U.S. Passport Information With a few exceptions, a passport is required for all U.S. citizens to depart and enter the United States and to enter most foreign countries. Persons who travel to a country where a U.S. passport is not required should be in possession of documentary evidence of their U.S. citizenship and identity to facilitate reentry into the United States. Travelers should check passport and visa requirements with consular officials of the countries to be visited well in advance of their departure date. Application for a passport may be made at a passport agency, many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county and municipal offices, and some post offices. The fourteen major cities with U.S. passport agencies are Boston, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Norwalk, Conn., Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC. All persons are required to obtain individual passports in their own names. Neither spouses nor children may be included in each other's passports. All applicants must appear in person before the clerk or agent executing the application if it is their first time applying. Applications for children under the age of 14 must have consent of both parents of proper documentation granting custody to the applying parent. First-time passport applicants must apply in person. Applicants must present the following items at a passport facility: Completed Form DSP-11, Application for Passport (available at passport agencies, many travel agencies, or on the Web). This form may be completed in advance; however, it must be signed by you in person before a passport agent. Proof of U.S. citizenship. You may use one of the following: previous U.S. passport; certified birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state; Consular Report of Birth Abroad; Naturalization Certificate; or Certificate of Citizenship. Proof of identity. Acceptable proof includes: previous U.S. passport; Naturalization Certificate; Certificate of Citizenship; current, valid driver's license; government ID (city, state, or federal); military ID (military and dependents); work ID (must be currently employed by the company); student ID (must be currently enrolled); Merchant Marines card (also known as a “Seamen's” or “Z” card); pilot or flight attendant ID.Note:Social Security cards are NOT acceptable as identification. Two passport photographs. Photographs must be 2 × 2 inches in size. The image size from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head should be between 1 inch and 13/8 inches. They may be in color or black and white. They must be full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background. Photographs should be taken in normal street attire, without a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline. The applicable fee. A fee of $110 plus a $25 execution fee is charged for adults 16 years and older for a passport book valid for ten years from the date of issue. The fee for children under 16 years of age is $80 for a five-year passport book plus $25 for the execution of the application. The fee for passport book renewals by mail is $110 (there is no execution fee added). DSP-64 Lost or Stolen Passport Form (if necessary). In addition to the items listed above, if your passport was lost or stolen, you will need to complete and submit this form (available at passport facilities and on the Web). Passport renewals can be handled through the mail in some instances. You may apply by mail if: (1) you can submit your most recent passport and it is not mutilated, altered, or damaged; (2) you were at least 16 years old when your most recent passport was issued; (3) you were issued your most recent passport less than 15 years ago; and (4) you use the same name as on your most recent passport, OR, you have had your name changed by marriage or court order and can submit proper documentation to reflect your name changes. In order to apply for a renewal by mail, you must fill out and submit Form DSP-82, which can be obtained at a passport facility or downloaded from the Web site. Attach to it the following: (1) your most recent passport; (2) two identical passport photographs; and (3) the $40 fee. If your name changed, enclose a certified copy of the Court Order, Adoption Decree, Marriage Certificate, or Divorce Decree specifying another name for you to use. Mail the above items to: National Passport Center; P.O. Box 13349, Philadelphia, PA 19101-3349. Normal processing time for a passport application is 25 working days. However, it is recommended that you apply for your passport several months in advance of your planned departure. If you will need visas from foreign embassies, allow more time. If you need to leave in a hurry, you may expedite the process for an additional fee of $60 per passport. When requesting expedited service, two-way overnight mail for each application is strongly suggested.

