For a Labor Day trip, consider oft-overlooked Ouray, Colo.

For travelers who perk up at the phrase “There’s no place like home,” there may be no lake like Pokegama (including the other Minnesota lake with the same name). The 6,612-acre body of water sits just a few miles from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, where the “Wizard of Oz” star spent her early years. Fora Travel adviser and Grand Rapids resident Lindsay Vaughn wrote that the lake is “a serene environment ideal for a peaceful retreat” and praised the “really clean” beaches. Explore some of Pokegama’s bays by kayak, boat or stand-up paddleboard. Or lounge on the shores of Tioga Beach. Land activities include hiking, ATV trails and snowshoeing. The two-room Green Heron Bed and Breakfast promises lake views, birdwatching and resident pets. In town, Vaughn likes Hotel Rapids, a boutique property with a yurt for private-event rentals or for cocktails and card games when it’s not booked.

Washington Post

During Labor Day weekend, the I-70 corridor in Colorado can be bumper to bumper. But nestled in the San Juan Mountains is Ouray, an often overlooked gem for outdoor fun. Sure, there’s great hiking and canyoning, but there aren’t many towns where you can stroll down Main Street and stop into a boutique for shopping, a cafe for coffee and hot springs for soaking. Ouray Hot Springs Pool is sulfur-free — in other words, no rotten-egg stink — and offers not just one pool but many: The family-friendly pools feature water slides, a volleyball net and a rolling log, while the adults-only soaking section is kept between 102 and 106 degrees. Fly into Montrose Regional Airport, about an hour’s drive from Ouray.

New York Times

Of 8,537 surveyed travelers from 17 countries, 83% have flown to a sporting event while 71% have boarded a plane for a concert in the past three years, or plan to in the next 12 months. Collinson International used those results to model how the sports and music tourism industry may continue to expand, in light of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour or the first Summer Olympics in eight years to allow in-person spectators. “People are placing high value on experiences over objects,” says Christopher Ross, president of Collinson International EMEA. “If you are going to a sports or music event, the experience does not just start when you walk into the stadium. It’s the planning, travel itself and excitement.”

Bloomberg News

The Transportation Security Administration announced that TSA PreCheck has surpassed 20 million members. “More travelers than ever are using TSA PreCheck because of its value, ease and efficiency,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “TSA PreCheck continues to be one of our most innovative risk-based security solutions, providing the benefit of shorter wait times of under 10 minutes, greater checkpoint efficiency and improved security.” Travelers can visit tsa.gov/precheck to begin their enrollment for less than $80 for a five-year membership.

TravelPulse