According to the Wall Street Journal, AAA projects auto travel through Memorial Day weekend to rise 5.8% from a year ago. This is the highest level since 2007, with 32.1 million Americans expected to be on the road. Additionally, gas prices are expected to fall by the weekend, further encouraging Americans to hit the road.

If you don’t have plans yet and want to stick to a budget, here are some last minute, wallet friendly ideas to celebrate the holiday.

Although more pretentious than a cupcake, it looks like the Macaron is looking to put the pressure on New York’s favorite dessert. This Saturday, March 20, New York is hosting the first (annual? please?) Macaron Day.

Oh, it’s the most wonderful time of the year…sharpen your pencils and finalize your bracket, because the 2010 NCAA Tournament is here!

This year, the field is strong and, as ESPN puts it, the bracket is a “work of art.” Fans and sports-lovers alike will pilgrimage to the sites of the games for first round upsets all the way to the final championship game.

Instead of the buffet we Americans associate with the term, the smorgasbord is actually an artful, culinary tradition that the Swedes are very proud of. Traditionally, it is a series of delicacies eaten in a specific order on clean plates. Rooted in hospitality, the concept has its beginnings with the fourteenth century merchant and upper class, who served a variety of hors d’oeuvres to visiting guests, so that they wouldn’t get hungry before dinner.

I turn your attention to a seasonal posting by fellow travel blogger, The Brooklyn Nomad.

A few weeks ago, my parents visited Lake Placid in the Adirondak’s of Upstate New York. The autumn leaves were at peak and their cabin at The Lake Placid Lodge was a cozy setting to relax and enjoy the crisp fall weather.

Need a frightfest in the heart of the Lone Star State? Look no farther than House of Torment in Austin (let’s call it HOT). Open 7pm to Midnight between now and November 1st, House of Torment is one of the top haunted attractions in Texas, where they know BIG.

Haunted Houses are a staple of Halloween culture in this country, but Philadelphia takes the concept and kicks it up a notch, hosting their annual haunting of the Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP).

Throughout the month I’ll profile a number of haunted houses and super scary Halloween attractions from around the country. If you have any tips or suggestions, please let me know and email me at TheWanderWomanBlog (at) gmail (dot) com.

With the Travers Stakes this weekend, many will travel to Saratoga, a town lying in the foothills of the southern Adirondack Mountain region of upstate New York.