Tourist destinations that are a short drive from big cities are flourishing as Americans avoid long vacations by plane.
"Americans are taking more day trips by car and fewer long vacations by plane in response to the terror attacks of Sept. 11 and to a weakening economy... In Vermont, that has helped the Lake Champlain region weather the general drop in the tourism industry, said Tim Shea, a spokesman for the local Chamber of Commerce. He said people continued to visit, but were traveling by car from nearby metropolitan areas."
Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan
FULL STORY: In a Town Built Almost Entirely on Tourism, Business Booms

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research