Rolling Daily Volume 8

ROLLING DAILY FIRST CLASS IN EVERY WAY

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

ISSUE 08 SEPTEMBER 2018

04 10

TOP 10 CITIES IN TEXAS Looking for a late summer getaway?

Steal away to any of these 10 cities...

THE SECRET TO WINNING POKER TOURNAMENTS - IT’S ALL ABOUT TIMING Anyone can win a poker tournament by getting the right cards at the right...

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3 WAYS TO STAY SAFE WHILE TRAVELING Over the last several months, I’ve caught bits of Taken, Hostel II and Brokedown...

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BEST CASINO GAMES FOR BEGINNERS Whether you’re traveling to Las Vegas, going on a cruise, or simply...

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PLACES TO VISIT IN FRISCO, TEXAS Come check out the places to visit in Frisco, Texas.

Frisco is located just 25...

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FRISCO, TEXAS

25 BEST THINGS TO DO IN FRISCO TEXAS Headed to Texas? Make a short stop in Frisco first, for a taste of the Texan...

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30 SIMPLE TIPS TO TAKE BETTER TRAVEL PHOTOS WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE A beautiful travel picture can be with you for the rest of your life: on your....

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You can find great food in suburban Frisco, just a 25-minute drive...

12 TIPS TO SIMPLIFY PACKING FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP There’s something seriously freeing about packing as light as possible...

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

SEPTEMBER 2018

First Class Tours Durable - Humble - Passionate I was shopping at Costco this weekend, and I saw Christmas trees! Did I miss Halloween? 2018 is entering the homestretch. We will soon begin the fourth quarter.

Much like a football game, there is a unique mood in the air in the fourth quarter.

Finish strong! Catch up! We have to do this now! We can win this thing! All these thoughts begin to flood our minds.

Every day our decisions are determined by what is important to us. For instance, providing a home for our family is important, and so, we get up and go to work to earn the money that is necessary to provide a home. Another example would be our decisions with money. Look at what you spend money on, and it will show what is important to you. These decisions are based on our values.

Every company has values. Whether that company knows what they are or not, they have values, just like you do in your life. A couple of weeks ago, our leadership team met off-site to discuss the state of the company and do planning for the next few months. One of the things we reviewed were our core values. These are durability, humbleness, and passion.

As we discussed our values, I was reminded again how humbleness impacts our company. It became so clear to me during that discussion that if we want to experience a genuine team environment at First Class Tours, we must embrace and live humbly. Oh, I know, it is easy to say we are humble, but it is difficult to live and maybe to even fully understand.

You see, humbleness is not based on the size of your income. If you have a small income, that does not mean you are humble and if you have a huge income, it does not mean you lack humbleness. Nor is humbleness based on position. Whether you are the CEO or the janitor, humbleness could be missing. Humbleness is an attitude and a quality that we must focus on everyday. Much like a garden, humbleness must be cultivated in our lives. It is more caught than taught! The following statements and questions will help you better understand how to live humbly.

• • • • • • •

I need help - do you ask for help?

I am not offended - how easily are you offended?

I forgive you - are you able to forgive?

I will listen - can you stop talking and listen to what someone is saying?

I am thankful - do you stop and appreciate the people in your life?

I respect you - do you respect others and what they do in your life?

I admit I am wrong - can you admit when you are wrong?

I believe as we embrace humbleness and live it out in front of others, then others will “catch” it. Humility is contagious! As humbleness is lived, our relationships will deepen with family, neighbors, and co-workers. I promise you will be a happier person when you live humbly!

Let me also take a moment to let you know how much I appreciate each of you. It takes a great team every day to deliver what our customers ask of us. Thank you! It is a privilege to lead you.

Make the fourth quarter count! Thanks again for making First Class Tours, 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

TOP 10

TEXAS CITIES IN

BY: GARY FORD 4

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S

SEPTEMBER 2018

Looking for a late summer getaway?

Steal away to any of these 10 cities among the favorite destinations in our most recent Readers’ Choice survey.

