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Aye-aye Weirdness factor: Where to start? The aye-aye is a kind of lemur, with large round ears that rotate independently. How does it eat? There are no woodpeckers in Madagascar, but the aye-aye has evolved to feed like one, using its long middle finger to scoop out grubs in tree bark. See it in: Madagascar (and the Bristol Zoo Gardens). See the photo Proboscis Monkey Weirdness factor: The male proboscis monkey has a pendulous nose that is thought to amplify his calls to females (and his warnings to big-nosed rivals). The most dominant male usually has the biggest nose and can collect a harem of five to eight females. See it in: Borneo (and the Singapore Zoo). See the photo Naked Mole Rat Weirdness factor: Almost totally blind, the naked mole rat is one of only two species of mammals that live in colonies with a caste system, like termites or ants. There's one queen and sometimes hundreds of workers and soldiers—which are expected to sacrifice themselves in battle should a snake appear (and not lose its appetite). See it in: Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia (and Zoo Atlanta and the National Zoo). See the photo Philippine Tarsier Weirdness factor: The tiny tarsier's eyes are about twice the size of a human's and have no peripheral vision. Tarsiers pounce on prey with their vulnerable eyes shut tight, for protection (because who wants a cricket stuck in their eye?). See it in: The southern Philippine islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao (and the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in Bohol). See the photo Emperor Tamarin Weirdness factor: Named for the last emperor of Germany, this tamarin's wildly eccentric moustache (strikingly similar to Mr. Monopoly's) is something of a mystery. Experts think it might be a unique identifier, as a fingerprint is for humans. See it in: Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru (and the Paignton Zoo, in Devon, England). See the photo Matamata Turtle Weirdness factor: The knobby, gnarled matamata uses its huge mouth to suck in unsuspecting food sources as they pass by. In Spanish, matamata means "it kills, it kills." See it in: The Amazon River in Brazil, and in parts of Trinidad and Guyana (and the Honolulu Zoo and San Diego Zoo). See the photo Gelada Baboon Weirdness factor: This primate's fangy yawn is actually a display of aggression to show off its canine teeth. The red patch of skin on the female's chest gets brighter as her hormone levels increase. As a natural design feature, it's probably a little too much information. See it in: Eritrea and Ethiopia (and the Bronx Zoo). See the photo Chinese Giant Salamander Weirdness factor: The largest salamanders in the world, these unattractive guys can grow to three feet long. But that doesn't stop them from being eaten: Their meat is considered a delicacy in parts of China. See it in: The streams and lakes of central China and Taiwan (and the Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco). See the photo Echidna Weirdness factor: The echidna is an evolutionary mashup—it has a pouch for its young like a kangaroo, spines like a porcupine, and a sticky tongue like an anteater. Oh, and it lays eggs like a chicken. See it in: Tasmania, Australia, and New Guinea (and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, which has a short-beaked echidna). See the photo Victoria Crowned Pigeon Weirdness factor: These blue, turkey-size pigeons with outrageous plumage live mostly on the ground, mating for life and building sturdy nests for their young. See it in: New Guinea (and the Philadelphia Zoo). See the photo White-faced Saki Monkey Weirdness factor: Often called flying monkeys, white-faced sakis rarely let their feet hit the ground. They prefer to stay in the mid-level trees of the rain forest, where they can jump up to 30 feet in a single bound and can run upright along narrow branches. See it in: The rain forests of northeastern Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela (and the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, Pa.). See the photo Tree Pangolin Weirdness factor: This insect eater's scales feel a little like human fingernails. But don't touch: Like the common skunk, the pangolin has an unpleasant-smelling spray for those who get too close. See it in: Central Africa's rain forests (and the San Diego Zoo—which displays the tree pangolin infrequently, and without a lot of advance notice). See the photo Pygmy Marmoset Weirdness factor: Pygmy marmosets are the smallest monkeys in the world. They communicate though whistles and twitters, but when hostile they emit a frightening cry that's audible to peers but inaudible to humans. See it in: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru (and the Houston Zoo and the Philadelphia Zoo). See the photo Leafy Sea Dragon Weirdness factor: Male leafy sea dragons carry and give birth to the offspring. Instead of swimming upright, like sea horses, the leafy sea dragon swims in a horizontal position. It uses its tube-shaped mouth as a straw to suck up food. See it in: The waters of the southeastern Indian Ocean, near southern and western Australia (and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta). See the photo

