A place to replenish body, mind and soul

PORT MATILDA, Pa. — The walk down a hill at the St. Joseph Institute ends at the Forest Chapel, nestled in the woods between two streams. Only the sounds of chirping birds and a breeze blowing through leaves pierce the silence.

It’s a serene setting where co-owner Michael Campbell hopes visitors experience a spiritual reawakening — regardless of whether one is seeking a religious retreat or a personal wellness break.

What's new and exciting at U.S. amusement parks
A roller coaster where riders can pick a personal soundtrack, a pirate ride with water gun fights, the tallest water ride in the world, and a walkway that sparkles at night with a million lights are some of the most exciting new attractions at amusement parks this year.
Other theme park news includes a ride based on the new "Terminator" movie at Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles; the new Diamondback coaster at Kings Island in Ohio, with speeds up to 80 mph on a mile-long track; and the reopening of the failed Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C., as a more family oriented attraction called Freestyle Music Park.

High-tech ways to make your next flight a breeze
Self-serve ticket kiosks and other electronic screens and gadgets aren't exactly new at airports, but some travelers are hesitant — maybe even a little scared — about using them. They prefer the old-fashioned comfort of face-to-face contact with an agent, even if waiting in line slows them down. But there are a growing number of ways to make your trip to the airport easier and less time-consuming — from new kiosks to boarding passes scanned directly from your cellphone screen. There is, airports insist, no reason to be afraid.

A Hudson Valley inspiration
HUDSON, N.Y. — Artist Frederic Edwin Church built Olana, his grandiose, Persian-inspired villa, atop a hill on 250 acres in the Hudson Valley so he could be close to the natural beauty that inspired him. When not traveling the world, he could look out the windows to see the lush landscapes of the Hudson River, the Catskill Mountains and trees stretching for miles — and paint them just as he saw them.

Now, more than a century later, a new gallery at the Olana State Historic Site allows visitors to see those same vistas and many of the works of art created from them.

Beach open to public
On the contrary, almost the entire beach is open to the public at no cost, says Nikki Boone of the Delaware Tourism Office. There are no changing facilities, but public restrooms are at Delaware Avenue and the boardwalk, Rehoboth Avenue and First Street, and Baltimore Avenue and the boardwalk. The only hitch is parking: After Memorial Day, it’s metered along Rehoboth Avenue and on the side streets at $1.50 an hour