Enjoy your stay, then participate in our survey again. Go to southernliving. com/ readerschoice before 11:59 p.m.

CT September 17, 2007, and name your favorite cities, restaurants, inns, and more. Who knows? You may win a luxury golf and spa weekend.

1. San Antonio: Sip and Sample a City What a great city to taste! Cool a summer day with the Menger Hotel’s famous mango ice cream. Sip a Prickly Pear Margarita at Boudro’s, a River Walk eatery. Other don’t-miss dining spots here include Biga on the Banks, The Lodge Restaurant of Castle Hills, and a local favorite, Los Barrios. On Sunday indulge in brunch at Las Canarias in the Omni La Mansión del Rio. Before leaving town, experience the noon Mariachi Mass at San Jose Mission. Visit www.sanantoniocvb.com, and watch for our story about San Antonio in the upcoming October issue of Southern Living.

Indigo Houston at The Galleria changes its artwork, music, and flowers to match the season. Hotel ICON renovated the classic 1911 First Union National Bank Building. Sports fans love the Inn at the Ballpark, a block from Minute Maid Park. At hip, contemporary Hotel Derek, the staff leaves Texas-made candies on your pillow. The more expansive but secluded Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa rises as an urban woodland retreat. Visit www.visithoustontexas.com.

4. Dallas: Wonders of West Village Visitors and residents mingle outdoors in this neighborhood, between Blackburn Street and McKinney and Cole and Lemmon Avenues. You’ll love the sidewalk dining at Tom Tom Asian Grill (try the blackberry mojitos) and the Texas-size sweet treats at Petit Fours, a great place for afternoon tea.

For a Western wardrobe, try on boots and hats at Cowboy Cool. Visit www. westvil.com.

2. Austin: A Texas Crossroads and More One intersection symbolizes this city’s lifestyle. At West Sixth and Lamar Boulevard, you’ll find Waterloo Records (featuring the latest in Texas music), BookPeople (author signings galore), and Whole Foods Market (store and headquarters). Elsewhere, South Congress Avenue boasts fun shops such as Uncommon Objects and Vivid. Party at Continental Club, sleep in 50s chic at the restored Austin Motel, and enjoy breakfast pancakes at Magnolia Cafe South. Visit www.austintexas.org.

5. Fort Worth: Sundance, Moon Glow Fun in Fort Worth goes on all day into late night. In downtown’s Sundance Square, you can shop and dine and then see the stars at Bass Performance Hall. August’s bill features Kenny Rankin and Tony Bennett. If Bass Hall is too tame, get rowdy at Billy Bob’s Texas, the world’s largest honky-tonk down in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. While in the area, treat yourself at Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, where chef/owner Tim Love cooks in his cowboy hat. Save an afternoon for the museums in the Fort Worth Cultural District. Note: the Amon Carter Museum is closed through summer for renovations. Visit www. fortworth.com.

3. Houston: Big City, Cozy Getaway Houston? Cozy? It certainly feels that way at several boutique hotels. Hotel

6. Galveston: Time and the Sea Four hotels span the legacy of this venerable city. The Hotel Galvez,

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FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

recently restored to its early 20thcentury elegance, looks again to the Gulf. Take tea or coffee in the sundappled, four-story atrium at The Tremont House, named for a hotel that opened its doors in 1839. On Galveston’s Historic Wharf, the 42room Harbor House has renovated a warehouse into a casual inn. Set among 242 acres, the Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa, and Convention Center combines 428 guest rooms with a huge aquarium and an IMAX theater. Visit www.galveston.com.

7. Corpus Christi: Seaside, City Streets This city sparkles with sun and water.

Stay downtown at Omni Corpus Christi for a splendid view of the bay and the aircraft carrier (now museum) USS Lexington. Stroll through 2,000 orchids at South Texas Botanical Gardens. Drive the loop that takes you to the beaches of Mustang Island, the fishing and vacation village of Port Aransas, and Rockport-Fulton, an artists’ colony of stores and galleries.