Fall is summer. First-time visitors to San Francisco may be surprised that typical California weather patterns aren't the norm here. The bad news: You'll probably need a sweater in July—at night for sure, and perhaps even during the day, when temperatures often hover in the mid-60s. But the good news is that it's rarely frigid, even between November and February. The warmest, clearest month is actually September. But no matter what the season, go for it. Chances are that the weather will be decent—or at least tolerably atmospheric, thanks to fog. Neighborhoods: Union Square and beyond. There are many hotels clustered around the city's downtown, Union Square. Naturally, this area has tons of restaurants, entertainment venues, and big-name stores. No matter what your interests, Union Square's central location, bountiful transportation options, and sheer variety of hotels—from bare-bones to five-star—appeal to most visitors. The second-most-popular area for vacationers to stay the night is Fisherman's Wharf, along the waterfront. Even though the only locals who hang out at Fisherman's Wharf are the seals loafing on piers, most visitors find themselves here, poking around in souvenir shops and boarding boats for tours of Alcatraz. As a general rule, the farther out from downtown your hotel is, the better the price. Note: Don't stay across the bay in Oakland or Berkeley if you plan to spend most of your time in San Francisco itself—the average savings of about 25 percent a night won't be worth the trade-off in wasted time going back and forth. Boutiques, B&Bs, and more. San Francisco has an incredibly diverse range of lodging options. Don't limit your room search to traditional hotels. Perhaps you'd prefer a grand old Victorian home that's been converted into a funky B&B, or a small posh boutique hotel that—when there's a good promotion going—is much cheaper than you'd expect. In addition to the usual hotel booking engines, check out Bed and Breakfast San Francisco, an operation that has been booking travelers in rooms, apartments, cottages, and B&Bs in San Francisco and its surroundings for more than three decades. Another tip: Quikbook works with many independent hotels in San Francisco (and other cities) and often has discounted rates you won't find on other websites. Don't drive yourself crazy. With an excellent system of taxis, buses, cable cars, and BART commuter trains throughout the Bay Area, driving isn't necessary. It certainly isn't pleasant: Navigating the city's shockingly steep roads can be tricky. (We're not kidding.) Worse, parking is expensive: It's $50 or more a night for valet service at many hotels. If you do bring a car downtown, park it yourself at a public garage, where rates will be about $30 per 24-hour period. Planning a day trip to wine country? You can rent for less than 24-hours by using a service like Zipcar, which had 42 convenient locations around the city when we published this article. (The catch with these services, though, is that you usually have to pay an annual membership fee of between $50 and $75, plus a yearly fee of about $25. On the plus side, their hourly rates start at $8 and include gas and insurance.)

After a decade as an IBM management consultant, Belgian native Thomas DeGeest quit his corporate job in 2007 to bring a taste of his homeland to the Big Apple. DeGeest's bright yellow Wafels & Dinges truck serves two types of Belgian waffles: fluffy, rectangular Brussels-style waffles, from the northern part of the country; and chewier, round liège waffles, from the southern part. Through the truck's large front window, you can watch the waffles being made in large, cast-iron presses. Dress your waffles with dinges (Belgian slang for "toppings") like Nutella, Belgian chocolate, fresh strawberries and bananas, whipped cream, and spekuloos (a creamy cinnamon-ginger sauce). Or, order your waffle as DeGeest gets his—with just a light sprinkling of powdered sugar, so you can really savor the pastry. Tip: Check Wafels & Dinges's Twitter feed or call to learn the daily password or trivia question that will give you one free dinges. Various locations in Manhattan and Park Slope, Brooklyn, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Check twitter.com/waffletruck or call 866/429-7329 for updates. From $3. wafelsanddinges.com. New York