THERE'S a big, wide wonderful world out there to explore. But here it is early June and you've got the time, but haven't yet decided what part of that world to explore.

With the pound hovering around $1.82 and the euro in the neighbourhood of $1.23, dollar-wise travellers may decide this is the year to focus on the United States. Very comfortable chain motels such as Hampton Inn, Wingate, Holiday Inn, Best Western, SpringHill and Residence Inn offer prices that seem like giveaways compared to their overseas counterparts.

Depending on season and location, it's not unusual away from major cities to find some of them renting from $59 to $99 nightly, often including breakfast with suite accommodations. We recently paid a modest $70 at a Tucson Hampton Inn with superior amenities.

Often there are also city weekend specials in locations where businessmen concentrate on weekday meetings. Properties there put together attractive packages worth of attention.

Lest you think you're the only one making a last-minute decision, think again! A recent survey appearing in magazine comes as a surprise. Although 89 per cent of those questioned plan to take a "leisure trip" this summer, 95 per cent "had not booked any travel yet". Quite amazing.

Thirty-eight per cent planned to take more than three trips this summer. Interestingly, 38 per cent also hope to head to the beach. But since Bermudians have beaches almost in their front yard, they're obviously apt to have other interests!

In this fast-paced world, 40 per cent report they don't use all their vacation time, still carrying seven or more days over from the previous year. Sadly, 28 per cent say as much as they'd like to travel, "It will be difficult to take time off this summer".

So if you're late in making choices, you have plenty of company. Some travellers delight in returning to the same place. Yet 12 per cent of those interviewed "never go to the same place twice". Most vacationers enjoy a bit of both . .. discovering new destinations, but also enjoying a return to old favourites.

So you're ready and willing . . . but where to go? Those who enjoy planning a trip centred around lively festivals and fairs want to know what's happening where. Maybe your interest focuses on sailing regattas, wild west rodeos, special sports events, possibly fishing tournaments. There is one very focused web site that covers all the above. Perusing it, followed by some consultation with your travel agent, should help with that decision. In fact, it's so exceptional you'll end up planning many itineraries.

We checked into www.SeeAmerica.org. and all 50 states were there waiting. It came as a very pleasant surprise, especially after spending too much time double checking web sites of an eastern European country before recommending those sites to readers. Most of them were disappointing, non-informative and very unsophisticated.

But not www.SeeAmerica.org, which is sponsored by the Travel Industry Association of America. It was definitely top of the line covering the very best sights in the US. In fact, it seems to cover just about every detail the traveller would like to know.

Three hundred and eighty-eight National Parks, National Monuments and Historic sites for starters . . . the best of the country's Scenic Byways, you name it. And connecting information leads off in every direction imaginable.

For example, choose New Mexico and a map shows all such sites starting at Aztec Ruins in the northern section of the state to Carlsburg Caverns in the south. Pennsylvania focuses on attention- getters like Gettysburg, Valley Forge, Independence National Historic Park.

In each case, information is included on fees, weather, lodging, nearby attractions, climate and related web sites. It's the kind of presentation that can so intrigue the viewer that they jump from state to state, trying to decide between them.

doubtful anyone can come away without a serious case of wanderlust. Spend a few minutes viewing its video with dazzling views of places like Alaska's Denali National Park, Grand Canyon, Everglades, Lincoln's Springfield Home, Yosemite, Maine's Acadia National Park, all gliding past in tempting views.

You'll now be faced with so many travel ideas, it will be hard to narrow this year's choice . . . there's enough presented for a lifetime of travel ideas.

Before taking off, let's stop and take a minute to analyse the much publicised average American's loudly hard complaints about this year's cost of petrol. As someone who has always spent a great deal of time travelling overseas paying from three to five dollars a gallon for as long as I can remember, it seems like very petulant whining of a spoiled child out of touch with the economics of today's world.

don't be put off by this over-reported complaining. Cost will vary according to state, region, local taxes, a number of factors. But if you're renting a car, gasoline cost will most likely be less than you're used to paying in Bermuda.

Our local cost (this is being written mid-May) is around $2.26 to $2.40 per gallon. But last week delivering some prairie seed we hand-pick from our prairie and ornate to the US Agriculture, Departments Midewin Tall Grass Prairie in western Illinois, it was as low there as $2.07 at British Petroleum. On an antiquing trip to southern Wisconsin recently, we encountered it as low as $2. So it's not as much a factor as the complainers would have one believe.

Interestingly, according to research experts who make their living uncovering such statistics, 20 per cent of frequent travellers went overseas in the previous year. But a stunning percentage of them ? 60 per cent ? say they won't be doing it this years if the dollar stays weak.

Which means they'll be exploring the US . . . and so will many overseas bargain seekers. But it's a big country, lots of space and those seeking out lesser-known, off-the-beaten track destinations can find plenty of room to roam at comfortable prices.

For example, 66 per cent of American travellers hope to visit a national park this year. But since there are 388 such sites, super-famed places like Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton will be crowded. But some of the less known but equally exciting and scenic ones won't be. Scan the National Park web site and be surprised by the variety.

But if you prefer an all-inclusive package where someone else does the driving, tour companies have booked block hotel space in parks such as Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. So the most popular parks can become more accessible that way if you don't mind crowds.

That old adage, "One man's medicine is another's poiThat old adage, "One man's medicine is another's poison", applies to many destinations. Death Valley simmers at a hot boil in summer with ever-escalating temperatures. This traveller finds it fascinating in spring and autumn, but avoids summer.

"The Germans seem to love it then, the heat doesn't keep them away," marvelled an official at Furnace Creek Inn where we've enjoyed several visits.

Check average temperatures before choosing your destination. Most Bermudians are thinking "COOL" and would prefer a vacation site that doesn't have mercury in thermometers soaring.

Did you know summer nights in Yellowstone are sometimes cold enough to freeze water? Checking the weather/climate site of attractions on the See America web site can help you make the right decision.

consider a dude ranch? Again, they're all-inclusive, usually set in a scenic location and offer many activities. www.dudranch.org and Ranchweb.com can tell you more about some of the possibilities.

Didn't get a chance for a ski trip to your favourite mountain this winter? Did you know most ski resorts have evolved into year-round resorts offering as much action in summer as snow season. They've added special programmes for youngsters making them popular with families. The great majority are becoming year-around destinations. Many, like Lake Tahoe's Inn at Squaw Valley, have excellent golf courses.

golf is your passion and discovering new and unusual courses the way you like to spend a vacation. had many temptations. Making news on its top 100 list was Red Sky Golf Club with two championship golf courses designed by Greg Norman and Tom Fazio.

Set on an historic Colorado ranch where mountain meadows overlook panoramic views, location is a half-hour west of Vail, Colorado. A private course opened in 2002, it's ranked in magazine as one of the "Top Ten New Courses You Can Play". Guests staying at properties owned by Vail Resorts have playing privileges; see www.redskygolfclub.com.

Special anniversaries focus attention on many locations.

We've already covered Las Vegas' 100th birthday; Disney is planning a hoopla season celebrating its 50th year, and Boston will be saluting 375 years as a "permanent settlement". Check www.bostonusa.com.