You may want to schedule a trip for Rockport-Fulton’s annual Hummer/Bird Celebration, September 13-16. Visit www.corpuschristi-tx-cvb.org and www. rockport-fulton.org.

8. San Angelo: Jewel of West Texas Downtown you’ll find art, apparel, fine dining, and the city’s own brands of jewelry. Artisans at Legend Jewelers craft beautiful settings for locally harvested Concho Pearls. Holland’s, another jeweler, offers its own brands of Western buckles and accessories, including its famous “Spur Clip” for the tie. J. Wilde’s creates an avant-garde line of fashions.

Stroll through San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, also downtown, with its

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astounding 20th-century ceramics collection, and see buffalo soldiers on parade during special events at Fort Concho National Historic Landmark.

Hungry? Find Texas favorites at Miss Hattie’s Café & Saloon and international flavors at Peasant Village. Visit www. sanangelo.org.

9. Tyler: Africa, Azaleas, Roses, and Wine Grab a chili dog from Chakula Café, have a seat under a shady arbor, and watch Africa for a while. Giraffes, elephants, and other mammals roam the excellent Caldwell Zoo. Elsewhere Tyler abounds in flowers, with spring’s Azalea Trail that winds through fine neighborhoods and fall’s famous Texas Rose Festival, this year October 18-21.

In the near countryside, you can buy native plants and other flowers for your garden at Blue Moon Gardens.

For exquisite dining and lodging, head to the winery, Kiepersol Estates. Visit www.tylertexas.com.

10. Lubbock: Worth a Closer Look This city’s even better through a pair of big black-framed glasses like the ones Buddy Holly wore. A sculpture of those eye pieces recall Lubbock’s famous musician at the Buddy Holly Center.

You’ll hear his legacy there. Each night in the Depot District at spots such as Cactus Theater, you can listen to live music. Around town, explore three wineries (Cap*Rock, Llano Estacado, and Pheasant Ridge), stroll through the National Ranching Heritage Center, and watch air itself high in the windmills at American Wind Power Center and Museum. Visit www. visitlubbock.org.

SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

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

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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 NEW TRIPS COMING SOON • Shopping promenade 18-hole championship golf course 30,000 square-feet of meeting and convention space $74 PP - DBLE OCCUP • Arcade • A-list entertainment Wedding gazebo $149 PP - SINGLE OCCUP Marina with dockage up to 206 feet

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$

Perk

Ride with First Class Tours to The Golden Nugget Lake Charles, departing from FM 1960 Terminal and Eastex Terminals

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

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P L E

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E

New for 2017!

SEPTEMBER 2018

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

1 . 8 7 7 . 7 7 0 . S T O P 9

FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

As a local, it is not at all uncommon to be asked “What is there to do in Galveston?” To me, it seems like such an odd question. The question really should be more like “What ISN’T there to do in Galveston?”

Galveston Island has a diversity of entertainment and leisure options that has made it one of the top beach destinations along the Gulf Coast. I think it’s the fact that Galveston has so much more than just sand and water to lure people across The Causeway.

Let’s look at just Downtown Galveston – the epicenter of entertainment, food, drink and social activity in the city. So if you’re looking for something fun to do and need a little nudge for ideas, here’s a quick list of the top 10 things to do in Downtown Galveston.

And I offer this one disclaimer – this is in no way intended to be inclusive.

It is not the result of any survey. This is merely my list of top 10 things I recommend to folks based on living here 21 years and visiting the island city my entire life.

1. Shop If you’re fond of unique and interesting items for yourself or gifts for others, downtown Galveston is where you need to spend some time with Hendley Market as your first stop. Be sure to check the store for current hours – they tend to change from time to time. But it is worth the effort for the spectacular collection of unusual items you’ll find. Nativity scenes

THE SECRET TO WINNING POKER TOURNAMENTS ALL ABOUT TIMIN BY: JONATHAN GELLING

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SEPTEMBER 2018

Anyone can win a poker tournament by getting the right cards at the right time, or by playing against terrible poker players. And we all know what the ultimate secret to winning poker is: aggression. But how can you more consistently win poker tournaments when the cards aren’t falling your way, your opponents are decent, and without risking your tournament life with over-the-top aggression?

