For vacationers who want to take their furry family members along for an active getaway, options do exist. Here are a handful of Fido-friendly ways to enjoy a winter getaway with the entire family.

Join the winners of The N&O's annual travel photo contest for a journey to destinations both near and far. We think you will enjoy the thoughtful and quirky images that stood out among the more than 400 entries this year.

There are plenty of historic towns in North Carolina with impressive old courthouses and clusters of century-old houses. Hillsborough is that, with significant differences. It's a Piedmont, not coastal, town steeped in pre-Revolutionary War history.

To reach Olympic Park in East London, I had to battle those fierce and unforgiving competitors, Time and Chaos.

When trying to get the best bang for your vacation buck, it may pay to bear in mind that the biggest value may not come with the lowest price.

Make 2012 your year to visit an eco-friendly destination with your family. Here are five places where green is good:

Among the attractions that make Knoxville, Tenn., a good place to visit are an outstanding regional history museum and four historic homes. Many of Knoxville's earliest settlers had direct ties to North Carolina.

tops in shots:  Voting at triangle.com/ contests . Click on contests to register, view the entries and choose your favorites. Deadline is Jan. 15; the top selections will appear later this month in Arts&Living.