Hospitality_Recreation

20120823-213224-pic-640653588.jpg

National Mall and Memorial Parks Superintendent Bob Vogel on Thursday said the Washington Monument’s structure would require full scaffolding as part of the restoration process after last August’s earthquake. The 555-foot-tall structure has been closed since the day of the quake. A separate project to fix its elevator has been completed. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

20120823-190500-pic-694542286.jpg

Military historian Gregg Clemmer will lead an all-day tour Saturday, demonstrating how Civil War troops crossed the Potomac River.

20120823-183550-pic-989981855.jpg

First lady Michelle Obama points to supporters at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012. (Associated Press)

20120823-182330-pic-451781463.jpg

A wooden bridge crosses over the Kok River in northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai province, where minority hill tribes live in villages where their culture is not undiscovered but also is not corrupted by tourism. (Associated Press)

20120823-182330-pic-864815997.jpg

This July 21, 2012, file photo shows terraced rice paddies outside a Lahu hill tribe village high above Thailand’s Mae Kok River. The region known as the Golden Triangle was once one of the world’s most prolific regions for growing the opium poppy, but government programs and aggressive eradication efforts have succeeding in wiping out most of the illegal crop. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

20120823-182330-pic-299453436.jpg

This July 22, 2012 photo shows the Huai Kaeo Waterfall, a short walk from the Akha Hill House, a rustic guest house in a hill tribe village in northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai Province. The falls plunge over three 10-meter drops, each with a swimmable pool at the bottom. (Associated Press)

20120823-182330-pic-296719855.jpg

This July 22, 2012, photo shows the a shelter for farm workers atop Doi Hang, in northern Thailand’s Mae Kok Valley. The mountain is home to several hill tribe villages, as well as the Huai Kaeo Waterfall and a sprawling tea plantation, offering numerous opportunities for trekking. (Associated Press)

20120823-182330-pic-3437697.jpg

This July 21, 2012 photo shows a typical house in the Akha hill tribe village that is home to Akha Hill guest house. Perched at the head of a curving valley on the slopes of Doi Hang mountain, most of the village houses are still made of traditional bamboo, raised on stilts with covered outdoor platforms. But a few concrete houses have appeared, and even a handful of satellite dishes poking from the thatched rooftops. (Associated Press)

20120823-101713-pic-755098985.jpg

The estate at 100 Interpromontory Road in Great Falls’ Southdown community is on the market for $3,500,000. The six-bedroom home has a swimming pool and three-car garage and sits on 5 acres.

20120823-101713-pic-894340083.jpg

The sunroom has a slate floor, cathedral ceiling with glass and wood beams and a full-size stone wet bar. The sunroom has doors to the patio.

20120821-173527-pic-16102579.jpg

Beers are displayed at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Richmond. The success of the state’s wine industry and helpful changes in alcoholic beverage laws have inspired the growth of craft breweries. August is Virginia Craft Beer Month. (Associated Press)

20120821-173527-pic-644008344.jpg

Head brewer Brian Nelson cleans equipment at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Richmond, which opened last October. It is part of a trend growing throughout the state, which has about 40 craft breweries. The Travel Channel has listed Virginia among seven top beer destinations. (Associated Press)

GATOR_082002

Visitors to Gatorama's "Alligator Hatching Festival" watch as a baby alligator emerges from its shell. The animal park got 3,233 alligator eggs from this year's harvest of more than 37,000 eggs gathered by state sponsored hunters. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

20120820-191708-pic-677663995.jpg

The Golden Nugget Atlantic City is suing a group of gamblers who won $1.5 million in an April game of mini-baccarat. The casino says the eight decks of cards were not shuffled by the manufacturer before being placed into use. (Associated Press)