Rolling Daily Volume 2

ROLLING DAILY FIRST CLASS IN EVERY WAY

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

ISSUE 02 MAY JUNE 2017

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STATE FAIR OF TEXAS Sink your teeth into a juicy turkey leg, feel the rush of adrenaline as you soar on a rollercoaster...

CHEF HUGO ORTEGA WINS 2017 JAMES BEARD BEST CHEF SOUTHWEST AWARD It’s now been 6 years since I sold everything and left the United States to travel the world....

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A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO NAVIGATING THE CASINO WITHOUT LOSING YOUR SHIRT The black-haired woman nervously thumbed through her purse as she took the end seat at...

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25 FREE THINGS TO DO IN NEW ORLEANS Thomas Jefferson paid $15 million for the entire Louisiana Territory, or about four cents an acre...

6 HOUSTON MUSEUMS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT Houston is well-known for its Museum District -- home to 19 cultural institutions within walking...

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THE BEST CASINO COMP TIPS

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GETTING THERE GREENER

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WHERE TO GO. WHAT TO DO.

Gambling at the casino is a lot of fun, but so is getting free stuff. Earning casino comps with your...

While the idea of “green” vacations has attracted recent attention, most information focuses on...

A DEFINITIVE LIST OF THE BEST, HOTTEST, HIPPEST, COOLEST, DOWNRIGHT AWESOME...

PRODUCTION Production deliverabilities layout&design: Phone: 360.468.3699

Email: info@deliverabilites.com www.deliverabilities.com

ADVERTISING First Class Tours

opportunities:

Phone: 281.590.8800 Email: info@firstclasstours.net www.firstclasstours.net

MAY/JUNE 2017

It is summer time in the Lone Star State, and that means that travel is a high priority for many. Creating great experiences and making meaningful memories is so important, and this issue of The Rolling Daily is full of ideas and opportunities for you and your loved ones. Thumb through, take your time, and benefit from this great travel information!

We are excited about this new digital format. Whether you’re going to the casino, planning a church camp experience, executing a large corporate event, or you just want to get away from it all, there is something here for everyone. With a group, a motorcoach, and a highly-skilled driver, you can really go places!

We log a little over 10,000 miles each day with our clients.

This means that our drivers effectively drive around the world almost 3 times every week. That kind of mileage means a lot of sites, sounds, and scenery, but it also means that our drivers need to be fit for the job. Accordingly, they receive a wealth of training when it comes to traffic laws, defensive driving, and safety procedures. They’re also instructed regarding safety and vehicle care, because we want our customers to feel confident when they ride with us.

As a company, we place high priority on customer satisfaction by striving to facilitate a positive travel experience for our clients. We believe this happens, in large part, as a result of great customer service. Our goal is to be professional in all that we do—from the moment we take your initial call until the last person steps off our coach at the end of your trip.

As our client, you are our highest priority, and we aim to exceed your expectations by providing the best in group transportation. We consistently focus on improving our game because we want you to see that we are truly First Class In Every Way!

-Jeff Rogers

www.firstclasstours.net

Jeff Rogers President First Class Tours Houston, TX

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FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

DAILY TRIPS WITH PERKS

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$

Perk

EVERY DAY! TICKETS START AT $18 Ride with First Class Tours to Coushatta Casino departing from FM 1960 Terminal and Eastex Terminal Every Day! Free play Monday – Friday AM only.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKET AVAILABILITY

OVERNIGHT TRIPS WITH PERKS

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$

Perk

4

OVERNIGHT TRIPS! TICKETS START AT $49 PP/DBL

Ride with First Class Tours to Coushatta Casino departing from FM 1960 Terminal and Eastex Terminal Every Sunday!

CLICK HERE FOR TICKET AVAILABILITY wwwfirstclasstours.net

MAY/JUNE 2017

COUSHATTA RESORT LUCKY 7 SUNDAYS...

GET $7.00 OFF

YOUR OVERNIGHT STAY WHEN BOOKING ONLINE. www.firstclasstours.net

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FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

TEXAS STATE FAIR OF

BY: RACHEL LEE HARRIS 6

wwwfirstclasstours.net

S

MAY/JUNE 2017

Sink your teeth into a juicy turkey leg, feel the rush of adrenaline as you soar on a rollercoaster, check out vintage autos at the Classic Corral car show, and take in spectacular concerts from some of the biggest names in the business.

This is what a typical day is like at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, a 24-day showcase of Texas tradition and culture that attracts millions of folks to Fair Park in the fall. The fair, the longest running in the nation, serves up plenty of fun for the whole family across 277 acres packed with food, games, rides, concerts, and just about anything else you can think of.

Step through the gates of Fair Park and you’ll be faced with a dilemma: what do you do first? With so much to see and experience, that’s a tough question to answer even for the most experienced of fairgoers. One way to kick off your time at the fair is to go a see a pig race www.firstclasstours.net

or one of the more than 100 shows held throughout the fair every day. Speaking of shows, the concerts at the State Fair of Texas are second to none. Head to the Chevrolet Main Stage to catch one of the 75 concerts from all-star local, regional, and national bands throughout the fair. Since all concerts and shows are included in the price of a standard ticket, all you need to worry about is finding prime seats with a good view of the stage.

While all the free shows will keep you busy, there’s even more to do at the State Fair of Texas. The Midway is a staple at all fairs, but the one at the State Fair of Texas is so large it could be considered an amusement park.

More than 70 rides await you, including everything from thrilling roller coasters to the leisurely Texas Star Ferris Wheel.

Of course, the Midway’s rides aren’t the only ones at the State Fair of Texas.

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Get behind the wheel of a brand-new Chevrolet Corvette or Camaro and tear up the track, or conquer a rugged obstacle course in a Silverado or a Colorado pickup truck. All the action takes place at the “Ride and Drive” attraction in the Chevrolet Park Plaza. If you’re an auto enthusiast, you’ve got to check out the car show at the State Fair of Texas. In fact, the fair is home to the largest new auto show in the Southwest.

Browse all the latest and greatest offerings from the top brands in the business, then see some breathtaking vintage rides at the Classic Corral.

The food at the State Fair of Texas is just as much of an attraction as the rides, shows, and concerts. Bring your appetite to one of the food vendors to get yourself a delicious turkey leg, corn dog, or a deep-fried treat that you’ll only find at a fair. Although there’s plenty to choose from, what really sets the State Fair of Texas apart is that it’s a testing ground of sorts for cutting edge cuisine.

All sorts of crazy concoctions are created for the Big Tex Choice Awards, and you can try them all at the fair. There’s also daily chef demonstrations and cooking contests in the Creative Arts building.

All of this makes the fair the ultimate destination for indulging your inner foodie.

Along with all the grown-up fun, there’s plenty for the youngsters to 8

enjoy. The Kidway, a section of the Midway, features scaled-down rides and games suitable for your kiddos. Shows and activities are held at the Kids’ Boardwalk, while spots like Little Hands on the Farm and Big Tex’s Farmyard offer interactive and educational exhibits that will delight and entertain.

The Children’s Health Barnyard petting zoo lets kids get up close to a variety of furry friends, and daily guided tours through the barns provide a great way to learn about the different kinds of livestock.

If you enjoy a bit of retail therapy, the State Fair of Texas has something for you too. Walk through Fair Park and you’ll encounter an abundance of shops selling everything from fine leather goods and artisanal snacks to handcrafted silver jewelry and electronics. No matter what kind of adventure you’re looking for, you’ll find plenty to love at the State Fair of Texas. The fair’s shows, rides, exhibits, and cuisine makes it a family-friendly event in Dallas that everyone can enjoy.

So what are you waiting for? Come on down to the State Fair of Texas, one of the most iconic events in the Lone Star State. Just make sure you say “howdy” to Big Tex when you get here. ¦ SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

wwwfirstclasstours.net

MAY/JUNE 2017

transportation

Solutions

To Make your

Business

dramatically More

EFFECTIVE. Make The Smart Move!

From small teams to huge corporations, when it comes to group transportation, no one knows it better than we do. If you need a transportation provider, or are unsatisfied with the service you are receiving from your current provider, we are eager to show you what sets us apart. No matter the size of your company, our team of experts will help create a solution to deliver the right equipment, professional drivers, a great safety record and the expertise you need to make your transportation worries a thing of the past.

We will work hard to show you that when it comes to transportation we are the clear choice.

GoMotorcoach Make the Smart Move!

Safe | Green | Efficient | Affordable | Fun

281.590.8800 | www.firstclasstours.net www.firstclasstours.net

FIRST CLASS IN EVERY WAY

9

FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

Just a short 2 hour drive from Houston, Golden Nugget Lake Charles combines the glitz and glamour of

WEEKLY TRIPS AS LOW AS $17.00 Las Vegas withDAY the hospitality and charm of the South – creating an exceptional one-of-a-kind gaming and entertainment destination in Louisiana.

