was created in 2010. The sculptures, made of specially formulated, marine-grade cement -- many of which are cast from local residents -- were submerged underwater and placed on the sea floor where divers are free to explore. The sculptures are only 28 feet deep in water, with a shallower portion set off just for snorkelers, which means both divers and snorkelers can enjoy the sculptures. The museum not only provides a home for marine creatures, it also diverts snorkelers and divers from fragile coral reefs. Museum director and sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor's most recent sculptures include "The Last Supper," which is a table of two with plates of half-eaten fish and a centerpiece of apples and hand grenades. This work depicts the threat oceans face as a result of over-fishing.  The newest phase of the museum includes the "Phoenix," the figure of a woman with movable wings of living purple gorgonian fan coral that appear to beat with the wave cycles."Urban Reef," another of his works, is a collection of architectural structures designed to look like a street scene and is home to certain species of reef dwellers, such as juvenile fish, crustaceans, and sea urchins. To get to the museum, book through a local tour company like Aquaworld that offers snorkeling trips.

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FOXNews.com: Eat on the wild side

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Eat on the wild side Jun 26th 2012, 19:53 The United States' national wildlife refuges are becoming even more popular destinations for vacationers looking to spend some time outdoors. Surveyed visitors to national wildlife refuges in 2010 and 2011 were favorably impressed with the recreational opportunities, education, and services on these public lands, according to a recently released national survey. The peer-reviewed survey, commissioned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and designed, conducted, and analyzed by researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey, evaluated responses from more than 10,000 adult visitors surveyed at 53 of the country's 556 national wildlife refuges between July 2010 and November 2011. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the U.S.'s premier system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve animals and their habitats. And they are popular places for visitors — more than 45 million people spent time in national wildlife refuges in 2011. Among the most popular refuge activities visitors reported were wildlife observation, bird watching, photography, hiking, and auto-tour-route driving, which are part of the six priority public uses designated in the Refuge Improvement Act of 1997, which also includes hunting, fishing, and environmental education. Some refuges even make the perfect spot for a picnic. While picnicking is not available in all parks, it is possible to bring snacks or eat meals at some of the nation's most beautiful wildlife parks. Just be sure to not feed the animals and dispose of your trash responsibly. Here are some we found: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (Florida and Georgia) Named for the Native American "Land of the Trembling Earth," Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Florida and Georgia has one of the oldest preserved freshwater systems in the U.S. Created in 1937, the 402,000-acre refuge has cypress forests, marsh, lakes and islands that are filled with 400 species of animals like alligators, sandhill cranes, and red-cockaded woodpeckers. The refuge has guided boat tours that take visitors through historic canals and open prairies, and water trails and platforms allow people to canoe for the day or stay overnight deep within the 354,000-acre wilderness. Activities include nature photography, hunting, and fishing. The Georgia portion of the park has picnic facilities at its three entrances. At the east entrance, near Folkston, there are picnic tables and a pavilion at the Suwannee Canal Recreation area. (Entrance fee: $5) At the west entrance, there are picnic facilities and three shelters operated by Stephen Foster State Park. (Entrance fee: $5). At the north entrance, there are picnic facilities and a concession run by Okefenokee Swamp Park, a nonprofit. Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge (Mississippi) Located on the edge of Bluff Lake northeast of Louisville, Ky., and south of Starkville, Miss., Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge serves as a resting and feeding area for migratory birds. One of the 254 bird species on site is the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, which resides on the refuge's 48,000 acres. Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge (South Carolina) Located in Chesterfield County, S.C., Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge lies along the fall line that separates the Piedmont Plateau from the Atlantic Coastal Plain. An extensive longleaf pine forest is part of the refuge, which has the largest population of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers in the U.S. The 45,348 acre refuge has 30 ponds and lakes, making the wildlife viewing even more diverse. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (Florida) St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Established in 1931 and located along the Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida, the 68,000 acre refuge provides a wintering habitat for migratory birds. The refuge includes coastal marshes, islands, tidal creeks, and estuaries of seven north Florida rivers. The St. Marks Lighthouse, which was built in 1832 and is still in use today, is a popular attraction. A picnic area is located within St. Marks Unit near the visitor center. The forested Panacea Unit has picnic shelters in the Otter Lake Recreation Area, which has free entry. More From The Daily Meal 10 Fast-Food Items to Eat Before You Die 10 Chain Restaurant Menu Items You Must Try Which US Airlines Still Offer Free Amenities Restaurants Harvest Home Grown Eats Presidential Getaways

