Yuma, Ariz., is inviting visitors to partake in the region’s bounty of all things green through the end of March, when fields are full of every conceivable type of lettuce - - including butter, iceberg and romaine -- plus other veggies such as asparagus, broccoli and cabbage.

Over the next few weeks, the back roads of California's San Joaquin Valley are  expected to provide a feast for the senses as tens of thousands of fruit trees burst into bloom

Turkish Airlines is kicking off its new nonstop service from Los Angeles to Istanbul on March 3 with a special rate of $752 round trip, including taxes and fees. As launch time nears, expect to see Laker giant Kobe Bryant in ads touting the new service as the airline's "global brand ambassador"-- a role that has been controversial.

Ever since Boeing Co.'s 747 jumbo jet made its first commercial flight more than 40 years ago, the plane has been an icon of the aviation industry. On Sunday, Boeing unveiled a larger, quieter and more fuel-efficient version of the passenger jet, which was shown to a crowd of 10,000 in Everett, Wash.

I just returned with my family from our three-night Bahamian cruise aboard the Disney Dream, where I blogged daily from the ship about our experiences and took photos.

• Photos: Aboard the Disney Dream cruise ship

• Day 1: Setting sail on the Disney Dream cruise ship

Los Angeles Times theme park blogger Brady MacDonald and his family sailed aboard the new Disney Dream cruise ship to the Bahamas and the private island of Castaway Cay.

Two California towns have earned a place on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of top heritage destinations for 2011. The nonprofit organization each year selects a Dozen Distinctive Destinations that "boast a richness of character and exude an authentic sense of place," according to a statement released Tuesday.

Ready for a nice long road trip? Get a rental car in Florida and drive it for as little as $5 per day as far as Maine or New Mexico with unlimited mileage and no drop-off fees.

It’s getting easier to arrange trips to Las Vegas using smart phones. MGM Resorts, which owns 10 properties along the Strip, has expanded its apps service to include devices that use Google’s Android system.  Previously, they were available for iPhone users only.

If you feel as though you came up short on your Valentine's Day gift or getaway this year, it's never too early to start planning for next year. Here are seven ideas that just might sweep that special person off his or her feet.

When the trendy Aloft Harlem opened in late December, it was a rarity: a major new hotel in Harlem.  Whether you view this as a sign of progress or gentrification (or both), a stay at the hotel undoubtedly offers a new vantage point from which to explore New York City. The hotel, part of a chain owned by Starwood, is offering a third night free through the end of the year.

How about a quick pint before you get on the plane? Um, not of beer though. Passengers at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Santa Ana on Monday will have an opportunity to mark Valentine's Day by giving blood.

Business travel is roaring back after a two-year slump, and the airlines are welcoming it with a selection of new amenities, including bigger, more comfortable seats. But the luxuries typically come at a price.

• Complaints against airlines rise 25% despite improved services

• American Airlines-Orbitz-Expedia feud may affect ticket prices

We woke up Saturday morning on the Disney Dream cruise ship to what looked like bad weather, judging from the virtual porthole in our stateroom. But despite a poor start, Day 3 on the Dream ended with the finest food and best entertainment of our Bahamian cruise.

• Day 2 on the Disney Dream: A Bahamas port of call

SealLine’s tough but tasteful E-Reader case ($39.95 to $49.95) is a transparent, flexible urethane pouch with a self-sealing zipper and welded seams that can keep electronic reading devices dry even after a dunking.