Since it’s unveiling in December 2014, the 242-acre casino and resort has attracted guests from all WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, & SUNDAY! neighboring states. The Golden Nugget name is synonymous with exceptional service and luxury, including TICKETS START AT $17 deluxe accommodations, 15 restaurants and lounges, a private beach and marina, a championship golf FRIDAY & SATURDAY! TICKETS START AT $18 course and an innovative casino floor.

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$

Ride with First Class Tours to The Golden Nugget Lake Charles departing Terminal and Eastex Terminal Located off of interstate 210, Lake Charlesfrom is theFM fifth1960 installment of the iconic Golden Nuggeteach brand which Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday! is owned and operated by Houston-based restaurant, hospitality and gaming group Landry’s Inc. The

Perk

craftsmanship and attention to detail is evidence of money well spent. The luxurious rooms and suites feature plush bedding, premium amenities like idocking stations and picturesque lake and pool views.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKET AVAILABILITY

PROPERTY FEATURES • 1,600 of the newest slot machines WITH PERKS • World-class spa, salon and barbershop OVERNIGHT TRIPS • State-of-the-art fitness center • 70 table games • • • • • •

• Pool complex with swim-up bar, lazy river Poker room and waterslide 740 luxury rooms and suites, with a tower addition in 2017 • Shopping promenade 18-hole championship golfAPRIL course 11-12, 2017! TICKETS START AT $69 • Arcade 30,000 square-feet of meeting and convention space • A-list entertainment Wedding gazebo Ride with First Class Tours to The Golden Nugget Lake Charles Marina with dockage up to 206 feet

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$

Perk

departing from FM 1960 Terminal and Eastex Terminal April 11-12, 2017!

G A M B L I N G CLICKPHERERFOROTICKET B AVAILABILITY L E M ?

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P L E

wwwfirstclasstours.net

E

New for 2017!

MAY/JUNE 2017

B US TOUR S PACKAG ES DAY TRIP PACKAGES (Minimum 5 Hour Stay)

Package A • Golden Nugget will pay $10 per passenger • Receive $5 Free Slot Play or $10 Food Credit • Group leader receives $15 Free Slot Play or $25 Food Credit *No minimum passenger count required.

Package B • Golden Nugget will pay $500 for Bus Transportation • Receive $5 Free Slot Play or $10 Food Credit

GOLDEN NUGGET TRIP • Group leader receives $15 Free Slot Play or $25 Food Credit *Minimum 40 passenger counter required.

Package C

• Golden Nugget will pay $1,000 for Bus Transportation • Group leader receives $15 Free Slot Play or $25 Food Credit *Minimum 50 passenger count required.

*All passengers must be 21 or older. No deposit required. Any payment made by Golden Nugget will be sent to the approved motor coach company. Group leaders are not eligible to receive payment.

From upscale to casual, Golden Nugget Lake Charles also boasts a collection of Landry’s, Inc. awardwinning and nationally recognized restaurants that cater to every palate. Grotto Ristorante, Saltgrass Steak House, Landry’s Seafood House, Claim Jumper, Lillie’s Asian Cuisine, Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar and the crown jewel of steakhouses – Vic & Anthony’s – are just a few of the impressive selections.

Guests can also peruse through a shopping promenade featuring all of the latest fashions from designers like Tommy Bahama and Michael Kors, catch a game of golf, or bask in the sun at H20 – an opulent Vegasstyle pool, swim-up bar and lounge.

To learn more about available Bus Tour Packages to Golden Nugget Lake Charles, please call 337.508.7221 or email BusTours@gnlcm.com.

2550 GOLDEN NUGGET BLVD.

A S E

C A L L

www.firstclasstours.net

|

LAKE CHARLES. LA 70601

|

GOLDENNUGGETLC.COM

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FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

LEARN MORE AB

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wwwfirstclasstours.net

MAY/JUNE 2017

BOUT OUR TEAM!

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FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

CHEF HUGO ORTEGA WINS 2017 JAMES BEARD BEST CHEF SOUTHWEST AWARD BY: PAULA NINO KEHR

It’s now been 6 years since I sold everything and left the United States to travel the world. These are the Chef Hugo Ortega is bringing a James Beard medal to Houston. After six nominations for the prestigious James Beard Awards, Ortega was named Best Chef Southwest 2017 last night 14

at a black-tie gala in Chicago.

beautiful and I’m living the dream.”

“Oh my goodness, what a moment,” Ortega said upon taking the stage at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

He dedicated his award to “the great city of Houston,” his family and staff and concluded by saying: “What can I say? America is

Ortega, whose authentic Mexican cuisine shines at Hugo’s, Caracol and the recently opened Xochi, was up against another Houston chef and firsttime nominee, Jianyun Ye of Mala Sichuan Bistro.

Chefs Bryce Gilmore of wwwfirstclasstours.net

MAY/JUNE 2017

Barley Swine in Austin, Steve McHugh of Cured in San Antonio, Steve Redzikowski of Acorn in Denver, and Martín Rios of Restaurant Martín in Santa Fe, were also finalists in the same category.

Ortega’s win is the fourth for a Houston chef in the Best Chef Southwest category of the renowned culiwww.firstclasstours.net

nary awards. Justin Yu was named Best Chef Southwest last year for the now closed Oxheart, Chris Shepherd of Underbelly won the award in 2014, and Robert Del Grande won for Cafe Annie in 1992.

If you’re curious to know more about Ortega, read about why tortillas are so

meaningful to him and what he loves about Houston. You may also want to try a taste of his cuisine at home with his flautas de pollo recipe. ¦ SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

2NIGHT TRIPS WITH PERKS

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$

Perk

2NIGHT TRIPS! TICKETS START AT $104 Ride with First Class Tours to Paragon Casino Resort departing from FM 1960 Terminal and Eastex Terminal and receive unbeatable hotel deals on your trip!

CLICK HERE FOR TICKET AVAILABILITY

OVERNIGHT TRIPS WITH PERKS

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$

Perk

16

OVERNIGHT TRIPS! TICKETS START AT $44 PP/DBL

Ride with First Class Tours to Paragon Casino Resort departing from FM 1960 Terminal and Eastex Terminal and receive unbeatable hotel deals on your trip!

CLICK HERE FOR TICKET AVAILABILITY wwwfirstclasstours.net

MAY/JUNE 2017

PARAGON RESORT

www.firstclasstours.net

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FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

BY: MARK GRUETZE

A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO Na

the Casi WITHOUT LOSING YOUR SHIRT

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wwwfirstclasstours.net

MAY/JUNE 2017

The black-haired woman nervously thumbed through her purse as she took the end seat at the blackjack table. She pulled out three $20 bills and gingerly placed them on the felt, confessing to the dealer this was her first time playing the game.

“No problem,” he assured her. This was a friendly table, he said, and he or the other players would be happy to help a novice. She put out the $10 minimum bet and was dealt a two-card 20 for her first hand. Her blackjack fling started with a victory.

“You know what you should do now?” the dealer asked, barely suppressing a smile as he prepared to deliver the punch line. “Run! Run for the hills while you’re ahead!”

avigating

ino www.firstclasstours.net

Many people making their first casino trip or trying out a new game are like that uneasy blackjack player. They want to gamble but they’re not exactly sure what to do.

Finding yourself amid the thousands of games, dealing with the noise, lights and other casino distractions, and ogling the vast amounts of money and chips can intimidate anyone.

Just bear in mind that you’re there to have fun. Casinos have evolved into one of the country’s premiere entertainment options. About 27 percent of Americans visit a casino at least once a year, according to the American Gaming Association, and that number grows as legalized 19

FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

gambling continues to expand beyond the traditional centers of Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

Casinos offer a variety of games to entice everyone from those dreaming of a lifechanging jackpot to people simply enjoying a night out.

Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, the most important fact about a casino is this: The house always has the edge, no matter what game you play.

Sure, some players will win big. The vast majority won’t. Over the long run, the casino will win because of how the games are structured.

When you enter any casino for the first time, head to the players club booth and join. Use your players club card whenever you gamble there. The card makes you eligible for offers of discounted or free food, hotel rooms or other amenities based on the amount of your play. Slot players put their cards into the machine; table game players present their cards to the dealer.

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The challenge for bettors is to find a game that they enjoy and that has a house edge they’re comfortable with. As a rule of thumb, the easier a game is to play, the higher the house edge.

Slot machines are the easiest and most popular form of casino gambling.

