Travel Calendar

A preserved former U.S. Air Force Titan II missile silo near Tucson, Arizona, has been converted to a museum, revealing the inner workings of a formerly classified nuclear weapons delivery system. Click through these images to see more travel destinations for military enthusiasts.

A diagram of Missile Site 571-7 shows the facility “launch control center” on the left and a “launch duct” housing a Titan II missile on the right. The missile measures 103 feet tall.

The facility’s silo cableway tunnel connects the launch control center to the missile silo.

At the height of the Cold War in 1983, Yvonne Morris served as an Air Force instructor and missile combat crew commander trained to launch nuclear armed Titan II rockets.

The Titan II missile was designed to launch in as little as 58 seconds. NASA developed Titan II rockets to propel Gemini astronauts into orbit during the 1960s.

In Fredericksburg, Texas, at the National Museum of the Pacific War , volunteers stage a “living history” reenactment of a U.S. Marine attack on a Japanese-held beachhead. The presentation includes the firing of a WWII-era flamethrower.

The museum boasts the only restored WWII Japanese rex plane — also called a Japanese float plane — currenly on display in the U.S. According to the museum, these aircraft were designed to support offensive operations in advance of available airships.

 

There are only two wooden PT boats currently on display in the U.S. that saw action during WWII. This is one of them, according to the museum. The exhibit offers an idea of what it was like for a PT boat crew to prepare for a night patrol.

 

Since it opened as a training facility 1915, the U.S. Marine Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, has become legendary through movies, songs and novels. It has also produced hundreds of thousands of fighting men and women, some seen here during a recent graduation ceremony.

Marine Pfc. J. S. Gigliano stands with his mother and grandfather after graduating last October. His mother and gradfather are former Marines.

Lance Cpl. Legend, Parris Island’s mascot English Bulldog attends a graduation ceremony last September.

Recruits of Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, gather at Parris Island’s Iwo Jima statue to receive their Eagle, Globe and Anchors last August. Each drill instructor presents their recruits with a small eagle globe and anchor emblem, shakes their hands, calls them Marines for the first time and tells them, “job well done.”

The USS Midway is the longest serving carrier of the 20th century — logging 47 years before retiring in 1992. Some 225,000 sailors served aboard the Midway. Their average age was 19. It was the first carrier to sail into the Arctic during winter.

In 1975 Midway set the bar for humanitarian missions with Operation Frequent Wind, part of the U.S response to the fall of South Vietnam and the resulting rush of refugees. When it was all said and done, the Midway was credited for saving some 3,000 refugees, who would otherwise have been left behind.

The F-8 Crusader is one of 25 restored aircraft exhibits aboard the Midway. The Crusader was a supersonic fighter which saw a lot of action during the Vietnam War.

The Midway bills itself as a hands-on military museum with interactive exhibits both on the flight deck and below.

(CNN) — For four years, Yvonne Morris worked at Missile Site 571-7. Literally, it was a real hell hole.

Deep underground in a high-security control room, she and her crew held the keys to an apocalyptic hammer — a nuclear rocket that could flatten an entire city in just 30 minutes.

“I know I would have been able to launch, if ordered,” said Morris, an ex-Air Force lieutenant. “But if we launched, then life as we know it was over.”

Based near Tucson, Arizona, during the 1980s, Morris joined thousands of steely-eyed missile-men and women who helped bring a peaceful end to the Cold War.

The silo — now the Titan Missile Museum — is one of hundreds of American travel destinations that honor the nation’s history of military readiness and sacrifice.

How about a fire-spewing WWII battle re-enactment with an actual flamethrower? Or a massive warship that saved 3,000 refugees? Or a training ground for some of the toughest fighting men and women in the world?

Titan Missile Museum

Of all these magnets for the military enthusiast, one thing sets the Titan museum apart: It’s the world’s only remaining underground installation housing an actual Titan II missile.

“It’s not a mockup,” says Morris, who’s now the museum director. “It’s the real deal. Except,” she laughs “there’s no warhead.”

That’s probably a good thing, because the Titan II carried the nation’s deadliest nuclear warhead — equal to more than 9 million tons of dynamite.

During its heyday from the 1960s into the 1980s, more than 50 Titan II launch sites dotted Arizona, Kansas and Arkansas. Decades after the Cold War, enthusiasts can now snuggle up close and cozy with a doomsday device.

A special observation deck at the museum allows a breathtaking view of the rocket from tip to tail.

HGTV addicts take note: The underground bunker is designed to rock and roll.

Literally, because the whole complex is cushioned by giant springs.

The floors are separate from the walls so the facility can survive giant shock waves from, say, an earthquake, or perhaps an enemy nuclear missile attack. Careful! When you step into a room, don’t trip over the 11-inch gap in the floor. That’s called the “rattle space.”

Oh, and it’s not every day that you can see humongous steel blast doors weighing 3 tons. Don’t forget to shut the door behind you on the way out.

On the whole, life in the hole wasn’t bad, to hear Morris tell it. Several four-person crews each rotated 24-hour work shifts in the underground habitat. Surprisingly, it was hard to get bored, she said, because they just “drilled and drilled and drilled.” Performing equipment maintenance, testing circuits and systems and monthly training, testing and evaluation.

A quarter century after the site was decommissioned, it still holds secrets. We still don’t know exactly where the missile was pointed. That’s classified.

Did the missile site ever come close to launching? Also classified.

Those untold secrets are shared by the launch crews and their chains of command. We’ll likely never know.

U.S. and Soviet nuclear missiles pointing at each other created fear of total annihilation on both sides, historians say, helping to prevent either country from attacking first and starting WWIII. Air Force missile crews played a vital link in that strategy.

“I guess unsung hero is a way to talk about the folks who served during the Cold War,” says Morris. “In the next 20 years, as more documents are declassified, we’re going to really appreciate more about what went on.”

