USA Travel Guide

Can’t call a night in town a getaway no matter where you spend it? Well, then get outta town. Get way outta town. Make this Valentine’s Day something special with a romantic getaway to the Texas Hill Country and the Canyon of the Eagles Resort.

Valentine’s Day Getaways in Texas – Canyon of the Eagles
Nestled against Lake Buchanan in the heart of its own 940-acre nature park, Canyon of the Eagles is a hearty Texas vacation destination that’s ideal for romance. Serene, tranquil, secluded – there’s no better chance to enjoy nature and enjoy each others’ company.

Because it’s in the middle of nowhere (about one and a half hours from Austin by car), Canyon of the Eagles is blessed with one out-of-this-world attraction: the stars! Share an evening admiring the full beauty of the night sky, possibly like you’ve never seen it before. There’s also the package:

Valentine’s Romance Package
Canyon of the Eagles also knows a thing about cozy contentment. Highlight your Texas romantic getaway with this Valentine’s Day package:

• Overnight accommodations
• Special Valentine’s dinner for two (view menu)
• Hot breakfast in the morning
• Chocolate covered strawberries in room
• Bottle of wine in room
• A long stem rose at dinner

You can also stay an extra night for cheap. Learn more about Valentine’s Day getaways in Texas.

Don’t sell your Valentine’s Day short. Make it something memorable with a trip to Canyon of the Eagles in the Texas Hill Country. Have fun!

For more V-Day ideas, visit our Valentine’s Getaways & Packages Portal.

After two weeks of hearts, roses and other frou-frou crap, I’ve got a hunger for big slabs of slow-cooked meat and voluntarily broken bones. The only place I know to get all that action at once is the 2010 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.

Actually, these two major Houston events don’t occur simultaneously, but they do run back to back and all the reason you need to head to Space City this February or March. Question is: which do you choose?

The World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest kicks off a month of entertainment with a 3-day run of slow-smoked competition. Pitmasters come from all over the country to slice, pull and plate some of the best smoked sausage, brisket and baby back ribs you’ll have in your life. Don’t be alarmed if the pits seem a little loony – there’s an award for that, too! This Houston Bar-B-Que contest runs at the Reliant Center February 25-7, 2010.

It’s all a smoky, meaty warm-up, however. Starting March 2 all the way through March 21, 2010, the Reliant Center is given over to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, one of the biggest Houston events of the year. All the traditional rodeo sports – bronc and bull riding, barrel racing, roping – earn the brave riders over a million dollars in prize money. For the fans, the prize is dangerous competition and a relentless concert schedule of country music superstars. Throughout the three weeks you can see Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley (personal fav) and Keith Urban.

So, that’s the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest from February 25-27, 2010. Learn more.

Or the 2010 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo from March 2 – 21, 2010. Learn more.

Choose one, choose both, and don’t overspend doing it by staying at one of our favorites hotels in downtown Houston, the Crowne Plaza Houston Downtown. The hotel is offering cheap rates during both events through a duo of packages. Both the “BBQ Cook-Off Weekend Package” and the “Houston Rodeo Package” will get you a nice room (and they are!), breakfast buffet for two, free valet parking and transportation to the LightRail Station. Learn about these Houston Bar-B-Que and Rodeo packages here.

Have fun!

We got such a great response back in June when we covered the Body Art Expo in Pomona, California, that for next year we wanted to be ahead the game. The sensational tattoo, body art and lifestyle convention is hitting the road in 2010 with four major destinations on the tour. Time it right and be in Pomona, San Francisco, Houston or Chicago for an unforgettable show.

The Body Art Expo is a lot of things. It’s a raucous party, it’s a get-together with friends old and new, and it’s a celebration of a culture that goes beyond skin, heritage and upbringing. But most importantly, it’s a place to meet more than 300 tattoo artists from renowned studios all over the nation. Talk to them, watch them work, and finally see what they can do for you.

You don’t have to get a tattoo, or even have one, to enjoy the Body Art Expo. You can kill lots of time simply admiring the artwork, whether it’s pinned up in an artist display or it’s walking around on the back of a scantily-clad female (who tend to show up in droves).

Extracurricular entertainment is non-stop. Concerts, live demonstrations, food, drink, dancing and a full host of contests keep the hall buzzing all day. Tattoo contests you expect – they reward 19 categories – but that’s really just the beginning. There’s a fashion contest, hot stud contest, hot babe contest, “win a tattoo” contest and all kinds of prize giveaways for you less competitive types.

