Rev your engines . . . and get ready to take on the open road this summer.

The economy has more people leery about making plans far in advance; travel companies are offering more last-minute deals, and new technologies are fostering bargains that come and go like mayflies.

Taking a road trip? New Web sites won’t get you where you’re going any faster, but they can provide plenty of interesting information along the way.

It's not hard to find a common characteristic among Forbes Traveler's top 15 North American vacation spots: sun, sand and sea clearly dominate the leisure-destination favorites.

Has the down economy crushed your summer vacation plans? Are dreams of eating conch fritters on a palm-laden island or, say, motoring through woods that hide a hamlet full of bratwurst and Oettinger all but gone? They don't have to be.

Ooh! Ahh! Everyone loves fireworks—and everyone can learn to snap photographs that better capture their beauty.