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FOXNews.com: NYS Museum launches War of 1812 website

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NYS Museum launches War of 1812 website Jun 28th 2012, 16:50 The State Museum has launched a new website to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and highlight New York's key role in a conflict that some consider America's second war of independence. The U.S. declared war on Great Britain 200 years ago this month over issues that included sovereignty and trade. Over the next two years, the western and northern fringes of New York along the shores of lakes Erie, Ontario and Champlain and the Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers were at the center of much of the fighting. The new website has been created by the State Museum, Archives and Library in coordination with museums, historic sites, re-enactors' groups and other organizations across New York and Canada. The site includes a timeline, biographies and links to resources.

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FOXNews.com: Southwest Airlines will offer sports and news TV channels for a price on some planesSouthwest Airlines will offer sports and news TV channels for a price on some planes

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Southwest Airlines will offer sports and news TV channels for a price on some planesSouthwest Airlines will offer sports and news TV channels for a price on some planes Jun 28th 2012, 16:54 Southwest Airlines plans to sell live television service on five planes and expand it to more aircraft by mid-July. The airline said Thursday that it would offer seven sports and news channels for passengers to watch on their own devices. outhwest said it will test prices from $3 to $8 during a trial period. Passengers will need a Wi-Fi-enabled device such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop computer. Live TV will be offered separately from wireless Internet access and customers won't have to buy Internet access to watch TV. The Southwest channels: NBC Sports, MLB (Major League Baseball), NFL Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News and Fox Business News. Southwest hired Row 44 to provide the service, which the airline plans to expand to 20 planes by mid-July. Southwest said that if the service is successful, it will be added to all the airline's Wi-Fi-enabled planes by the end of the year. The airline has about 550 Boeing 737 jets including about 250 with Wi-Fi. It plans to outfit 70 percent of its fleet by the end of 2013. Airlines have been expanding in-flight entertainment options such as Internet access to distinguish themselves from other airlines that often sell tickets for about the same price.

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FOXNews.com: US carriers move closer toward 'do it yourself' boarding

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US carriers move closer toward 'do it yourself' boarding Jun 28th 2012, 15:06 In yet another example of the push toward greater automation, Delta Air Lines is the latest U.S. carrier to test automated, do-it-yourself turnstiles at departure gates. The technology, likely to spread in the years to come, allows passengers to scan their own boarding passes and enter the plane without the help of an airline employee, reports the Star Tribune. Delta recently tested the machines in Atlanta and Las Vegas, but the carrier hasn't said if there's to be further testing, nor did it provide customer feedback details. DYI boarding isn't new. Continental Airlines, before its merger with United, began testing similar equipment Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and SAS and Lufthansa are just two of the some 20 big carriers that have been using self-service boarding gates for years, according to the Tribune. The push toward self-ticketing and boarding is obviously: the bottom line. Not only could do-it-yourself boarding lighten the need for airline staff at the gate, proponents say it can free up staff to monitor carry-on luggage and be available for those who need real assistance. "Virtually all air carriers that have tried them have realized an operational and economic benefit from them," Samuel Ingalls, assistant director of information systems at McCarran, told the Tribune. "Additionally, the customers like to be empowered over all of the various processes." The system has gotten positive reviews from some frequent and tech-savvy travelers.  But critics say that, amid ever-changing technology, it may take time for all consumers to get used to the devices, and may pose a security risk.

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FOXNews.com: One-tank escapes for 8 cities