Prices for the 2010 expos haven’t been listed. The 2009 tickets cost $50 for three days, $25 for 1 day, so expect something like that. Each event runs from Friday to Sunday with one, two, and three-day passes available. Of course, all dates, prices and whatnot are subject to change. Learn more here.

There are four conventions in the first half of 2010. Below you’ll find the date and address information, along with hotel recommendations by USA Travel Guide:

Body Art Expo in Pomona, California
January 22-24, 2010
Pomona Fairplex
1101 W. McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA, 91768
Hotels: Radisson Suites Covina Hotel

Body Art Expo in San Francisco, California
March 19-21, 2010
Cow Palace
2600 Geneva Ave, Daly City, CA, 94104
Hotels: Holiday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel
           Holiday Inn Express Fisherman’s Wharf

Body Art Expo in Houston, Texas
May 21-23, 2010
Reliant Center
One Reliant Park, Houston, TX, 77054
Hotels: Crowne Plaza Houston Downtown Hotel

Body Art Expo in Chicago, Illinois
June 25-27, 2010
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave, Chicago, IL, 60611
Hotels: Silversmith Hotel & Suites | Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Magnificent Mile

As the events draw nearer, we’ll probably be back for a follow-up blog, but for those of you who have to set your vacation days early in the year, keep the Body Art Expo in mind. Have a great time!

We’ve covered a lot of amusement parks by now. Heck, we’ve even cataloged our list of the 10 Best Amusement Parks in America. But nowhere on that list did we satisfy the true thrill-junkie like we are today. Right here in USA Travel Guide’s hometown is America’s only extreme thrill park.

Zero Gravity Thrill Amusement Park doesn’t waste your time with carousels, bumper cars, swinging ships or lame roller coasters. Zero Gravity is all about high-intensity, extreme thrill rides every time. In fact, they’ve only got five rides, but you won’t want to miss a single one (click name to link to video):

• Bungee Jumping – short of skydiving, there’s nothing more exhilarating than this seven-story leap.
• Skycoaster – this modern theme park thrill is a 110-foot headfirst swing for up to three people. Great for couples and groups.
• Texas Blastoff – it’s right there in the name: you’re going up, and you’re going up fast.
• Nothin’ But Net – actually, if bungee jumping is still too tame, this 100 ft. (!) drop is bungee free. You land in a safety net below.
• The Skyscraper – the newest attraction places two riders on each end of a massive windmill that whips you around at up to 4Gs.

Obviously, that’s a lot of crazy in one park, but Zero Gravity is firmly dedicated to rider safety and boasts a perfect safety record. Learn more about this.

Now you’re thinking, “Gee, my life hasn’t flashed before my eyes lately, what’s all this cost?” Well, ask yourself what you’re willing to spend for an experience you will never forget.

Zero Gravity Thrill Amusement Park in Dallas seems pricier than an average theme park, but they’re always running great specials, and again, you can’t get this action anywhere else. The 5-ride combo package is currently priced at $69, but you’ll get even more savings going with one of their specials. Right now, you can get two 5-ride combo packs for just $99. That’s only 10 bucks a ride, and you get to bring along a partner to psyche you up for the next jump.

You can even scores free rides. Just be careful, a park this awesome will take you from thrill-enthusiast to adrenaline-junkie in just one visit. View hours and prices, order tickets, see photos and videos, and read the blog here.

Traveling in? For hotels in the Dallas, we often stay a little bit north at the Doubletree Club Dallas – Farmers Branch. It’s a cozy, off-site location away from the worst traffic, but you still enjoy quick access to downtown and the Los Colinas area.

Have fun!

You may not often put Texas and “boardwalk” together in your mind, but fact is Texas has one of the longest coastlines in the continental United States, and gosh darn it we use it. Just a half-hour (or so) car trip out of Houston and you’ll be at Galveston Bay, home to a major cruise ship port and the classic, Coney Island-style fun of Kemah Boardwalk.

Though it opened in 2001, Kemah Boardwalk has got some old school appeal. Flashy carnival rides, midway games, sundry shops with personality to spare, beautiful outlooks over the bay – it’s that perfect combination that seems to charm kids and adults alike.

