Diana Zaslaw

At the mention of the word "vampire," images of bloody fangs, dark capes, and a man with a hideous, spooky laugh immediately come to mind. These conventional images, born from countless vampire films over the years, are most commonly associated with Irish writer Bram Stoker and his iconic 1897 novel Dracula. However, despite the popularity and influence of this celebrated nineteenth-century tome, the vampire myth dates back more than 1,000 years, long before Stoker ever put pen to paper. In this fascinating journey through time, HISTORY uncovers the ancient folkloric origins of blood-craving creatures from beyond the grave. Learn how the vampire myth is strongly rooted in Eastern European lore, but how it has also played a prominent role in the ancient cultures of Greece and China. From wooden stakes to garlic apotropes to ancient burial rituals, VAMPIRE SECRETS explores how this long-standing myth has been interpreted by different cultures around the world.

The Travel Channel presents awards given to the best amusement parks and attractions for 2006. The show features Millennium Force (Cedar Point) and Hades (Mt. Olympus) roller coasters, and various parks including Cedar Point, Dollywood, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Legoland California, Noah Ark Waterpark, Six Flags Fiestas Texas, & Schlitterbahn Waterpark.

The authors traveled the roads that Mark Twain traveled 150 years ago, recalling quotes from his letters, which later became his best-selling book "The Innocents Abroad." The film reveals little-known facts from the life of Mark Twain, who, as a young reporter, made a daring journey to Jerusalem, to the Holy Land, where his discoveries and notes laid the foundation for a new era in American literature.