The process is simple: Push a button; win or lose; repeat. Casinos make more money from slots than from any other game. Slots can account for 70 percent or more of the money casinos make from gambling.

The house advantage on slots can vary by casino, but typically it’s about 10 percent. In other words, for every $100 put into machines throughout the casino, the machines return an average of about $90 over the long run. In the short run, anything can happen. You could hit a big jackpot or you could lose your buy-in within a few minutes.

Regardless of what you might hear elsewhere, there is no strategy for winning at a slot machine.

It’s all pure luck, as opposed to skill games wwwfirstclasstours.net

MAY/JUNE 2017

such as blackjack and poker. With slots, the outcome is determined by a computer program called a random number generator, or RNG. The RNG’s sole function is to spit out groups of numbers. Each number corresponds to a specific symbol on the display. The number combination generated at the instant you hit the spin button determines what symbols will be displayed and whether you win or lose.

Before you put money into a slot, check the machine’s display to see how much one credit is worth. That can range from a penny to several hundred dollars.

Some machines let you choose the value of a credit, such as 25 cents, 50 cents, $1 or $2. A rule of thumb is that the higher the base denomination, the less the house advantage.

Dollar machines pay out more than quarter machines, and quarter machines pay out more than nickel machines.

A penny machine is a misnomer. Although each credit is worth only www.firstclasstours.net

one cent, players can wager as much as $3 a spin by playing multiple pay lines and more than one credit per line.

Slot machines appeal to people looking for a pressure-free way to pass the time. Slot players don’t have to worry about making the “right play” or doing something that could affect other gamblers.

The machine itself is the entertainment. Slot manufacturers spend millions of dollars to make machines that entice people play longer. Many are tied to popular movies, TV shows or musical artists – think “Lord of the Rings” or “Pawn Stars” or Dolly Parton – or even games such as Wheel of Fortune, Monopoly and Battleship. In some games, all the players on a group, or “bank” of machines might share in a bonus round. Some games have surroundsound chairs for what manufacturers call “immersion” gaming.

Games with a low house edge include: • Blackjack, if you take a few minutes

to learn the basic strategy of when to hit or stand.

• Video Poker, if you make the effort to look for good pay tables and learn simple guidelines for which cards to keep and throw away.

• Baccarat, including the “mini” form found on the main casino form.

• Craps, a game that looks more complicated than it actually is.

Blackjack is the most popular card game by far. Those who follow basic strategy can reduce the house edge to 0.5 percent or less, making it the closest thing to an evenmoney game the casino offers. Many players mistakenly think the object of blackjack is to get a hand as close as possible to a total of 21 without going over.

That’s not right. The goal is to beat the dealer.

Players have the option of hitting or standing, while the dealer must follow specific rules — generally, he must hit if the total is 16 or less 21

FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

and stand with a total of 17 through 21. If you “bust” by going over 21, you lose even when the dealer also busts, because the dealer is the last to act. So if the dealer’s up-card is weak — especially a Four, Five or Six — it’s better for a player to stand on a “stiff” hand of 12 through 16 than trying to hit and get closer to 21.

One of the built-in advantages for a player is that blackjacks traditionally pay 3-to2, or $15 for a $10 bet.

Some casinos offer games that pay 6-to-5 for a blackjack. Never play them. At that game, the player with a blackjack gets paid only $12 for a $10 bet. Since blackjacks will come at the same rate at each type of game — once in about every 21 hands — playing at 6-to-5 table costs you about $6 an hour.

Many books and Web sites teach basic strategy for blackjack.

A few favorites: www.

WizardOfOdds.com, www.bj21.com, www.

BJInsider.com, and authors Stanford Wong, 22

Henry Tamburin and Arnold Snyder.

Casinos also offer a variety of “carnival games” that are variations of poker and blackjack. Those include Three Card Poker, Let It Ride Blackjack Switch and Spanish 21. They’re generally easy to learn and play.

Poker is popular, but it differs from all other games because you play against other gamblers rather than against the house. The casino gets its cut by collecting a “rake,” typically $4 or $5, out of every pot.

One question all casino visitors ask themselves is how much money to take. The answer depends on your own assessment of how much you’re willing to spend for a night at a casino. If you go out for dinner and a show, you know how much that’s worth to you. Some folks are comfortable eating at a chain restaurant and catching a matinee.

Some want a four-star restaurant and a live musical.

When you plan a casino trip, figure out how much you’re willing to spend for that night’s entertainment. A cynical adage holds that casino executives figure that whatever you bring through the door is theirs – you just happen to be holding it for the moment. Take what you are comfortable spending. Never bet with money you need for the mortgage or medical bills. You should be mentally prepared to lose it all.

However, that doesn’t mean you should just throw your money away on long shots. Smart gamblers find a game they enjoy and learn the strategies that reduce the house edge as much as possible.

If you find yourself ahead after a couple of hours of fun, then remember the dealer’s advice for the nervous blackjack player: Run for the hills! ¦ SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

wwwfirstclasstours.net

MAY/JUNE 2017

Retirement

sets you free.

A MOTORCOACH

helps make it

The best it can

possibly be.

The Good Life Starts Here!

Welcome to the next generation of retirement! A retirement designed for those who have a passion for living, for fun and for spending their best years with those they love the most. Nothing compares to the experiences available on a motorcoach. From local sightseeing to a week on the road, motorcoaches offer the flexibility, comfort, and amenities that will make your next trip the best trip. Motorcoaches are a great way to make the most of your golden years and we look forward to the chance to welcome you aboard one of our modern coaches and wow you with all we have to offer.

GoMotorcoach Make the Smart Move!

Safe | Green | Efficient | Affordable | Fun

281.590.8800 | www.firstclasstours.net www.firstclasstours.net

FIRST CLASS IN EVERY WAY

23

25 FREE THINGS TO DO IN

NEW ORLEA

ANS

Thomas Jefferson paid $15 million for the entire Louisiana Territory, or about four cents an acre.

That means New Orleans went for about seven bucks. More than 200 years later, New Orleans is still a great deal.

1. GET JAZZED. Stroll along Bourbon, Frenchmen and Fulton, where jazz pours out onto the street, or duck into a club for the full experience. Many clubs don’t even charge a cover.

2. DIVE DEEPER INTO OUR MUSICAL HERITAGE. Explore New Orleans neighborhoods and theirconnection to jazz with six self-guided Jazz HistoryWalking Tours provided by the National Park Service.

3. BROWSE ART THROUGHOUT THE CITY. It seems like you can find art in every corner of New Orleans - and you can.

Check out the galleries on Julia and Royal, Jackson Square vendors and the Mid-City and Bywater art markets.

4. EXPERIENCE OUR PARKS. Walk among the centuries-old oaks of City Park, picnic in picturesque Audubon

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Park or enjoy views of the Mississippi River at Woldenberg Park.

5. ATTEND A FREE FESTIVAL. There’s almost always a festival going on in New Orleans, and many of them are free - French Quarter Fest, Satchmo SummerFest, Po-Boy Preservation Festival, Wednesdays at the Square and, of course, Mardi Gras.

6. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN NEW ORLEANS HISTORY. Stop by the Historic New Orleans Collection at 533 Royal Street for a crash course on the city’s history, which spans almost 300 years.

7. SPEND A DAY AT THE TRACK. Experience the thrill of live thoroughbred racing at the New Orleans Fair Grounds from early November to late March.

Grand stand admission is free.

8. BIKE ALONG THE LEVEE. Bring your bike (or rent one) and go for a ride along the levee while taking in the sights and sounds of the mighty Mississippi River.

9. EAT FOR FREE. Oysters, gumbo, crawfish boils - many of these

feasts are free at local music clubs for those who are there buying a few drinks.

10. SHOP FOR MANSIONS ON ST. CHARLES AVENUE. Come on! You don’t have to be in the market to appreciate these jewels on the Avenue.

11. VIEW THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE FRENCH QUARTER. I spy wrought-iron balconies, a cornstalk fence, a hidden courtyard...

12. TOUR THE OLDEST RESTAURANT IN THE FRENCH QUARTER. Ask for a tour of the historic Antoine’s that has hosted dignitaries, presidents and notable historic figures in its 160 years. Make sure to peek into the endless wine cellar.

13. CATCH A FREE SUMMER SHOW AT TIPITINA’S. This uptown venue pays homage to the jazz legend Professor Longhair with free shows on Fridays during the summer months.

14. EAT SOME PRALINES. This gooey, nutty treat is a New Orleans snack staple. Candy shops throughout the city offer

wwwfirstclasstours.net

enough free samples to fill you up - and tempt you to bring some home.