But don’t get me wrong, this is a modern amusement complex. After all, nothing is more than eight years old, and several attractions come much more recent than that. The theme park draws the biggest crowds. More than 16 rides and attractions are on-site to test your courage, priced either by ride (3-4 bucks) or for unlimited access with a prepaid wristband ($18.99 + tax).

Favorites include Pharaoh’s Fury, a classic swinging ship ride, the Inverter, the only ride that takes you upside down, the Boardwalk Tower, which takes you way high for unforgettable views, and the beautiful two-story carousel. But the favorite, of course, is the Boardwalk Bullet, a high-speed, high-intensity, super-twisted wooden roller coaster. Not only is this the only rollercoaster on the Texas gulf coast, but since the closing of AstroWorld in Houston, it’s the only rollercoaster in the whole region. (Unfortunately, it’s not available with the unlimited ride wristband).

Hopefully the rides don’t churn up your stomach too much, because lunch is definitely on the day’s menu. Kemah Boardwalk has just about everything, although seafood is the decided specialty (and so close to the coast, how could it not be?). It’s a little cheesy, but there’s no doubt that kids love Aquarium, the restaurant walled with floor-to-ceiling aquariums. You can also get wood-fired pizzas, Mexican cuisine, steaks and much more at the various Kemah Boardwalk restaurants.

So you’ve fed the thrill bug and you’ve fed yourself; the only thing left is to hit up the shops. Kemah Boardwalk stays true to its name with real boardwalk-style shopping. That means outrageous shops with stacks of … stuff piled high as the light fixtures. You’ll find plenty of brand names and plenty of not-so-brand names scattered all over the place.

All in all, you’re looking at a full day at Kemah Boardwalk, and I haven’t even mentioned some of the most time consuming attractions like Stingray Reef or the Boardwalk Beast (about to close for the season. We’ll get back to it next spring). For vacationing families or just a one-day getaway, this is a place to check out.

Learn more about Kemah Boardwalk here.

Because it’s a fairly short drive and you can do just about everything in a single day, Kemah Boardwalk makes for a great day trip out of Houston at any time of year. If you live in the area, or even the next time you’re traveling in, consider a visit. For hotels in Houston, we again recommend the Crowne Plaza Houston Downtown Hotel. It’s a great location and property for any kind of Houston trip.

Have fun!

Keeping it small this Thanksgiving? Got no big to-do to look forward to? Live in Texas? Well, don’t spend this Thanksgiving moping around. Liven up your holiday with an impromptu Texas Hill Country vacation to the Canyon of the Eagles.

The rustic lodge and nature preserve in the heart of central Texas is throwing a major Thanksgiving feast, and if you act fast, you can make sure you get a seat at the table. Imagine it: retuning from a day amidst the scenic beauty and outdoorsy freedom of the Texas Hill Country to a bustling Thanksgiving buffet overflowing with more than twenty traditional favorites.

Moist turkey, roasted or deep-fried (yum), succulent Prime Rib, garlicky mashed taters, the classic green been casserole, stuffing, bread and lots more will tempt you to rise for one plate after another. Just save room for dessert. The dessert buffet is loaded with holiday staples like pumpkin pie, apple pie, chocolate cake and, my favorite, pecan pie. (Though nobody makes it good as my father’s).

If letting someone else cook Thanksgiving dinner for once wasn’t good enough, afterwards you’ll have a cool place to crash. The rooms at Canyon of the Eagles resemble 1920s Texas Hill Country lodging from the bed boards to the use of native stone. Grab a rocking chair on one of the community porches, make a friend with a story or two, and don’t be afraid to doze off.

Canyon of the Eagles Texas Hill Country Resort will serve its Thanksgiving buffet on Thursday, November 27, 2009. There are four seatings – 11:00, 1:00, 3:00, and 5:00 – and reservations are required. Cost is $37.99 per adult, $16.95 per child (ages 4-12). To make dinner reservations, call 1-800-977-0081, or view the menu for more information.

For reservations at Canyon of the Eagles, start here.

Have a fun and unusual Thanksgiving getaway this year!

Let’s see: we’ve had a Screampark and a Scream Zone, but I do believe this is the first Screamworld of the season. Clearly these folks are in it to win it. After all, why settle for a park or a zone when you could have a whole world of screams?