City may be the country's unofficial cupcake capital, but Lev Ekster, a recent New York Law School graduate, wasn't impressed with the local offerings. He felt that he often waited on long lines at the big name bakeries for subpar cupcakes. Convinced that he could shake up the cupcake scene, Ekster shelved his fledgling legal career to start CupcakeStop, which works the Flatiron District and other pedestrian-heavy neighborhoods. Baker Manal Mady's airy red velvet and rich Oreo crumb cupcakes are the truck's staples. The menu rotates quirky flavors, such as the Elvis (banana and peanut butter), strawberry shortcake, peanut butter and jelly, and Key lime. 5th Ave. between 22nd and 23rd Sts., 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., 23rd St. between 7th and 8th Aves., 6 p.m.–10 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, though locations are subject to change. Check twitter.com/cupcakestop for updates. $1–$2.25. cupcakestop.com. When Johnpaul Perrone launched the rice ball truck Papa Perrone's last year, he wasn't even sure there'd be a market for his Sicilian speciality. He only knew that he had been making rice balls with his mother's recipe for years, and for almost as long, friends and family had urged him to start a business. Luckily for Perrone, his loved ones' intuitions proved correct. The softball-sized concoctions—popular with Midtown's office workers and tourists—come stuffed with meatballs, three cheeses, or spinach and cheese. Despite their size, they're surprisingly light; Perrone "flash fries" the rice balls in extra virgin olive oil and then lightly bakes them to ensure a slightly crispy crust. Papa Perrone's menu also includes baked ziti, pizza, and meatball, chicken, and eggplant parmesan heroes. 55th St. between Madison and Park Aves., 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Rice balls from $4, other menu items from $1.50. papaperrone.com. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. six days a week, NYC Cravings churns out heaping plates of hearty Taiwanese snacks. The lunchtime combos feature one large piece of fried meat (chicken, a pork chop, or tianbula, a Taiwanese fish cake) topped with "secret pork sauce" and served on a bed of white rice with a side of pickled cabbage. Steamed pork and vegan dumplings are also available most days. Though NYC Cravings is owned and operated by 20-somethings Thomas Yang, Diana Yang, and Eric Yu, the culinary prowess of the Yang family is present in every dish. The secret pork sauce comes from the Yangs' grandmother, and the Yangs' uncle, Steven Yang, a chef who was trained in Taiwan and America, works behind the scenes beforehand to prepare and marinate the meats. Various locations in midtown and downtown Manhattan and Park Slope, Brooklyn, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Sunday through Friday. Check twitter.com/nyccravings for updates. $3–$8. nyccravings.com. If it weren't for the iconic rainbow-ice-cream banner, you might mistake the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck for a standard Mister Softee. But what the truck lacks in looks, it more than makes up in personality—from its toppings to its operator. The Big Gay Ice Cream Man is Doug Quint, who is a doctor of musical arts candidate with a specialty in bassoon and a freelance musician who has performed with the Boston Pops and the Brooklyn Philharmonic. In his truck, he's quick with witty quips and more than happy to load up cones and cups with premium toppings like cayenne pepper, wasabi pea dust, and olive oil and sea salt. Quint's signature cone is vanilla ice cream topped with dulce de leche and crushed Nilla wafers. Splurge on the "choinkwich," a special treat that only appears on the menu once a week: a few pieces of brown-sugar-and-maple-syrup-caramelized bacon sandwiched between chocolate soft serve and two chocolate cookies. Various days and locations in Manhattan; the truck will operate through October. Check twitter.com/biggayicecream for updates. From $3. biggayicecreamtruck.com. With a vibrant wraparound mural depicting brilliant blue skies and rolling green mountains, the La Cense Beef Burger Truck brings a bit of Big Sky Country to Midtown's busy streets. This truck is an outpost of a Montana ranch of the same name. There, cattle graze on 88,000 acres of land before...well, you know what happens next. At La Cense, there's only one thing on the menu: black Angus grass-fed beef burgers topped with caramelized onions and, for an extra 50 cents, cheese. The six-ounce patties are thick and juicy, but fans of rare or well-done burgers may be disappointed: La Cense's burgers only come medium. Various midtown locations, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Check twitter.com/lcbburgertruck for updates. $7. lacensebeef.com.