WWII comes to Texas

In Fredericksburg, Texas, volunteers bring World War II battles to life. Firing spectacular Hollywood pyrotechnics and authentic weapons, they re-enact a 10-minute battle where U.S Marines capture a Japanese-held beachhead.

“We can’t re-create what war was like,” says Brandon Vinyard of the National Museum of the Pacific War. “But this gives people a little bit more of a sense of the chaos of battle.”

With plenty of safety precautions in place, visitors enjoy a close view from about 8 feet from the beachhead, Vinyard said. Battle highlights include three huge explosions — one equaling three sticks of dynamite — and a star burst that shoots 50 feet high.

There’s also a spectacular demonstration of a flamethrower — a portable blowtorch weapon used to wipe out pockets of enemy resistance.

“If you’re in the bleachers you can actually feel the heat of the flamethrower,” says Vinyard. “And you can feel the concussion of some of the explosions.”

No other facility in the nation does anything like this on this scale on a regular basis, says Vinyard.

It bills itself as the only museum entirely dedicated to telling the story of WWII in the Pacific.

About a year ago a former U.S. Marine and his young grandson found themselves walking through the museum gallery when the veteran came upon a giant mural of a vintage photo on the wall. The picture showed a group of Marines catching a breather on a hillside, remembers Vinyard. “The veteran pointed to one of the young Marines in the photo and said to his grandson, ‘That’s me. This is where we were.’”

Vinyard’s story exemplifies the museum’s mission, he said, “to inspire our youth by honoring our heroes.”

Witnessing a ‘transformation’

This Friday on a parade ground on a marshy barrier island off South Carolina, bands will play, Marines will march, the American flag will fly high, and a commanding general will speak.

Senior drill instructors will dismiss their platoons and hundreds of new graduates will shout, “aye aye sir!” or “aye aye ma’am!”

The drill instructors will then sheath their swords and march away.

With that — Parris Island marks the end of another spectacular graduation ceremony and a fresh beginning for hundreds of new Marines.

Since it opened in 1915, the U.S. Marine Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, has become legendary through movies, songs and novels. It has also produced hundreds of thousands of fighting men and women. Military enthusiasts often join family members and other loved ones who visit “The Depot” to enjoy graduation ceremonies — an unspoiled piece of Americana that’s been largely unchanged for almost a century.

Oh, one ceremony modification worth noting: In the 1920s, a dog entered the picture. Marines adopted a canine mascot after German soldiers began referring to the hard-fighting Marines as “Devil Dogs.”

Nowadays, that dog is a 16-month-old English Bulldog mascot named Lance Cpl. Legend.

According to Legend’s handler, Lance Cpl. Alexandra Stamateris, the dog “goes absolutely berserk” on Thursdays and Fridays — the usual days the Depot holds Family Day and Graduation Day. “We joke that he has such a hard life because on Thursdays and Fridays he gets to be pet by a thousand people.”

Since the 1920s, Parris Island has hosted between 12 and 18 mascot bulldogs. Legend comes from a special bloodline, as the great-grandson of the University of Georgia mascot, UGA V.

During the ceremony, “you see America,” says Col. Robert Jones, Parris Island’s commanding officer for recruit training. Graduation represents a cross-section of society from every state in the union celebrating the transformation of men and women from recruits into Marines.

In fact, the physical transformation is so extreme that moms will run out on the parade grounds to hug their sons “and they’ll end up hugging someone else’s kid,” Col. Jones says with a chuckle. “These young men and women change so much during their training,” he explained. Jones said it’s a physical change, but also a change inside. “They’re more disciplined. They understand our core values of honor, courage and commitment.”

It’s the drill instructors, Jones said, “who make that transformation happen.”

Not all of the ceremonies are public, however. Prior to the graduation the recruits, staff and drill instructors hold a private tradition. The Eagle Globe and Anchor ceremony recognizes the intense bond between the drill instructor and the recruit forged by their 70 days of extreme training.

“It’s actually a very emotional ceremony,” says Jones. The recruits are charged with carrying on the traditions and legacy of the Marines who came before them. “For a lot of the recruits you’ll see tears come to their eyes as the drill instructor puts a small eagle globe and anchor emblem in the recruit’s hand, shakes their hand, calls them Marines for the first time and tells them, ‘job well done.’”

USS Midway: Unparalleled service

In San Diego lives a Navy pioneer named Midway.

The aircraft carrier USS Midway — now a museum docked at the Navy Pier — boasts quite a resume.

It’s the longest serving carrier of the 20th century — 47 years before retiring. Nearly 200,000 sailors served aboard the Midway — average age 19. It was the first carrier to sail into the Arctic during winter.

And in 1975 Midway set the bar for humanitarian missions with Operation Frequent Wind, part of the U.S response to the fall of South Vietnam and the resulting rush of refugees. When it was all said and done, the Midway was credited for saving some 3,000 refugees, who would otherwise have been left behind.

“Some very courageous decisions had to be made in terms of pushing helicopters overboard to create space for those refugees,” says Scott McGaugh, author and director of marketing for the USS Midway Museum. “You talk to sailors who were aboard at that time and they all will tell you, it was the highlight of their military career.”

Among San Diego’s 170 tourism attractions, the USS Midway is rated No. 1 on TripAdvisor.com. Visitors can climb into aircraft cockpits, sit in the captain’s chair and stretch out in a sailor’s bunk. You can go into the brig and see what it was really like to be confined to a jail cell aboard a Navy ship.

Check out the flight deck, and the bridge — the ship’s nerve center. Imagine what it was like to launch some of the first strikes against Iraq at the dawn of 1991′s Operation Desert Storm. Or take your imagination back further to the days after World War II. “It’s a remarkable amount of history that’s now being preserved on the ship,” says McGaugh.

On Friday, November 9, the Midway is testing new waters with a fresh venture: college basketball.

Right smack dab on the ship’s 4-acre deck Syracuse University will battle San Diego State University on a temporary court with room for about 4,000 fans to cheer from temporary stands.

