Travel

Celebrate Texas Travel and Tourism Week: May 5-13!

Celebrate Texas Travel and Tourism Week: May 5-13!

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Governor Rick Perry proclaimed May 5-13 Texas Travel and Tourism Week in honor of the Texas travel industry’s contribution to the economic health of Texas.

In 2011, an estimated 208.3 million domestic travelers visited Texas destinations. Total travel spending in Texas was more than $63 billion in 2011, an increase of 10% over 2010 and the highest level of spending recorded to date!

The Winspear Opera House in Dallas, Texas will kick off U.S. Travel Rally Day on May 8 with entertainment and speakers.

However, a little closer to home, we plan to visit Galveston Island . On Sunday, May 6, the Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau will offer a 50% discount on admission to Moody Gardens, the Lone Star Flight Museum, the Texas Seaport Museum and 1877 Tall Ship Elissa, as well as five other popular venues.

The Texas Tourism Week coupon for this can be found at www.galveston.com/texastourismweek. Bon voyage!

Travel Focus: Charleston, South Carolina

Travel Focus: Charleston, South Carolina

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www.middletonplace.org

For our 28th wedding anniversary, my husband and I treated ourselves to a trip to Charleston, South Carolina. Neither of us had ever been there before. It did not disappoint. We flew directly from Houston to Charleston on Southwest Airlines, and checked into the French Quarter Inn. The name is very appropriate both for the hotel and for the downtown area of Charleston, which mimics New Orleans’ French Quarter. There is so much to see and do downtown that we did not use our rental car for three days!

Charleston has been appropriately awarded Top City in the U.S. by Conde Nast Traveler 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards. Highlights from our trip include:

Historic Charleston Battery and White Point Gardens. The views of Charleston Harbor and Fort Sumter are outstanding.

Museum Mile which has a variety of historical attractions.

Old City Market is one of the oldest public markets in the United States and one of the best places to shop for unique and handmade goods.

The Powder Magazine which is the oldest public building in the Carolina’s. Currently a National Historic Landmark, it stored the powder used to defend Charleston.

Middleton Place and House Museum which is an 18th century plantation and home to America’s oldest landscaped gardens.

Great food can be found everywhere! Some of the restaurants that we enjoyed were High Cotton, Mercato, Kaminsky’s, and Muse Restaurant.

Travel Focus: New York City

Travel Focus: New York City

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We recently took a trip to New York City and had a wonderful time! There truly is something going on there at all hours of the day or night!  Trip highlights include great theater, great food, great sightseeing and great shopping! Doesn’t that sound like a winning formula?

As for theater, we saw “Jersey Boys” and “Anything Goes.” They are both musicals and were outstanding performances! “Jersey Boys” is about the evolution of the group, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, and featured their music. “Anything Goes” is a revival of Cole Porter’s romantic comedy. It takes place aboard an ocean-liner during the 1930’s. The costumes, dancing and music from that era are fabulous.

When it comes to restaurants, it is difficult to find a bad one in New York City! We had several unforgettable meals. “Victor’s Cafe” serves incredible Cuban food, that combined with the music and the ambiance transports you to what it must have been like in Old Havana. “The Russian Tea Room” is elegantly decorated in gold and red and serves delicious Russian cuisine that includes Chicken Kiev and Boeuf a la Stroganoff. The Borscht was the best that I have ever eaten.

Highlights in sightseeing were the 9/11 Memorial, Top of the Rock, the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, Chinatown and Little Italy.

As for shopping, a New York City staple that we do not have in Texas  is Bloomingdale’s on 59th Street! I managed to do some major damage there and in many of the individual shops along Fifth Avenue.

This is a vacation that is on the expensive side, but worth every penny!

Photo Credit: Free Digital Photos

56th Annual Houston International Boat, Sport & Travel Show

56th Annual Houston International Boat, Sport & Travel Show

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Dubbed as “way more than a boat show,” the 56th Annual Houston International Boat, Sport & Travel Show will be held January 6-15, 2012 at Reliant Center. This is the “largest indoor show for outdoor sports in the Southwest.”

More than 1000 boats of various types will be on display, in addition to campers, travel trailers, fishing equipment, and accessories.

Kids activities will include Bubble Runners and a Fish-o-rama, in which kids will have an opportunity to catch live fish.

For more information check out http://houstonboatshows.com.

 

Houston is a 2012 Winner of Two AAA Five Diamond Hotel Awards

Houston is a 2012 Winner of Two AAA Five Diamond Hotel Awards

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2012 is a good year for the Houston hotel industry. Two Houston hotels were awarded this prestgious designation.

The AAA five diamond award with regard to lodgings is defined as, “The ultimate in luxury and sophistication. Physical attributes are extraordinary in every manner. Fundmental hallmarks include meticulous service that exceeds guest expectations, impeccable standards of excellence and personalized services and amenities that provide an unmatched level of comfort.”

If you have discriminating out of town guests, or require a get-away for yourself, these two venues guarantee you an exceptional experience:

Four Seasons Hotel
1300 Lamar Street
Houston, Texas  77010
713-650-1300

The St. Regis Houston
1919 Briar Oaks Lane
Houston, Texas. 77027
713-840-7600