15. SEE HAUTE ART. The fashionable Warehouse District also doubles as the art district.

The first Saturday of every month, walk down Julia Street and peruse local artwork in the diverse galleries.

16. LOOK FOR GHOSTS. Experience paranormal activity and visit haunted sites such as the Bourbon Orleans, one of the most spirited locations in the French Quarter.

17. SPEND SATURDAY MORNING AT THE FARMERS’ MARKET. Learn a bit about the famous New Orleans cuisine with free cooking demonstrations at the Crescent City Farmers Market.

19. HAUNT OUR “CITIES OF THE DEAD.” Take a guided tour of our famous aboveground tombs at Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in the Garden District or St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 on Basin Street, believed to be the final resting place of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. Knock three times on her crypt and make a wish. Please note that tours of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 are only available with a guide.

20. TAKE A SELF-GUIDED LITERARY TOUR. See where Tennessee Williams (722 Toulouse), William Faulkner (624 Pirate’s Alley), Truman Capote (711 Royal), Thornton Wilder (623 Bourbon), Walker Percy (1820 Milan) and Anne Rice (1239 First) lived.

21. JAM AT THE SQUARE.

During the spring, 18. WATCH A CIGAR ROLLING DEMONSTRATION. the Young Leadership The New Orleans Cigar Factory is one of just a handful of U.S.-based cigar rolling outfits.

Located right in the French Quarter, the store is a walk-in factory with a half-dozen experts rolling tobacco at any given time.

www.firstclasstours.net

Council sponsors free concerts Wednesdays in Lafayette Square.

22. STROLL THE FRENCH MARKET Nearly three centuries of history and six blocks of uniquearts and crafts, souvenirs, and local

food stalls to discover.

Whatever it isyou’re looking for, you’ll find it at the French Market!www. frenchmarket.org

23. BE MOVED BY OUR SPECTACULAR CHURCHES. The large Catholic population of New Orleans gave rise to breathtaking churches such as St. Louis Cathedral, St. Augustine and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

24. DISCOVER THE BESTHOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN. Located amid the beauty of City Park, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden features one of the most impressive collections of contemporary sculpture in America.

25. GO WINDOW SHOPPING ON MAGAZINE STREET. While this might start out a free activity, you may find yourself with the uncontrollable urge to throw your money at any one of the unique shops that line Magazine Street so that you can bring a little bit of New Orleans home with you. ¦ SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

6 HOUSTON MUSEUMS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT BY: DAVE SOLCE 28

wwwfirstclasstours.net

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Houston is well-known for its Museum District -- home to 19 cultural institutions within walking distance. However, these are just a few of the many diverse museums the city has to offer. Here are seven museums in Houston you may not know about.

8, this museum offers exhibits on coffins, hearses, the death of U.S. presidents and much. You can order your tickets online or at the museum: Adults - $10, Seniors (55+) - $9, Children (6-11) - $7, 5 and under – free. The museum is open daily.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FUNERAL HISTORY

1940 AIR TERMINAL MUSEUM

A museum that pays homage to everyone’s eventual fate – that’s the idea behind the National Museum of Funeral History. Located north of downtown, just past Beltway www.firstclasstours.net

Close to Hobby Airport is a museum that showcases the history of flight in both Houston and around the world. The 1940 Air Terminal Museum gives you a glimpse of the past by showcasing 29

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achievements and milestones, wardrobes and the changes that make air travel what it is today. The museum is open daily and admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children.

ROSENBERG RAILROAD MUSEUM

Head southwest of Houston and you’ll find the town of Rosenberg and the railroad museum that will get you up close and personal with these historic machines that changed transportation forever.

The museum is open from Wednesday through Saturday and admission is $7.50 for adults, $6 for seniors, military and first responders, $5 for ages 2-4 and free for anyone under two.

STATION MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

Tucked between Midtown and the Museum District, Station Museum of Contemporary art is a hidden gem that showcases contemporary art from local, national and international artists that reflect the cultural diversity of Houston. Experience art that questions society’s morality and ethics. Station is a free museum and is open Wednesday through Sunday.

HOUSTON BICYCLE MUSEUM

There are many places to go biking around Houston, and a great cycling destination is the Houston Bicycle Museum. Located within the Museum District, this spot offers collections of OCEAN STAR OFFSHORE antique and classic bicycles, DRILLING RIG & MUSEUM along with cycling-related memorabilia. The museum Located in Galveston, the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling is open Tuesday through Sunday, and tickets are $9 Rig & Museum focuses on expanding your knowledge for adults, children 10 and under are free, and free of the energy sources beneath the world’s oceans. entry on Thursdays from 3-6 Learn about the heritage pm. ¦ and technological advances made in the industry with many real-life items. Ocean SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE. Star is open daily and CLICK HERE. tickets are $9 for adults, $6 for seniors over 55, $5 for ages 7-18 and children six and under enter for free.

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SMART TO TRAVEL IN Travelling in groups has never been so affordable, fun and safe. Next time you are moving a group, GoMotorcoach!

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THE BEST

CASINO COMP T BY: AL MOE

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TIPS

Gambling at the casino is a lot of fun, but so is getting free stuff. Earning casino comps with your slot or table game play is a benefit offered by most casinos in the US. Not every casino offers comps. In fact, there aren’t that many foreign casinos that offer comps, but then again, in most foreign countries you don’t have to tip the dealers, so it’s a wash.

If you are going to play, the casinos are willing to pay, a little.

You can expect your casino to give back somewhere between 10 and 15 percent of your expected loss in the way of comps. Unfortunately, they won’t just give you cash for it (unless you are a whale of a player losing $100,000 or more each trip). The tracking system used is different at each casino, but the software is programmed to turn your average bet and time played into a dollar amount they will give you back in meals and other resort amenities.

Follow the best casino comp tips below to get your money’s worth, and then some!

TIP #1 SIGN UP FOR A PLAYER’S CARD That may sound silly, but many players have an aversion to getting a card. I’ve heard players say they are unlucky when they use their card, or they don’t want to know how much they are spending. Well, live in denial if

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you want, but even if you are only playing the penny slots, your action is worth something. At least get a few casino comp meals for your play!

TIP #2 FIND THE BEST DEALS Always ask if there are any specials going on. If you live in an area with several casinos, it is worth it to check online and find out who is offering the best sign-up bonus. Many properties offer cash, from $10 to $25 when you first get your card. The first-play incentive may be linked to additional prizes (usually logo wear or rooms) based 38

on your first few days of play.

to player’s club members.

Don’t miss out.

Consider trying each of the casinos in your area and getting the swag, then moving on to other casinos until you find your favorite, based at least partially on comps.

TIP #4 USE THE MEAL SPECIALS

TIP #3 ACCEPT MAIL When you sign up, you can specify no mail or email.

Your choice, but you’ll miss drawings and specials during the year! Monthly promotions and drawings are announced via email and snail mail. In addition, free room specials and free play coupons are often sent

Many properties have meal deals, like discounted lunches or: “earn 500 points and breakfast is on us.”

These are nice because the meal is free, and you usually just get a voucher from the player’s club desk, they don’t actually take any points from your account.

TIP #5 USE ANY OTHER SPECIALS YOU FIND The Avi casino in Laughlin, Nevada has several specials in action at any one time. wwwfirstclasstours.net

MAY/JUNE 2017

One of them is a free hour of childcare in the Kid’s Quest play center. Another is a free buffet with a blackjack tournament entry while another is $40 in match-play chips for $30.

With the match-play, you can’t cash in the chips, but every hand that wins is paid in regular chips. So you get $10 free.

TIP #6 PLAY ON SPECIAL DAYS Casinos have slow days.

They want you to play on certain days so they offer drawings and extra points on some days. Might as well take advantage and find the best casino deal you can! If you are planning on playing, find a way to play on the right day. An extreme example is Fort McDowell casino in Fountain Hills, Arizona which offers 13x points on the 13th of each month.

Holy cow that’s a lot of comp points!

TIP #7 BE PLEASANT If you play slots, feel free to be grumpy and mad at that electronic device, who cares, but if you play the table games, you should try to enjoy yourself. It will help your relationship with the other players, and with the dealer and the Pit Boss. If there is a problem with a hand, the Pit Boss is much more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt if you aren’t being a jerk. www.firstclasstours.net

In addition, it is human nature to be swayed by emotion, and while the pit bosses are trained to track your action accurately, they can be subtly influenced.

If you are nice, that 23 minutes of play may be rounded up to a half hour, and that $12 average bet has a good chance of getting to $15, instead of $10. Those changes make a big difference over the course of a year.

TIP #8 DON’T LET YOUR POINTS EXPIRE Speaking of a year, even the best casino on your list has their player tracking software set so your unused points expire at the end of one year or so. When it comes to comps, use it or lose it is an accurate statement, even from your best casino!

