Win free travel on Social Media Day

by Chris Owen on

The second annual Social Media Day is tomorrow. A worldwide celebration of the revolution of media becoming social, meetings are scheduled around the world. It’s all about sharing, engaging and interacting and some hotels and resorts are offering deals, amenities, free nights, and even trip giveaways through different social media interactions.

Here’s how it works. Check each one of the properties listed below. Each has a different offer, done a different way. Some require simply visiting the properties Facebook page and liking them, others require a tweet or that you pay attention to their Twitter feed for special offers throughout the day. Setting up a special list on Twitter (I have one called “deals”) then adding a Tweetdeck column or simply paying attention to email alerts can give you a heads up for what to do or say. There are usually a few surprises mixed in these things so take a look at six reasons to stay wired on this day:

1) Sandpearl Resort / www.facebook.com/ClearwaterFlorida
Facebook users who “like” Sandpearl and post a photo of themselves on property (tagging Sandpearl Resort in their photo), receive 25% off an Ice Cream pedicure at the Spa. (must be booked on Social Media Day, but can be redeemed on a future date)

2) San Juan Marriott / www.facebook.com/sanjuanmarriott / @sanjuanmarriott
Keep an eye on the San Juan Marriott’s Facebook page and Twitter feed for offers throughout the day. The resort will be posting and sharing special “Social Media Day Only” offers such as free upgrades, complimentary drinks and value-added amenities.

3) Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino / @arubamarriott
Follow @ArubaMarriott on Twitter and on June 30, tweet the message: “Tweet me with a trip to @ArubaMarriott #SMDay” for an entry in to a drawing for a 3 night/4 day stay for two.

4) Marriott Costa Rica Collection / www.facebook.com/marriottcostarica
Post a photo of something you find beautiful in Costa Rica (for example, a sunset, a tonka tree, a scarlet macaw, ziplining, etc.) Then get your friends to “like” your photo and the photo with the most likes at the end of the day (midnight, EST) will win a free night at choice of any of the four Costa Rica Resorts.

5) St. Kitts Marriott Resort / www.facebook.com/stkittsmarriott
On June 30, visit St. Kitts Marriott’s Facebook page where you can answer the question posted in their status: “Which one of your friends is the most glued to his/her social networks?” Submit your answer on the resort’s Facebook wall and tag your socially addicted friend to receive a voucher for a 40% discount off a spa treatment at the Emerald Mist Spa.

6) JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa / www.facebook.com/JWMarriottCancun
CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort / www.facebook.com/casamagnacancun
Facebook users who tag themselves in a specified property photo (which will be announced on the resorts’ Facebook pages) on Social Media Day, will be entered to win a three night stay at the resort. Winners will be drawn at random.

Flickr photo by jmenard48

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Mooning Amtrak annual event in California July 9

by Meg Nesterov on

If you’re traveling through California by train next month, keep your eyes peeled for some special scenery in Orange County. On Saturday, July 9, exhibitionists, daredevils, and the just plain childish will gather in Laguna Niguel, drop their pants, and moon the passing Amtrak trains from early morning to late night. According to the excellent travel site Wish You Were Here, the event started 32 years ago as a bar dare (as these things do) at the Mugs Away Saloon and now draws thousands each year to participate in some good old-fashioned mooning.

You don’t have to participate to join in the fun, but we think going to watch a mooning event without participating is even weirder than joining a crowd of strangers to show your bare buttocks to a train of people. The event keeps going past 8pm, when the night mooning begins, which the official site claims is “more authentic” but does require additional lighting.

Check out all the details for the 32nd annual Mooning Amtrak here.

For more fun with trains, check out today’s Manhattan User’s Guide (not just for New Yorkers) for railroad history links and info.

Photo courtesy Flickr user Chuck “Caveman” Coker.

