Top Beaches 2007

Forbes lists 10 US getaways from Maui to Maine

(NEWSER) - Americans need a vacation—badly—with fewer than two-thirds of workers using their allotted time last year, reports Forbes. But not everyone's idea of fun is vegging out . Here are top-notch US getaways for those who like active travel:

• Kapalua Resort, Maui, Hawaii: Golf, bird-watching and a marine-life preserves.
• Golden Door Resort, Escondido, California: Feel revived at the nation's top stand-alone spa.
• Walden Country Inn and Stables, Aurora, Ohio: Ride horseback on 32 acres of trails.

Hawaii's Hanalei Bay comes out on top in 'Dr. Beach's' annual list

(NEWSER) - The magnificent setting of Hawaii's Hanalei Bay helps make its beach this year's best in the US, according to Florida-based expert Steven "Dr. Beach" Leatherman. The runners-up, judged on 50 criteria including water quality and facilities:

• Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Fla.
• Coopers Beach in Southampton, NY
• Coronado Beach in San Diego

Where you can shell out $53K a night (breakfast not included)

(NEWSER) - When New York's Four Seasons opened a new penthouse suite costing a cool $30,000 a night, they boasted that it was the world's most expensive hotel room. Think again. The Times of London lists the world's most astronomically priced hotel rooms.

1. Royal Penthouse Suite, Hotel President Wilson, Geneva ($53,000)
2. Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, Palms Resort, Las Vegas ($43,500)

Northeast, Midwest would lose seats if today's census was used

(NEWSER) - The South is gaining population and power at the expense of the Northeast and Midwest, according to Census Bureau estimates released yesterday. If House seats were distributed based on the estimates, which are believed to be a strong predictor of the 2010 census results, Texas would be the big winner, gaining three seats, with Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah, and Washington each adding one. More»

Enough already with those Hawaiian jerks and their 'sunshine'

(NEWSER) - New Yorkers are the least happy Americans, according to a new study. Researchers compared residents’ self-reported happiness with “objective” measures of wellbeing, like sunshine, congestion, and air quality—and found, to their apparent surprise, that the two matched up. The states with the highest reported happiness, including sunny places like Hawaii and Florida, also ranked highest on the objective test. More»