Topic: Destinations in the Americas

From Russia's rarely seen 'Yellowstone,' a plea for tourists

As Russia invests $3 billion to attract visitors, it could open a nature preserve with the largest concentration of active volcanoes and geysers in Eurasia to tourism.

Why New York's 'Silicon Alley' may never match Silicon Valley

New York will offer free land and up to $100 million in infrastructure funds to a university willing to establish a world-class, high-tech school in the city, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Tuesday.

Editor's choice: Turn Right at Machu Picchu

A travel writer treks to Machu Picchu in the footsteps of legendary 19th-century explorer Hiram Bingham III.

Existing home sales dip, but prices vary wildly. Top 5 most, least expensive cities.

Existing home sales dipped below an annual rate of 5 million in May. Not counting condos and coops, single-family home sales stand at 4.2 million a year, which, if it held for all of 2011, would be lower than the worst of the slump in 2008. But home prices vary dramatically, depending upon where you live in the United States: the average listing for a typical four-bedroom, two bathroom house in the most expensive real-estate market is more than 40 times the average listing in the least expensive city, according to a recent survey of more than 2,300 markets by Coldwell Banker Real Estate. Here are the Top 5 most and least expensive cities. Is yours on the list?

Golf star Lorena Ochoa swings strong in face of Mexico drug war

Lorena Ochoa teed off in her first PGA Tour event since retiring nearly a year ago, her star power lending a needed boost to sports events in violence-wracked Mexico.

Bank taxes buoy New York, but teacher cuts loom

Bank taxes boost revenue 48 percent. But loss of state aid will mean laying off 4,000 teachers.

Chelsea Clinton gawkers will get arrested say NY cops

Chelsea Clinton will get married next weekend. Wedding crashers will want to think twice. Arrests will be made if you are caught snooping on Chelsea Clinton, vow cops.

Why are Galapagos sea lions moving to Peru?

A colony of sea lions from the Galapagos Islands recently migrated 1,000 miles southeast to Peru, say a Lima-based ocean group. Was this migration – and others like it – caused by climate change?

America's national parks face challenges

Shifting climates and needed upkeep are issues facing America’s treasured spots.

Mexico boasts preparedness in hijacking

While Wednesday's stand-off may have heightened safety concerns, it revealed little in the way of lax security practices.

Mexico plane hijacking ends smoothly

Authorities are investigating the motives of at least five men detained Wednesday after all passengers and crew aboard an Aeromexico plane from Cancún to Mexico City were freed.

Mexico hijacker claims mission from God

José Flores, a Bolivian, threatened to blow up a plane so he could warn the president about an earthquake. The incident ended safely but could deal another blow to tourism.

Drug war intrudes on Mexico's coastal resorts

The arrest of a top drug cartel chief in Cancún comes a week after a deadly shootout killed 16 alleged cartel members and two soldiers in Acapulco.

Defender of quiet places

Acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton says natural sounds are disappearing.

An artificial flood does good in the Grand Canyon

Researchers hope controlled high flows from Glen Canyon Dam will help restore natural habitat.

Grand Canyon site of renewed mining rush

USA