TIP #9 THE CASINO RATE Most properties have a special casino rate for their hotel rooms. Instead of the full rate, casino players are offered a lower (50-60 percent) rate based on their continued action in the casino. You don’t have to be a high-roller to get a casino rate, just a regular player who uses their card on a regular basis. The best part is that it isn’t considered one of your casino comps, it’s just a discount that takes no points.You can’t expect to get that rate on a weekend or during a holiday period, but Sunday-

Thursday is a good time, and you should approach a pit boss about the rate after you have put in some play, not before. They want to make sure you are actually going to be in action before they reduce your room rate.

You may also want to find a casino host to help you with a casino rate, or to check your comp points.

TIP #10 SNEAKY POINTS Stealth mode is definitely not the way to earn points at the casino. You have to use your card, be seen, and get tracked. Right? Well, there are a few ways that players used to get sneaky points in the past, and while they aren’t as likely to earn much in the way of comps these days, they are worth mentioning. If you are playing slots in a club with a friend and they don’t use a card, get a duplicate and have them play on your card. No harm, no foul.

Don’t ask players you don’t know to do this, it could get you tossed from the club.

Of course, some players leave their cards in machines hoping others will play on it too.

In the table games area, seats are often at a premium and the bosses don’t want you tying up the extra chairs if you aren’t playing, but if you were about to leave and find your spouse, bet a quick hot dog, or check a ball 39

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score, you can leave your chips on the table for a few minutes. You are likely to get tracked for the time you are away from the table, as long as you don’t abuse the privilege. If you leave more than once, it will likely harm your tracking, so be careful.

I certainly can’t advise playing at two tables at once, although I have seen this done at some casinos.

Pit bosses frown on this!

Remember, casino gaming should be fun, and comps are fun too. Remember that if you hit a taxable jackpot, you can get a year-end win/ loss statement to offset your big hit! Choose your best casino based on what you like, and consider your casino comps and comp points in the mix. ¦

SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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GETTING Getting There Greener

ExECUTivE SUmmary hile the idea of “green” vacations has attracted recent attention, most information focuses on what to do when you get to your destination, not on how to get there. No definitive source has been available to guide travelers toward the greenest travel option—trains, planes, automobiles, or motor coach (a.k.a. buses)—for their particular vacation.

This report turns an analytical eye toward the environmental impact of domestic vacation travel, where global warming pollution—largely in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions—can add up quickly. The results of our analysis may surprise you.

One vacation Can Be Worse Than Commuting for a year Meet the Elsens, our eco-conscious family of four from the suburbs of Chicago. They’ve been trying to minimize their impact on the environment, especially when it comes to their commute. Dad drives a Chevy Malibu for his 10-mile round-trip travel to and from work. Mom recently switched from a Ford Explorer to a more efficient Ford Escape for her daily 25 miles of travel, which includes driving roundtrip to work and carpooling the kids to and from afterschool activities.

This year, with the holidays coming up, the Elsens decided to pull out all the stops for their first trip to Disney World and use frequent flyer miles to travel firstclass. The available flight includes a layover in Houston, but the family figured that deluxe seats were worth the extra time. However, take a look at the resulting carbon footprint (see the figure to the right).

Yes, you’re reading that right—the Elsens’ one vacation splurge produces more than one and a half times the global warming pollution created by their whole year of weekday commuting. These stats are a sobering reminder that our carbon footprint is not merely a product of our daily habits, but of our vacation habits as well.

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Fortunately, a number of travel options are greener than those the Elsens selected. This new guide gives Americans the tools they need to make sure they’re getting there greener.

your Guide to a Greener vacation How are you traveling? Where are you going?

Who’s tagging along?

This report provides the first comprehensive analysis— peer-reviewed by experts—of the highest-carbon and lowest-carbon options for vacation travel. In our matrix, three key factors determine the environmental impact of your travel: (1) the type of vehicle you are taking; (2) the distance you are traveling; and (3) the number of people traveling with you. Based on these factors, our analysis can tell you how environmentally sound—or perhaps unsound—your travel plans are.

Of course, Americans’ travel is not a matter of absolutes, as different regions have access to different transportation options. As you plan your journey, the table on the next page can help you evaluate each option for solo, couple, or family travel. What you find might surprise you, as your best travel bet can shift significantly depending on the distance you travel and the size of your party.

Elsen Family Commute vs. First-Class Vacation 12,000

Total CO2 Emissions (Pounds)

W

10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0

Family Annual Weekday Commute

Family First-Class Vacation

Notes: This comparison assumes that the Elsens’ Chevy Malibu gets 25 miles per gallon, their two-wheel-drive Ford Escape gets 23 mpg, and the family takes four first-class round-trip flights from Chicago to Orlando via Houston. Weekday commuting represents 35 percent of the Elsens’ average annual automobile travel. See Appendices B and C for emission factors of air and automobile travel used in this analysis.

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G THERE GREENER Union of Concerned Scientists

vacation Traveler Carbon Guide For each grouping, travel options are listed from best to worst. Steer toward the greenest and try to avoid those in red!

Best Travel Options: Solo Traveler

Worst

Best

100 miles

500 miles

1,000+ miles

Take motor coach

Take motor coach

Take motor coach

Take train

Take train

Fly economy

Fly economy

Fly economy

Take train

Drive typical car

Drive typical car

Fly first-class

Drive typical SUV

Fly first-class

Drive typical car

Fly first-class

Drive typical SUV

Drive typical SUV

Best Travel Options: Two Travelers

Worst

Best

100 miles

500 miles

1,000+ miles

Take motor coach

Take motor coach

Take motor coach

Take train

Take train

Fly economy

Drive typical car

Drive typical car

Take train

Drive typical SUV

Fly economy

Drive typical car

Fly economy

Drive typical SUV

Drive typical SUV

Fly first-class

Fly first-class

Fly first-class

Best Travel Options: Family of Four

Best

100 miles

Worst

500 miles

1,000+ miles

Take motor coach

Take motor coach

Take motor coach

Drive typical car

Drive typical car

Drive typical car

Drive typical SUV

Drive typical SUV

Drive typical SUV

Take train

Take train

Fly economy

Fly economy

Fly economy

Take train

Fly first-class

Fly first-class

Fly first-class

Notes: We based the color-coded ranking on the distribution of CO2 emissions across modes. The analysis assumes typical car and typical SUV fuel economies of 23 mpg and 18 mpg, respectively. Train emissions reflect an average of electric and diesel operations. The analysis assumes use of turboprops for 100mile flights, regional jets for 500-mile flights, and narrow-body jets for 1,000-mile flights, based on information from the Federal Aviation Administration. We assumed that all flights are nonstop. For more on the emission factors for each mode, see Appendices B, C, D, and E. To compare emissions across modes, see Appendix F.

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The table to the left gives travelers an easy way to compare travel options to fit their needs. However, our Getting There Greener analysis also enabled us to create “rules of thumb” to help guide your initial travel choices, and to help you shrink your carbon footprint once you have made those choices. Let’s start with the top travel tips, and then look more closely at each travel mode: Motor coaches and trains are a carbon bargain.

Whether traveling with a family, with a partner, or alone, those seeking a carbon bargain should seriously consider rail and motor coach travel. Intercity bus options have been on the upswing, as numerous regional carriers now provide coaches with very comfortable seats. And Amtrak offers everything from high-speed rail service in the Northeast to “auto trains” that enable long-distance travel without the wear and tear on your automobile. From a carbon perspective, motor coaches and trains are among your lowest-emission options, especially on shorter (less than 500-mile) trips. Moreover, because motor coaches and trains are often underused, they may offer what amounts to a carbon “free ride.”

Big SUVs and first-class flights usually have the largest carbon footprints. Driving alone, driving inefficient SUVs (with or without other people), and flying first-class are the most polluting ways to go.

To reduce your vacation’s carbon footprint, consider other options.

For couples and solo travelers, a nonstop coach flight almost always beats an average car. Carbon from cars and trucks adds up, especially when those vehicles travel long distances and are only partially occupied. If you’re traveling alone or with one other person, you’re usually better off flying direct in coach than getting behind the wheel of a passenger vehicle.

This is especially true for trips of more than 500 miles.

To significantly reduce your carbon footprint behind the wheel, drive or rent a more efficient car. If you don’t own a fuel-efficient vehicle, think about renting one when driving on longer trips. The carbon emissions from a large, inefficient SUV are

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nearly four times those of a high-miles-per-gallon hybrid such as the Toyota Prius. If hybrids are not available, look into efficient conventional cars, which can ease the environmental harm while cutting your gasoline bill. Many car rental agencies now offer both hybrids and efficient conventional vehicles.