Tips on Tipping Source:American Society of Travel Agents, Alexandria, Va. Who do you tip? When? How much? These are the questions that have nagged at consumers since the first service transaction. The practice of tipping is meant as a form of thank-you for services rendered, or beforehand as a subtle bribe for special treatment. Tipping need not be considered mandatory or automatic. Too often, tips are taken for granted or expected regardless of the quality of service. Tipping should be done at your discretion and as a reward for good or superlative service. Below are some tipping suggestions for travelers. At nearly every step of the traveling process, there are professionals waiting to “lighten your load” or provide assistance. So remember to carry a lot of change and small bills for tips. 1.Taxi/Limo Drivers:A $2 to $3 tip is usually satisfactory; more if he helps you with your bags and/or takes special steps to get you to your destination on time. 2.Porters:A standard tip for airport and train porters is $1 per bag; more if your luggage is very heavy. 3.Hotel Bellman:Again, $1 per bag is standard. Tip when he shows you to your room and again if he assists you upon checkout. Tip more if he provides any additional service. Note: A $5 tip upon arrival can usually guarantee you special attention should you require it. 4.Doorman:Typically, a $1 tip for hailing a taxi is appropriate. However, you may want to tip more for special service, such as carrying your bags or shielding you with an umbrella. 5.Concierge:Tip for special services such as making restaurant or theater reservations, arranging sightseeing tours, etc. The amount of the tip is generally dependent on the type and complexity of service(s) provided—$2 to $10 is a standard range. You may elect to tip for each service, or in one sum upon departure. If you want to ensure special treatment from the concierge, you might consider a $10–$20 tip upon arrival. 6.Hotel Maid:Maids are often forgotten about when it comes to tipping because they typically do their work when you are not around. For stays of more than one night, $1 per night is standard. The tip should be left in the hotel room in a marked envelope. 7.Parking Attendants:Tip $1 to $2 when your car is delivered. 8.Waiters:15–20% of your pre-tax check is considered standard. The same applies for room service waiters. Some restaurants will automatically add a 15% gratuity to your bill, especially for large parties—look for it before tipping. If the 15% is added, you need only tip up to another 5% for superlative service. 9.Cloakroom Attendants:If there is a charge for the service, a tip is not necessary. However, if there is no charge, or extra care is taken with your coat and/or bags, a $1 to $2 tip is appropriate. 10.Tour Guides/Charter Bus Drivers:If a tip is not automatically included, tip $1 for a half-day tour, $2 for full-day tour, and anywhere from $5 to $10 for a week-long tour. Tip a private guide more. These are some of the people you are most likely to encounter while traveling in the U.S. Undoubtedly there will be others. If there is one standard rule in tipping it is this: If someone renders special service to you along the way, show your appreciation with a tip. NOTE: International travelers should be aware that tipping customs outside the U.S. are often very different. Consult travel guides for the country you are visiting.

State and Territory Tourism Offices The following is a selected list of state tourism office Web addresses and phone numbers. Where a toll-free number is available, it is given. However, the numbers are subject to change. Alabama 800-ALABAMA www.touralabama.or g Alaska 800-862-5275 www.travelalaska.co m Arizona 866-275-5816 www.arizonaguide.co m Arkansas 800-NATURAL www.arkansas.com California 800-GOCALIF www.gocalif.ca.gov Colorado 800-COLORADO www.colorado.com Connecticut 888-CT-VISIT www.ctbound.org Delaware 866-2-VISIT-DE www.visitdelaware.co m District of Columbia (Washington, DC) 800-422-8644 www.washington.org Florida 888-7FLA-USA www.flausa.com Georgia 800-VISIT-GA http://www.explorege orgia.org/ Guam 671-646-5278/9 (not toll-free) www.visitguam.org Hawaii 800-GO-HAWAII www.gohawaii.com Idaho 888-84-IDAHO http://www.visitidaho .org/ Illinois 800-2-CONNECT www.enjoyillinois.co m Indiana 888-ENJOY-IN www.enjoyindiana.co m Iowa 888-472-6035 www.traveliowa.com/ Kansas 800-2-KANSAS www.travelks.com Kentucky 502-223-8687 (not toll-free) www.tourky.com Louisiana 800-99-GUMBO www.louisianatravel.c om Maine 888-MAINE-45 www.visitmaine.com Maryland 866-MD-WELCOME www.mdisfun.org Massachusetts 800-227-MASS www.massvacation.co m Michigan 800-644-2489 www.michigan.org Minnesota 888-TOURISM www.exploreminneso ta.com Mississippi 800-SEE-MISS www.visitmississippi. org Missouri 800-519-2100 www.visitmo.com Montana 800-VISIT-MT www.visitmt.com Nebraska 877-NEBRASKA www.visitnebraska.or g Nevada 800-NEVADA-8 www.travelnevada.co m New Hampshire 800-FUN-IN-NH www.visitnh.gov New Jersey 800-VISIT-NJ www.state.nj.us/trave l New Mexico 800-733-6396 ext. 0643 www.newmexico.org New York 800-CALL-NYS www.iloveny.com North Carolina 800-VISIT-NC www.visitnc.com North Dakota 800-HELLO-ND www.ndtourism.com Ohio 800-BUCKEYE www.ohiotourism.co m Oklahoma 800-652-6552 www.travelok.com Oregon 800-547-7842 www.traveloregon.co m Pennsylvania 800-VISIT-PA www.visitpa.com Puerto Rico 800-866-7827 www.seepuertorico.co m Rhode Island 800-250-7384 www.visitrhodeisland .com South Carolina 866-224-9339 www.discoversouthca rolina.com South Dakota 800-S-DAKOTA www.travelsd.com Tennessee 800-GO-2-TENN www.tourism.state.tn. us Texas 800-8888-TEX www.traveltex.com U.S. Virgin Islands 800-372-USVI http://www.visitusvi.c om Utah 800-UTAH-FUN www.utah.com Vermont 800-VERMONT www.vermontvacatio n.com Virginia 800-VISIT-VA www.virginia.org Washington 877-260-2731 www.tourism.wa.gov Washington, DC See District of Columbia West Virginia 800-CALL-WVA www.wvtourism.com Wisconsin 800-432-TRIP www.travelwisconsin. com Wyoming 800-225-5996 www.wyomingtouris m.org

Tips to Save Money on Family Vacations With the country mired in a recession, many American families are looking for ways to cut back on expenditures and trim their budgets. At the same time, parents recognize the benefits of taking time off to relax with their kids—and to escape the economic malaise. Here are some tips to save money on much-needed getaways. *.Check to see if you can save money by purchasing tickets to attractions in advance. Many amusement parks offer up to 20% off for advance booking. Check to see how far in advance you must book to qualify for the discount. Note that some destinations charge children by height, not age, so you may end up paying full price for your taller offspring. Also be on the lookout for coupons and discounts offered by groups such as AAA. *.Buy sunscreen, bug spray, and other supplies at home rather than at tourist destinations, which tend to wildly mark up such necessities. *.Rent a house instead of staying at a hotel. A weekly house rental is usually much cheaper than paying nightly hotel rates. This option allows you to cook in rather than eat out every meal. Renting a house is particularly attractive to larger families since most hotels only allow four guests per room. *.Choose a destination that's within driving distance. Driving is much cheaper than flying, and why not explore the treasures in your own backyard? If you must fly, don't fly direct. You can save hundreds of dollars on each ticket by making a connection. *.If you grocery shop at your destination, go to a market outside the tourist area. Small markets in tourist sites tend to be expensive! *.If you're traveling internationally, buy local food and avoid American food. Expand your palette and avoid paying a premium for imported fare. No need to pay $10 for a box of American corn flakes. *.Travel off season. Hotel rates, airfare, and admission prices are often deeply discounted during non-peak periods. Be flexible! Even traveling a few weeks before or after school vacation can save big bucks. *.Don't feel obligated to be on the go every day. Do the tourist thing one day, then have one day of down time. Vacations are meant to be a time to relax and get away from all the over-scheduling. *.Have a friend take care of your pets rather than board them. A week of doggie daycare can cost up to $300. *.Stay with family or friends who live near a tourist area. Alternatively, do a house-swap with another family.