The shivers and shudders begin in Houston, Texas as Screamworld ramps up another killer season. Widely considered the best in the region, Screamworld dominates the competition with five awesome attractions for the price of one. This is no amateur affair. Screamworld purchased its own land and built all of its own buildings 9 years ago in order to provide guests a superior experience – no crappy outdoor lines, no standing in the rain. The only thing left is pulse-pounding fear.

They also negotiated the popular complaint of waiting in two or three lines a night. Instead, Screamworld today features a single line. At peak times, you’ll still do your waiting, but once you start your blood-soaked journey into the unreal, there’s no stopping it. Five haunted attractions, all in a row, try to keep your pants dry.

Speaking of the attractions, another big claim to fame at Screamworld is variety. With five houses and mazes to explore, you’ll find the pitch and pace of your night shift deftly with the scenery, sounds and atmosphere.

Haunted Hotel is a signature of sorts; certainly the most impressive house. They’ve pulled no stops on the number of thrills in this animatronics-laden 12-room horror. However, they know that some people just don’t do fancy. The same way 70’s horror movies are so much scarier than today’s, the old-school surprise scares of The Edge of Darkness really trump all. This low-tech maze relies on darkness and the fear of the unknown to deliver probably the biggest scares of the night.

Movie Monsters in 3D isn’t very scary, but it’s a fun romp featuring gorgeous (and gruesome) 3D murals; glasses provided. The final two terrors take place outdoors, but continue to keep the night fresh. The Maze of Maniacs comes at you hard with unpleasant creatures and unsettling effects at every turn. Then the Tobias Strange Family Cemetery turns up the creep factor.

It’s a lot for you fear fans to love, and it’s all available for one upfront admission. It’s really no surprise that America’s Best Haunts named it one of the best in the country for 2009. (See our list of the Top 13 Haunted Houses in America)

Screamworld opened up a few weeks back and will continue to scare 12 year-old girls and grown men alike through November 7. Hours vary by day and date. General admission is $25, but if you buy online, you can get the VIP Fast Pass (skip the line) for only four bucks more. That’s $29 dollars for the whole show and almost no waiting. Children under 12 not recommended. Learn more.

Just a hop, skip and a jump up the tollway, we like the Hilton Garden Inn Houston / Sugar Land for the occasional trip to the Houston area. It’s not the closest you could find, but the location makes for an effortless trip, and we like the hotel.

Got a taste for terror? Head over to our official coverage of the “Top Haunted Attractions in America“.

I’ve said before that Dallas, Texas really isn’t the hopping’est place when it comes to real haunts. Maybe a little further down south where the wars were fought, but up here in North Texas we pretty much have to make our own fun. That, I imagine, is why we have so many terrific haunted houses.

From the suburbs to downtown to all the way out in Fort Worth (especially out in Fort Worth), you can find ghoulishly-good thrill-tainment in Dallas, Texas come Halloween. You can also find a whole lotta crap. Get your howls and avoid the ho-hums by heading to the Dallas ScareGrounds just minutes from downtown near the Design District.

The ScareGrounds have a history of frightening the pants off of unsuspecting Dallasites. Since first opening in 1996, the grounds have become a bit of a local institution, drawing not only thousands of fear-fanatics but also local news and plenty of local and national awards. With continued success, the ScareGrounds have continued to improve, and the experience today is better than ever.

The Dallas ScareGrounds offers 3 horrific haunts to explore, all for the price of one ticket. Unless the lines just won’t have it, start your night at the original 1996 ScareGrounds haunt, The Terrortorium. The classic jump-maze blends gruesome scenery, the fear of near-darkness and jump-out thrills.

Next comes the Gothic horror of the Necrotorium, a lonely walk through a fetid cemetery. Do the dead lurk this night of all nights? Chances are good.

The third haunt is different, and it’s certainly not for everybody. Hallucinatorium uses ChromaDepth 3D technology to create a full-size 3D haunted maze. As trippy as it is unsettling, Hallucinatorium gives me a headache, but I know a lot of people that love it. Besides, it’s included in the ticket, so might as well go for it.

One of the cool things about the Dallas ScareGrounds is that they actually run a simultaneous festival. Before, after, or between haunts, fuel up you courage with some tasty fair food, play a few carnival games or just kick back and forget about the whole haunted house thing with some live music. It’s not about to replace the State Fair of Texas (more on that in a future post), but again, it’s included with the ticket, why not enjoy it?

The Dallas ScareGrounds run from September 25 – October 31, weekends and some weekdays. General admission is $20 and grants access to the festival grounds and all three haunted houses. That’s a pretty good deal. Learn more.