Take advantage of them, and take some wear and tear off your car.

Carbon Emissions Depend on the Auto You Drive Couple Traveling 500 Miles 1,200

CO2 Emissions (Pounds per One-Way Trip)

Top Five rules of Thumb for Green Travel

1,000 800 600 400 200 0

Hybrid Car

Efficient Car

Typical Car

Typical SUV

Worst SUV

Notes: Assumes a 46-mpg hybrid car, 32-mpg efficient car, 23-mpg typical car, 18-mpg typical SUV, and 12-mpg worst SUV. See Appendix C for details on automobile emission factors.

Avoid traveling during peak periods. Congestion has a noticeable effect on your fuel consumption and carbon footprint. When a car or SUV is stuck in traffic, its fuel consumption rate can be double the rate it gets at steady cruising speeds. So think about getting a GPS unit for your car that can alert you to traffic hot spots in real time and suggest ways to avoid them.

(Some sell for as little as $150.) And think about changing your vacation schedule to avoid peak travel periods that keep you stuck in traffic.

Now that you’ve decided whether to fly, drive, or take a train or motor coach, consider the following additional rules of thumb from our analysis of each travel mode, to shave your emissions even further.

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green way.

Not your daddy’s Greyhound. Today many companies have ditched their older buses and offer plush new coaches with everything from seat-back video to satellite radio to wireless Internet connections.

Where you decide to go and how you get there is entirely up to you. It’s your vacation. But prepped with rules of thumb and information about the carbon footprint of your travel options, perhaps next time you will choose to get there greener!

How We Created Getting There Greener This analysis is based on energy consumption, ridership (passenger-miles), and carbon dioxide emissions data associated with each mode of travel. We used that

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does not have a centralized reservations website (such as Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, or amtrak.com), but here are a few addresses to you get started: www.gotobus.com, MAY/JUNE 2017 www.greyhound.com, www.peterpanbus.com, www.trailways.com/schedules.asp. Happy trails!

information to compute average “in-use” carbon emissions for each mode, in pounds of CO2 emitted per passenger-mile traveled. We then added upstream CO2 emissions—those associated with extracting, refining, and transporting a given fuel—to yield total carbon dioxide emissions in pounds per passenger-mile.

We estimated the amount of emissions accrued per trip by multiplying the resulting emission factors for each mode by distance traveled.

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WHERE TO GO. WHAT TO DO.

m e M

A DEFINITIVE LIST OF THE BEST, HOTTEST, HIPPEST, COOLEST, DOWNRIGHT AWESOME GROUP TRAVEL IDEAS THIS SIDE OF...

WELL ANYWHERE!

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s e ri

o m

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MUMMIES OF THE WORLD

FREE PRESS SUMMER FEST

A STAR SPANGLED SALUTE

HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL

September 23, 2016 - May 29, 2017 @ Houston Museum of Natural Science

July 4 @ the Miller Outdoor Theatre

ROALD DAHL’S JAMES & THE GIANT PEACH Every Fri-Sun from May 5-27, 2017 @ Dallas Children’s Theater

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June 3-4, 2017 @ Buffalo Bayou

August 4-6, 2017 @ Revention Music Center

RATTLESNAKE 400 NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES June 9, 2017 @ Texas Motor Speedway

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DALLAS BRIDAL SHOW

July 28-29, 2017 @ Dallas Market Hall

HOUSTON AT FC DALLAS GAME

August 23, 2017 @ Toyota Stadium & Soccer Center

SEVEN SEAS FOOD FESTIVAL

CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE

HAIRSPRAY THE BROADWAY MUSICAL

ED SHEERAN IN CONCERT

April 21 - May 29, 2017 @ SeaWorld San Antonio

July 7 - August 6, 2017 @ The Playhouse

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June 9-11, 2017 @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

August 22, 2017 @ AT&T Center

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LIFE TIME TRI CAPTEX

May 29, 2017 @ Lady Bird Lake, Downtown Austin

TEXANISCHE NACHT

June 8-11, 2017 @ Travis County Exposition Center and Sixth Street

July 15, 2017 @ Austin Saengerrunde

AUSTIN ICE CREAM FESTIVAL

NEW ORLEANS WINE AND FOOD EXPERIENCE

LOUISIANA CAJUN ZYDECO FESTIVAL

May 25-28, 2017 @ French Quarter

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REPUBLIC OF TEXAS BIKER RALLY

August 12, 2017 @ Fiesta Gardens

June 24-25, 2017 @ Louis Armstrong Park

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BASTILLE DAY FETE July 14, 2017

WHITNEY WHITE LINEN NIGHT August 5, 2017 on Julia Street

THE WIZARD OF OZ May 25-28, 2017 @ LSU Shaver Theater

KENILWORTH INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

FACES OF THE FLOOD EXHIBIT

June 14 - December 31, 2017 @ Louisiana Art & Science Museum and Irene W. Pennington Planetarium

FETE ROUGE & FETE DU VIN August 24-25, 2017

July 3, 2017 @ Kenilworth Neighborhood

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28 BRILLIANT TRAVEL HACKS YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR SUMMER VACATIONS 52

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Traveling doesn’t have to be that complicated.

BY: ARIELLE CALDERON 1. When you pack a suitcase, wrap your shoes in a shower cap.

This will prevent the soles from touching your clean clothes.

2. Call your credit or debit card company before traveling internationally so that you’re authorized for vacation purchases.

The last thing you want is to be reported for suspicious activity and not have access to your money. www.firstclasstours.net

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3. Store your loose cables/chargers in an old sunglasses case to keep everything in one place.

4. Bring an empty water bottle to the airport and refill it after you pass security.

That way you can drink H2O without having to spend $4.

5. Enable private browsing when searching or booking flights online.

Travel sites often track visits and will increase your price based on search history. You can also clear your cache.

borrow for the duration of your stay.

People forget them all the time so they’re bound to have some lying around in lost and found.

10. Stick a dryer sheet in your suitcase with your clothes to keep them smelling fresh.

11. Use a pill container to store and sort your jewelry.

Especially good for earrings.

You should probably stick some extra backs in there for good measure.

12. Buy a portable phone charger (or charging 6. When packing your suitcase, roll your clothes case) for when you’re not near a wall plug. to save space and avoid wrinkles.

This is how many flight attendants pack.

7. Put your bobby pins in a Tic Tac container to keep from losing them.

You can also do this with toothpicks if need be.

8. If you forget the wall plug-in for your phone charger, check the back of your hotel TV. There’s usually a USB port.

9. And if you forgot your charger, ask your hotel if they have one you can

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Great for planes, cars, theme parks, etc.

13. Turn a cereal container into a trash can for your car when on road trips.

You can also obviously buy a small trash can, but if you already have this handy and don’t feel like running to the store and spending money, it’s helpful.

14. Buy a shower caddy from the dollar store and use it for easy eating.

Especially good when there

are not enough cup holders and you don’t want to make a mess.

15. When you’re driving in a new city and need to remember where you parked, drop a pin on Google Maps or take a picture of the parking space with your phone.

Just hold down on the location and a pin will appear.

16. To use Google Maps offline, type “ok maps” and the current area on your phone will save for later.

It’s good for important places you want to visit or need to go to when out of town so you have the info available in case you lose service.

17. Roll up your belt and stick it inside your collard shirts to keep them clean and stiff.

18. If you’re heading to a theme park or the beach, put your phone in a plastic bag to prevent it from getting wet.

A ruined phone is bad enough. A ruined phone on vacation in a different city/ state/country is even worse.

19. To protect wine bottles in suitcases, wrap

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them in Wine Skin or pool floaties.

You can buy the Wine Skin here.

24. If you want to bring a small amount of concealer or lotions, put them in contact cases.

Better than bringing a whole

20. Turn a pot holder into bottle you don’t need. a case for your flat iron 25. If the back of your so you can pack it even while it’s still warm. plane seat doesn’t have TVs, put your phone in a You can find directions here. plastic bag and hook it to the back of the tray 21. Use a binder clip to table (or use a barf bag). protect razors when traveling.

I don’t know how well this actually works, but you might as well give it a shot.

Directions for the barf bag here.

22. Scan your passport, ID, and itinerary and email it to yourself so you have a digital copy in the event of loss or theft. 26. You can google your airline name and flight 23. To prevent bottles number to check the from leaking in your status of your flight. luggage, place plastic For example: Google ‘Delta wrap over the container and then seal it with the 2262’ and this will pop up. cap.

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27. To keep your headphones and chargers tangle free, wrap them around old gift cards.

