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2009-07-20T04:54:00.000-07:00

Check out GoSightsee on Twitter and get the latest travel deals via tweets: http://twitter.com/GoSightsee.

AirTran Drops Prices Now Through July 28!

2009-07-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

Hot Spots, Cool Prices! Fly Each Way from $39 on AirTran!

Hugo's Frog Bar and Fish House - Chicago, IL

2009-04-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

We were recently in Chicago for a week and had the good fortune to experience a number of great dining experiences. Chicago has all the culinary offerings of an American "big city", but really seems to differentiate itself when it comes to Service. Maybe it's because the SoCal restaurants are much more laid back. Or maybe it's because they aren't surrounded by as much immediate competition as the restaurants in Chicago. I don't know, but in almost every place we ate dinner all week, we had our tables scraped between courses and interacted with a variety of busboys and waitstaff at our table who were all very warm and friendly. And not liek they were goign through the motions because of where we were eating. I can go to any upscale restaurant and expect the service to be prompt and polite, but too often it comes off as stuffy or cold. In Chiago, it was like we were regulars everywhere we went, even though we had never been to any of these places before.

Now, I had always heard from friends and colleagues that Chicago has a great dining scene. Everyone has their "don't miss" spot, be it a hole-in-the-wall joint that it seems only "locals" know about, or it's one of the highlights of the city's downtown restaurant scene. In Chicago, it's agood bet that either will deliver on the expectations. But sometimes the best dining experiences can come when you least expect it. I'm talking about the times when you expect a place to be good, but it suprises you by being rip-the-rug-out-from under-you fantastic! Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House overwhelming gave us this enchanting dining experience.

Located directly next door to and owned by the same guys who own Gibson's Steakhouse, Hugo's menu features fish, steak, and chops (overall leaning slightly more towards seafood - which shouldn't be a surprise given the name of the establishment.) It's on-par with pricing for other upscale restaurants in this North River neighborhood, but the portions are giant (more later) and the service a notch above Chicago's already high level of table service. Most of the meals are served by themselves, with sides ala carte. But our waiter warned us that the sides, which were reasonably priced (starting at $5.50) serve two people. I can see that with mashed potatoes, Crawfish mac 7 Cheese, or the various veggies, because that's not uncommon at other higher-end steak houses. But I figured at $5.50, the baked potato or sweet potato would be an average size, which is normally a perfect portion for us.

it was freezing out that evening and we definitely wanted something to warm us up. Our waiter recommended we try the Bookbinder's Soup, which they make from scratch everyday. Neither of us knew what it was. And darn if I can remember everything he said (he was very well-informed about the preparation of items on the menu), but I can tell you it is a tomato-broth based soup with green (and red?) peppers, celery, carrots, and whitefish. I think he could tell we were uncertain still and he told us that whenever he's served it to someone trying it for the first time, they have always told him they really enjoyed it. We were feeling a little adventurous to try something new, so we tried a bowl. Really good. Wow! I have no other Bookbinder's Soup to compare it to, but can honestly tell you I will look for it in other restarants now.

After also splitting a house salad, we ordered the blackened salmon sandwich on ciabbata roll for our entree (in the picture below). It normally comes with fries, but we asked to sub a baked sweet potato instead. Imagine our suprise when the waiter brought us this:

It was whole when he brought it, but, man was this yam huge!. There's a little bit of enlargement due to the angle of the camera, but let me point out a few things here.

(1) That is a full-size steak knife jammed to its hilt in HALF of that potato.

(2) That is not a bread plate. That plate is the same size as the one behind it with half of the salmon sandwich on it. And you see how far the yam stretches across it, right?

Did I mention the sweet potato was huge?

Anyway, our wait offered us butter or brown sugar, which he fetched and returned to the table with in separate containers. Normally, they leave you with these items to do with as you please. Not the waiters at Hugo's Frog Bar. Our waiter dumped the brown sugar into the melted butter and stirred and swirled it with a fork until the mixture was evenly blended. Then he drenched the potato in the rich buttery sauce. Now, that's the kind of service I'm telling you differentiates Chiacgo from some of the places I've been.

