The Internet pushes life beyond the old physical barriers of time and space. Here you can roam around the world without leaving home. Make new friends. Communicate with astronauts as they circle the Earth. Exchange the results of laboratory experiments with a colleague overseas. Read stock quotes. Virtual travel. Virtual love. A new reality. —Joel L. Swerdlow, assistant editor, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine

Then journey into cyberspace with Rick Smolen, editor of the book 24 Hours in Cyberspace, in the October 1999 issue of TRAVELER.

LEARN MORE

Autoweb.com
http://www.autoweb.com
Drop in to buy or sell your car online, browse the new car showroom, find competitive rates, or read car reviews.

Bibliofind
http://www.bibliofind.com
Affiliated with Amazon.com, this site is very helpful when searching for used and rare books or periodicals.

eBay
http://www.eBay.com
It’s easy to spend your lunch hour or free time browsing the endless lists of antiques and collectibles on this commercial trading site. In addition to being able to buy or sell anything imaginable, you can discuss the collectibles on the message boards.

Letterpost.com
http://www.letterpost.com
Since not everyone has access to computers and e-mail, this site makes it quick and easy to send letters anywhere in the world.

NetGrocer
http://www.netgrocer.com
Shop online and have groceries delivered to your door!

Realtor.com
http://www.realtor.com
The official site of the U.S. National Association of Realtors provides valuable information about buying and selling a home and calculating your mortgage.

Drudge Report
http://www.drudgereport.com
Search headlines and link to top news stories from the wires and other major media releases—everything from the New York Post’s gossip column to Joe Lockhart’s White House press releases.

Gamesville
http://www.gamesville.com
From the popular Bingozone.com to Celebrity Trivia, this site allows you to have some honest fun—with or without the high stakes.

Joke-of-the-day.com
http://www.joke-of-the-day.com
Visit every day or search the archives. You can have these funnies e-mailed so they greet you in the morning or perk you up in the afternoon.

RealNetworks
http://www.real.com
Download up-to-the-minute news reports, music, movies, and more to your computer—no TV or radio necessary.

Salon.com
http://www.salon.com
This collection of fresh literary, political, and social commentary made almost every staffer’s bookmark list.

BestPlaces.net
http://www.bestplaces.net
Read a collection of rankings of “bests” for cities, see a side-by-side comparison of the crime statistics for any two cities, or check out climate charts, crime charts, and related articles.

BabyCenter
http://www.babycenter.com
This is a great site for new and expectant parents. It has treats such as lullaby lyrics, electronic baby announcements, a baby namer, the latest parenting news and advice, a chat room, and a store.

InfoSpace.com
http://www.infospace.com
This is a great site to find people and businesses in the U.S. and abroad, but it also provides such goodies as city guides, financial quotes, an index of government officials, and links to other searches.

Internet Movie Database
http://www.imdb.com
Trying to figure out what movie to see? Browse this site arranged by title, award-winners, content, people, and more. You can also read reviews of recent releases or test your movie knowledge with a game of trivia.

Learn2.com
http://www.Learn2.com
Are you stumped? Don’t know what to do? Ask Learn2. This site covers everything from manners to home fix-its to corporate solutions.

The National Park Service ParkNet
http://www.nps.gov
On this U.S. government site, find maps and loads of information—historical, environmental, and general—on all of the United States’ national parks.

Mapquest
http://www.mapquest.com
Headed to an unfamiliar place? Stop by this site to print a map or get step-by-step directions. Consult the Travel Guide to help you find lodgings and restaurants along the route.