Travel

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.)

Then there's the bazillion carnival rides outdoors and the nightly concerts with big name acts like Hannah Montana.

The best show of all is the riding competition. I loved sitting in Reliant Stadium, watching cowboys do their best to stay on a bucking bronco for 8 seconds. And who could be bored when guys come galloping into the ring and jump off their horses to wrestle a steer to the ground? Now if Tim McGraw could do that, I'd be impressed.

The whole thing is a real Texas -- make that Houston -- tradition. It doesn't feel touristy at all. It feels authentic -- and fun.

The next rodeo is March 3-22. Catch it if you can...

Posted by Lori Rackl at 04:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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.

It started with a notice from the cruise ship, telling me that Russian law requires that travelers have a designated sponsor during their visit in St. Pete. The ground operator who handles the shore excursions can legally only assume responsibility when guests are actively engaged on the cruise ship's sanctioned excursions. Individual visas will be required for anyone wanting to go ashore on their own.

Yikes. The visas cost something like $100 and look like a gigantic pain to apply for. And the cruise ship's excursions are expensive -- not just because they always are, but because they know most people aren't going to want to bother with applying for visas on their own.

I've heard some big downsides to going with the cruise operator on St. Pete excursions. For example, you can get stuck in a large group and have very little flexibility to see or do what interests you.

On the flip side, going solo has its obvious drawbacks, like not having the tour operator clout to cut the infamously long line at the Hermitage.

My limited Internet research tells me there are some independent tour groups who are a good middle ground alternative for those who don't want to go with the cruise ship or on their own. Apparently they serve as your sponsor, so there's no need for you to get the visa.

Has anyone out there had any experience with one of these independent tour companies?

Did your cruise line do everything in its power to steer you away from that option?

I'd love to hear about it...

Posted by Lori Rackl at 04:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

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.

Be patient, though. I'm in California at the moment and it might take me a little time to check the comments.

Thanks!

Lori

Posted by Lori Rackl at 05:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

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.

I mean, he can't even bother to integrate his concert tickets into a travel package. The link to "Buy Kanye Concert Tickets With Your Travel" is a link to Ticketmaster. Gee, thanks.

What made Kanye think hawking cheap hotel rates was a good idea? The site is almost as funny as this recent exchange among two readers commenting on the site on the Washington Post's blog:

Just curious. Is this one of those travel companies that gets up trips for perverts to go molest children? Did you REALLY think that you could blog about him, and NOT have someone comment on his dispicable proclivities?

Posted by: | April 24, 2008 4:08 PM

Kanye West, a molester? I think you're confusing him with R. Kelly, unless you're referring to West's collaboration last fall with Michael Jackson. Of course, if you have some insider gossip about West himself, please share!

Posted by: Christina Talcott | April 24, 2008 4:21 PM

Posted by Lori Rackl at 04:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

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...

Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, Wis., has a "celebrate mother" package that's valid from May 1 to June 30. It includes two evenings' accommodations in a deluxe suite with king bed and whirlpool, dinner at Lola's restaurant ($100 dining certificate), relaxation massage with facial at the spa and a one-day culinary workshop at Jill Prescott's cooking school. Oh yeah: you get truffles and champagne on arrival. The Osthoff is about a three-hour drive from Chicago, and it's a AAA Four-Diamond property. Call (800) 876-3399 or go to the Osthoff's web site.

Posted by Lori Rackl at 04:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)