28. If you want to drink on your flight, you’re allowed to carry on miniature bottles.

Safe travels! ¦ SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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DAILY CASINO TR WITH FIRST CLASS PERKS

18 Departs EAST $

Departs 1960 Terminal 310 FM 1960 | Houston, TX 77073 | 281.443.1200 CASINO

DEPART

ARRIVE @CASINO

DEPART CASINO

RETURN

DAYS

Coushatta

8:00 AM

11:30 AM

4:30 PM

8:00 PM

Every Day

Coushatta

12:00 PM

3:30 PM

8:30 PM

Coushatta

8:00 PM

11:30 PM

4:30 AM

8:00 AM

Coushatta

9:30 PM

1:00 AM

6:00 AM

L’auberge

9:00 AM

12:00 PM

L’auberge

7:00 PM

Delta Downs

8:30 AM

Golden Nugget 6:00 PM Golden Nugget 10:00 AM

12703 Eastex Freeway | Houston CASINO

DEPART

ARRIVE @CASINO

Coushatta

8:30 AM

11:30 AM

Coushatta

12:30 PM

3:30 PM

Every Day

Coushatta

8:30 PM

11:30 PM

9:30 AM

Fri-Sat

Coushatta

10:00 PM

1:00 AM

5:00 PM

8:00 PM

Every Day

L’auberge

9:30 AM

12:00 PM

10:00 PM

3:00 AM

6:00 AM

Every Day

L’auberge

7:30 PM

10:00 PM

11:00 AM

4:00 PM

6:30 PM

Tue, Thu

Delta Downs

9:00 AM

11:00 AM

9:00 PM

2:00 AM

5:00 AM

Thu, Fri, Sat

Golden Nugget 6:30 PM

6:00 PM

9:00 PM

Wed, Sun

Golden Nugget 10:30 AM

1:00 PM

12:00 AM Wed, Sat, Sun

9:00 PM

1:00 PM

First Clas

COUSHATTA DELTA DOWNS

10 Perk $5 Perk

$

Free Play

Sun 8PM-Fri 9AM

Casino Perks Every trip

*Perks not valid on Holidays o

SENIOR DAY

HELP US KEEP YOUR

PRICES LOW...

Use your casino card during your next trip. Your card earns valuable points while at the casino and helps First Class Tours keep prices as low as possible and perks as high as possible! We work hard to keep you playing! Good luck!

EVERY WEDNESDAY

$6.00 Off Any Daily Casino Trip.

over 60+ years Senior Code: SNRWED Offers can not be combined.

Terms & Conditions: Check-In number allows you to check in up to 90 minutes prior to departure. It does not guarantee you a seat on the bus. All seats are on a first-come, Casino Schedule Inside v1.indd 1

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PS RIPS HUR SUN-THUR FRI & SAT FRI & SAT

8TEX 19 19 Departs Departs Texas City Texas City minal Terminal $

$PER PERSON

PER PERSON

PER PERSON

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8:30Coushatta AM 12:30 8:30 PM AM 5:3012:30 PM PM9:30 PM 5:30 PM Tuesday 9:30 PM

0 AM 6:00 AMFri-Sat 9:00 AM

Every Day M0 PM 5:00 PM 7:30 PM

Every Day M0 AM 3:00 AM 5:30 AM

PARAGON PARAGON $ Every Day Fri-Sat

2ND 2ND FRIDAY Every Day FRIDAY Every Day

$

Tue, Thu Of the Of Month the MonthPER PERSON 0 AM Sat AM Thu, Fri, Sat 2:00 Thu, AM Fri,4:30

Tue, Thu M0 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM

Wed, Sun M0 PM 6:00 PM 8:30 PM

Wed,Apr Sun

Tuesday

1919

0 PM SunPM Wed, Sat, Sun 8:30Wed, PM Sat, 11:30

Every Day M0 AM 4:30 AM 7:30 AM

DAYS

PER PERSON

$ 15 Perk 15 Perk

14 . May 12 Apr 14 . May 12

$

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7 $17 Fri & Fri & April 11-12, April 2017, 11-12, June 2017, 5-6, June 20175-6, 2017 8 $18 Sat Sat August 7-8, August 20177-8, 2017 Wed, Thurs & Sun

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You must All be passengers present tomust check-in. be 21All years passengers or older and musthave be 21 a valid yearsstate or older or government and have aidentification valid state or(no government photo copies identification accepted)(no photo copies accepted)

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3/23/17 11:56 AM

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51 GREAT IDEAS FOR YOUR

BEST FAMILY SUMMER VACATION EVER

MAY/JUNE 2017

Summer vacation is the time to reconnect and relax with family, to recreate favorite childhood memories and make news ones together. Do you see the family lying on a beach or around a resort pool, hiking mountain trails, learning history from a national park ranger, exploring a new city, being thrilled by an exotic adventure or a daring new theme park ride? We have ideas for every fantasy.

With Kyle McCarthy of Family Travel Forum we are sharing 51 summer vacation ideas to help you plan own vacation. [For even more ideas, inspiration and last minute specials, please click here and dig in.] We know there is a memorable getaway for everyone, and kids can help pay for the vacation by sharing their travel tales in our 11th annual Teen Travel Writing Scholarship. Make sure to let the kids help plan the itinerary—they can with my www.firstclasstours.net

Kid’s Guide series to major American cities designed just for them. Of course, we also welcome you to post your own vacation fantasies in the comments field below.

ATLANTIC BEACHES From Maine to Florida, East coast and regional families have dozens of beautiful beaches to choose from. The farther south you go, however, the better the weather and warmer the water. Without jumping straight to Florida (see below), your family will find rentals at quiet Bethany Beach in Delaware, and farther south in Virginia Beach, Virginia with its long and famous boardwalk packed with shops and restaurants. With older kids and active families, we like Myrtle Beach for its golf, amusement parks, shopping malls, Grand Strand boardwalk and variety of beachfront family resorts at all price points.

Hilton Head, South Carolina

is a small island with beautiful Atlantic beaches, golf, tennis and more. The Sea Pines Forest Preserve offers boardwalks to explore the wetlands, observation decks, and a nice hike. The Coastal Discovery Museum has guided tours of the beaches. Explore via bike or kayak — you’ll probably have several dolphin sightings as you paddle. Here’s what Allison Tibaldi had to say about her recent adventures on Hilton Head Island. The newly renovated Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island has a heated lagoon-style swimming pool, lap pool, tennis and golf. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, ages 3-5 (half days) and 6-12 (full days) are welcomed in the supervised kids camp.

The Family Fun Package offers a $50 Food and Beverage credit and a $50 Leisure Activity credit for a two-night minimum stay.

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TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

BOSTON AND CAPE COD

or Sea World or stay busy at There’s no better city to learn the 15 major museums and entertainment venues at a little American history Balboa Park. Even if you’re (think Freedom Trail and not traveling with your pet, Boston National Historical don’t miss the Coronado Park) and experience Dog Beach near Mission Bay baseball than Boston. After where each summer you can a few days in the city, head catch the Loews Coronado east to Cape Cod. The Chatham Bars Inn opened in Bay Surf Dog Competition.

1914 for wealthy Bostonians (Take along The Kid’s Guide to LA or San Francisco or San and today welcomes families with more than 200 Diego—great to read on the plane!) rooms and suites, varied recreational options on one CARIBBEAN Low season in of the prettiest beaches, an exclusive spa and a daily kids the Caribbean and Central America starts in mid-April, program where kids 4-12 and prices drop throughout can bake, visit the resort’s summer for a dreamy own farm, and perfect tropical vacation. Note that their kitchen crafts at the if the zika virus is of concern, Chopping Block Institute.

(Have the kids check out The be sure to check with your health provider before Kid’s Guide to Boston!) making your plans. Then, consider St. Croix’s pastel CALIFORNIA Take your pink Buccaneer, Antigua’s pick of Disneyland (look posh Curtain Bluff, or Virgin for deals from Southwest Vacations), Universal Studios Gorda’s classic Bitter End Yacht Club which are Hollywood (Harry Potter family-welcoming options. land!) or Legoland. You can A cruise through the many head to surfing towns like islands offers the chance to Huntington Beach, explore kick back and relax as you museums and restaurants explore the variety of island in San Francisco, or ogle options. For outstanding the movie stars or a huge entertainment by a talented dinosaur in Los Angeles. staff, classy service, great Santa Monica is the ideal food and an exceptional SOCAL beach destination kid’s program, a new allbecause its pier boasts inclusive in Punta Cana in rides and a carousel at the Dominican Republic Pacific Ocean Park, places welcomes families to have to fish, and easy access for an unforgettable vacation. daytrips to Disneyland and Los Angeles. To the south, commune with animals at the famous San Diego Zoo

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COLLEGE TOURING Leave the other kids in the family behind and opt for some one-on-one time with your high school junior or senior.

