Travel & Outdoors

Life & Style Take a look: Amtrak unveils their new locomotives (Photo Gallery)

By DAVID PORTER, Associated Press Published: May 13, 2013 at 9:24 AM PDT Last Updated: May 13, 2013 at 9:40 AM PDT

When Amtrak unveils the first of 70 new locomotives Monday at a plant in California, it will mark what the national passenger railroad service hopes will be a new era of better reliability, streamlined maintenance and better energy efficiency.

Life & Style Travel spotlight: Rio's shantytown cable car is an unlikely tourist ride (Photo Gallery)

By JULIANA BARBASSA, Associated Press Published: May 13, 2013 at 9:15 AM PDT Last Updated: May 13, 2013 at 9:16 AM PDT

Chatter on board the gondola on a recent Saturday soon revealed that all on board had come expressly to ride the 10-person cable-cars and get to know this long-forsaken part of Rio.

Life & Style In-depth look at how cold water can disable or kill you (Video)

By Mark Miller Published: May 6, 2013 at 5:57 PM PDT Last Updated: May 7, 2013 at 12:31 PM PDT

RENTON, Wash. -- When warm weather lures people outdoors, cold rivers are one of the most dangerous hazards.

Even for strong swimmers, experts say the cold water cold water can disable you within a minute.

Life & Style All done: See what's new and improved at the Oregon Coast Aquarium (Photo Gallery) (Video)

By Shannon L. Cheesman, KATU Multimedia Journalist Published: May 2, 2013 at 2:11 PM PDT Last Updated: May 2, 2013 at 2:11 PM PDT

The seals and sea lions at the Oregon Coast Aquarium now have more room to play and one of the biggest gripes for visitors - not being able to see them very well - has been addressed.

Life & Style Don't let the hot sun fool you, the water will be COLD (Video)

By Shannon L. Cheesman, Multimedia Journalist / Travel & Outdoors Published: May 2, 2013 at 2:09 PM PDT Last Updated: May 3, 2013 at 2:04 PM PDT

The sun will be shining and temperatures will be in the mid 80s this weekend, which might make it tempting for you to go for a swim.

Life & Style VIDEO: Incredible footage of a baby penguin hatching in Oregon (Video)

By Hanna Brooks Olsen Published: Apr 12, 2013 at 1:00 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 12, 2013 at 1:00 PM PDT

Slow clap, Oregon Zoo, for capturing this extraordinary moment, and congrats on your new baby penguins.

Life & Style Out of cash? 5 free things in Seattle (Photo Gallery)

By Associated Press Published: Apr 4, 2013 at 3:45 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 5, 2013 at 12:53 PM PDT

SEATTLE (AP) — It's not something that people in Seattle like to broadcast too much, but the Emerald City gets plenty of sunshine.

Life & Style Wildlife web cams from around the world

By Shannon L. Cheesman, Multimedia Journalist / Travel & Outdoors Published: Apr 5, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 7, 2013 at 5:16 PM PDT

It's not often you get to see wildlife in its natural habitat - humans tend to spook creatures into hiding.

Life & Style Travel spotlight: Kyoto with kids (Photo Gallery)

By ADAM GELLER, AP National Writer Published: Apr 4, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 3, 2013 at 12:17 PM PDT

You never know how kids will react to new experiences, but not to worry. "Daddy," my daughter said, beaming as we headed for more rapids, "this must be the best summer ever!"

Life & Style Spring means yard work for hummingbird watchers

By SUE MANNING, Associated Press Published: Mar 28, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Mar 26, 2013 at 10:45 AM PDT

The world's smallest bird can take up a big chunk of a person's spring to-do list: Trim the trees, weed the garden, make the nectar and hang the feeders.

Life & Style Heads up, space fans! Angry Birds are roosting at NASA (Photo Gallery)

By MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer Published: Mar 27, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Mar 25, 2013 at 12:04 PM PDT

At NASA's invitation, the online game birds are roosting at Kennedy Space Center for the next 1½ years in an effort to lure youngsters to the cosmic wonders of math and science.

Life & Style Can Antarctica handle more tourists? (Photo Gallery)

By ROD McGUIRK, Associated Press Published: Mar 24, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Mar 26, 2013 at 11:52 AM PDT

Across most of Earth, a tourist attraction that sees 35,000 visitors a year can safely be labeled sleepy. But when it's Antarctica, every footstep matters.

Life & Style Travel spotlight: 5 free things to do in Charleston

By BRUCE SMITH, Associated Press Published: Mar 31, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Mar 29, 2013 at 3:07 PM PDT

Charleston is awash in history and Southern charm and becoming widely known as a culinary town.

Life & Style DC's famous cherry blossoms will be blooming late this year

By Associated Press Published: Mar 23, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Mar 20, 2013 at 5:39 PM PDT

The National Park Service is updating its predicted peak bloom time for the District of Columbia's cherry trees, now saying the peak bloom will come in early April.

Life & Style Great vacations, for less: Tips from Hip Travel Mama (Video)

Published: Mar 22, 2013 at 6:41 PM PDT Last Updated: Mar 22, 2013 at 6:41 PM PDT