Then on Monday San Diego hosts its annual Veterans Day parade, led by legendary pilot Chuck Yeager, who in 1947 was credited with breaking the sound barrier.

“This week is a good time to pause and reflect, for just a moment,” says McGaugh, “the thousands of men and women who served their country to defend the freedoms that so many of us enjoy. It’s a great time to simply pause and thank a veteran.”

Los Angeles — Travel for humans during holidays is tough enough: long lines, crowds everywhere, extra bags full of presents. Throw a pet in the mix, and it’s a recipe for disaster.

But Sheron Long, a frequent traveler and author of “Dog Trots Globe – To Paris and Provence,” say it’s worth the trouble.

“Every trip was better when Chula could be with us,” she said of her Shetland sheepdog. “She was so excited, I could imagine her dog’s eye view of the world. It causes you to explore and go see different things and meet people.”

By air

The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates more than 2 million pets and other animals are transported by air each year. Pets aren’t allowed on Amtrak trains, Greyhound buses or cruise lines, but they can go on many regional train, bus and boat lines.

The majority of four-legged carry-on passengers are dogs, but some airlines allow rabbits, birds and other small animals. Experts say before including a pet in travel plans, consider whether it would enjoy the experience.

“Some dogs don’t like to travel, some love it,” said Kelly E. Carter, the pet travel expert for AOL’s Paw Nation and a Chihuahua owner. “You have to know your pet.”

Caroline Golon’s two Persian cats “are not big fans of car travel” – the only way that they can travel since their breed is banned by many airlines – so they don’t go on trips. Golon said when they travel, the family stops at pet-friendly hotels rather than drive nonstop.

“Stopping overnight gives them a chance to use the litter box at their leisure and eat and drink comfortably,” said Golon, the founder of High Paw Media.

Gwen Cooper, the author of “Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat,” said animals pick up on their owners’ moods, “which means if you’re nervous, your cat or dog is going to be nervous, too. The best way to avoid being nervous is to prepare you and your pet ahead of time and think through as many contingencies as possible.”

In the cabin

For eligible cats, as well as dogs, airlines have size requirements for pets in the cabin, so a small pet must fit in a carrier that can be stowed under a seat and larger ones must be checked in. Long’s dog weighs 30 pounds, so 9-year-old Chula has to fly in cargo.

During the holidays, though, when planes are fuller and lines are longer, some airlines ban pets in cargo, as well as times when the heat or cold is intense. Certain breeds can never fly on some airlines, including those considered to have bullying characteristics, like pit bulls, and snub-nosed animals like shih tzus or Persian cats because of potential breathing problems.

Animals that travel on Amtrak, Greyhound or cruises get a ticket to ride as service animals. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, trained helper animals such as guide dogs or signal dogs must be allowed.

Pet accommodations at airports differ, though every airport has animal-relief areas. Some are easy to find – San Francisco’s has paw prints on the floor leading to them – and most or all areas are located outside of security checkpoints. Federal transportation guidelines require animals to be removed from carriers, so pets should be collared and leashed – especially cats. Pet carriers are not X-rayed, but owners’ hands may be wiped for chemical testing.

The hassle of traveling is only half over once the plane lands. Carter, who once canceled a trip in which she and her dog were hoping to try a new hotel in Northern California, recounted how the hotel worded its pet policy online: “We are smoke-free and pet-free.”

“My God, are pets being considered killers, like smoke?” she said.

Lisa Porter, CEO of a website that lists pet-friendly places to stay and activities around the country, said more businesses are catering to customers with a pet in tow than ever before.

Most five-star hotels have accommodations and perks for well-behaved pets, and even most discount hotels, including Red Roof Inns, Motel 6 and Extended Stay America, are pet friendly. Other hotels have weight limits. Some charge a nightly fee for animals, some have cleaning deposits and some will charge only if there is damage.

Tips for traveling with pets

Traveling with a pet isn’t easy, since there are more rules than destinations. Kelly E. Carter, president of thejetsetpets.com and AOL’s resident pet travel expert, and Sheron Long, frequent international traveler and author of “Dog Trots Globe – To Paris and Provence,” share their tips:

– Research before you go and make reservations early. Airlines offer a limited number of cabin spots for pets, and they are first come, first served.

– Know the weight, age, kennel size and closure restrictions for the airline you’re flying.

– Fees vary for pets, so have your checkbook or credit card ready at the airport.

– Know how much room you will have under the seat for your pet and your legs. Seatguru.com lists the dimensions on any seat on any aircraft.

– Ask for a window seat to avoid your pet getting kicked if fellow passengers want to leave their seats.

– Find out about frequent-flier miles, since those policies differ with each airline.

– To prevent accidents, don’t give your pet food or water on the flight. Ask for ice cubes and let the animal lick them as she needs them.

– Carry a portfolio that includes your pet’s proof of rabies, vaccination records, a photo, your vet’s name and number, a list of medicines, and references from managers of hotels where you have stayed.

– Try to fly nonstop.

– For international travelers, every country has its own regulations, paperwork and quarantine periods. Be prepared and patient.

– Don’t give your pet a sedative, since most airlines won’t take a sedated animal.

– Food is not allowed in pet carriers but tape it to the outside in case the flight is delayed or if it lasts longer than 12 hours.

– If your pet is flying in cargo, ask how it will be transported from the terminal to the plane. Some airlines have air-conditioned or heated vans.

– Pack your pet with a toy or a piece of your clothing to reassure your pet while you are separated. Check Petflight.com for individual airline safety rules involving pets.

Traveling this holiday season? If you are one of the estimated 92 million people who just nodded your head to that question, keep reading. Traveling can be a challenge during this time of year, especially if the weather is iffy and/or small children are involved. The keys to surviving with savings and sanity intact are, of course, organization and planning. In that spirit, we’ve put together seven tips for getting your trip buttoned up well before you head out.