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One-tank escapes for 8 cities Jun 28th 2012, 12:15 Summer vacation doesn't have to mean a long, expensive trek. These getaways are a short drive from eight major urban areas. All you need is a weekend and a tank of gas. Shenandoah Valley, Va. 107 miles from Washington, D.C. A collection of 10 independent cities make up the Shenandoah Valley, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, an idyllic watercolor landscape and outdoor adventure haven. SEE OUR SUMMER ROAD TRIPS! Shenandoah National Park is famous for its outdoor beauty, accessible via both easy and difficult hiking trails, some of which are part of the park's 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail (540/999-3500, nps.gov/shen, $15 per vehicle, $8 per person). The Limberlost Trail takes you past lush mountain laurel; Old Rag Mountain offers panoramic vistas. To refuel, perch in the Pollock Dining Room's taproom at Skyland Resort Lodge and order a Prohibition Punch, featuring local (legal) moonshine ($7.50), and a slice of famous blackberry ice cream pie, made from scratch from the season's harvest (540/999-2212, visitshenandoah.com/dining/skyland-restaurant, Prohibition Punch $7.50, blackberry ice cream pie $6). Not outdoorsy? Stroll through downtown Winchester with a guided tour of the Patsy Cline Historic House, where the country star lived for five years (540/662-5555, celebratingpatsycline.org, $8), or pick your own flowers in the fragrant fields at White Oak Lavender farm in Harrisonburg (540/421-6345, whiteoaklavender.com, tours $5). WHERE TO STAY Instead of camping out with her hubby FDR in Shenandoah National Park in 1936, Eleanor Roosevelt opted for luxury in Luray: "Franklin, you can rough it if you want, but I'm staying at the Mimslyn," she allegedly told the president. Even today, the property has opulent touches like Doric columns, formal gardens, and fine dining courtesy in the hotel's "upscale Southern" Circa '31 restaurant--necktie recommended (800/296-5105, mimslyninn.com, from $160). DRIVING TIP I-81 runs the length of the valley and connects large towns like Winchester, Harrisonburg, and Stanton. Consider jumping onto Skyline Drive to take in some of the most beautiful mountain vistas in the U.S. Yountville, Calif. 56 miles from San Francisco A walkable mecca for wine and food enthusiasts, Yountville offers glasses of big California reds, award-winning bites, and lush Napa Valley scenery that's a refreshing change from San Francisco's cityscapes. To sample vino, hop the Napa Valley Wine Train that chugs through the heart of town: It serves meals onboard, and visits local wineries for tours (800/427-4124, winetrain.com, from $135). Or go rogue and create your own tasting of five wines at Cornerstone Cellars (707/945-0388, cornerstonecellars.com). Get Michelin-star-quality flavor for less at chef Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc restaurant by partaking in the evening family-style four-course menu (707/944-2487, adhocrestaurant.com, $45); also, make time to walk through Keller's French Laundry Garden, which nurtures fresh vegetables and fruits used at French Laundry and Bouchon Bistro--it's free and open to the public. On a weekend morning, stop by Bouchon Bakery for the somewhat elusive chocolate doughnut--brioche dough filled with decadent chocolate pastry cream and topped with chocolate frosting and chocolate-covered Rice Krispies. But go early (it opens at 7) to score one (707-944-2253, bouchonbakery.com/yountville). Then float above the horizon on a group hot air balloon ride for eight to 12 passengers or take a romantic trip deux with Napa Valley Balloons (800/253-2224, napavalleyballoons.com, from $210). WHERE TO STAY For a French country feel, book a room at Maison Fleurie, a B&B with a morning breakfast buffet and complimentary wine, tea, and hors d'oeuvres in the afternoon. Borrow bicycles from the front desk and go for a leisurely ride when you tire of tippling (800/788-0369, maisonfleurienapa.com, from $145). DRIVING TIP The most direct route from San Francisco is I-80 East, over the Bay Bridge, to Highway 37 West and then Highway 29 through Napa Valley. New Braunfels, Tex. 175 miles from Houston If you visit New Braunfels and don't (a) eat German food or (b) get wet, you're doing something wrong. The town is well known for the innovative 65-acre Schlitterbahn Water Park, but its German history, food, and freshwater activities are equally compelling. Floating down the spring-fed Comal River on giant inflatable "toobs" is essential in New Braunfels. Rent one for the day or take a guided group trip at Rockin 'R' River Rides (830/629-9999, rockinr.com, call for a group trip quote). Quell