The typical woman wants seven days and 11 hours notice before even the shortest break, plus three shopping trips, according to a study of 2,000 women. (Getty Images) Women may claim that they desire spontaneity from their man, but a study suggests they actually want eight days’ notice of any “surprise” trip. Three out of five women in the survey confessed to hating surprises and a third said they would hate it if their partner suddenly sprang a short break...

Great American Road Trip: Chicago to Springfield Origination: ChicagoDestination: SpringfieldTotal Miles (One-way):202 MilesPerfect for:Sports fans, wine lovers, history buffs.Best time to go:Late-August, early-SeptemberWeather:Cooling to mid-80s. Travel through American history, visiting some of the Midwest’s most notable landmarks, on this short trip from Chicago to Springfield, Illinois. From Wrigley Field to Abraham Lincoln, you’ll finish this journey with a better sense of the people and places that shaped our country. More: Chicago Landmarks The vibrant heart of the Midwest, Chicago mixes...

A cab driver pushes his taxi cab forward in a line for gasoline in the Brooklyn borough of New York. In parts of New York and New Jersey, drivers are still lining up for hours at gas stations struggling to stay supplied. (AP Photo) Ten days after Superstorm Sandy, Winter Storm Athena added to the high anxiety over gas supplies. Once again, stations that were open had long lines. The AAA estimated that 60 percent to 65 percent of Long...

There are a large variety of insurance policies available for travelers. Check that the plan you are considering will cover you in all situations. Always remember to carefully read through the contract before you decide on a particular policy. Some policies specifically exclude certain sports and activities including scuba diving, motorcycling, bungee jumping, and even hiking. Choose your policy after planning your activities and ask your insurance agent to verify that they are covered. Try to choose a policy that...

Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles go through a demonstration of the Intelligent Transport System at its Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Susono, southwest of Tokyo, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) SUSONO, Japan — Toyota Motor Cop. is testing car safety systems that allow vehicles to communicate with each other and with the roads they are on in a just completed facility in Japan the size of three baseball stadiums. The cars at the Intelligent Transport System site receive information from...

Endurance swimmer Diana Nyad is helped to shore and a welcome from her team after swimming a short distance from a support boat Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, in Key West, Fla. (AP Photo/Florida Keys News Bureau, Andy Newman) Key West, Fla. — Diana Nyad ended her fourth attempt to swim across the Straits of Florida on Tuesday, her decades-old dream thwarted, more than anything else, by jellyfish. Storms brewing around her and repeated jellyfish stings forced her out of the...

NEW YORK — Major airlines are scrapping flights in and out of the New York area ahead of the second significant storm in little more than a week. United, the world's largest airline, is suspending most service here starting at noon Wednesday due to a winter storm forecast for the region. It warns that bad weather will likely cause more delays and cancellations throughout the Northeast. American Airlines is shutting down in New York at 3 p.m. Wednesday. It's also...

In this Oct. 30, 2012 photo, water reaches the street level of the flooded Battery Park Underpass in New York. (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano) LONG BEACH, N.Y. -- New York transit officials marked a milestone in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy on Wednesday by restoring limited service to the last of 10 branches of the Long Island Rail Road commuter line and declaring that nearly all New York City subway service was now operational. They also conceded work still needs to...

Atlanta Beltline In this Nov. 20, 2012 photo, a couple walks along the Atlanta BeltLine as the midtown skyline stands in the background in Atlanta. ATLANTA -- Since a new urban trail opened last month in an old rail corridor in Atlanta, it has drawn a steady stream of joggers, dog-walkers and cyclists to take in spectacular views of the skyline and neighborhoods once seen only by train. Hundreds of trees have been planted along the paved 14-foot-wide path, while...

Staying fit is a challenge for many Americans on most days, but even more so when they're on the road. (Getty Images) Before she takes a trip, Kathryn Alice spends as much time researching food as she does hotels. Not because she wants to find the best barbecue or burger in town. Instead, she's on the lookout for something far less indulgent: a salad or baby carrots. As frequent travelers, Alice worries about packing on the pounds. So when she...

(Getty Images) From getting better hotel rates to getting around cheaply and eating well when you get there, travel writers share with tips on how to save money while on vacation. Check out the list . (MORE: | ) ...

The military is already using unmanned aircraft, but commercial flights are gunning for the technology next. (Getty Images) Love being the first on the plane? Soon you could board long before the pilot. That's because he won't ever step foot inside the aircraft. He'll do his job from the ground. The military is already using unmanned aircraft, but commercial flights are gunning for the technology next. American aviation chiefs have asked the U.S. government to integrate pilotless aircraft into the...

"If we lose ice, we stand to lose an entire ecosystem." Those aren't the words of a NOAA researcher or a green evangelist. Those are the words of Paul Nicklen, a successful photographer whose stunning images of the Arctic and Antarctic have appeared in prime spots from National Geographic Magazine to the BBC. The poles are more than Nicklen's prime shooting location. He grew up in Canada's Arctic, with the outdoors as his playground. Like any human who sees his...