Hippie counterculture blossomed as the "Summer of Love" unfolded 40 years ago in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and Haight-Ashbury neighborhood — and elsewhere in the country. Young people flocked to the area, which was a psychedelic hotbed of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. Social change and political unrest formed a backdrop.

This year, several tours and museum exhibits are marking the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love in San Francisco and elsewhere.

New York's Whitney Museum of American Art is showing "Summer of Love: Art of the Psychedelic Era," now through Sept. 16.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland has six exhibits that touch on "Summer of Love" themes, including shows about The Doors, the Beach Boys, the "San Francisco City Scene," Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix and the Monterey Pop music festival. Details at www.rockhall.com.

Retrace the footsteps of the hippies of yesteryear on San Francisco's "Haight Ashbury Flower Power Walking Tour.". Details at www.haightashburytour.com or (800) 979-3370.

— Associated Press

NEW BOOK PINPOINTS THE WEB'S BEST TRAVEL OPTIONS

Everyone knows that the bulk of travelers today are accessing the Internet for information, if not actually making all their travel arrangements via the Web. But are the sites you're using the best ones? Are they reliable, comprehensive, reputable? If you want to know the answer to those questions, check out "The Traveler's Web, an Extreme Searcher Guide to Travel Resources on the Internet," by Randolph Hock (Cyberage Books, paper, $19.95). Hock canvassed the Web universe to find the sites that met his criteria: well known? exemplary of their type? offering unique features? received good reviews from media and in online chat groups? broad geographic coverage? searchable and with good directories? been around a while? Most sites listed in the book are "free" and many don't require registration. For links to the Web sites, check out ww.extremesearcher.com/travel.

— Associated Press

TOP 10

MY RV AMOUR

The most romance-inspiring RV parks, from MotorHome Magazine:

Oak Grove Campground/Resort, Holland, Mich.

Wine Country RV Resort, Paso Robles, Calif.

Hershey Highmeadow Campground, Hershey, Pa.

Pagosa Springs Destination Spa & RV Resort, Pagosa Springs, Colo.

East Shore RV Park, San Dimas, Calif.

Beverly Beach State Park, Newport, Ore.

Petoskey RV & Cabin Resort, Petoskey, Mich.

Winchester Bay RV Resort, Winchester Bay, Ore.

Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley, Calif.

Riverview RV Park and Campground, Loveland, Colo.

— Chicago Tribune