How To Enter Online Send an e-mail from a valid e-mail account to the following address: italytrip@budgettravel.com. Be sure to include the following information: a. Full name b. Address c. Telephone number (we will only call you if you win) d. E-mail address (we will only e-mail you if you win) By sending an e-mail, you are indicating that you have read and agree to the sweepstakes rules, listed below. OFFICIAL "8 Days of Wine & Chocolate in Italy" SWEEPSTAKES RULES 1. Sweepstakes Description. This sweepstakes is sponsored by Newsweek Budget Travel, Inc., the publisher of Budget Travel, 530 Seventh Avenue, Second Floor, New York, NY 10018 ("Sponsor"). The sweepstakes begins on July 27, 2009 at 12:01 a.m. EST and ends on September 30, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. EST (the "Sweepstakes Period"). Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST September 30, 2009. Sweepstakes is void where prohibited. By entering, each entrant accepts and agrees to be bound by these sweepstakes rules. 2. Eligibility. No purchase or participation in a sales call or group presentation is necessary to enter or win. A purchase or participation in a sales call or group presentation will not increase your chances of winning. This sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the forty-eight continental United States, including the District of Columbia, who are 21 years of age or older at the time of entry. Employees of Newsweek Budget Travel, Inc., and Foreign independent Tours, Inc. and each of their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, and immediate family members or persons living in the same household of such individuals are not eligible to participate in this sweepstakes. Acceptance of prize is subject to the policies and rules or restrictions of winner's employer. 3. How to Enter. There are two ways to enter this sweepstakes. First, individuals who schedule and complete a sales call or in-person group presentation with sales representatives of Budget Travel during the Sweepstakes Period will automatically be entered into the sweepstakes drawing. Individuals will receive one entry for each in-person group presentation scheduled and completed during the Sweepstakes Period. Second, individuals can log on to http://www.budgettravel.com/italytrip and complete the online entry form. All online entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on September 30, 2009 in order to qualify. Multiple entries per person are allowed. All entries become the property of Sponsor, and Sponsor reserves the right to use any information submitted by entrants. Entries must be filled out completely and legibly in order to qualify, and will be void if they are, in whole or in part, incomplete, illegible, damaged, irregular, counterfeit, altered, or obtained through theft or fraud. No mechanically reproduced, software-generated or other automated multiple entries are permitted. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, illegible, misdirected or mutilated entries, including due to transmission, technical, and/or network failures of any kind, including, without limitation, malfunctioning of any hardware or software (whether originating with sender or Sponsor), telephonic failures, human error, or any other error or malfunction. For online entries, the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry will be considered the entrant. An "authorized account holder" shall mean the natural person assigned to such e-mail account by the Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with such e-mail account. A potential winner may be requested to provide proof that he or she is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with a winning entry. Entrants agree not to upload, post or transmit any materials which contain any computer viruses, Easter eggs, worms, Trojan Horses or other harmful component or programming routines that are intended to damage, detrimentally interfere with, surreptitiously intercept or expropriate any system, data or personal information. Any attempt to deliberately damage any web site or undermine the operation of the sweepstakes is a violation of criminal and civil laws, and Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any person who makes such attempt(s). Entry materials that have been tampered with or altered are void. Any questions regarding the number of entries submitted by an individual or the authorized account holder of an e-mail address shall be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, and Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entries by persons determined to be tampering with or abusing any aspect of the sweepstakes. 4. Prize. One (1) Grand Prize will be awarded. The Grand Prize will be a six (6) night trip to Italy for the Grand Prize Winner and one guest. Grand Prize Winner's guest must be 21 years of age or older. The Grand Prize includes: round-trip coach-class airfare for two (2) from a major commercial airport in the continental US near the Grand Prize Winner's home to Rome, Italy; double occupancy accommodations for six (6) nights; ground transportation within Italy; 8 meals; and sightseeing with an English-speaking guide. Sponsor shall, in its sole discretion, determine the airport the Grand Prize Winner and his or her guest shall travel from, the airline and flight itinerary, and the type of accommodation provided. The Grand Prize Winner must take the trip between November 1, 2009 and October 31, 2010, and must schedule the trip at least 45 days prior to travel. In the event that the Grand Prize Winner is unable to travel between November 1, 2009 and October 31, 2010, the prize will be forfeited and Sponsor reserves the right to randomly select an alternate winner from among the remaining eligible entries. The Grand Prize Winner must coordinate with Sponsor regarding the date that the Grand Prize Winner wishes to travel. The Grand Prize Winner