After all, the all-in move will work every time but once: then you’re walking past the rail.

The secret to winning poker tournaments is to recognize the three key periods in any tournament: (1) the early game; (2) the mid stages; and (3) the late game. The secret to winning Texas hold em tournaments is to have a distinct strategy for each of the critical crunch times in the poker tournament:

IT’S NG www.firstclasstours.net

The early game - There are two schools of thought to playing the early game in a poker tournament. The conservative approach, what I will call the Harrington school, is to buckle down, play tight, and wait for the right spots to come to you.

The goal is to preserve your chip stack for the later stages of the tournament without risking any dangerous, early all-in confrontations. This is not to say that you won’t play your premium hands (the top 5% of all cards dealt), but you don’t

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FIRST CLASS

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ever want to invest the majority of your stack without a very strong hand. You certainly don’t want to speculate and gamble without a strong advantage. The advantage of this strategy is that it reduces your beta: you’re unlikely to build a big stack early on but you’re also much less likely to stage an early exit. This strategy should be preferred at the lower limits and at tables full of loose, inexperienced players. Let the loose, erratic players bust out without engaging in reckless gambling yourself.

On the other hand, you might apply maximum

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aggression in the early game with the goal of doubling up early. You do this by speculating with a variety of hands, in or out of position (including suited connectors, all pairs, and complete trash if you can push a tight player off their hand after the flop).

The key to this approach is to be a balanced loose player. You can absolutely not afford to be a calling station: loose play is only justified if you’re willing to turn up the aggression to compensate for playing these weaker hands. But while loose, passive play is the worst possible poker strategy, becoming a maniac and going all-in

without rhyme or reason is (nearly) as bad. Loose, aggressive players looking to build a big stack early will raise and re-raise frequently, but preferably pre-flop and on the flop when the betting is cheap.

When you start seriously gambling, you should either have the best hand, a lot of outs, or a good reason to think your opponent will fold. This loose, aggressive doubleor-nothing approach is best-suited for a table full of tight aggressive players schooled in the Harrington strategy of preserving their starting chip stacks for the later stages. You can exploit these players’

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SEPTEMBER 2018

conservatism to garner an early chip lead.

The mid game - If there is a single secret to winning poker tournaments, it’s found in your mid game play. This is when most players begin to tighten their game, afraid to risk their remaining chips as they edge toward the payout. This is a natural tendency: while it’s cheap to speculate with low blinds in the early game, the rising blinds cause players to reassess the value of speculating with marginal hands. If this happens at your table (and almost always it will), you should once again take the opposite approach.

You need to view the midgame as make or break for your tournament life: you absolutely must build a big stack heading into the high-blind late stages by any means necessary. You must raise in position, reraise pre-flop, and gamble aggressively, especially against tight mediumstacked opponents. You also need to pull out the occasional big bluff on the turn and river on a board that turns scary after the flop. If you can steal two or three big pots with the worst hand and steal more than your fair share of pots without a fight by constantly raising

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in position, you’ll give yourself enough chips for the late stage. Since the high-blind, late-stage of the tournament will rapidly devolve into pure gambling, you need this big stack to maximize your chances of winning the tournament. If you’re going to come in one of the top spots, you can’t risk your entire poker tournament on one big gamble.

Without building a big stack in the mid-stages, you’ll end up getting all your chips in for one big gamble sooner or later. If the cards don’t fall your way (and there’s always a good chance of that happening), you’ll bust out in one of the lower-tier payouts. Even if you finish in the money, you’ll miss the lucrative top payouts.

The late game - This is all aggression, all the time.

Ideally, you’d like to pick on tight, medium-stacks.

Alternatively, gamble with short stacks that are forced to make desperate all-ins.