Unfortunately, we were too stuffed to try any dessert, but you bet we'll be thinking about it when we are in Chicago again. In the meantime, we highly recommend you taking in a meal or two at Hugo's the next time you are in Chicago.

Farecast Says: Holiday Airfares Going Up This Year

2008-08-31T10:56:00.000-07:00

Airfares for the holidays are up over 30% percent from 2007. Travelers could be spending upwards of $100 more per ticket than last year. So it is important to keep these tips in mind:

Be flexible with your travel dates. If you have flexibility you will be rewarded with big savings. Returning on Monday or Tuesday versus Sunday may save you more than $90 per ticket.

Watch October for holiday price drops. Most previous late December itineraries saw price drops in the first two weeks of October. Farecast data suggest there are 50% more price drops during the holidays than other times of the year, so alerts are critical to catch elusive deals.

If you're traveling from a big market you should wait. Major markets are much more likely to see price drops this Fall, and you should closely monitor for lower fares before purchasing. If you're flying out of smaller/regional airports, you should buy as soon as you find a fare you're comfortable in.

You will pay more this year. Unless you find the deal of the season, you will pay more for holiday flights than in years past. You should accept this and not hold out for a lower fare. It likely won't come, and the cost will just continue to rise.

Check Farecast for more airfare predictions >

Hotel Rates Drop Up To 20% From Last Year

2008-08-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

Breaking news: Some hotels at key vacation destinations are significantly lowering rates to counterbalance a rise in airfare prices. In many cases, overall trip costs have not increased above 2007 trip costs.

A typical eight day trip for two to Miami in September saw airfare prices increase $109 compared to last year, but hotels are $173 less expensive, meaning the total trip cost has dropped $64. -- Farecast press release August 20th, 2008.

The trend holds true for many destinations in Hawaii and Florida. This is particularly interesting for Hawaii, which this year has seen some of the steepest fare increases of any destination. Nationally, hotel rates are about even with last year, but rates at leisure destinations such as Hawaii and Florida are down as much as 20 percent.

Learn more at Farecast.com >

INDYFANS and the Quest for Fortune & Glory

2008-05-05T12:32:00.000-07:00

On Sunday April 27th, Brandon Kleyla premiered an hour of footage from his new film Indyfans and the Quest for Fortune and Glory as part of the Newport Beach Film Festival at the Lido Theater.
I loved what Brandon Kleyla has put together in this film. The movie is a not only a celebration of the cultural icon created by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, but a fairly in-depth look at the people who helped bring Indiana Jones to life both on and off the big screen. Kleyla, who was too young to see any of the original three Indy films in theaters, fell head over heals for Indy when he first watched the Indiana Jones stunt show at Disney's MGM Studios. Sine then, Kleyla has amassed what is reported to be one of the largest Indiana Jones memorabilia collections in the world.

Kleyla's film chronicles many facets of Indyfandom, including Deborah Nadoolman-Landis' design and creation of Indiana Jones' wardrobe, Disney Imagineers Tony Baxter and Tim Kirk's contributions to creating the various Indiana Jones themed shows and rides in the Disney parks, and numerous fan experiences ranging from Dads who took their little kids to watch filming of the new movie, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, in New Haven to Lucas and Spielberg's Kingdom of the Crystal Skull announcements at 2007's San Diego Comic Con.

Kleyla told the audience that the reason he only had an hour to show is that this footage only represents a few of the highlights he strung together strictly for screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival. He says he continues to edit it and is indeed still filming pieces through July. I suspect he couldn't in good faith complete this ultimate fan documentary of Indiana Jones without covering the opening of the new movie. The mention of "filming through July" leads me to wonder if Brandon also plans to cover Indy-related happenings at this year's San Diego Comic Con (rumor is that there will be an Indiana Jones panel in addition to other confirmed things.)

