Get more mileage out of your iPod by installing RockboxMany travelers already carry an iPod with them when they travel. However, few know that the iPod can be used as more than just a multimedia player.© Photo by Rowshan DowlatabadiBy installing the free Rockbox software and making a few pre-trip preparations, you can transform your iPod into a powerful travel accessory.

It’s a brave new (economic) world out there. Time to reevaluate which cities you can and can’t afford.A WHILE BACK, Trips introduced you to 8 Cities That Burn Through Your Money, a list based largely on last year’s Mercer rankings.Expats in Japan should heed this warning: Get out now!Guess what? That’s all changed.

Editor’s Note: This post is sponsored by The Grand Del Mar.Grand Del Mar, with its Tom Fazio-designed golf course and the only five star restaurant in Southern California turns three on October 7.A BEVY OF TOP golfers, a new restaurant/lounge and an indulgent addition to their spa menu kick off during the celebration.

I heard of Janelle Monáe on November 8th, 2009 in a facebook post in which an ex-boyfriend of mine was practically wetting himself over her apparent musical genius. (And yes, I remember the date.)In addition to all the yelling and sobbing that came with young love gone hideously wrong, he did introduce me to some excellent music.

Sometimes, the smallest of instances create the biggest fears.When I flipped over the handlebars of the bike I’d rented in Vancouver, BC, I earned some impressive bruises, a badly lacerated spleen, and new fears stifling my wanderlust.Luckily, I was hospitalized in an English-speaking country only a few hours from friends and family in Seattle.

It’s kind of astounding how many local foods and products in the Seattle area can be traced to Whidbey Island.ABOUT HALF OF THE RESIDENTS of the largest island in Washington are involved in small-scale agriculture, from raising alpacas to breeding tasty new types of flowers. The Whidbey Island Farm Tour may only happen annually, but many farms on the island welcome visitors year-round.