1. Map out where the cheapest gas prices are and plan pit stops in those areas. A car trip out of state? Or even just out of the area? Research gas prices where you’re heading and plan to fill up your car wherever it is cheapest. There are four good online tools for researching gas prices: AAA.com, Automotive.com, GasBuddy.com and GasPriceWatch.com. That 20 or 30 cents per gallon you save can quickly add up. For example, if you’re driving 50 miles both to and from your destination, at 30 cents per gallon the savings will fatten your wallet by $30. Think about it: If you found that money on the street, you’d be ecstatic!

2. Pack food for the trip. Whether you’re going by plane, train or automobile, having sandwiches and snacks on hand will significantly cut costs. If you’re traveling by train or car, bring your own drinks as well. In addition to saving you money, it is also a great way to ensure you’re eating healthily and avoiding the dreaded creep of extra holiday pounds.

3. Ship smart. Getting there by air? Before you get to the airport only to find that your oversized bag is going to cost you big time, compare the costs of shipping your presents ahead of time versus how much you’ll be paying in baggage fees. Additionally, see if you can save by prepaying baggage fees. Finally, according to airfarewatchdog.com, “if you are a heavy packer, you’ll want to fly with AirTran, Alaska, Frontier and Southwest, even if there’s a cheaper fare on another airline.”

4. Rent smart. Need to rent a car? Contact your auto-insurance company to see if your current policy applies to rental vehicles so you don’t have to pay through the rental agency itself when you’re already covered. Compare car size as opposed to miles you’ll be driving. Often, larger vehicles will be less expensive than smaller or hybrid gas-savers. If you’re traveling a good distance, then probably the gas-saver will be what you need. But if you’re flying in and just driving from the airport to your destination and around town, you can save a good chunk of dough by choosing the rental car that has the best deal.

5. Get your gift list in order early. We have a free printable gift worksheet you can download at GetButtonedUp.com. Use it to make a list of exactly what you need to get for whom. Don’t go into the store with an “I’ll know it when it hits me” attitude because that will inevitably lead to going over your budget. Scour newspaper circulars, online-site deals or mobile notifications and try to purchase when items are on sale. Then wrap and tag them immediately. This not only cuts down on the mad rush to get things done, but you won’t tend to spend more simply to save time.

6. Bring entertainment. If you are staying overnight somewhere, be sure to bring “things to do” for grown-ups and children. Idle time can bring about quick trips to town, which in turn lead to spending money you don’t want or need to spend. So pack CDs, books, e-readers, games and tablets. Go with small items to save room in the car or in carry-on luggage.

7. Book well in advance. Every week you wait to book your tickets after the last week in October usually adds $5 to your ticket cost. If you’re not staying with family, book a hotel room well in advance and check travel sites to get the best deals or package deals.

Bottom line: Holiday travel is often harrowing, but it will be less so if you don’t act at the last minute. Organize, research and prepare. Not only will you be able to save some bucks, but you’ll have peace of mind to relax and enjoy your holiday with family and friends.

How far will you be traveling this holiday?

The writers are co-founders of Buttoned Up, a company dedicated to helping stressed women get organized. Send ideas and questions to yourlife@getbuttonedup.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.shns.com.

The first thing I noticed about the passenger in seat 9C on a recent US Airways flight from Orlando to Washington was that he was carrying a light sabre.

You know, as in Star Wars.

After we reached our cruising altitude, I got up to use the restroom, and when I returned, I found that he had reclined his seat — all the way. I had a little problem with that because I was in 10C, and I was trying to write a column on my laptop.

The seat pitch in economy class is small enough to give a Lilliputian claustrophobia, so it should come as no surprise that my PC wouldn’t open enough for me to use it.

No problem, I thought. I’m the travel troubleshooter. I can handle this.

“Sir,” I said, as politely as I could. “Would you mind sliding your seat up a notch? I can’t open my laptop with your seat all the way back.”

No answer.

“Sir?” I said, adding a little volume.

Nothing.

I tapped him on his shoulder gently.

“Please,” I said. “I can’t work.”

“I’ve been up since 4 a.m.,” Mr. Star Wars murmured, and turned away.

“What a coincidence,” I said, my blood pressure rising. “So have I.”

I had several options. First, I could escalate the confrontation. (But the man was traveling with a toy; a troubling sign.) I could move to a different seat. Or I could ask a flight attendant to intervene.

I’ll be honest: I felt like smacking Mr. Star Wars with his plastic weapon.

I picked door number three: to bring this ridiculous encounter to the attention of a flight attendant. You’ll probably find his response — and his resolution — to be interesting.

“Kindergarten,” he sighed, when I explained my predicament. “We’re on your side, but there’s not much we can do.”

The attendants didn’t want to confront Mr. Star Wars because they shared my misgivings, that this particular character might not be completely stable. The flight was full, even in first class. Otherwise, I’m pretty sure they would have offered me an upgrade for the rest of the short flight.

“It’s a shared space, isn’t it?” I asked.

“Yes,” said the attendant. “Just because you can lean all the way back doesn’t mean you should.”

How about the empty jumpseat, I asked him. Could I sit there? No — that’s against regulations, he said.

So how did this standoff end? I’ll get to the solution in a second. But first, a few words about who is to blame for this mess.

Ultimately, it’s a passenger’s responsibility to know proper flying etiquette (and don’t laugh — there is such a thing). But there are other culpable parties. Chief among them, the airline.

Think about it. If the seats in economy class were made for adults, then we wouldn’t have to put up with this childish behavior. If US Airways offered a humane amount of legroom, then Mr. Star Wars could lean back and I could work on my laptop.

Pie in the sky? OK, how about limiting the amount of lean-back on the seats, if you’re going to wedge them that close together? That’s not unreasonable.

