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DREAMS FULFILLED

The editors of LIFE have published Dream Destinations: 100 of the World's Best Vacations, a stunning book filled with photographs and stories from the best trips they've ever taken. Here are a few that made the list:

FOR SIGHTSEERS Bucks County, PA (40 miles from Philadelphia)
FOR HISTORY BUFFS The Freedom Trail, Boston
FOR ROMANTICS Napa Valley, CA (45 miles from San Francisco)
FOR FAMILIES Orlando
FOR SPORTY TYPES Kiawah Island, SC (26 miles from Charleston)

A NEW BEGINNING

MIAMI Following a $1 billion renovation, Fontainebleau Miami Beach (www.fontainebleaumiamibeach.com) is reopening this fall.

The original curvilinear design of architect Morris Lapidus lives on in the ultra-luxurious, oceanfront hotel, which boasts two new towers; 11 restaurants and lounges; an oceanside, free-form pool; and a 40,000-square-foot spa. Each room will come equipped with an iMac computer, creating what has been dubbed a "paperless" hotel room.

DID YOU KNOW the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel was 63-year-old Anna Edson Taylor in 1901? (Since then, only 10 others have successfully taken the plunge.) And did you know that San Francisco's Lombard Street is the crookedest street in the world? On one steep block, cars traveling downhill must make eight U-turns. This is just a tiny taste of what you can discover from Travia: The Ultimate Book of Travel Trivia by Travel Weekly editor Nadine Godwin.

LESSONS IN ECO ETIQUETTE

Last month, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide introduced element (www.starwoodhotels.com/ element), a green hotel chain. Each property will pursue certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, making it easy for travelers to be eco-friendly. (Even the paper "Do Not Disturb" signs are being replaced with environmentally friendly magnets). The brand recently commissioned a survey to find out how eco-conscious people are on the road. The answer: not very.

60% admit to dropping "green routines" when traveling • 70% try to conserve water at home, but only 18% do the same in a hotel • 63% are more likely to leave a light on in the hotel than at home

Randal Savage, corporate director of rooms at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, who is responsible for housekeeping at element, has a few words of advice on eco-etiquette when traveling:

Set the room temperature to 78 degrees during the summer to maximize both energy efficiency and personal comfort. • Take advantage of natural light as much as possible. • Turn off lights and TVs before leaving the room. • Unplug cell phone, computer and other chargers when not in use.

The inaugural element hotel in Lexington, MA (21 miles from Boston), opened last month and will act as a testing ground for the green construction and operations of the brand. Fifteen are set to open by the end of 2009.

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