Ten fireworks displays worth a road trip to see

by Chris Owen on

America’s Independence Day on July 4th is traditionally celebrated by many with trips to the beach, picnics, barbecues and all-day fun capped off with a fireworks display. It’s a patriotic holiday for sure and one of the most expensive times of the year to travel commercially, second only to December holidays. So how about a road trip? Here are the top ten fireworks displays in the United States from FireworksGuide.com who tracks displays and shows worldwide, all worth a road trip to see:


Thunder Over Louisville– Kentucky Derby Festival Fireworks
The day-long event kicks off the two exciting weeks of events that are part of the annual Kentucky Derby Festival. The Thunder Air Show dazzles the crowd with more than 100 planes, aerobatics teams, daring sky diving teams and breathtaking stunts. When it gets dark, the Thunder rolls. The fireworks will feature the latest in pyrotechnic power from Zambelli Internationale, America’s “first family of fireworks”. Six barges that are 100-foot open top each assemble on both sides of the 2nd Street Bridge to form the stage from which the fireworks spectacular ignites.


Macy’s 4th of July– New York City.
Each year Macy’s kicks off the world’s largest fireworks display at approximately 9pm on July 4th. Four barges stationed between 23rd and 42nd Streets in the East River set off 20,000 aerial shells and special effects. There are electric set pieces on the barges, and the New York Fire Department gets in on the act with fire boats shooting red, clear, and blue water 300 feet over the river

Pops Concert at the Esplanade- Boston
Lionel Richie, will join maestro Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra for Boston’s 38th annual Fourth of July celebration, sponsored by Boston-based insurer Liberty Mutual Group and broadcast on CBS w/special Guest MC Michael Chiklis. The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular will conclude on July 4 with a 21-minute pyrotechnic extravaganza from Rozzi Fireworks, of Loveland, Ohio.

Sailfest– New London Connceticut
Sailfest is Southeastern Connecticut’s premiere summertime event attracting over 300,000 people over the three-day festival. Complete with a major fireworks display, amusement rides, free entertainment, Tall Ship, and over 100 vendors lining the downtown streets.Sailfest produces five stages of free entertainment with musical genres ranging in Rock, Celtic, Hip Hop, and Blues. Kids enjoy free shows and entertainment throughout the event.

Central PA 4th Fest– State College, Pennsylvania
Central Pennsylvania July 4, Inc. is a non-profit organization comprised of a team of volunteers and sponsors dedicated to celebrating America’s independence with a day of family fun and the best all-volunteer fireworks display in the nation. Volunteers are dedicated to work year-round and organize what has traditionally been a patriotic, family oriented event designed to serve local businesses and residents of Central Pennsylvania.

Independence Day Celebration Washington DC
The big event is the Capitol Fourth Concert on the West lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) and contemporary artists perform patriotic music, while the fireworks light up the sky. You don’t need tickets to attend this event but the “doors” open at 3:00PM and the best seats go fast, so get there early. Jimmy Smits will host this year’s event, and the performers include Reba McIntire, Gladys Knight, Darius Rucker, David Archuleta, and John Schneider. Plan for intense heat by dressing appropriately and drinking lots of fluids.

Welcome America! Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia’s 4th of July celebration where for eleven days we showcase all that America’s birthplace has to offer. Our fantastic title sponsor Wawa, Inc. is back for their second year helping to make this a Fourth of July you won’t want to miss. While most are familiar with our 4th of July concert and its place as the “Largest Free Concert in America”, there is also an entire week of additional activities to enjoy. For the second year in a row we are thrilled to offer not one, not two, but three spectacular fireworks shows that will light up Philadelphia’s night skies! We can’t wait to see you there!

Go 4th On The Bay– Long Island New York
This location will be the Gruccis flagship location for the Go 4th program featuring the US Army Team’s Salute to the “Raising of the Colors” to the National Anthem, the Bayport Aerodrome Society Flyover of Vintage Bi-wing Planes, and Sponsor Village at the Bay Shore Marina all to celebrate our nation’s 235th Birthday. The best and most spectacular viewing would be from the Captree Boat Fleet or your own boat. On land, good viewing would be from most of the Fire Island bay fronts and shorelines of the bay from Captree to Islip.