The only real rule to follow is to avoid a big gamble with another big stack.

You never want to put your poker tournament life on the line on a single deal of the cards, if you can help it.

That said, you’ll be forced to make some gambles in the late stages, and it’s better to be the aggressor.

Challenge the other players to fold to your aggressive plays. With a big stack, you’ll intimidate the other players and can afford to lose a couple of coin flips. If you find yourself short-stacked, use the best opportunity to push all-in. Never allow yourself to sink below 5x the big blind without moving in, regardless of cards. This is the most random part of the poker tournament, but if you’ve built your stack in the mid-game you’ll maximize your chances of placing in one of the toptier payouts. Dominating the mid-game is the ultimate secret to winning poker tournaments.

Divide your play and adjust your strategy for the three key phases of a poker tournament, and you’ll profit from the result. The secret to winning poker tournaments is to have an appropriate strategy for each phase, and building the biggest possible chip stack before the blinds rise to prohibitive levels in the late game. Sometimes this means an early exit, but you have to be willing to die in order to live (and profit). ¦

SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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3 WAYS TO STAY SAFE WHILE TRAVELING BY: HEATHER SIMMONS 14

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SEPTEMBER 2018

Over the last several months, I’ve caught bits of Taken, Hostel II and Brokedown Palace on cable. This naturally got me thinking about personal safety on the road. I’m not saying you need to constantly worry about gangs of abductors, wealthy torturers or unjust imprisonment while traveling. But it’s smart to take necessary, common-sense precautions when journeying around the country or globe.

Read on for tips on how to keep you, your belongings and your money safe during travel. After all, it’d be a shame to spend

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all that time and research finding the best price for your trip, only to lose your cash and credit cards to a thief.

1. Don’t Be Captain Obvious Pants You’re a tourist. You know that, but you don’t want everybody else to know that.

Don’t unfold your giant map on a busy corner. Don’t ask strangers on the street for directions. Learn your route ahead of time, and step into a business for directions whenever possible. Avoid flashing your Lonely Planet guidebook around, or

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publicly referring to your language dictionary when traveling abroad.

2. Keep Your Friends Close and Your Money Closer A lone traveler equals easy pickings for a seasoned criminal. If you are traveling alone, try to hide that fact.

Stick with groups whenever possible and keep information-sharing with chatty cab drivers and the like to a minimum. Pairs or small groups of women may also want to keep their lack of man-escorts hidden.

(I hear you. It goes against every feminist bone in my body too. But we’re talking about personal safety in an unfamiliar place. Now is not the time for an “I Am Woman Hear Me Roar” type attitude.)

Another thing you don’t want to advertise: where

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you keep your money. A fanny pack may be handy, but it screams “I’m not from around here!” Unless where you’re from is the early nineties. And the road is not the place for your big fancy designer purse. If you have a purse, keep it close to your body, preferably under an item of clothing like a jacket or sweater so that thieves can’t do the old snip-the-purse-strapsand-run trick. Fellas, be sure your wallet is in a securely fastened pocket. Or go all 007 with a hidden money belt. How cool is that?

3. Exercise Caution, Even In Your Hotel Room Never, ever blindly answer a knock at your door. If the knocker identifies himself as a hotel employee, call the front desk to confirm.

Always make sure your hotel door completely

closes when entering or exiting–sometimes it makes a loud noise but doesn’t actually click shut.

Don’t leave your valuables lying around when you leave for the day. That hotel safe is there for a reason! I have been guilty of not taking advantage of the hotel safe, figuring that it is only for oil sheiks and international men of mystery. But the safe is for anything you don’t want stolen. So don’t be afraid to put your netbook, your passport and the earrings your grandmother gave you in there when you step out.

I’ve only scratched the surface. What are some precautions you take while traveling? ¦ SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

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

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FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

BEST CASINO GAMES FOR BEGINNERS BY: LASVEGASINSIDER.COM

Whether you’re traveling to Las Vegas, going on a cruise, or simply staying in a modern city, chances are you will come across a casino. If you’re thinking of playing, however, it is important to know which games to pick and which to avoid, especially if you’re a beginner. Here are some games you should try

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if you’re going to visit a casino or two.

