For three weeks in March, Houston gets overtaken with what has to be the world's largest rodeo and livestock show.

I had the pleasure of attending this past March, just a day before Barack Obama dropped by to sit on a tractor and have a photo op. I missed Barack stump, but I did get to see Tim McGraw sing. Bor-ing.

Thankfully, the rest of the rodeo didn't disappoint. Tons of 4H-type exhibits are part of the show, and it was pretty cool watching baby chicks pluck their way out of their eggs and talking to breeders about the market value of prized cattles' sperm, which you can buy at the rodeo if you're so inclined. I was not.

This really is a great family event to build a vacation around. You can take the kids to the rodeo's petting zoo and they'll be entertained for hours walking past rows of tractors and farm equipment and animals ready to give birth on the spot. (They do, too. That's part of the show.)

I'm taking a Baltic cruise this summer, and I recently found out that exploring St. Petersburg won't be nearly as easy -- or inexpensive -- as I'd thought.

I figured it was just like any of the other ports we're stopping at. I'd get off the boat, poke around the Hermitage, walk the streets, do a shot or two of vodka and that's that.

Oh boy, was I wrong.

If you picked up Sunday's Travel section, you might have seen the question asking for the two countries in the world that start with the letter A but end in a letter other than A.

Be the first to reply here with the correct answer and you'll win a copy of Fodor's European Ports of Call book.

Remember a time when musical artists weren't so quick to sell out?

Ah, the good old days.

What's up with this infinitely mediocre discount travel Web site by rapper and producer Kanye West? I know the site has gotten better over the past few weeks, but it's still not good.

Want to put on the Ritz for mom this Mother's Day? The Ritz-Carlton at Amelia Island, Fla., is offering an array of champagne-infused spa treatments priced from $85 to $175 for the month of May.

There's also a lavish Mother's Day brunch this Sunday that costs $65 a person, as well as a Mother's Day getaway that includes two nights' accommodations in an ocean view room, champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries on arrival, breakfast for two each morning, overnight valet parking and late checkout. The package starts at $1,139. Call (800) 241-3333 or go to the Ritz web site.

For a few options closer to home...