Fair St Louis– St Louis, Missouri
Fair Saint Louis invites you to “America’s Biggest Birthday Party” under the iconic Gateway Arch. The party begins with the 134th Annual Veiled Prophet Parade on Saturday, July 2 at 10 am Then it’s great concerts, dazzling air shows, spectacular fireworks, the K-Town Kids Zone and much more.

Greely Stampede– Greely, Colorado
Having something fun to do is easy at the Greeley Stampede, and has been for more than 85 years! Every day of the western celebration has something for the Northern Colorado community to do. From being shot up into the air on the Ejection Seat to sipping lemonade by the Free Stage, there’s something for everyone. The Greeley Stampede puts on one of the largest fireworks shows in the region. It has become a tradition to spend the 4th of July at Island Grove Park, viewing the fireworks production directly after the evening’s concert.

Flickr photo (top) by John_Brennan

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Barbecue and picnic tips for a safe, delicious (and seasonal) Fourth of July

by Laurel Miller on

For Americans, there’s no holiday more synonymous with eating outdoors than the Fourth of July. It’s the ultimate summer dining event, one that largely emphasizes regional foods and seasonal ingredients.

Tomatoes and corn are perhaps the two most iconic summer foods served on the Fourth (just because we live in an era where we can purchase certain ingredients yearound doesn’t mean they taste good). Other featured foods are more regional. Midwesterners are more likely to feature cherry pie and beef (happily, hamburgers are always in season). On the East Coast, clam bakes, lobster, and crab are more traditional than meat, but out West, it’s almost unthinkable to celebrate Independence without firing up the barbecue. In the South, pit barbecue is a permanent staple, as is fried chicken. But the Fourth of July also means sweet tea, pickles, chilled watermelon, peach cobbler. Potato salad, on the other hand, is a nationally ubiquitous dish, but the recipe often varies regionally.

All of the above are stereotypes, of course. Yet, looking back on the states I’ve lived in or visited for the Fourth, I can see the menus usually had a sense of place. I grew up in Southern California, so if we weren’t grilling beef tri-tip or at the beach, we’d hit up KFC for a pre-fireworks picnic in the park. I’ll be the first to admit that a bucket of fried chicken and “fixin’s” is about as devoid of terroir as you can get, but for millions of Americans, it’s emblematic Fourth fare (my mom is definitely not alone in her dislike of cooking). When I lived in Hawaii for a summer, I went to a co-worker’s luau, and in Colorado, we’d grill corn and lamb or beef.

Wherever you live, whatever you serve, al fresco dining can present food safety hazards–most of which are temperature and sanitation-related. Fortunately, a few simple steps can ensure your food stays safe, so you can have a foodborne illness-free holiday. Because E.coli should never be on the menu, regional, seasonal, or otherwise.

After the jump, food prep, storage, and transportation tips for healthy holiday dining:

  • As obvious as it sounds, wash your hands before preparing food, and after handling raw meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs. If you’re assembling an outdoor meal, wash as often as necessary: pack antibacterial gel and hand wipes if you don’t have access to hot running water and soap. And remember: you need to scrub for at least twenty seconds to kill germs.
  • Avoid cross-contamination by using a separate cutting board and knife for raw proteins such as the above. Alternatively, wash knives and cutting surfaces with hot water and soap or diluted bleach before using for other ingredients. The same practice goes for grilling: always use separate or clean utensils and plates for the transfer of raw and cooked proteins.
  • Bacteria breed more quickly in a hot climate, so plan menus accordingly. As a general rule of thumb, food can be safely kept at room temperature for about two hours (the USDA has more specific views on the subject: click here for details). You don’t need to be paranoid–our germophobic culture isn’t building stronger immune systems for future generations–but don’t be stupid, either. As the saying goes, “If in doubt, throw it out.”
  • Use a cooler filled with ice or ice packs to keep cold foods chilled until ready to cook or eat. Storing food in separate Tupperware (or other reusable) containers keeps ingredients fresh, dry, and free from cross-contamination, so you can assemble on-site.
  • If you’re planning an outdoor meal where you don’t have access to refrigeration, it’s best to skip ingredients such as mayonnaise or other egg-derived foods; fresh or soft cheeses or other fresh or fluid dairy products, and raw meat or seafood dishes (oyster shooters: not a good idea). Cured meats and hard or aged cheeses are safer bets.
  • Produce, as we’ve all learned from the media, can also harbor foodborne illness. The culprit is usually poor sanitation. Wash produce prior to use, and be sure to bring anti-bacterial hand gel and wipes so everyone can clean their hands before digging in.
  • Don’t allow leftovers to fester in the sun or attract insects. Wrap things up and get them back in the cooler or refrigerator.
  • Be sustainable. If it’s not feasible to use your usual silver- and dinnerware, look for reusable, recyclable, or compostable products made from bamboo, sugar cane, palm leaf, or recycled, unbleached paper. Instead of paper napkins, opt for cloth. Pack leftovers in reusable containers to cut down on plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Bring a container to take compostable scraps (excluding meat, dairy, and seafood) with you, if you have a facility that will accept them. If you can’t use your leftovers, donate them to a homeless shelter or other facility for those in need.