First of all, one of the most frequent mistakes people make is avoid playing at the table. The reason for that is mostly related to being intimidated.

Instead, many choose the slot machines, which are even trickier and decrease

their odds at winning.

It would be a good idea to try online casino sites at Bodog.eu. It’s a good idea to play casino games online before you try them in person at the casino.

You’ll find that there is less pressure and intimidation when playing in an online casino.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

One of the most simple casino games is blackjack.

You can easily move over from one blackjack table to the other and start observing how people are playing. In most casinos and even on gambling online, the house only has a slight edge of winning, so your chances of leaving the table with some money in your

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pocket are increased. Also, being a beginner, you don’t have to feel intimidated by playing against various experienced players. Instead, you only get to play against the dealer. The rules of the game itself are pretty simple too: you just have to get a higher number than the dealer, without going over 21.

Another benefit of blackjack is that you can easily learn how to play casino right from the dealer. If you go to the casino in the afternoon, when the venue isn’t crowded, you can learn directly how to play the game. The dealer will guide you step by step. On the other hand, if you want to swap blackjack for poker,

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you will have a harder time as a beginner. If you want to play poker, you might want to play online and practice at home with your friends before venturing inside a casino. Blackjack is the safest bet!

The second game you can play at a casino is Craps. This dice game has the second best odds after blackjack and is extremely beginnerfriendly. The focus is simply betting on a dice roll. At first you might find the game intimidating, especially since there are multiple bets you can make.

However, you can start by learning a fundamental bet known as the “pass line” bet, which almost all

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players make. After you’ve finished mastering this bet, you can start adding different other bets at your own pace. The visual component of the game is extremely important, so you can start by watching some online tutorials before your trip to the casino, or you can simply find someone there to teach you the basics.

Finally, the last game which beginners can try is the Roulette. This game is constantly featured in movies, so the concept is fairly easy for everyone to grasp. All you have to do is bet on your favourite numbers, and if one of the numbers you’ve chosen comes in you win.

If you decide to bet only on Red or Black, then

you have a 50-50 chance of winning. This is also the safest bet (no pun intended). However, if you’re truly feeling lucky, you can simply risk and bet on one number. It is far more difficult to win that way, but if you do, the payoff will be bigger.

There are many casino games for both beginners and experienced players.

However, you need to be very careful with your money and choose the games which match your skill level. Don’t take thoughtless risks, and you can come out a winner!

¦ SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

YOUTH

SPORTS Transportation

Is our

specialty

Game Day starts here!

Ready, Set, Travel! It seems that every season there are more games, seasons are longer and the travel commitment gets more and more complex. Imagine taking the entire team on one motorcoach, arriving at the game together ready to play, with plenty of space for players, families, and gear. With full sized motorcoaches that accommodate up to 56 passengers, have video capabilities, an onboard restroom and more. The possibilities are endless, often with prices less than driving in separate cars. Call us today and let our team of professionals put your team transportation in the fast lane!

GoMotorcoach Make the Smart Move!

Safe | Green | Efficient | Affordable | Fun

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

FIRST CLASS IN EVERY WAY

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FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

1. In what year did Tour-Rific begin business?

Tour-Rific of Texas is a student tour company founded in June 1991.

2. Why did you start Tour-Rific and how has it grown over the years?

I was enjoying a career in banking although I found it a bit boring and not very challenging. Also, the banks in Texas were rather insolvent at that time with many closing down. When the president of the bank where I worked had a reorganization, I was one of eleven bankers suddenly unemployed. I knew then that it was time to make a career change.

For a couple of years, I had been “dabbling” in travel while employed with a bank that provided senior citizen trips for its clients. My colleague suggested I try student travel as a career option.

I knew my options were limited so I decided to go for it! I can say it was the best decision of my life!