Too hard for your aircraft mechanics? Alright, here’s another suggestion: Why not remind passengers that they’re in a shared space and request that they ask before leaning. Mr. Star Wars nearly cracked the screen on my laptop when he forced his seat all the way back.

Had he done that, then I would have been forced to use my light sabre.

I’m kidding. I always pack a loaded antique pistol in my carry-on bag. The TSA hasn’t stopped me yet.

If an airline can’t manage to remind its passengers to practice common courtesy, then it should empower its own employees to step in and mediate the inevitable conflicts. I could tell the flight attendants just didn’t want to get involved.

I loved their fix, though. An attendant opened a tray table in the galley, I set up my computer and worked while standing until we started our descent. Then I wedged myself back into 10C for the rest of the flight.

So what does all of this mean to you? Next time you feel like taking a nap on a plane, please, please, ask the person behind you if it’s OK to go back.

You don’t want to be a rude recliner. Or to have the back of your head appear on anyone’s website.

October and pre-Thanksgiving November can be affordable times to cruise.

The lines for your preschooler to pose with Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Disney World will be shorter when school is in session.

The begnning and end of ski season in Whistler, Canada, and elewhere will often have deals for die-hard skiers.

Don’t let the summer heat in Las Vegas scare you off. Prices are great and everything is air conditioned.

Altthough the skies might be gray and rainy, you’ll get fancier digs for less in England and the rest of Europe if you travel during the fall and winter months.

The view of the Eiffel Tower covered in snow is breathtaking. And if you opt for Europe right after Thanksgiving, you’ll be there during the wonderful Christmas markets.

When a hotel chain opens a new property, like the new Westin Snowmass in Aspen, Colorado, pricing can be amazingly cheap if you’re among the first to visit.

Prices in Asia typically drop during the winter, which means Tokyo can be a relative bargain in January and February.

(CNN) — If your passport is gathering dust and your suitcase desperately needs a workout, don’t throw away thoughts of a thrilling vacation just because your wallet doesn’t match your wanderlust. Supply and demand dictate pricing in nearly every industry, and travel is no exception.

When things are less than perfect, they cost less. So Europe is cheaper in the fall, when the weather can be sketchy and the landscape isn’t quite as alluring. When school’s in session, it’s a challenge to take the kids out of class, but your Disney vacation will be a lot less expensive.

In addition to costing less, these trips have other perks: A theme park with fewer crowds means that your kids are more likely to get some face time with Mickey and Cinderella. And if you opt for Europe right after Thanksgiving, you’ll be there during prime time for the Christmas markets.

Here are five times when bargain-hungry globetrotters can get their fill:

Need a deal now? Head for the ocean.

If you want to take advantage of the cheapest time to be afloat, you should be reading this from your cabin aboard a cruise ship. October and pre-Thanksgiving November is the time when you can sail through the Caribbean on a last-minute deal that’s oh-so-easy on the wallet. It’s the fringe of hurricane season (officially, it’s June 1st – November 30th) but remember that cruise ships can alter their routes when a storm hits, whereas a resort cannot move from the path of danger.

“The itinerary might change slightly, but you still get your cruise,” said Chris McGinnis, director of Travel Skills Group. “The best time to be on vacation in the Caribbean is actually when there’s a hurricane someplace else in the region, because if you’re not in the path, the storm sucks all the bad stuff out of the way and you’re left with perfectly gorgeous weather.”

And even though many people book cruise vacations during the first three months of the year (known as “wave season”), seaworthy travelers looking for a deal should hold off in order to scoop up last-minute savings, McGinnis said.

“As long as you don’t have your heart set on a specific destination or specific ship, there is sure to be a plethora of great last-minute deals.”

Just be sure to purchase travel insurance if you’re heading to Mexico or the Caribbean in the fall, just in case of bad weather.

Go between the expensive holiday travel periods.

One of the cheapest times to pack your bags is just around the corner: It starts about the same time the final leftovers from Thanksgiving are gobbled up and lasts until just before the airports fill up with Christmas travelers.

“We always recommend the three weeks after Thanksgiving,” said Travel Leaders travel agent Kristy Osborn. “The airports are not crowded, the cruise ships are not full of holiday travelers, and there are no hurricanes.”

McGinnis concurs. “The cheapest time to travel, to pretty much anywhere, falls between the two most expensive travel times. The only exception to that rule is New York City because everyone wants to go shopping then,” said McGinnis.

You may think “Disney” and “deal” don’t go together, but if you can finagle a way to get there when school is in session, you’ll reap the financial benefits. If your children have unexpected time off from school, or the academic calendar shifts for some reason, that’s the time to book your Disney trip. If your kids are pre-school age or you can take their studies with you, those weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas offer the same Disney magic, for much less.

These same rules apply between New Year’s Day and spring break.

Enjoy the white stuff without spending so much green stuff.

The end of ski season in the spring is the time to enjoy the slopes without splurging.

“There are world-class hotels in famously pricey ski destinations offering amazing deals,” said Jaime Freedman, a deals specialist at Travelzoo.

It happens at the beginning of the season too for domestic and international ski meccas, and Freedman said Canada is one place to find some frosty deals. “Mont-Tremblant and Whistler, for example, have great deals a few weeks prior to ski season and then again at the tail end once the weather warms up.”

Turn up the heat, turn down the price in “hot” cities.

If you’ve always wanted to see Las Vegas but need a sure bet on low pricing, visit Sin City in July and August when hotels are clamoring for guests.

“Don’t let 115 degrees on the thermometer scare you,” said SRI Travel Promotion owner Renee Werbin, who points out that “Everything is air conditioned and you can take trams between hotels.”

Miami is also a good bet for cheap travel in the summertime, and the traditionally hot and humid summers of New Orleans mean you can also find some fabulous deals in the Big Easy.

Winter is easy on the wallet and full of options.

There may be a gray sky behind the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben when you take your vacation photos, but that’s nothing a little photo editing can’t fix. Nothing beats Europe in the fall and winter if you want more bang for your buck.