Also attending the film's screening were costumed actors dressed as the titular archaeologist, Marion Ravenwood, The Monkey Man (from Raiders), Willie Scott (Temple of Doom), Short Round, and even a guy dressed as Mutt Williams, the character being played by Shia LeBeouf in in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

After the film as a Q&A session with the filmmakers and some of the film's guests, including Tony Baxter and Tim Kirk.

I got this nifty Indyfans t-shirt for correctly guessing a few questions in the Indy Trivia game we played inthe theater before the screening.

The plan is to show this one hour footage of the film again outside the Big Newport theater at Fashion Island in Newport Beach just before the midnight showing of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on May 21. So, if you're in the Orange County area, be sure to at least stop by and check it out. According to the Indyfans website, the screening of Brandon's film will be outside the theater, so in theery, you shouldn't even need a ticket to the new Indy film to enjoy the screening of Brandon's fanumentary.

For more info on the new Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull film, check out the official website.

The New Disney Dream Suite

2008-03-14T13:20:00.000-07:00

Tucked inside Walt Disney's former apartment at Disneyland theme park, the new Disney Dream Suite has just debuted. The exclusive overnight accommodations are elegant and are located in New Orleans Square above the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. The Suite also offers a wonderful view of Fantasmic from it's private balcony. Check out the new Disney Dream Suite.

Visit the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California

2008-03-01T07:27:00.000-08:00

Experience the vibrant waves of color that covers the hillsides at The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch in Southern California. This wonderful annual display of horticultural beauty opens in March and promises to welcome you into a sea of floral color and aromatic delights. You will get to view the 50-plus acres of breathtaking Giant Tecolote Ranunculus, abundant roses in the All American Rose Garden, the world famous Ecke poinsettias and tour the entire ranch on an exciting tractor ride that is fun for the whole family, young and old. It's truly amazing to see acres and acres of brightly colored flowers.

The Flowers Fields is the only commercial ranunculus field in the world that is open to the public. The Flower Fields entertains and educates visitors of all ages from morning to dusk with flourishing gardens and community activities from March 1 through May 11. Located in Carlsbad, California, east of Interstate 5 off Palomar Airport Road, near LEGOLAND, California and Carlsbad Premium Outlets, The Flower Fields are open daily from 9am to 6pm.

Stay at The Flamingo on the Las Vegas Strip

2008-02-18T13:59:00.000-08:00

The Flamingo Hotel and Casino is a great place to stay for less on the Las Vegas Strip. Comfortable rooms, an ideal location, and a generous breakfast buffet make this often lower-priced Vegas hotel a good option.

Voted to have one of the best pools on The Strip, the Flamingo is ideal for couples and families alike. On the way to the pools, you'll find a wildlife habitat. Adults will enjoy the lap pool and numerous lagoons. Kids will enjoy the 2-3 pool slides that are open during the Summer season.

Learn more about The Flamingo

Shopping Off the Beaten Path: Cabazon

2008-02-10T16:37:00.000-08:00

Cabazon, California is out in the desert (near Palm Springs) and about an hour and a half from the city of Los Angeles. The drive can be lengthy, but worthwhile when you see the enormous dinosaurs standing less than a mile past the Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon. The dinosaurs are classic roadside kitsch that has to be seen to be believed.

These intriguing creatures were built over fifty years ago and were designed by the same artist who designed the original Knott's Berry Farm attractions. For a small fee, you can actually climb the three-story stairs inside of the T-Rex and look out through his mouth! You can also shop inside the Apatosaurus (the gift shop is located inside) for free. My favorite souvenirs from Cabazon are a "smooshed" or pressed penny featuring the Tyrannasaurus Rex and a postcard with his likeness that says "Send More Tourists!"

