L.A. Times - Travel

In Williamstown, Mass., summertime is superb.

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The leaf peepers have it all wrong. It's in the full bloom of summer that western Massachusetts really shines.

In the cold, dark, dead of winter, when my thoughts turn to summer, I think of it in New England. I think of still nights with plenty of stars and the conversation of cicadas, the Boston Pops at Tanglewood, swimming in a lake, Friendly's ice cream and sweet corn on the cob. ¶ Much has been made of New England's colorful falls, but my cup is filled by its deep green summers. ¶ I carry memories of them from when I worked at a summer stock theater in western Massachusetts in my college years. The theater where I learned my lines has closed. But the rounded old mountains are still here, so last month I returned to the Berkshires to spend a few summer days in Williamstown. ¶ This was my first visit to Williamstown, a bit off the beaten track compared with other Berkshire towns, such as Lenox and Stockbridge. Williamstown is 40 miles from the nearest superhighway, reached along winding country roads dotted with classic New England barns and covered bridges. But it took me less than three hours to drive here from Boston to Springfield on Interstate 90 and then north toward Vermont on Interstate 91.

Pala Casino renovations pay off

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Inexpensive dining, big-name entertainment and, of course, gambling make this resort a good budget-friendly weekend getaway.

Is this the time to be spending big money on big renovations? The Pala Casino Spa Resort thinks it is.

At Hilton San Diego Bayfront, the view rules

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The hotel is in the heart of the hip and happening downtown, but its window seats are the big draw.

It's not just the location of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront; it's the location. And then there's the location.

Bargain hotel deals in Tokyo? They should get a medal

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The capital city is bidding for the 2016 Olympic Games, and some hotels are vying for the title of best deal. Forget $600 a night. Try around $100.

Smart and sexy Tokyo hotels for $100 a night? This summer, American travelers are saying Hai! to deals that once seemed impossible to find.

A surfing safari -- to England

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Yes, England. In the winter, thousands of surfers flock to Cornwall to ride the waves. However, swells, breaks and boards aren't the only surprises the region offers the discerning traveler.

I tell people I've surfed 7-foot waves in England, and they say, "You're lying."

Q&A with travel guru Arthur Frommer

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The leading travel authority is still trotting the globe at 80, and yes, he still likes doing it on a budget.

He is America's premier authority on travel. From the self-published "Europe on $5 a Day" in 1957, he grew an empire that has included travel guides, a magazine, newspaper columns, a radio show and a blog.

Williamstown Theatre Festival is a star attraction

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The Massachusetts institution is one of the top American regional theaters where plays have premiered and top directors, designers and actors have worked.

When the Williamstown Theatre Festival opened in the summer of 1955, there was deep concern about allowing pretty young actresses in shorts on the campus of then all-male Williams College. Nevertheless, locals got permission to use the school's Adams Memorial Theater and, in the old "I've got a barn, let's put on a show " spirit, raised $9,000 for the first season, which included "Picnic," by William Inge and "The Rainmaker," by Richard N. Nash.

Planning your trip to Williamstown

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

THE BEST WAY TO WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS.

Mark the fall of Berlin Wall with tour

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Also: Austria, Nepal, Hong Kong, Aruba

1 Germany

Las Vegas calendar of events

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Through Sept. 7