“Common sense is always your guide. Travel to Europe in the winter months and stay in deluxe accommodations that would cost substantially more in spring and summer seasons,” said Werbin.

A Canadian (non-ski) holiday is also something to consider if you can handle the cold temperatures that usually freeze the prices at lower-than-normal numbers. And if you’re looking for something exotic, Asia is usually on sale as well.

“Asian prices always drop during winter months; even Tokyo can be a bargain prospect in January and February,” said Travelzoo Senior Editor Gabe Saglie.

Of course there’s an exception to the winter discounts: unless you’re extremely flexible, it’s usually hard to find a deal between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

You’ll also be hard-pressed to find a safari on a clearance rack, but if you want to do it for the lowest price possible, go during the hotter, rainier season in southern and central Africa between November and February. But keep in mind that there’s a school holiday in December, so November, January and February are the best bets.

“Our winter time is hot, hot, hot down in South Africa, which is when you’ll see some savings,” said Freedman.

Werbin said she reminds her clients, “Animals are never on vacation.”

LOS ANGELES—Travel for humans during holidays is tough enough: Long lines, crowds everywhere, extra bags full of presents. Throw a pet in the mix, and it’s a recipe for disaster.

But Sheron Long, a frequent traveler and author of “Dog Trots Globe—To Paris and Provence,” say it’s worth the trouble.

“Every trip was better when Chula could be with us,” she said of her Shetland sheepdog. “She was so excited, I could imagine her dog’s eye view of the world. It causes you to explore and go see different things and meet people.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates more than 2 million pets and other animals are transported by air each year. Pets aren’t allowed on Amtrak trains, Greyhound buses or cruise lines, but they can go on many regional train, bus and boat lines.

The majority of four-legged carry-on passengers are dogs, but some airlines allow rabbits, birds and other small animals. Experts say before including a pet in travel plans, consider whether it would enjoy the experience.

“Some dogs don’t like to travel, some love it,” said Kelly E. Carter, the pet travel expert for AOL’s Paw Nation and a Chihuahua owner. “You have to know your pet.”

Caroline Golon’s two Persian cats “are not big fans of car travel”—the only way that they can travel since their breed is banned by many airlines—so they don’t go on trips. Golon said when they travel, the family stops at pet-friendly hotels rather than drive

nonstop.

“Stopping overnight gives them a chance to use the litter box at their leisure and eat and drink comfortably,” said Golon, the founder of High Paw Media.

Gwen Cooper, the author of “Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat,” said animals pick up on their owners’ moods, “which means if you’re nervous, your cat or dog is going to be nervous too. The best way to avoid being nervous is to prepare you and your pet ahead of time and think through as many contingencies as possible.”

For eligible cats, as well as dogs, airlines have size requirements for pets in the cabin, so a small pet must fit in a carrier that can be stowed under a seat and larger ones must be checked in. Long’s dog weighs 30 pounds, so 9-year-old Chula has to fly in cargo.

During the holidays, though, when planes are fuller and lines are longer, some airlines ban pets in cargo, as well as times when the heat or cold is intense. Certain breeds can never fly on some airlines, including those considered to have bullying characteristics, like pit bulls, and snub-nosed animals like shih tzus or Persian cats because of potential breathing problems.

Animals that travel on Amtrak, Greyhound or cruises get a ticket to ride through their roles as service animals. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, trained helper animals such as guide dogs or signal dogs must be allowed.

Pet accommodations at airports differ, though every airport has animal-relief areas. Some are easy to find—San Francisco’s has paw prints on the floor leading to them—and most or all areas are located outside of security checkpoints. Federal transportation guidelines require animals to be removed from carriers, so pets should be collared and leashed—especially cats. Pet carriers are not X-rayed, but owners’ hands may be wiped for chemical testing.

The hassle of traveling is only half over once the plane lands. Carter, who once canceled a trip in which she and her dog were hoping to try a new hotel in Northern California, recounted how the hotel worded its pet policy online: “We are smoke-free and pet-free.”

“My God, are pets being considered killers, like smoke? That’s a sign people don’t want to be around pets,” she said.

Lisa Porter, CEO of a website that lists pet-friendly places to stay and activities around the country, said more businesses are catering to customers with a pet in tow than ever before. For example, vineyards and wineries have opened their tours to pets, and as many as 90 percent of hotels in some cities are pet-friendly, she said.

Most five-star hotels have accommodations and perks for well-behaved pets, and even most discount hotels, including Red Roof Inns, Motel 6 and Extended Stay America, are pet-friendly. Other hotels have weight limits on animals. Some charge a nightly fee for animals, some have cleaning deposits and some will charge only if there is damage.

In France, where Long and Chula spend four months every year, so many people take their dogs to restaurants that there is an “under-table culture going on,” she said. The French hospitality for dogs stops at museums, though: “The French prize their dogs, but they prize their art work even more,” she said.

Chula has been such a good travel buddy that she inspired Long’s book, which is a travelogue written from a dog’s point of view. Long said having Chula around means never being lonely—partly because of all the people who stop to admire the dog.

“If you want to be a hermit, go (traveling) alone,” Long said.

With the normally scheduled NJEA Teacher’s Convention, which was canceled for the first time in its 158 year history, many New Jersey families made plans for vacation. I hear at Disney World, they next week “Jersey Week.” If, despite the damage and power outages from Hurricane Sandy, you still plan to travel, here are some great travel tips for families from Erin Gifford who blogs at Kidventurous.

The busy holiday travel season is upon us, which means that many families will soon be flying here and there to enjoy much-deserved time with friends, relatives, turkeys and pumpkin pies. Despite the excitement of the journey, many families find it stressful and challenging to travel with kids, but it really doesn’t need to be.