The dinosaur gift shop is open winter hours 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. They have an extended schedule and hours during holidays. The World's Biggest Dinosaurs are located in Cabazon California at Highway 10 and the Main Street exit, 13 miles west of Palm Springs. Learn more about the Cabazon dinosaurs.

Quick Shopping Tip: Take your AAA Card into the Guest Services Center at the Desert Hills Premium Outlets and they'll give you a coupon book with money-saving offers for free.

Eat at The Oceanarium on Oahu

2008-01-18T19:29:00.000-08:00

While vacationing in Waikiki, Hawaii recently, we had the pleasure of dining in The Oceanarium restaurant inside the Pacific Beach Hotel. The up-scale restaurant featured a huge aquarium that took up an entire wall. The wall serves as a window into this giant aquarium filled with a variety of fish and rays as well as the occasional scuba diver who not only popped in to feed the fish, but would also hold signs with messages to diners (ie: "Happy Birthday Sally!").

In addition to the amusing aquarium antics, we also enjoyed the food. The Oceanarium offers an extensive buffet for holiday meals that includes a variety of selections including assorted sushi, traditional Hawaiian dishes, traditional holiday dishes with a Pacific flair, fresh fish, shrimp, and several types of crab legs as well as salads and desserts.

Not to be missed is their signature pineapple drink, the "smoking pineapple." Big enough to be shared by two, this tasty alcoholic mixed drink is the perfect accompaniment to this Hawaiian dining experience. Served in an oversized hollowed-out pineapple, this fruity concoction is a blend of pineapple, banana, and coconut flavors and the pineapple sits atop a bed of dry ice, which creates a mist that seeps out from underneath...a very cool drink which turns the heads of the nearby diners.

Tea, Lace, and Roses Victorian Tea House

2008-01-07T13:18:00.000-08:00

My sister threw me a wonderful bridal shower at a new Victorian Tea House in my hometown. Located just off of Main Street in Culpeper, Virginia, the Tea, Lace, and Roses Tea House was a beautiful and unique place to have a bridal shower.

The rooms are elegantly decorated in roses and lace. Guests get to select a hat from a large selection of garden-party style hats and feathered boas. Once each guest chooses a hat, the party can be seated to begin their three-course tea. Our tea included three different types of brewed tea, finger sandwiches, stuffed peppers and figs, and delicious scones with jam and cream. Although I'm generally not much of a tea drinker, I found myself trying all three types. They were each delicious in their own way, but my favorite was the traditional wedding tea.

Tea, Lace, and Roses is the ideal setting for bridal showers, baby showers, girly birthday parties, and children's tea parties. Although the decorations are very feminine, it's also a great place for couples to stop in and have tea and a bite to eat. Upstairs, they offer an assortment of tea-related gifts and trinkets for purchase.

Location: 123 West Davis Street; Culpeper, Virginia 22701
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday - 11:00 am to 4:30 pm

Culpeper has grown a lot in the past ten years. The tea house is yet another nice addition to the bakery, antique shops, and specialty boutiques that now line Main Street and Davis Street. Whether you're headed to Culpeper, or just passing through, Tea, Lace, and Roses is definitely worth a visit.

Wankers Corner Saloon & Cafe - Wilsonville, OR

2007-12-12T17:40:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Finky the Kid here with another dining review.

I was on a business trip in Portland, Oregon last month and when I saw the name of this place I knew I had to stop for lunch.

Wanker's Corner (pronounced "Wang - kers" - it's an Aussie thing) is a local eatery that boasts its Americana and Australiana proudly inside, covering their walls with more kitschy knick-knacks than a Cracker Barrel. Which is one of the things that makes the atmosphere cool and utterly casual. So casual that they invite you to throw the shells from the basket of peanuts they bring to your table right onto the ground.