your post-river appetite with one of 10 types of schnitzel, pan-fried bouletten (meatballs), or classic brats at Friesenhaus, one of the area's specialty German restaurants (830/625-1040, friesenhausnb.com, schnitzel from $15). No German meal is complete without a hearty dessert, so pop into Naegelin's Bakery, "the oldest bakery in Texas, since 1868," for a big hunk of apple streudel--a whole one is more than two feet long (830/625-5722, naegelins.com). WHERE TO STAY The 30-unit Greune Mansion Inn, right on the Guadalupe River, has a quiet, Victorian feel, with multiple historical buildings broken up into residences that guarantee each guest his or her own entrance and porch. Many of the units have river views (830/629-2641, gruenemansioninn.com, from $190). DRIVING TIP Take I-10 to I-46, making sure to avoid Houston rush hour if you can help it. Hood River, Ore. 62 miles from Portland Orchards, wineries, and outdoor recreation are all hallmarks of this Columbia River Gorge destination. Taking a drive on the whimsically named Fruit Loop steers you through 35 miles of orchards, vineyards, forests, and farmland (541/386-7697, hoodriverfruitloop.com). Sampling the area's up-and-coming viticulture is another must: Columbia Wine Tours shuttles from two to 24 people to four wineries in four hours and provides bottled waters and snacks along the way (541/380-1410, hoodrivertours.com, two-person tour $140). Or if you prefer hops to grapes, swing by the Full Sail Brewing Company Tasting Room & Pub for a sip (or three) of Full Sail Amber (541/386-2247, fullsailbrewing.com). Dubbed the "windsurfing capital of the world" by some, Hood River is an ideal place to test your mettle on the water: Hood River Waterplay offers five different levels of windsurfing classes, plus equipment rental if you need it (541/386-9463, hoodriverwaterplay.com, from $69). WHERE TO STAY Seven Oaks Bed and Breakfast describes itself as a "garden oasis," surrounded by two acres of flowering plant life and fenced in by Douglas firs. The four-unit house (plus separate cottage) provides storage for recreational equipment and serves organic eggs, jams, and pastries (541/386-7622, sevenoaksbb.com, $160). DRIVING TIP I-84--a.k.a. the Columbia River Highway--is a straight, gorgeous shot from Portland. Look for both mountains: Mount Hood and Mount Adams. Harbor Country, Mich. 26 miles from Chicago Hitting the beach in the heart of the Midwest is possible at Harbor Country, a group of eight towns on the white-sand beaches of Lake Michigan. The southern beaches of New Buffalo and Warren Dunes State Park are biggest, but individual townships have access too (harborcountry.org). Charter a fishing boat in the New Buffalo Harbor with Cap'n D Charters to hunt down salmon, trout, bass, and blue gill (574/232-0436, capndcharters.com, $500 for up to four people for six hours) or try surfing or stand-up paddleboarding in New Buffalo or St. Joseph, assisted by Third Coast Surf Shop (269/932-4575, thirdcoastsurfshop.com, $75 for a 90-minute private lesson). Afterward, head to Three Oaks to the brand-new organic Journeyman Distillery, nestled in a former corset-making factory, and kick back in the tasting room for a sample of Featherbone Bourbon, a nod to the turkey feathers that the corsets were fashioned out of (269/820-2050, journeymandistillery.com). Soak up the booze at Skip's in New Buffalo, famous for its ultra-tender prime rib (269/469-3330, skipsrestaurantandcatering.info, from $22). WHERE TO STAY Directly across the road from its own private beach, the 31-room Lakeside Inn, built in the late 1800s, has a front porch filled with rocking chairs, plus an on-site cafe (269/469-0600, lakesideinns.com, from $80). DRIVING TIP Stick to highways 90 or 94. Creatively taking the back roads will only lead you into stop-and-go traffic. Clarksville, Tenn. 207 miles from Memphis How to describe Clarksville? "Think Carrie Bradshaw meets Dolly Parton," suggests the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce's website. With entertainment offerings just as diverse as those two pop culture icons, Clarksville manages to be a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n' roll. The tobacco trade--specifically stemmeries--brought in the big bucks in Clarksville in the late 1800s: Tour the Greek Revival/Italinata-style Smith-Trahern mansion, built in 1958 by a wealthy tobacconist - the slaves' quarters out back are still standing, as is an adjacent 1700s cemetery (931/648-5725, fceclarksville.org, $2). Continue exploring the past via the trails at Fort Defiance Civil War Park, between the Red and Cumberland rivers. The site was a Confederate fort that fell to Union soldiers in 1862; soon after, it served as a safe place for