Take a look at these six tips to make flying with toddlers to tweens a breeze:

Give them each a backpack (but they have to carry their own). When we travel, my kids each have their own backpack to fill with books, crayons, snacks and juice boxes. The smaller the kid, the smaller the backpack, which helps ensure they don’t overfill. They can pack what they want, but we make sure before we get in the car that they can each carry their own.

Get to the airport early (and I mean early). Decide on a time to leave for the airport that would get you there with plenty of time to spare, and then back it up 30 minutes. We flew to Florida two years ago and got to the airport with “plenty of time” only to be stymied by security and slow moving children. We got to the gate as they were boarding, but it was too late. They’d already given away our seats.

Have plenty of on-board entertainment. Bring on board whatever you think it will take to keep your kids entertained while confined on the airplane. I’m not a big fan of letting my kids stare mindlessly into my iPhone, but if it keeps them happy and quiet while in flight for hours, that’s fine with me. I try to pre-populate my phone with plenty of fun, educational apps.

Snacks, snacks, snacks. Along the lines of on-board entertainment, I make sure we have more than enough snacks to make it to our destination. I usually bring along cracker packets, granola bars, cookies and goldfish crackers. Not every snack is super-healthy, but I don’t care much about the nutritional value of snacks when we fly. I just want to keep my kids quiet and full.

Plan for your kids to get sick (or spill their drink on their pants). For whatever reason, my daughter’s ears always hurt when we fly, so now we bring lollipops. I don’t know if sucking on the lollipop actually relieves the pain or keeps her occupied, but it works. We also keep the airsick bag close at hand. Oh, and an extra change of clothes is good to have for spills.

Assume there will be delays. I was on a non-stop flight recently that landed nowhere near my final destination. Fortunately, I was traveling alone, but had my kids been with me I would have needed back-up entertainment. So plan to eat snacks (I got an ice cream cone), play airport games (I Spy is a good one) and listen to music. Don’t forget a portable charger for any electronics you may have, like smartphones and portable DVD players.

Erin Gifford is a mother of four who shares family travel advice on her blog, Kidventurous, which was chosen as the Best Family Travel blog by Parents magazine. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

(Photo: Flickr)

Timing is everything for holiday travel, prices, convenience and safety.

Booking your holiday travel early will give you a greater selection of options, whether you’re going by air, rail or bus.

And earlier booking also generally gives you pretty good prices, particularly as big travel holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach.

“Holidays tend to be a very tough time to score a deal,” New York-based travel expert Suzanne Rowan Kelleher said. “Especially on a last-minute flight, you’re generally going to pay through the nose.”

Carriers base their prices on demand, so if you want to save money, avoid making your trip on peak travel dates, and those dates can change depending on whether you’re traveling by plane, train or bus.

For Thanksgiving, for instance, the days immediately before the holiday and right before the workweek are ones to avoid.

Christmas and New Year’s Day — the holidays occur on Tuesdays this year — give people Saturday through Monday to travel to their holiday destinations, reducing peak demand.

“Travel will be more spread out,” said transportation economist George E. Hoffer at the University of Richmond, “so fares may vary widely by day and you can still get there.

“Try Saturday and Sunday before Christmas,” Hoffer said. “Fares may be lower (and) the same on return.”

“It’s going to be kind of dispersed after both (the Christmas and New Year’s) holidays,” Richmond International Airport spokesman Troy Bell said.

The upshot is that the winter holidays falling in midweek should take some of the pressure out of travel this year. “It’s not like there’s one day where everything’s booked up,” Bell said, “and everything’s got to work like clockwork.”

Thanks to the Internet and its many ways of checking travel prices, you can easily do comparison shopping for your holiday trip. The more you check, the better you’ll be able to know what a good deal is — and isn’t.

If you’re not travel or computer savvy, booking the trip through a travel agent can help you avoid pitfalls.

A travel-wise agent can see that an airline flight, while it has a low price, might not be a bargain because of a time-consuming routing, said David Helfrich with Crossroads Travel Advisors.

Using a professional travel adviser also gives you a fallback if there’s a hitch, Hoffer said. The travel agent is “someone who can interface the system probably quicker than you can if something goes wrong, such as a change in plans.”

By air

Expect some sticker shock from airline prices.

The number of airlines competing for travelers’ dollars has shrunk, and the airlines still flying have reduced the size of their fleets. These developments have allowed the carriers to increase their prices.

Fares from Richmond to New York, for instance, have more than quadrupled in the past couple of years, as only two airlines serve the New York market from Richmond. A little more than two years ago, four airlines flew between Richmond and New York.

To blunt that fare shock, and if you’re sure of your itinerary, buy your airline ticket early.

But if you haven’t settled on exactly when or where you want to go, hold off, because most airlines are charging high fees to change a flight, Hoffer advises. If in doubt, wait till your plans firm up.

Take early flights, said Martha Mitchell Meade with the AAA Mid-Atlantic travel organization.

“Delays can occur for a variety of reasons, especially when winter weather is involved,” Meade said. “Plan on booking an early flight rather than taking the last flight of the day to improve the chances of getting on another flight should there be a delay or cancellation.”

“Air travel is a team sport,” Richmond International Airport’s Troy Bell said, “involving the Transportation Security Administration, airlines, airports and passengers.”

By train

The Thanksgiving holiday is Amtrak’s busiest travel time of the year, the national rail passenger corporation says, and it encourages passengers to book tickets early for best availability and pricing.

“Fares are generally higher during holidays and peak travel periods,” Amtrak said.

The busiest travel days, and the ones that that are likely to sell out, are the Tuesday and Wednesday before and the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving, the railroad said.

Amtrak allows passengers to change the dates and times of their departures without charge: You can book early without risk if you later decide to travel on another day.

However, if you are going north of Washington or south of Richmond, Hoffer noted, Amtrak’s trains usually sell out at peak times, so reserve seats soon.

By bus

Long-distance bus travel has seen a resurgence in recent years, with companies such as Megabus.com and Greyhound Lines Inc. offering — besides a range of prices — express service in well-equipped buses with amenities such as free Wi-Fi and power outlets.

