Swimming in foreign waters means you sometimes run into unexpected friends -- like this starfish that Flickr user nimso334 found in the San Blas Islands off the coast of Panama. The super-sized starfish was found after diving 25 feet down into the crystal clear water and after this photo was snapped, he was returned to the sea floor.

Have any travel photos that make amazing memories? Upload them to our Flickr pool and we just might select one for our Photo of the Day feature

In Chicago this weekend with an empty stomach? Then head to the third annual Chicago Gourmet festival. Hosted by "Bon Appétit" magazine, Chicago Gourmet compiles the best and brightest in Chi-town cuisine.

Event presenters include Frontera Grill's Rick Bayless, chocolate guy Jacques Torres and former "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" food guy Ted Allen, who is now something called a "food and wine ambassador" for Robert Mondavi wines. And subjects to be covered included gourmet guacamole, great steak and eggs dishes and fall foods. The fest also features live cooking demonstrations from the likes of Carlos Guytan, or Mexique and Bruce Sherman of North Pond Restaurant.

And on both days, master sommeliers will be on hand for Grand Cru Tasting events. Plus there's a separate "Hamburger Hop" burger showdown scheduled for Friday. Cost for Chicago Gourmet is somewhat steep: $250 for the weekend or $150 for the day (the Grand Cru event and Hamburger Hop are priced separately) -- but foodies will find it worthwhile.

For the full schedule of events and payment details, go to ChicagoGourmet.org.

Want to get away but don't have the time or money to go on an extended vacay? Then log on to Dayzipping, a new site dedicated to finding great day-long getaways from anywhere in the world.

The site asks you where you're located (or where you're traveling to), and then offers up a slew of options in the area. Suggestions are sourced and reviewed by members (and membership is free) -- which means that options are well-vetted and tested. A simple search for New York, New York offered a walk through lower Manhattan, a BBQ in Brooklyn, and a slightly-out-of-the-city foray to Theodore Roosevelt's Sagamore Hill Home.

The site also allows users to connect with their friends and share reviews and suggestions within friend networks. As with any user-generated site, the suggestions are only as good as the people using the service. So as Dayzipping continues to grow, expect to see more and more options. It's a great way to rediscover your own town, or get an insider's perspective on a spot you might be visiting.

Shorter days, changing leaves and crisp cold air -- all the hallmarks of a changing season. This photo from Flickr user Bonnie Bowne epitomizes the shift from summer blues and greens to autumn golds.

Have any travel photos that make amazing memories? Upload them to our Flickr pool and we just might select one for our Photo of the Day feature

Airports are always looking for ways to make their visitor's travel time experience more enjoyable. And travelers to Singapore's Changi Airport now have a new way to pass the time: On a super-long indoor slide.

The Slide in Singapore Airports Terminal 3 is considered the longest slide in Singapore, topping out at 40 feet tall, and reaching speeds of around 19 miles per hour. (Scary!). The airport also contains an outdoor butterfly sanctuary, rooftop swimming pool and spa. Can we move in?

Rides cost a pretty penny -- each swish down the slide is around $11. It may not be as practical as the dental services offered at Sao Paulo -Guarulhos International Airport, or as time-consuming as the free Sony Playstation consoles at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, but we'll take it.

You can schedule yourself into oblivion when you travel and tick off every major sightseeing spot in your guide, but sometimes it's the quiet moments that are the most memorable. This tranquil scene of Florence at dusk -- shot by Flickr user Justin Delaney -- reminds me that it's important stop and take a good look around every once in a while. After all, isn't that why we travel, anyway? It's not just about checking tourist spots off a list: It's actually getting a different viewpoint.

Have any travel photos that prompt whimsical musings? Upload them to our Flickr pool and we just might select one for our Photo of the Day feature

Dining at Chicago's O'Hare airport just got bumped up a notch or two: master Mexican food chef Rick Bayless announced he's opening two new restaurants in Windy City's major airport this fall.

The restaurants will feature Bayless's signature Mexican cuisine, and will be located in terminals 1 and 3 -- not a bad way to kill a an hour or so while on an endless layover.

Bayless owns several restaurants in the Chicago area, including the much-lauded Frontera Grill, Topolobampo and most recently, Xoco, which opened in September 2009 in the city's River North neighborhood. Bayless is a highly respected chef who competed against Bobby Flay on "Iron Chef America" in 2005, and most recently caught national attention when he competed and won Bravo TV's "Top Chef Masters."

[Image credit, Getty Images]

The Jet Blue Steven Slater story just won't die -- not if the makers of "SlipQuit" have anything to say about it. The "SlipQuit" is a diabolically hilarious take on Slater's inflatable slide plane escape, and comes complete, says the ad, with "two cans of Blue Sky beer." The ad promises it's great for escaping boring parties and avoiding awkward conversations. We like the sound of that. If only it were real. [via Xeni @boingboing]

Ever popped a squat at a particularly pristine public restroom? You can now vote for it in the "Best Restrooms" competition. Sponsored by restroom supply company Cintas, users submitted their favorite stalls and ten finalists were chosen in both the U.S. and Canada.

Many of these restrooms are nicer than our apartments. The opulent bathrooms at the China Grill at Mandalay Bay Hotel, in Las Vegas, NV, include fountains and individual pods with televisions. The Fountain on Locust, in St. Louis, MO, boasts designer mirrors and hand-painted murals. And the Grand Hotel America, in Salt Lake City, UT, includes bronze and crystal chandeliers, commodes with inlaid African Anegre Wood and hand-painted walls.

Voting is on through August 31 and both the Canadian and U.S. winners will be announced next month.

Good news for mall junkies: Bloomington, Minnesota's vaunted Mall of America will get a luxury hotel in the near future -- thanks in part to federal stimulus funds.

Plans for the hotel have been in the works for several years, but had to be quashed two years ago due to lack of funding, says USA Today.

Now, Hennepin County officials have granted the Bloomington Port Authority the ability to issue $40.3 million in tax-free bonds to help fund the $130 million venture. The hotel is set to be 12 stories, and connected to the MOA via a skyway. And though it's not yet clear who will manage the property, Starwood, Radisson and Marriott are all up for the gig.

The federal stimulus funds were made available to projects that were "significant and shovel ready" and located in economically depressed areas. Proponents of the hotel say it will bring much-needed jobs to the area, and will pay for itself in revenue. But critics argue that building a luxury property probably isn't the best use of federal funds. What do you think, Gadling readers?

[photo by Flickr user cliff1066]