Stay in a B&B near the campus to pick up some intel from locals. Don’t try to cram too many schools into one trip. Check out GoSeeCampus.com, a free website offering an online college trip planner for high school students and parents. Don’t forget to ask your student to make notes after each visit, and to keep your own.COOKING CLASSES Whether you’re a toddler decorating sugar cookies or an adult trying to perfect your coq au vin, chances are there’s a local cooking class at your destination. Sites like Cozymeal.com pair local chefs with visitors who want to take a class or hit the markets; pizza making is a popular choice for families.

For authentically Italian pizza, check out the familyoriented cooking tours in Italy by Cooking-Vacations. com. Adults traveling with with Tour-de-Friends.com learn how to pair wines while cooking the seasonal cuisine of four regions of France. Love tapas? Spend a day in Barcelona learning how to make your own with daily classes from Barcelona Cooking, a welcoming group of local chefs who welcome kids ages 4+ to attend classes, a fun way to make new friends while traveling.

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MAY/JUNE 2017

DISNEY VACATION If the

kids (or your partner) are begging to go on a Disney vacation – and we mean a theme park, cruise, resort or guided tour, save yourself time, money and grief with a specialty travel agent.

Contact Susan Finch, with the Enchanted Traveler for a free consultation and consider her VIP customized Walt Disney Planning and Concierge Service. Don’t be overwhelmed, and get the vacation you want at the best value.

FARM STAYS Well

recognized in Europe, farm vacations are gaining popularity as more farms offer overnight lodging, meals and a peek into the agricultural lifestyle. Here’s your chance for the kids to see where their food comes from. Eggs are collected fresh from the hen house; carrots are pulled from the ground, berries from a bush.

Go to Farm Stay U.S. for a directory with nearly 1,000 working farms and ranches across the U.S. (in all 50 states and U.S. Territories).

locals go back to school and deals reappear. Choose from Destin and the towns along the Florida Panhandle, Gulf Shores, Alabama or western Louisiana. On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, which also has gambling, there’s 30 miles of white sand beaches, watersports, nature parks and Ship Island, where families will find historic Fort Massachusetts. If it’s too much beach for you, plan on voting up or down the Presley impersonators at the annual Elvis Tupelo Festival the first week in June.

HOUSEBOATING is a

super laid-back vacation with family and friends.

Cruise among spectacular sandstone canyons and 2,000 miles of coastline on the border of Arizona and Utah — but do check the water levels before you head out. You can pause to swim, water ski, fish, explore side canyons or camp on the beach. Share a boat and the trip is even more economical. The agency Houseboating.org gives you options around the country with regular pricing specials, GULF COAST FAVORITES and it’s fun; just read our The southern coast along the account of a Lake Powell calm, clean Gulf of Mexico family reunion. There are is one of the country’s top more opportunities to be summer beach destinations, the captain of your own despite its typically steamy ship, while celebrating the hot and humid weather.

200th anniversary of the Erie Save with midweek vacation Canal. Rent a canal boat rental deals or book hotels and cruise through the locks after mid-August, when between Seneca Falls and

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Tonawanda, NY with options to explore the beautiful Finger Lakes on 3 or 7-day journeys.

MEXICO. You’ll find great

deals at Mexico all-inclusives along the Riviera Maya, the country’s Caribbean coast which attracts history and archeology buffs to ancient Mayan sites at Tulum and Coba. Since summer begins the traditional hurricane season, be sure to purchase travel insurance covering your entire vacation.

Mexico’s Pacific Coast offers a different experience, combining beach with jungle and local culture.

Puerto Vallarta is popular because visitors can do so much in the region, whether on a one-day cruise port call or a whole week’s vacation.

Tour the Estero del Salado Lagoon to look for some of the exotic bird species, iguanas, monkeys and other wildlife, or assist in a seasonal crocodile and turtle release program. Take some basic Spanish classes, ride an ATV (ages 6+), join a guided Jeep tour, or horseback ride with a local ranch guide past rivers, waterfalls and through picturesque mountaintop villages (recommended for ages 10+). Everyone will enjoy getting to know the locals and their cuisine on a taco tour at the many village taquerias.

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NEW MEXICO offers a great mix of history, culture in Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Taos, the chance to learn Native American history and outdoor adventures. Check out Bandelier National Monument, outside the suddenly hip town of Los Alamos, which draws a diverse group of scientists (and their families) to its famous Los Alamos National Laboratories. Stay at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa, which is owned by the Santa Ana Pueblo; there’s a lot of Native American culture, from weekly rodeos and cuisine to adobe brick making classes, as well as blue corn treatments at the spa. When you get hungry for red and green chilis, check out Eileen’s guide to New Mexico Cuisine

Volcano which streams water during the day and lava effects after dark, plus other volcano-based experiences, as well as a relaxing beach, and river and rainforest villages attractions.

SeaWorld Orlando presents deep sea mission themed Kraken, Florida’s only virtual reality rollercoaster, and Electric Ocean, an evening spectacle. Big news at Legoland Florida – Ninjano World where kids sharpen their ninja skills, and the whimsical Legoland Beach Retreat with 83 beachthemed bungalows are open awaiting your Legomaniacs.

Just an hour from Orlando is the Space Coast and the Kennedy Space Center, whose space camp and astronaut encounters allow everyone’s imagination to take flight.

ORLANDO, one of the

RANCH AND RIDE ADVENTURES Wannabe’

country’s most favorite destinations is gearing up for the popular summer season. The latest attraction at Disney World is the largest ever expansion of Animal Kingdom with the debut of Pandora – The World of Avatar, featuring bioluminescent rainforests, a Banshee flying attraction and the family-friendly Na’vi River Journey ride, opening May 27. The news at Universal Orlando Resort, is the opening of Volcano Bay on May 25. The waterpark features a Fire and Water

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cowboys, cowgirls and anyone who enjoys the outdoors will love a genuine Western dude ranch experience. Saddle up and let the Dude Ranchers Association help you select an unforgettable ride. You’ll learn from wranglers and ranchers how to horseback ride, rope and rustle, and how ranches thrive on team work by all ages.

From the camaraderie of campfires, chores well done, and panning for gold, to sharing authentic pasture-

to-table meals, the whole family will be transformed by this uniquely American adventure. What many people don’t know is how much more there is to do at ranches these days— everything from fishing and hiking to tubing and rafting, even cooking classes and spa treatments.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

A city that boasts more than 300 days a year of sunshine is hot, dry and busy in summer because of The Alamo, America’s latest UNESCO World Heritage Site. The legend, a mission turned fort complete with Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, is more interesting than the site, so you’ll want to visit one of the nearby multimedia attractions that illuminates the story.

Riverwalk, an entertaining riverfront promenade lined with cafes and biking paths, is where you’ll spend your time when you’re not boating, touring SeaWorld, or visiting one of the nearby Hill Country ranches or resorts.

WATERPARKS INDOORS AND OUT Summer’s

the season when most waterparks open, and there’s nothing more fun than a sunny day spent at Hurricane Harbor (Six Flags), Adventure Island (next to Busch Gardens), Sandcastle in Pittsburgh, Gator Run

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MAY/JUNE 2017

at New Orleans’ Audubon Park and Schlitterbahn.

Excitement at Universal Orlando is that Wet n’ Wild has recently been joined

by Volcano Bay, the newest attraction at the park, which features a “virtual line” wristband that alerts you when it’s your turn and allows you to have fun while waiting. In Carlsbad, Legoland California’s waterpark expansion includes waterslide races at “Legoland Surfers. New at Knotts Berry Farm’s Soak City Waterpark, “Shore Break” with six water slides at seven stories above ground, features nearvertical drops in a flume and “The Wedge,” a family together raft ride, which isn’t as gentle as it sounds. In the mid-west, at Ohio’s classic Cedar Point in Sandusky, the renovated Cedar Point Shores Water Park presents four new attractions include the exciting “Point Plummet,” tube slides at “Portside Plunge,” a family splash park at “Lakeslide Landing,” and a “Lemmy’s Lagoon” for toddlers.

Dollywood’s Splash Country water park debuts “Tailspin Racer,” a high-speed water slide race.Hate the sun?

Facing monsoon rains? Head to Great Wolf Lodge Resorts, indoor waterpark heavens located around the country.

See Theme Park Section above for more park fun. ¦ SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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REMEMBERING

LANNY...

THOUGHTS ABOUT LANNY ROGERS, OUR FOUNDER

FIRST CLASS IN EVERY WAY