As with other modes of travel, booking early by bus pays.

Megabus, which opens its online-only booking 45 to 90 days in advance, sells some tickets for as low as $1 for early purchasers.

“Midweek travel fares tend to be cheaper due to the lesser demand, but they do get more expensive as holidays get closer,” said Megabus spokeswoman Amanda Byers, pointing out that “booking in the early morning hours can help customers save.”

Megabus.com also has offered up to 200,000 free seats during their winter seat sale during the slow winter months, Byers said.

Greyhound has discounted fares that also can be purchased only online, spokesman Tim Stokes said. Travelers booking 21 days in advance can save as much as 50 percent on their fares, and lower percentages as the bookings get closer to the departure dates.

The holidays are busy travel times, Stokes said, but “if a schedule does become oversold at a particular location, we’re able to add capacity … so we can accommodate any excess passengers we have.”

For the holiday periods, Greyhound urges its passengers to arrive a hour to an hour and half before to their departure time, Stokes said, to give themselves enough time to check their bags and, at some locations — “We don’t say where” — to undergo security checks.

By auto

Most people in Virginia — something on the order of four-fifths of state travelers — will drive themselves for their fall and winter holidays.

If you’re driving, and you own more than one vehicle — especially if one of them is a less fuel-efficient model such as a pickup truck, sport utility vehicle or van — use the more energy-conserving vehicle for your trip, AAA recommends.

Another way to save money on fuel is to pick a route that enables you to travel at constant speeds and bypass congested areas as much as possible, AAA says.

While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed range, the faster a vehicle travels, the more fuel it burns.

Driving at moderate highway speeds — 50 to 60 mph — can save you money, and given the fact that the highways will be crowded for the holidays, you’ll increase your own safety and that of others, the agency said.

Tired of indistinguishable hotels and crowded tourist hot spots?

A new study released Monday reveals that some future travel trends include trips to off-the-beaten path countries, gadget-free getaways and vacation bookings made on smart TVs.

The “Global Trends Report” by market research firm Euromonitor International looked at nine key emerging travel and tourism trends worldwide –accounting for how the global, regional and national political, social and economic situation is shaping the travel industry.

According to the report, U.S. travelers are increasingly interested in experiencing countries that have previously been off limits, such as North Korea, Libya, Cuba and Myanmar — thanks to the lifting of travel restrictions.

“It’s a small but growing market. Most U.S. visitors to previously banned countries are expected to come from the Baby Boomer generation,” Caroline Bremner, head of travel and tourism research at Euromonitor said.

Another future travel trend revolves around technology, and in some cases of the lack of it.

With more consumers addicted to their mobile devices, some hotels are offering “technology-free” packages that require visitors surrender their gadgets and digital gear, allowing relationships to be renewed.

Trips that concentrate on relaxation, such as spas, wine tours, cruises and rail trips were expected to perform particularly well through 2016.

On the other hand, travelers will continually rely on the advancement of technology to book their travel, according to the report. Smart TVs  are cited as a vital new platform for travel marketers to directly connect consumers to the market by enabling them to make immediate bookings through the TV or via travel apps.

“The next big thing is to have a presence on these machines,” Bremner said in the report. “With 50 percent penetration by 2014, it’s going to be fast adoption.”

The report also predicts a rise in travel packages which cater to tourists on shopping trips.

Nouveaux riche shoppers from Brazil, Russia, India and China (so-called BRIC countries) are expected to flock to American and European cities to splurge on luxury goods.  In addition, hotels in the Middle East are increasingly continuing to build either within or beside shopping malls to take advantage of the shopping travel trend.

Halloween is just over, but the Christmas ads are already starting. Don’t buy into the holiday travel hype that it’s too late score a travel deal over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Instead of just going online and searching for peak holiday weekend travel days, I’m sharing my insider tips for how you can make it home for the holidays, score a beach vacation and avoid those seasonal mark ups.

1. Travel in the Off Season
If you’re traveling for leisure this winter, pack a coat and get ready for some culture. It’s the off-season in colder climates but not for museums, theater and restaurants. Montreal has winter sports, its own ice village and the famous Montreal en Lumiere festival. Book a 2-night minimum stay through December 31, 2012 and get half off the second night, plus transit tickets and a coupon book with discounts worth up to $200. Or think Iceland: You can fly to Iceland from Boston from just $555 on Icelandair, or continue on to Europe with a stopover in Reykjavik. Head to Chicago, which is teeming with museums, restaurants and winter events. Hotel occupancy last December was just 55.4 percent, meaning you get to avoid the crowds. Go in early February, and you can take advantage of the great deals at Chicago’s Restaurant Week.

2. Pick Your Dates
All November and December travel dates are not the same. Rates vary wildly from day to day and you’ll find the greatest savings if you travel on the actual holidays — Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and Christmas Eve offer the most savings. Remember, turkey tastes good any time of day. If you’re traveling for leisure, then look to travel during that “dead week” between Thanksgiving and Christmas for maximum savings.

3. Find a Real Travel Deal
Many packages are called “deals,” but it pays to read the fine print. Free hot chocolate doesn’t make a deal. Look for how much you are saving on the room rate and then look for additional value adds. Remember to use all your resources when looking for a deal. From flash sales to Twitter promotions, offers come in hourly. If you need help weeding them out, PeterGreenberg.com reviews all the offers and publishes the day’s best in the Daily Deal feature.

4. Look for Freebies
It’s nice to score a deal, but the best deals are actually free. This week, it’s your last chance to enter the Fall Sweepstakes, live until November 8. One lucky person can win the Grand Prize: a 4-night, all inclusive stay for two at the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun with $500 airfare credit and a 30-minute massage. To enter the sweepstakes, simply sign up for the daily e-newsletter, which has the latest travel news and tips as well as the live sweepstakes link.