Their menu is somewhat more extensive than I expected before walking through their door, covering the bar basics like burgers, salads, and steak and fish, as well as wrap sandwiches, tex-Mex, and an "Anti-Carb" selection (like tuna steak or 1/2 lb grilled ground beef with veggies). There's also Gardenburgers, a Veggie Sandwich (served cold) and wrap, and a rice bowl with veggies and black beans for non-meat eaters.

Wanker's makes their own microbrew beer and on Friday and Saturday nights they have music and dancing with only $1 cover charge, which goes to benefit the Oregon Food Bank.

So, if you're in the southern suburbs of Portland sometime, give Wanker's a shot. The food is down-home good and they don't mind if you leave your nuts on the floor.

Jazmoz Bourbon Street Cafe

2007-11-14T12:43:00.000-08:00

While on business travel in Oklahoma City, my colleagues and I checked out Jazmoz Bourbon Street Cafe. Located near the Marriott (within walking distance), the restaurant has a New Orleans theme and delicious food!

We tried fried okra as an appetizer...it was delectable. Then, I enjoyed their Seafood Saute: Lobster, shrimp and crab baked with Duchess potatoes, Swiss and Parmesan cheese and fresh sauteed vegetables. It was amazing. For dessert, we tried the bread pudding (without raisins) and it was scrumptious.

The outdoor patio seemed much livelier than the indoor seating while we were there. The staff is friendly and helpful. They even have their own seasoning available for purchase.

Where to eat in San Diego - City Deli

2007-10-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

There are a ton of great eating establishments in the city of San Diego, but the City Delicatessen in Downtown's Hillcrest neighborhood is a fantastic place for an informal breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Or have a late-night bite on Friday and Saturday when they're open til 2am.

I stumbled upon the City Deli when looking for lunch a few weeks back after a site inspection. It had been nearly 8 hours since I ate breakfast and I was famished. Everything on the menu sounded good. And so did all the baked desserts I passed on my way into the joint. What's a boy to do?

The expansive menu left me waffling between several different choices, but I eventually settled on the grilled eggplant sandwich, which was deli-sized BIG and complete with potato salad and a pickle from the tableside bowl. The discerning deli diner will be happy to know there's also an assortment of mustards on the table to customize your sandwich "just-so". Although the pickles were not quite the spiced-up half-done affair one might expect from a true NY Deli, this ain't NY and I still give them an A for effort. It's rare to encounter a deli in Souther California that still puts pickles on the table.

The menu has a full compliment of homestyle offerings (Stuffed cabbage, shortribs, chicken pot pie, brisket), traditional deli faves (double and triple decker deli sandwiches, reubens, rachaels, knockwurst), and a few SoCal additions (Spinach lasagna, Mahi burger, Meatless reubens and veggieburgers, steamed veggie plate).

I also need to comment on the great redskin potato salad. I had been craving redskin potato salad since July 4th, but apparently it's hard to find it the way I like it (and used to find it easily back East): no bacon, minimal to no pieces of hard-boiled egg. Thank you City Deli for finally satiating my potato salad craving!

I washed it down with a Dr. Brown's cream soda (how can you not?) But if I were there for dinner, I might be tempted to try one of their handful of Israeli wines.

As I finished eating, I realized that big, ole sandwich platter had been delicious but left me with two regrets.

1) Why did it have to taste so good that I'm now too full to eat one of those incredibly tempting brownies from up front?

2) Why can't there be delis like this in central/southern Orange County?

So, I ended up buying a brownie to have after dinner later. And ya know what? It was worth the wait. Because it lived up to the anticipation which built all afternoon AND because I made sure to eat a small enough dinner to leave room to savor the brownie afterward. And savor it I did- with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

City Deli is a convenient location in trendy Hillcrest for a casual meal with friends (or alone, like I was.) The servers were friendly, upbeat, and displayed a pretty good sense of humor, which you might underestimate until you have one that seems pained even to smile. Not so at City Deli!

City Deli - go have yourself a nosh!