Extreme Vacations How to find adventure and excitement on holiday A tropical getaway or leisurely day at a spa satisfies people who crave R&R, but few thrill seekers are content with extended downtime. Indeed, an increasing number of travelers are seeking out vacations that offer adventure and excitement. As a result, the extreme tourism industry has boomed in the 21st century. Below are some ideas for adrenaline pumping, non-leisure leisure activities. Climb a volcano One of the most fascinating of Earth's formations, volcanoesare vents or fissures in the Earth's crust through which gases, lava, and solid fragments are discharged. Adventure seekers can climb the steep concave sides of Mt. St. Helensin Washington state, the gently sloping large shield cones of the Hawaiian Islands,and the steep slopes of cinder cones made of cinder-like materials such as Parícutinin Mexico. Heli-skiing Heli-skiing provides serious extremists access to untouched slopes, challenging terrain, and wilderness solitude. The helicopter'smaneuverability and ability to land and take off in small areas has been adopted for a wide range of services, including air-sea rescue, fire fighting, traffic control, and now access to otherwise inaccessible peaks such as the Chugach mountain rangein Alaska and the Andes mountainsin South America. Climb to the top of the world At 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) high, on the border of Tibetand Nepal, in the central Himalayas, Mount Everestis the highest mountain in the world. Called Chomo-Lungma (Mother Goddess of the Land) by Tibetans, it is named in English for the surveyor Sir George Everest. Though thousands have summated the peak since it was first climbed in 1953, it's still considered the holy grail of mountain climbing and an achievement of a lifetime. Attempting Everest is not for the feint of heart due to its dangers, including avalanches, crevasses, ferocious winds up to 125 mph, sudden storms, temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit below zero, and oxygen deprivation. Sandboarding Get a rush by riding down sand dunes on a Formica board in the surreal desert landscapes of exotic destinations such as Algeria, Arabia, New Zealand, Oman, or South Africa. Closer to home is Nevada's Sand Mountain with 4,795 acres of sandboarding terrain. A year-round extreme sport, sandboarding provides a similar adrenaline-pumping experience as snowboarding. The world's tallest sand dune resides in Cerro Blanco near the Andes mountain range in Peru. Shark diving Become an underwater explorer by diving in warm waters, where sharksare most abundant, and try to catch a glimpse of the much feared predator. There are about 250 types of sharks from the two feet (60 cm) pygmy shark to 50 foot (15 m) giants. With ears that can hear sounds more than 700 feet away and a nose that smell a distance of 1,600 feet, chances of meeting a shark are good. Locations such as Cape Point, South Africa, Fiji, and Guadalupe Island promise an exhilarating swim with Mako, Blue, Tiger, or Great White sharks with little between you and their rows of teeth. Space exploration If you dreamed of being a Moon-walking astronaut as a kid and love adventure, the new cutting edge space exploration voyages may be your ideal vacation. Travel to the International Space Station, space walk, and orbit Earth. View the billions of stars and neighboring planets 24 hours a day without the atmosphere diminishing their luminescence. Space travel isn't cheap, however, with seats starting at $20 million. Canyoning Canyoning is an exciting outdoor activity that involves hiking, climbing, and rappelling through canyons of waterfalls, limestone walls, and pools of water. Wetsuit wearing canyoners often have to climb challenging boulders and tube through narrow underground cave rivers. The unearthly Waitomo cave system in New Zealand is well-known for its underground rapids. With a mix of climbing, rappelling, and cave tubing, Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southern New Mexicois a challenging adventure with an interesting twist: the 300 caveswere carved out by limestone-dissolving sulfuric acidrather than by rivers and waterfalls. White water rafting White-water rafting is a thrilling and challenging adventure that can vary in intensity depending on the river. Using a raft, passengers navigate rapids and whitewater using paddles and body weight. Rapids are categorized from Class 1 to 6, according to their intensity, required skill level, and level of dange. Class 1 are very small rapids and Class 6 are extremely dangerous and largely unsafe to navigate. Zimbabwe'sZambezi River, below Victoria Falls, is acclaimed as being the wildest river in the world with long and violent rapids, steep gradients, and big drops.