freed and runaway slaves (931/472-3351, fortdefianceclarksville.com). Or, hike one of three trails at Dunbar Cave State Park--the caves were once mined for gunpowder (931/648-5526, tn.gov/environment/parks/dunbarcave). Cool off afterward amid 1870s architecture downtown, at the Blackhorse Pub & Brewery, which makes its own beer onsite, including the signature Barnstormer Red Ale, made with Bavarian Hallertau hops. Pair it with one of the eatery's specialty pizzas, like the Whitehorse, a pie topped with alfredo sauce, fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, feta, provolone, and mozzarella (931/552-3726, theblackhorsepub.net, from $15.50). WHERE TO STAY For an authentic 1800s experience, drive 15 miles southwest of Clarksville to Lylewood Inn Bed & Breakfast in Indian Mound, run by Mandy Williams. The rich antebellum decor--some rooms have claw-foot bathtubs--is matched in decadence only by the group meals: In addition to the requisite country breakfast, home-cooked dinners can include glazed pork loin, garlic cheese biscuits, and fresh berry cobbler (931/232-4203, lylewoodinn.com, from $75). DRIVING TIP Take Highway 40 to Highway 24, but don't fear the backroads. Visit the Tennessee Trails and Byways website for multiple mapped driving routes from different destinations - like the "Screaming Eagle" trail that begins in Nashville (tntrailsandbyways.com). Excelsior Springs, Mo. 28 miles from Kansas City, Mo. Soak up the late-18th and early-19th century history of Excelsior Springs, a Missouri town that boomed due to its wealth of pure, natural springwater. Early tourists came from miles around to bathe in the mineral-rich H2O and hopefully heal their ailments, and the city has preserved that craze via historic buildings and walking tours. Belly up to the world's longest water bar, housed in the Art Deco-style Hall of Waters and Cultural Museum, built in 1937, where you can taste the mineral waters that put Excelsior Springs on the map (816/637-2811, visitesprings.com). A few blocks down, stop into Oooey Gooey Chocolates for a chocolate-dipped Twinkie on a stick--your choice of either milk or white chocolate (816/630-9255, oooeygooey.com, $2.25). Or get away from it all at the 40-acre Knott Nature Sanctuary, which features education and recreation programs that include hiking, camping, and gardening and landscaping (816/630-2872). WHERE TO STAY Notorious characters Al Capone and Bugsy Malone reportedly threw their own bathtub gin and gambling parties at The Elms Resort and Spa, which reopened this year for its 100th anniversary after a multi-million-dollar renovation that includes a spa with a hydrotherapy grotto. The hotel is perhaps best known, though, for being the place Harry S. Truman found out he'd defeated Dewey for the presidency in 1948 (816/630-5500, elmshotelandspa.com, from $139). DRIVING TIP The quickest way to get to Excelsior Springs: Catch I-35 North from downtown Kansas City, then take Highway 69 to Excelsior. Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. 30 miles from New York City Indulge your love of literature, the arts, and lifestyles of the rich and famous in this storied region north of New York City. Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman live on (in spirit, anyway) in the Sleep Hollow Cemetery, which author Washington Irving name-checked in his 1820 story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Walk the grounds for free and visit cemetery residents including Irving himself, Andrew Carnegie, Elizabeth Arden, and William and J.D. Rockefeller, or take a two-hour, lantern-lit guided evening tour--if you dare (914/631-0081, sleepyhollowcemetery.org, guided tour $25). For a quick bite, select a hot "Fleetwood original" calzone (stuffed with pepperoni, sausage, peppers, onions, mozzarella, and tomato sauce) from Fleetwood Pizzeria, founded by the Guzzo family in 1965 (914/631-3267, fleetwoodpizza.com, $5.75). Drive two miles northwest, on Bedford Road, to Pocantico Hills to see how the other half lived at Kykuit: The Rockefeller Estate. Drift through the main rooms of the six-story stone house, past the fountains and sculptures dotting the expansive gardens, and tour the underground art galleries, replete with works by Picasso and Warhol (914/631-8200, hudsonvalley.org/historic-sites/kykuit/tours, from $23). WHERE TO STAY Venture eight miles north of Sleepy Hollow to bunk at the Alexander Hamilton House, an eight-unit Victorian B&B with an eight-foot-deep swimming pool and a giant lawn chess set in the backyard (914/271-6737, alexanderhamiltonhouse.com, from $135). DRIVING TIP Allow traveling time for New York City traffic--the 25-mile drive can take much longer than an hour, even during off-peak hours.