and his or her travel companion must travel together on the same itinerary. Once booked by Sponsor, the Grand Prize Winner may not change the dates of travel. Actual travel dates are subject to Sponsor's discretion and conditions outside of Sponsor's control. Travel, including seat selection, and accommodations are subject to availability and blackout periods. Other restrictions may also apply. Sponsor is not responsible for airline or hotel cancellations or delays. The Grand Prize may not be combined with any other offer. The approximate retail value of the Grand Prize is U.S. $4,750. Actual retail value may vary depending on the point of departure and fare fluctuation. Any difference between actual retail value and approximate retail value will not be awarded. All expenses and incidental costs not expressly specified herein as part of the Grand Prize (including, but not limited to, personal charges at lodging, tips, insurance, fees, airport transfers, taxes, additional meals, alcohol and other expenses) are not included and are the sole responsibility of the Grand Prize Winner and his or her travel companion. Sponsor will not replace any lost, mutilated, or stolen tickets, travel vouchers, or certificates. No prize may be exchanged for cash. No prize transfer, assignment, or substitution is permitted. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize, in which case a prize of equal or greater value will be awarded. 5. How the Prizes are Awarded. Random selection of the winner will occur on or around September 30, 2009 from among all eligible entries received. One (1) Grand Prize Winner will be randomly selected. Winner will be notified by e-mail or phone on or about September 30, 2009. In the event that any prize notification or attempted notification e-mail is returned as undeliverable, or if any attempted notification by phone is not successful within seven (7) days, the prize will be forfeited and Sponsor reserves the right to randomly select an alternate winner from among the remaining eligible entries. 6. Odds of Winning. The odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. 7. Conditions of Acceptance of Prize. Winner must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. Driver's license or other appropriate picture identification is required to claim a prize. Winner and travel companion must have a valid U.S. passport at time of travel. Winner is subject to verification by Sponsor, whose decisions are final and binding in all matters related to the sweepstakes. An entrant is not a winner of any prize unless and until entrant's eligibility has been verified and entrant has been notified that verification is complete. In the event that winner is determined to be ineligible, the prize will be forfeited and Sponsor reserves the right to randomly select an alternate winner from among the remaining eligible entries. Winner and the Winner's travel companion will be required to execute and return to Sponsor a release and affidavit of eligibility (except where prohibited) within fourteen (14) days of notice of winning; failure to timely execute and return such releases and affidavits (except where prohibited) may lead to Winner's forfeiture of the prize, and Sponsor reserves the right to randomly select an alternate winner from among the remaining eligible entries. Winner will be solely responsible for any and all local, state, and federal taxes, as well as license and registration fees incurred by participating in the sweepstakes, including, but not limited to, transportation costs, gratuities and other items of an incidental nature. Sponsor will report any individual winnings over $600 (in cash or fair market value of goods or services) in a one year period to the Internal Revenue Service. Winner(s) will receive a Form 1099 from Sponsor if Sponsor reports any winnings to the Internal Revenue Service. Prizes may not be exchanged for cash or any other consideration. Winner agrees to the use of his or her name and likeness in publicity without any additional compensation (except where prohibited). By entering this sweepstakes, winner acknowledges that Sponsor has the right to publicize, by any medium, winner's name, voice, and likeness, the fact that he or she won, and all matters incidental thereto. 8. Limitation on Liability. By entering this sweepstakes, each entrant forever discharges, releases, and holds harmless the Sponsor, Foreign independent Tours, Inc., and each of their parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees, and agents from any and all liability, claims, losses, damages, causes of action, suits, and demands of any kind arising from or in connection with the sweepstakes, including, without limitation, responsibility for property damage, loss of life, or personal injury resulting from or in connection with participating in the sweepstakes or from or in connection with use or receipt of the prize, however caused. 9. Sponsor's Reservation of Rights. These Official Rules are subject to modification by Sponsor. In the event of a dispute, all decisions made by Sponsor are final and binding. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any person who tampers with the entry process or the operation of Sponsor's web site, or who otherwise acts in violation of these Official Rules. Sponsor further reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, or modify this sweepstakes if, for any reason, the sweepstakes is not capable of completion as planned, including due to infection by computer virus, technical corruption, force majeure, or non-authorized human intervention that compromises or affects the administration, fairness, integrity, security, or proper conduct of the sweepstakes. 10. List of Winner. For a list of winner, send a self-addressed stamped envelope after October 15, 2009 to Budget Travel, Attn: 8 Days of Wine & Chocolate in Italy Sweepstakes, 530 Seventh Avenue, Second Floor, NY, NY 10018.