Itching for a quick trip this summer? Here are some fun things happening at destinations within driving distance:

• New Orleans: Ease on down to the Big Easy to catch Bill Engvall of Blue Collar Comedy at Harrah's casino July 16 or chill in the heat Aug. 4-7 during Satchmo SummerFest. 1-800-672-6124, http://www.neworleansonline.com.

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LAST-MINUTE TRAVEL Last-minute travel: Flexibility is the key  Know where to click when vacation bug bites  Experts say: Register for e-mail alerts, try alternative destinations  She who hesitates is out an additional $400  Food fests, fun with marine life just a short hop away  Hit the road for music, mirth, mischief

• Nashville: Celebrate the Grand Ole Opry's 80th anniversary all summer and into the fall with toe-tapping concerts featuring country and bluegrass stars, Opry Plaza parties on Fridays and Saturdays, and the Star-Spangled Opry Signature Show on Saturday. 615-871-6779, http://www.opry.com.

• Boone, N.C.: Cool off in the mountains while enjoying the 21st annual Appalachian Summer Festival, Friday through July 30. The festival features art exhibits and a concert lineup that includes Lily Tomlin, the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra with Branford Marsalis, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Garth Fagan Dance. 1-800-841-2787, http://www.appsummer.org.

• Orlando: Mickey? No, monkey. Take the kids to see "Curious George and Friends" at the Orlando Museum of Art through Aug. 28. The exhibition, which celebrates the art of H.A. and Margret Rey, explores the development of the Curious George stories from early drawings and sketches to full-color illustrations and dummy pages from the books. 407-896-4231, http://www.omart.org.

— Paula Crouch Thrasher