I started with a modest number of clients and built a relationship with the premiere bus company in Houston, Gray Line Tours. Gray Line, now First Class, was my baseline for a great student trip to Dallas, San Antonio or Orlando. If the bus is “first class” and professional, the rest of the trip which includes hotels, meals, and sightseeing, will fall into place.

3. What is your fondest memory?

I have two answers for this great

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question. On a business level, the honor of taking the Willowridge Mighty Eagle Band (Missouri City, TX) to the 105th Tournament of Roses Parade was a supreme honor that I have never been able to duplicate. There is a very limited number of schools invited to this prestigious event and after only three years in business the band director of Willowridge High School asked me to plan their trip. I was elated for the opportunity but most of all for these kids that had limited resources to be able

to travel to Pasadena, CA for this huge event. As I recall, our group was over 400 students and parents. It was a perfect trip in every way!

On a more personal level, Tour-Rific of Texas was honored in 1998 with being a Top Disney Client and invited to their Annual Symposium. This means top 30 travel planners in the U.S. in Disney Youth Program Sales. I am so thrilled that we have maintained this distinction every year since.

Left to right: Debbie Hawkins: Financial Manager, Courtney Doyle: Travel Specialist Caye Lankford; Travel Specialist, Suzi Waters: Travel Specialist, Sandi Kerth: Sr. Vice President

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FIRST CLASS

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4. What gives you the greatest joy in operating your business?

I love what our team does in planning transportation, meals, sightseeing and educational components. We can send these students on trips with their classmates to places they may never have a chance to visit again and at great group discounts. Travel is one of the best educational experiences a student can have and one that leaves everlasting memories.

5. What are the biggest challenges you see in the future?

6. OUR TEAM At Tour-Rific® we pride ourselves in being “small but mighty”! Collectively our team has 102 years’ experience in the travel industry and even though we each have our own area of expertise, we can all handle any aspect of any trip from booking buses, air, hotels, meals, attractions or even booking cruises. This makes us user friendly in that there is not just one person assigned to any given trip! We all have a passion for what we do with customer service as our top priority. ¦

Honestly, I don’t see any real “challenges” as it relates to our business and the student group travel industry. The Internet has provided many options to book “travel” on-line however I think this more applicable for the individual rather than groups. Our company specializes in providing an all-inclusive travel experience that one can’t get by booking online. There are many other facets to consider including longstanding relationships with key vendors, knowledge and expertise with key destinations (e.g. New York City, Branson, Washington D.C. and Orlando) and types of student trips (e.g. Band, Choir, Orchestra, and Drill Team performances), and incorporating safety standards in everything we book for our clients. Our goal is to provide value and quality at a sensible price so that students and faculty get the absolute best experience for these magical trips that will be remembered forever.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

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

25

FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

2NIGHT TRIPS WITH PERKS

40

$

Perk

COMING SOON...

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!

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OVERNIGHT TRIPS WITH PERKS

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$

Perk

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SEP 10, 22 - OCT 27 - NOV 10, 19 $44 PP - DBLE OCCUP $68 PP - SINGLE OCCUP 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!

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SEPTEMBER 2018

PARAGON RESORT

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27

DISCOVER FRISCO “BEST PLACE TO RAISE AN ATHLETE”

The Lone Star State is full of amazing places to visit. Frisco is one Texas City that you will not want to miss. Located 20 min from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Where you are interested in sports, history, shopping or cultural events. Frisco has something for everyone. Her are our suggestions of the best things to check out in Frisco.

FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

PLACES TO VISIT IN FRISCO, TEXAS BY: MYHEAVENLYRECIPES.COM

Come check out the places to visit in Frisco, Texas.

Frisco is located just 25 minutes north of Downtown Dallas. In fact, we stayed at the Embassy Suites Frisco Hotel Convention Center & Spa on John Q Hammons Dr in Frisco, Texas. We could actually see downtown

30

from our hotel room. It was super crazy how far you can actually see in the state of Texas. We were so tired from our Waco, Texas and Austin, Texas visits. But, I have family in McKinney a suburb just outside of Frisco and was super excited to finally be able to see them again after not seeing them after 15ish

years.