City Deli is located at:
535 University Ave (on the corner of University and 5th)
San Diego, CA 92103
619-295-2747

Test Your Geography Knowledge with a Cool Online Game

2007-10-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

Check out this new game that tests your geographic smarts while helping you learn geography.

Lingo24 Web Whereabouts is a new web geography educational game provided by a Translation Service.

Test your geography knowledge!

Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland

2007-10-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

Disneyland is celebrating the Fall season and Halloween in a big way. The Haunted Mansion has been converted into "Haunted Mansion Holiday" incorporating the characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Everything's been redone including the music, the story, and much more.

There are Halloween decorations up around the Park. These fun and festive additions are seasonal, but not scary. The decorations include giant pumpkins shaped liked Disney characters and lots of fall leaves and merchandise throughout the Park. They are perfect for children and Disney lovers.

Also check out Woody's Round-Up near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It's decked with fall decorations around a special show featuring Woody, the cowboy toy from Toy Story. Kids can participate in crafts and buy special seasonal snacks.

New posts soon - I promise!

2007-09-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

Finky the Kid here...

Just wanted to let you know that Sightseer and I have been travelling alot lately and thus the lag in recent posts. However, we should have some new trip reports in the next few weeks covering things in Oakland, San Jose, San Diego, Las Vegas, and possibly Oklahoma.

Stay tuned and thanks for reading!

The Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston

2007-09-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

This was the first year that golf has instituted a playoffs system. Over Labor Day weekend, Boston was home to the 2nd event, The Deutsche Bank Championship in the PGA TOUR Playoffs. All of the high-profile players were in town and competed including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Adam Scott.

There were a week's worth of events going on for families and children in the New England area in addition to the competition. Check out dbchampionship.com to learn more.

Where to eat in Redding, CA

2007-09-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

Finky the Kid here...

Let's say you find yourself up in northern California and your stomach is growling something fierce - where do you go to grab a bite? How about the Black Bear Diner.
Now, I learned two things during my 23.5 hours in Redding:

1. If it's summer and it's only 99 degrees at 2pm, it's considered "not so hot" (out-of-towners like me don't realize that the temps soar here during the "summer", but it's no desert.)

2. The Black Bear Diner will easily satisfy the appetite of even the largest mammal.

The menu is full of "comfort food" favorites: for breakfast there's omelettes & scambles, pancakes and waffles, steak and eggs, and 3 kinds of eggs benedict. For lunch and dinner the selections range from burgers (including Gardenburgers), hot sandwiches, meatloaf, pot roast, to salads, steaks, ribs, fish, chicken.

I had strawberry french toast for breakfast, which consisted of three oversized slices of hot french toast, slathered with fresh-cut berries (none of that ice cream topping stuff), and a continental divide of whipped cream bisecting the whole thing. I ordered a side of eggs for some protein, but I'd have been full without it.

Breakfast made such an impression, I drove back for a late lunch. This time I enjoyed the fried cod sandwich with Gilroy-style garlic fries and slaw. The sandwich consisted of two thick, batter-fried cod strips, a little melted cheddar, and a mess of "fixins" (tomato, pickle slice, red onion). The slaw was standard, but the garlic fries were outstanding. Not for the light-heartedly garlic tolerant. These things mean business. I smelled the garlic before the plate actually hit the table. Minced garlic all over the fries. There was even enough to spoon a little garlic into the sandwich.

Black Bear also offers some huge, delicious looking pies and cobblers, but after being so stuffed with the main course, there was no room for pie. Check them out on their website, though.

When in Redding (or near any of their other 36 locations) stop at the Black Bear. It's not the typical "greasy spoon", either. With 7-grain almond granola cakes (breakfast), Gardenburgers, salads, and an open invitation on their menu to substitute and mix n' match anything you want on the menu, just about everyone can find something to eat.

Be sure to pick up a souvenir for you or your little cubs from their Bear Store, too.

