Author: Larry Bleiberg, Special to USA TODAY

Many winning actors and plays got their start in regional theaters.

You don’t need to spend a long layover holed up in a passenger lounge. Some airports offer free or low-cost local tours to connecting passengers.

You don’t have to travel to New York to see Lady Liberty. Even before the statue’s dedication in 1886, replicas began to appear.

Horse racing’s biggest day is the Kentucky Derby at Louisville’s Churchill Downs. But travelers can cheer on a favorite filly at other tracks around the country.

Timeshares often rent for about the same price as a hotel room. And they’re found just about everywhere.

Earth Day is an annual celebration to support environmental protection, but for travelers, every day can offer a chance to learn about the planet.

Justin Zackham, who wrote the script for the 2007 film “The Bucket List,” shares some of his personal bucket-list goals.

Most travelers associate surfing with palm trees, soft sand and summertime, but wave-riding isn’t just limited to southern shores and warm weather.

International travel is not only educational for kids, but also sparks their curiosity, and can make them global citizens.

If you have trouble falling asleep, maybe you should try bedding down somewhere unusual.