FOR AIRLINE TRAVEL: With airlines threatening to allow only one checked bag as part of a ticket, it might be time to purchase a bigger bag. The Level 35-Inch Drop Bottom Wheeled Duffel by High Sierra certainly qualifies. It has a capacity of 7,690 cubic inches, is designed not to fall over and has compartments for folded clothing, shoes, laundry/wet pocket, and corner guards. It retails for $420. For information, go to www.highsierrasport.com.

Top 10

Midweek escapes for two

1 Sample sushi and cycle by the bay in Sausalito, Calif.

2 Stay at the Mt. Hood Bed and Breakfast in Parkdale, Ore.

3 Spend the night at the Solage Calistoga Resort in Calistoga, Calif.

4 Relax at the Salish Lodge and Spa in Snoqualmie, Wash.

5 Enjoy a mountain hideaway at Taos Ski Valley, N.M.

6 Decompress in the desert at Twentynine Palms, Calif.

7 Visit the Cold Spring Tavern in Santa Barbara, Calif.

8 Ski or snowshoe a trail in Mill Creek Canyon in Salt Lake City

9 Visit the Colorado Chautauqua Park near Boulder, Colo.

10 Cozy up creekside at Sedona, Ariz.

SOURCE: Sunset Magazine

QUOTE

So it allows me to travel, I'll be doing that and running these great rivers and doing what I've done in the past without much purpose other than for the experience.

RICHARD DEAN ANDERSON

Travel reading

No Pet Left Behind

By Gayle Martz,

224-page paperback,

$16.99, Thomas Nelson

This Sherpa guide is designed for pet owners who want to travel with their critters. Information in the book tells pet owners how to prepare their animals for travel, lists travel "petiquette" so others are not annoyed, helps readers understand their animal in travel situations and tells what to do in case of emergencies. One of the most helpful sections is a resource guide with pet-friendly airline listings, hotels and boat charters. Another helpful section tells readers what vaccinations and papers a pet traveling abroad will need. There is also information on how to create a first-aid kit for pets. Martz lobbied the airline industry to allow a limited number of small dogs and cats to travel in the cabins of planes and launched Sherpa's Pet Trading Co., which sells pet travel gear.

On the Web

Chillin' in Alaska

Fairbanks, Alaska is hosting the 18th annual World Ice Art Championships through March 23. Sculptors from around the world will create well over 100 works of ice during the event, which is held in the city's Ice Park. Details about the event are at www.icealaska.com, where you'll also find a live Web cam once the competition gets under way.

- The Associated Press

World currency

What your dollar buys

Rates paid domestically for each dollar changed. these figures are intended only as a guide. Rates may be more favorable abroad (As of Wednesday.)

Argentina (peso) 3.2

Australia (dollar) 1.1

Brazil (real) 1.7

Canada (dollar) 1.0

Chile (peso) 462

Czech Rep. (koruna) 16.5

Denmark (krone) 5.0

Egypt (pound) 5.5

European (euro) 0.66

(Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain)

Great Britain (pound) 0.5

Hong Kong (dollar) 7.8

India (rupee) 40.0

Indonesia (rupiah) 9,038

Israel (shekel) 3.6

Japan (yen) 106.4

Mexico (peso) 11

New Zealand (dollar) 1.2

Norway (krone) 5.2

Philippines (peso) 40

Poland (zloty) 2.3

Russia (ruble) 24.2

Singapore (dollar) 1.40

South Africa (rand) 7.4

South Korea (won) 941

Sweden (krona) 6.2

Switzerland (franc) 1.1

Taiwan (dollar) 31

Thailand (baht) 30

Venezuela (bolivar) 2,147.5

Source: Yahoo! Finance