For Dallas area hotels, the sky’s the limit really, but we’re consistent fans of the Doubletree Club Dallas – Farmers Branch. It’s not located in the city proper, but it’s a cozy stay at a good price, and the drive to anywhere you want to be is a piece of cake, provided you avoid the rush hour.

Have fun at the Dallas ScareGrounds this Halloween.

My wife and I moved into our first house over the weekend, so forgive me if the writing feels a bit lethargic. I wanted something low-key. I wanted to keep the rip-roaring action to a minimum. Then I found the 2009 International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas. Yeah, I think I nailed it.

Scoff not! The 2009 International Quilt Festival is arguably the largest quilt-themed event in the entire world, bringing in a robust crowd of nearly 60,000 people every year. And they’re not all locals. Professional and amateur quilters from around the country turn out to put their best work up for the International Quilt Association Judged Show. Hundreds of quilts compete for the coveted Handi Quilter® Best of Show Award worth $10,000 and a whole lot of bragging rights.

Those who miss the top prize can still win big with another $90,000 up for grabs by way of major awards, festival picks and category prizes. You can still sign up to show, so don’t miss that chance.

The International Quilt Festival is more than a competition. Dubbed the “World’s Fair of Quilts”, the Festival also includes a humongous 4-day exhibition.

The massive show floor of the George R. Brown Convention Center will be wall-to-wall packed with over 1,100 vendor booths and more than 2,000 quilts, dolls and fabric art pieces. If that’s still not enough, make sure to attend one or more of the 400+ classes, lectures and hands-on teaching sessions. Class and special events start on October 12, and enrollment is required, so go ahead and sign up and arrive early.

The Festival itself is open to public admission, no advanced tickets required (though you’re welcome to buy them off the site). Daily adult admission is $10 or you may purchase a full pass for $35. Class enrollment badges function as admission, so no reason to double dip.

The 2009 International Quilt Festival will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston. Ample self-parking available. Festivities run from October 12-18, exhibition dates from October 14 (preview night) – 15. You can learn more at their Web site. I recommend scrolling down the list to the item that reads “General Information Postcard”.

For downtown Houston hotels near the George R. Brown Convention Center, the Crowne Plaza Houston Downtown makes an easy choice. The hotel is an official Festival hotel and offers a shuttle to/from the Convention Center. No parking hassles for you!

Have fun!

The Vanishing Texas River Cruise by Canyon of the Eagles is a Texas Hill Country institution. Residents of the area, even those who’ve never been, have likely heard of it, and heard good things, too. We’ve mentioned it in passing in a previous post, but I think it’s high time we head back for a closer look.

Canyon of the Eagles is a rustic lodge and nature park set on 940 acres of untamed Texas Hill Country. There are attractions aplenty, from exploring the wilderness to fishing Lake Buchanan, but no doubt the star of any Texas Hill Country vacation is a Vanishing Texas River Cruise.

A year-round treat that truly changes with the seasons, the Vanishing Texas River Cruise takes guests on a 2 to 4-hour cruise over Lake Buchanan and up the calm Colorado River for incredible nature and wildlife sightings. And if you time it right, you can see a whole lot more, too.

Your options depend on the season:

• Scenic Wilderness Cruise – March to October – this classic cruise covers 22 miles of scenic goodness; waterfalls, cliffs, birds and more.
• Fall Foliage Cruise – September – November – It’s not just for the Northeast any more. See the leaves in turn on this remarkable cruise, offered just two and a half month of the year.
• Sunset Dinner Cruise – May – October – Live music and a delicious meal help “flavor” this evening cruise up the Colorado.
• Winery Tour & Cruise – Year-round – An epicurean favorite, this cruise includes a tour and tasting at the Fall Creek Vineyards.

That’s just a sample. There are also bald eagle cruises, fishing charters and special cruises for droughts/low water conditions. You can even rent the boat and host events. Even weddings!

The Vanishing Texas River Cruise Company stresses time and again that their cruises sell out. So, they recommend you make your reservations early. Just after you make your reservations at Canyon of the Eagles would be best. Learn more about this attraction.

In fact, you might even be able to make those reservations at the same time. As the official hotel of Vanishing Texas River Cruises, the Canyon of the Eagles Lodge often features specials including cruises and discounts. View their current Texas Hill County vacation packages.

Have fun!