Yes, apparently there are 101 interesting things to do in Ohio. If you, like me, needed some help elucidating what these activities might be, you should check out Discover Ohio’s 101 Things to Do in Ohio feature. For brevity’s sake, I’m listing a few highlights from the list here:

25. Spend the night at a very haunting destination , the Ohio State Reformatoryin Mansfield during the Overnight Experience. We dare you… The old prison is a spooky specter during the day, but goose bumps are guaranteed as the darkness and dampness of night creep in… The Reformatory served as the setting for movies from the Shawshank Redemption to Air Force One and more?

30. Dive the shipwrecks of the Lake Erie Islands . Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes which can cause stormy waters in a hurry. Erie has claimed more ships than any of the other Great Lakes.

60. Admire the classic beauty of automobiles from the ’30s, ‘40s and ‘50s at Snook’s Dream Cars Museum in Bowling Green.

76. Spend the night in a luxury yurt on Kelleys Island after exploring the island’s famous Glacial Grooves.

91. Take a road trip to find some of Ohio’s quirkiest roadside attractions like the Dental Museum in Bainbridge, the world’s largest basket in Newark and the world’s largest cuckoo clock in Wilmot.

101. Feast on dozens of varieties of bratwurst at the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival the first weekend in August.

Who woulda thunk it? You hear all this stuff about how much everyone hates Americans, yet we were voted 2nd best tourists in a recent survey of European hoteliers. Of course, the Japanese did beat us by 35 percent. But we were still second. I’m not sure why we’re such good tourists. Our tips and general largesse, perhaps?

And the Best Tourists in the World Are…

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, we are feeling very American today. And what could be more American (for better or for worse) than the Mall of America?

To certain travelers, visiting the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN will sound like the vacation from hell (practically every U.S. retail chain in one location and amusement park rides packed with thrill-seeking, sugar-crazed preteens). But drawing over 40 million visitors a year does say something about a place. For families with school-aged kids, a trip to the Mall of America might very well be the answer to everyone’s prayers (precisely because it’s got practically every U.S. retail chain in one location and amusement park rides packed with thrill-seeking, sugar-crazed preteens). After all, how many teens do you know who relish spending a week trapped in a beach house or cabin with their parents?

For those who still need convincing (like mom and dad), check out our list of 10 Reasons to Visit the Mall of America.

Dog Friendly has released its 2007 list of the Top Dog Friendly Vacation Destinations in the U.S. and Canada. Here, directly from the source (click the link above for more detailed destination information):

1. Boston - Take a boat or whale watching cruise. Walk the Freedom Trail, visit Salem and explore history at Minute Man Park. Your leashed dog is also welcome on the subway.

2. Vancouver - Walk the Capilano Suspension Bridge and park. Take a walking tour of Historic Gastown. Take the ferry and visit nearby Victoria and beautiful Butchart Gardens.

3. New York - Stay in luxury at many fine hotels. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Take a walking tour of lower Manhattan. Ride the carriages. Watch a morning show. Shop in many famous stores.

4. San Francisco - Luxurious hotels, outdoor dining, the Golden Gate Bridge, Baker Beach and many off-leash areas. Ride the cable car to the Fisherman’s Wharf area and stroll with your dog.

5. Austin - Visit Zilker Botanical Gardens, catch a horse and carriage ride, dine in outdoor cafes. See the bats leave the Congress St Bridge at dusk. Use the city’s many parks.

6. Portland - Enjoy over 20 off-leash areas, an amusement park and the famous Rose Gardens. Dine at the Lucky Lab. Visit the Saturday Outdoor Market and hike in the Colombia River Gorge.

7. Northern Virginia - Dine or enjoy happy hour in dog-friendly Alexandria. Take the Canine Cruise on the Potomac. Visit outdoor monuments in Washington and Virginia.

8. Orlando - Stay at resorts such as the Portofino Bay and Sheraton World. Take a boat cruise, shop Winter Park, and dine at Sam Snead’s where Jeb Bush signed the doggy dining law.

9. San Diego - Off-leash dog beaches. Stay at Loews Coronado Resort. Shop at dog-friendly Otay Ranch Shopping Center complete with a dog park. Dine outdoors. Visit nearby Julian.

10. Dallas/Fort Worth - Ride a carriage, visit Pioneer Plaza, take a walking tour. Visit Fort Woof dog park and the Stockyard in Fort Worth. Dine on Texas BBQ at outdoor restaurants.

Get your swimmies ready and check out the Athletic Minded Traveler’s round-up of the Top 10 Hotel Lap Pools. Avid swimmers, fear not! These folks have standards. Only rectangular pools 20 feet or more in length featuring temperatures of at least 80 degrees (f) year round and stripes or lane dividers were considered.

PlanetOut recently announced its 2007 Gay and Lesbian Travel Awards (sponsored by Travelocity). Drumroll puhlease. Here are a few of the winners:

– Destination of the year: Mexico

– Gay resort town: Provincetown

– Domestic destination: New York City

– International destination: Montreal

– Airline: American Airlines

– Cruise company: Cunard

– Hotel collection: Kimpton Hotels

– Gay resort: Island House Key West

– Tour operator**: Alyson Adventures

– Gay events: Amsterdam Gay Pride

P.S. The link above seems to be going to the 2006 awards, but hopefully they will update it soon with the latest winners….

In which U.S. cities are you most likely to experience road rage (either your own or as the victim of someone else’s)? AutoVantage has come up with a nifty little chart.

Notice I didn’t say Top 10 hotel restaurants. There are far too many delicious dining destinations inside U.S. hotels to make a definitive list of only ten venues. And besides, taste in food is so subjective, not to mention peoples’ preferences for different dining atmospheres. I mean, to one traveler a refined, buttoned-up establishment means an evening spent in culinary heaven. To others, white tablecloths are a fate worse than hell. Hence our list of 10 Top Hotel Restaurants. We surveyed folks at TravelPost.com and Sidestep to come up with a selection of dining destinations you won’t want to miss. There’s a little something for everyone on the list. Bon appetite!

This is from a few weeks back, but it’s worth checking out. The International Herald Tribune’s In London, Where to Eat on a Budget offers suggestions for dining on the cheap in this fabulous (and fabulously expensive) city. Picks include Spanish tapas, classic Brit fare and Asian fusion in neighborhoods like South Kensington and Notting Hill (destinations not ordinarily associated with budget finds). With the dollar at 50 cents to the British pound right now, American travelers heading to the UK need all the help they can get!

You don’t need us to tell you that eco-friendly lodging is all the rage. But you may need us to tell you where to find it (and it’s popping up in some unexpected places…like New Jersey):

Where to Stay: Eco-Friendly Hotels and Resorts