Many travel trends sound like a stint in the Peace Corps. Eco-travel. Voluntourism. Not that there’s anything wrong with that – in fact it’ll get you points in heaven (talk about frequent flier miles). But for pure whimsy, it’s hard to beat the rising number of zip lines over the last few years.

Each spring countless college students take advantage of cheap airfares  and package deals to travel the globe, do some good work, and inevitably, party.

In July, Machu Picchu, Peru's biggest tourist attraction, will mark its 100th anniversary of rediscovery. Hiram Bingham III, a Yale professor, came upon the vine-covered ruins on July 24, 1911. Here, then, as we lead up to the century mark, are 100-plus facts about Machu Picchu, its country, its history and its players. We will post one each day for the next 100 days.

Mammoth Lakes' tourism bureau is offering a discount for those who prefer to fly rather than drive to the Eastern Sierra this spring. The offer, in partnership with Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air, takes about 20% off airfares between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) through the end of June.

There's a lot more than pixie dust swirling through the air at the Disneyland resort as construction crews, excavators and towering cranes work on several new theme-park rides set to debut this summer and beyond.

• Photos: Top 10 most anticipated Southern California theme park rides and attractions for 2011

• Top 10 new theme park rides for 2011

A look at our Top 10 new theme park rides and attractions opening in 2011 at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knott's Berry Farm, Legoland California, SeaWorld San Diego and Belmont Park.

Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin led the movement that created the first Earth Day 41 years ago. Now countries around the world set aside a day, on or around April 22, to honor the planet. Here are some glimpses of Earth Day 2011.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday issued new guidelines for travel to Cuba, more than three months after President Obama announced he would loosen restrictions that bar most Americans from legally visiting the Communist island.

• New guidelines for travel to Cuba

• Fidel Castro officially removed as head of Cuban Communist Party

Joining a group as a solo traveler often costs extra — sometimes to the tune of hundreds of dollars. Here are some international trips that offer relief from the so-called single supplement on a variety of destinations.

The "Biggest Loser" takes to the sea -- not for the NBC-TV show but for travelers who want health-minded workouts and workshops along with a Caribbean cruise. Celeb fitness trainer Bob Harper will give a keynote address, and former contestants in the weight-loss reality TV show will provide motivation during the seven-night Celebrity Eclipse cruise in November. 

We've all heard of chocolate Easter bunnies, but at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, an out-of-this-world display takes the concept to new heights. Chef Jean-Philippe Maury's Swiss chocolate creation is a flying saucer, 8 feet in diameter, with giant "space bunnies."

This impressive staircase resides in one of the world's grandest complexes of museums and galleries -- the Vatican Museums. Times reader "reza_239" captured this scene.

• Your Scene: Highlights of readers' travel photos

• Travel photos from Times readers

From New York to San Francisco, and as far away as London, American Airlines and American Eagle employees have sponsored airport bake sales to raise money for relief efforts to Japan. And 16,000 members of the airline’s AAdvantage rewards program made contributions to the American Red Cross in exchange for bonus miles. As of last week, American said it had raised $1.64 million from its workers and customers.

Coastal road-trippers take note: Highway 1 south of Carmel, which was shut by a landslide last month, will reopen to traffic around the clock starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday. It had recently been open only at night. However, the fragile coastal route remains shut at another point south of the Big Sur area.

At least one consumer advocate is calling the new U.S. Department of Transportation rules for airlines the biggest victory for passengers since airline deregulation, but he sees more work ahead -- especially on disclosing fees.