[Photo credits: burgers, Flickr user Markusram; hands, Flickr user wiccked; cooler, Flickr user Rubbermaid Products;

Alternatives to fireworks for July 4th

by Elizabeth Seward on


It’s been 35 years since the city of Austin canceled its July 4th fireworks display, but due to the extreme drought in Travis County, Austin‘s fiery light show has been canceled. Because of the hot, dry, and windy conditions in this section of Texas, the Travis County Fire Marshal decided not to approve any permits for fireworks throughout the county. “We just can’t take that chance”, said Austin’s Fire Chief, Rhonda Mae Kerr. And although I’m disappointed, as an Austin resident who loves fireworks, I’m also comforted, as an Austin resident who doesn’t want to see my house burn down.

So what’s a July 4th celebration without the big bang of those patriotic fireworks? I’ve been doing some brainstorming. I’ve been tracking my memories of July 4th events back to, well, as far as I can remember, and I’ve come up with some tried and true and undeniably traditional ways to celebrate July 4th for those of you also currently living under a burn ban.

  • Grill. As far back as I can remember, grilling has been a part of my July 4th celebrations. I spent several July 4ths in NYC at a party where I was unable to actually see the fireworks shooting off into the thick city air, but still able to successfully grill. An old-fashioned cook-out, even sans fireworks, is a perfectly fine way to spend your holiday.
  • Bake. If you’re hosting or attending a cook-out, summon the baker in you and bring something red, white, and blue to the table. From American flag cakes to red and blue M&M cookies, show your team spirit for America with one of the most popular things in America: sugar.
  • Go outside. One of the things the USA has going for it is the outdoors. No matter where in the states you reside, there’s natural beauty awaiting exploration throughout this country. As a nod to our founding fathers, spend the day outside. Whether you’re soaking up the sun while lounging on a boat or hiking deep within the forest’s shade, you’ll be honoring America by spending some time in its great outdoors.
  • Embrace community. Independence Day has long been a day reserved for community activities. Even if you rarely get out and involved with your community, Independence Day is a good time to start. Honor your country via its residents. Take advantage of the parades, concerts, parties, and other events the members of your community have organized to celebrate this holiday.
  • Dress to Confess–confess your pride in being an American, that is. Red, white, and blue are the colors of the day. Do it up! (And then take photos and tag yourself on Facebook so all of your friends abroad know just how American you are).
  • Faux Fireworks. If you need to have some sort of firework action in your life on the holiday, but you can’t have actual fireworks, then go for some fauxworks. What are fauxworks? Videos of fireworks going off projected onto the wall of your house, fireworks sounds blasting from your speakers, images of fireworks tacked anywhere you can see them, or even a light show aimed to emulate the sparkling rockets.

If you have ideas on how to fill the firework void for those living in a firework-free zone, please comment! Let us know. The more ideas those of us living in these areas have, the more like a regular July 4th this one will be.