Black Bear Diner (Redding)
2605 Hilltop Dr.
Redding, CA 96002
(530) 221-7600

PS- Redding has the cutest little airport I've ever seen. This is it below. No, seriously - this is IT. One building. No jetways. Parking starts at $0.50. I love this place!

Welcome to Redding, CA. It may be 105 degrees, but you'll never have a long walk to your car.

Universal Studios Hollywood

2007-08-12T21:02:00.000-07:00

We went to Universal Studios Hollywood last weekend. The last time that we had been there was eight years ago, before we moved to Southern California.

Here's what's going on at Universal Studios this summer:

E.T. was replaced by The Mummy ("scary" rollercoaster that goes forward and backwards in the dark) a few seasons ago. The ride still seemed popular with nearly hour-long waits throughout the day.
Speaking of the recently departed, Beetlejuice no longer has his "graveyard revue" show, but can still be seen roaming the Park for photo ops. I believe that the former Beetlejuice show venue has been transformed into Fear Factor Live.
The Wild West Stunt Show is closed. It doesn't look like they're working on its replacement yet.
Jurassic Park is still a popular ride with lines in excess of an hour, especially after lunch. It's being marketed as "wetter than ever." Watch for camouflaged employees armed with squirt bottles near the queues and the exit.
Back to the Future is the same...like going back in time when the technology was new.
The Waterworld stunt show still proves more entertaining than the actual movie (and stars real Hollywood stunt people from Heroes and Lost).
Shrek 4-D is a fun indoor 3-D show that was more entertaining than expected. If you liked the movies, you'll also enjoy this new show.
The Universal Studios Backlot Tour is 45 minutes long and includes a tour of the normal backlot area with "Courthouse Square" as seen in Back to the Future, Gremlins, and To Kill a Mockingbird; as well as King Kong, Earthquake, and Jaws scenes. What used to be the parting of the red seas is now converted into a Skull Island scene for Peter Jackson's King Kong. There's also a brief interaction with two robotic hot rod cars from The Fast and the Furious - Tokyo Drift. You'll also see numerous props and movie cars (Back to the Future II, Animal House, The Mummy, and more).

The backlot area that used to be "Site B" from Jurassic Park - The Lost World was converted into a giant plane wreck in a suburban neighborhood when Steven Spielberg shot War of the Worlds. Universal left it intact for the backlot tour to drive through. Speaking of drive-thrus, as we drove around the backlot, live filming was going on for On the Lot, as well as the Wisteria Lane set for Desperate Housewives...proof that there's always something filming on Universal's backlot...even on the weekend.

Coming up in future posts: where to eat at Universal Studios, front-of-the-line and all-you-can-eat passes, MasterCard paypasses, and more!

Quick visit to the Quad Cities

2007-08-07T16:01:00.000-07:00

Hola travelers!

Finky the Kid made his first ever trip to the Quad Cities the other week. "The QUAD CITIES??" you say.

The Quad Cities is quartet of towns surrounding the Mississippi River between Iowa and Illinois, comprised of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa and Moline and Rock Island in Illinois.

A walking bridge over River Street

What's in the Quad Cities? Well, being rural Iowa and Illinois- lots of corn and trees. But there's also lots of down-to-earth folks. The pace is decidely much slower than suburbs odf major metropolitan areas because the closest real "city" is a 2-3 hour drive away. Chicago is 2 hours east and Des Moines is about 3 hours west. Madison, WI is also about 2 hours away.

There's also riverboat gambling. And some great historic houses along the Mississippi (at least in the Iowa side, where I spent most of my time.)

Where to stay: I stayed at the Radisson in Davenport on River St. A good accomodation, though probably on the pricier side for the area ($175/night, plus $6 parking daily). But the service was good and the restaurant decent (I recommend their blackened fish specials). The hotel is a 5 minute drive to Interstate 74 which will take you south to Illinois or north further into Iowa and to I-80. Plus the Rhythm City Casino (above) is on the river just behind it.