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FOXNews.com: The real star of Woody Allen's new movie is Rome

FOXNews.com FOX News Network - We Report. You Decide. // via fulltextrssfeed.com

The real star of Woody Allen's new movie is Rome Jun 28th 2012, 12:00 Woody Allen's newest movie "To Rome with Love" casts big names like Penelope Cruz, Alec Baldwin, Judy Davis and Allen himself. But there is one exceptional star: the Eternal City. "This city is really special," says Hayley (Alison Pill) to her fiance Michelangelo (Flavio Parenti), as they stand on a terrace overlooking the Spanish Steps, one of Rome's famous attractions. "I could stand here all night, it's too beautiful." Woody Allen's Rome is beautiful, clean and sunny, a city shining in pristine beauty with no hint of real-world problems like Italy's financial crisis. But while the movie offers an anachronistic and nostalgic postcard portrayal of Rome, Allen also goes beyond the city's best-known locations to capture the unconventional atmosphere of neighborhoods less familiar to tourists like Sant'Angelo, Garbatella and Rione Monti. The movie, released in Italy on April 20 and in the U.S. on June 22, opens with the imposing Victor Emmanuel II monument in Piazza Venezia. Because of its shape, the monument, inaugurated in 1911, has been given pejorative nicknames like "wedding cake" or "Mussolini's typewriter." The colossal construction has often been dismissed by locals as an unsuccessful attempt to restore classical Rome, but Allen uses it to set the stage, stationing a policeman there to introduce the city as a still and eternal witness to four stories of intrigue, love, sex and adultery. The square is where Hayley, a young American tourist, and Michelangelo, an Italian lawyer, accidentally meet. She is looking for the Trevi fountain and he offers to bring her there. They spend the day together wandering through the city's beauty and predictably fall in love. The central characters of the second story, Antonio (Alessandro Tiberi) and Milly (Alessandra Mastronardi), are a young married couple who just moved to Rome from a small town in the south of Italy. Milly gets lost in Rome's chaotic streets as she searches for a hairdresser to give her a less provincial look before meeting her husband's new co-workers. Her terrible sense of direction gives Allen the opportunity to show a wide area of Rome, starting with Milly's wanderings through the Piazza del Popolo, one of the city's most scenic entrances, featuring an obelisk brought by emperor Augustus after his conquest of Egypt, twin baroque churches and a marble fountain with Neptune and his Tritons. From there, Milly walks through the Campo dei Fiori neighborhood, asks for information at the Area Sacra (sacred area) of the Argentine, where Julius Caesar was said to have been murdered, and finally finds herself in Piazza Mattei, a small square in the heart of Sant'Angelo. According to a popular legend, the turtle fountain in the square was built in one night by Duke Mattei to conquer the heart of a young lady who lived in the palace in front of the square. As the melody of "Arrivederci Roma" (Goodbye Rome) — a song about a tourist who falls in love with Rome and cannot bring himself to leave — plays, the movie shifts to the narrow and picturesque streets of Trastevere. A neighborhood of artisans' homes and workshops since Roman times, Trastevere has in more recent decades become a fashionable district filled with restaurants, espresso bars and clubs. Allen then switches from magnificent imperial buildings, the nostalgia-inspiring ruins seen from the Palatine, to the modernity of the Music Auditorium built by Renzo Piano in 1995, and the English gardens and neoclassical temple of Villa Borghese. He completes his vision of the city by showing the more local and unconventional locations of La Garbatella and Rione Monti. La Garbatella, often missing from tourist guides, looks like a small village with gardens, low-rise houses, and popular bars and taverns. It has a local, authentic urban feel that places like Trastevere lost as they became more cosmopolitan. Rione Monti, once a haven for artists, criminals and prostitutes, has also lost its dark side with an influx of tourists, but a sense of nostalgia remains. "It was dangerous when I was a kid," said Massimo Berardi, 36, owner of a quaint restoration shop. "But it was also very beautiful, very characteristic, with a lot of colors, and artisans' workshops at every corner. "Now they are almost all gone, which leaves that sense of nostalgia, that popular atmosphere, that only here, at La Garbatella and at Tor Pignattara, you can still find in Rome." Despite Allen's efforts to write a love letter to Rome, the movie was poorly received in Italy. The local press has dismissed it as embarrassing, superficial, and not funny, and the Italian public also has given it a thumbs down, although it did well on its opening weekend at the box office as curious filmgoers checked it out. The Hollywood Reporter said it took in 2.8 million euros or $3.7 million opening weekend in Italy, making it the top-grossing film in the country with the highest opening-day total for any of Allen's films in Italy; it also pulled in huge audiences in the U.S. despite mixed reviews and a limited release its first weekend, debuting with $379,371 in just five American theaters. But even with the superficiality of the stories and lukewarm reviews, Allen's glowing portrayal of Rome has not gone completely unappreciated. "Despite the criticism, I still think it's very nice what Allen tried to do with this film," said Valeria Vecellio, interior designer for the cinema industry in Rome. "Whether the result is a beautiful movie or, as in this case, a superficial and ironic experiment, it's nice that he decided to pay his loving homage to Rome, one of the most beautiful cities in the world."

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