Where to eat: I was only in town for two nights, so my dining was limited, but I enjoyed the few places I was able to eat. Governor's in Bettendorf (3470 Middle Road, Bettendorf, IA 52722) is actually more of a local pub, but this is eastern Iowa and that means it's pretty casual. There were singles around the bar area watching baseball (this is Cubs and Cardinals territory, I gathered). But there were also a few families having dinner as well. The Fish and Chips was crispy and easily enough food for one. But the menu offers a "down-home" variety ranging from grilled cheese and tuna melts to BBQ ribs. While I didn't have a beer, I loved that the 12 oz (small) comes out in a glass handled tankard instead of the typical cylindrical glass or pilsner.

I also ate lunch at Biaggi's (5195 Utica Ridge Rd, Davenport, IA 52807), an Italian restaurant about a half-step above Macaroni Grill. It's the midwestern counterpart to Maggiano's/Il Fornaio. The food was good and the service attentive and friendly. And it's one of the more upscale dining options in Bettendorf. This is a moderately sized midwestern chain of Italian bistro restaurants which first opened in 1998 in Indiana and has been steadily growing ever since.

Another place that caught my eye was Old Chicago (at Spruce Hills and Utica Ridge), but I didn't have time to make it in. Which is a shame because they have a Miller and Foster's Happy Hour special on Wednesdays. They're own by the same parent company that owns Rock Bottom Brewery, so I expect they not only make their own brews, but have a menu consisting of the standard "salads, pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and burgers."

So, that's what I have to impart about the Quad Cities. Feel free to add your own experiences in the comments!

Cowabunga! The Orange County Fair is Here!

2007-07-27T06:01:00.000-07:00

The 2007 OC Fair celebrates herefords, surfers, and sand. Every year, the Fair includes thrill rides, cool (and creative!) foods, adorable animals, and lots of fun.

One of my favorites was the petting zoo in which you can get up close to real deer, a wallaby, a baby camel, ducks, pigs, goats, llamas, and more. Also, check out the oxen, Bill, Freckles, and Patches. You can hold a baby chick, pet a newborn calf, watch piglets play, and much, much more.

Be sure you bring your appetite...the OC Fair has something for everyone. Each year, we stop by Terry's Berries to indulge in a basket of delicious organic berries. You can order a side of dipping chocolate to enjoy with your fruit. We also liked the fish and chips and fried zucchini. You'll also find a wide assortment of funnel cakes, ice cream, and everything you can imagined deep-fried. Some of the Fair vendors are even selling vegetarian corn dogs now!

Adult admission is only $8 and children ages 6-12 get in for $4. The Orange County Fair lasts from July 13 to August 5 (closed on Mondays). Hurry and check it out. OC Fair 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, California 92626 For more information, call 714.708.FAIR.

Salt Lake City - It's Hot, Hot, Hot!

2007-07-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a quick trip to Salt Lake City, Utah the other day. It was my first visit to Utah and I was surprised by the heat. It was over 100 degrees while I was in town and it felt like an oven. Despite the heat, Salt Lake City is a pretty place with beautiful mountains and cute little restaurants lining the streets.

One of the best parts was how clean and safe the streets were, even in the city areas. I visited the Gateway Mall which was built for the Olympics several years ago. The outdoor mall has many of the same stores you'd find anywhere else along with a few more local shops. Kids will enjoy the interactive fountain in which water shoots up from multiple holes to the tune of music.

I look forward to exploring Utah again one day and seeing more of the state. Have you been to Utah? Let us know what your favorite area was and why.

Local Harry Potter Celebrations

2007-07-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning at 12:01 a.m. is the big day when the latest (and last) Harry Potter book will be on bookshelves everywhere. Many bookstores, libraries, craft stores, clubs, schools, and local organizations are hosting Harry Potter-related parties and festivities today leading up to the big book release tonight. Check your local newspaper to find out what's happening in your area.