Our hotel over looked the Dr. Pepper Arena which is the home to Frisco RoughRiders Class AA minor league baseball club.

We had complimentary breakfasts every morning that we stayed at the Embassy and they were AMAZING! Like I’m talking

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SEPTEMBER 2018

fresh omelettes, hot coffee oh and let’s not forget about the Open Bar for a few hours in the evening. It was a nice treat to grab an adult beverage and then take the kids swimming! In fact, I really didn’t want to leave the Embassy! I wanted to just move in!

There was SO MUCH to

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do in Frisco it was unreal.

We ended up visiting the National Videogame Museum. The National Videogame Museum is the home to more than 100,000 pieces of videogame history and we were able to play most of them! I will say that the Museum was pretty cool to experience with the kids.

It gave Jas and I a chance

to reminisce and show the kids the sort of games that we played when we were their age! In fact, we were just talking to Beanies about playing Oregon Trail in school a few weeks prior.

Well, needless to say, all the kids were a little bit obsessed and didn’t want to leave! But, we got them to move on and had a blast.

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I may or may not have taken Duck Hunt a little serious. I did come out the winner! We got there a little late and we stayed a little past closing, otherwise we could’ve hung out all day.

So be sure to get there early in the morning, especially if you have kids!

Another stop we made was to 3 Stacks Smoke & Tap House. I am OBSESSED with their corn bread. It was super sweet, dusting with sugar on top and seriously

32

upset because they won’t share the recipe with me.

Like I tried more times than not and apparently I was so in love with the food that I didn’t take any pictures đ&#x;™ Beanies got a Hamburger and they SMOKE THEM! I was intrigued and didn’t think that she would like it, but, she fell in love with it as well. She ate the entire burger‌ and it was a big one!

We ended up hitting up Bonnie Ruth’s and grabbed

some cupcakes to take to my family. They were delicious and a great treat for the kids! They hadn’t really had any sweets while we had been in Texas so the cupcakes were a great treat for them. We ended up getting a wide variety of cupcakes. Needless to say, there weren’t any left by the end of the night!

It was so great to catch up with my family. The kids hit it off, played so well together and even went swimming despite being a

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SEPTEMBER 2018

little to chilly to swim in my Aunt’s pool! We ended up coming back to the hotel and crashing! I don’t think I slept so good while on vacation except that night!

We loved exploring Frisco.

There’s seriously anything and everything being built from Mom & Pop restaurants to national chain stores. If you want to move to a new up and coming city, visit Frisco. The amount of homes being built was CRAZY. We did get to drive past Deion Sanders old house that’s now housed next to a Kroger Marketplace. I tried to take pictures, but, they didn’t do it any justice!

The next morning we woke up and grabbed another fa nominal breakfast

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downstairs and headed out to The Ford Center at the Star. Ford Center at The Star is a state-of-the-art, 510,000 square foot indoor athletic facility shared by the Dallas Cowboys, the City of Frisco, and Frisco ISD’s high schools. I can’t even begin to tell you about our experience. It is one of those things that you just have to go experience for yourself.

The amount of time, money and attention to detail in this building is absolutely mind blowing! We don’t have ANYTHING like this in Cincinnati.

The facility is home to Dallas Cowboys Football Operations including locker room, training room, coaches’ offices, team rooms, Training Table and hydrotherapy. Ford Center

boasts one indoor and two outdoor (one turf and one natural grass) NFL and University Interscholastic League (UIL) compliant practice fields. There are also four luxury suites and a premium hospitality area, Cowboys Club, overlook the indoor stadium and outdoor practice fields.

From jerseys on display from the start of the Cowboys in 1960 to the present day, to the Super Bowl Trophies on display, to the details as you tour the facility is out of this world! The amount of detail the Jones family put into this facility is just stunning. We left in awe and instantly became Cowboys fans the moment we found out about the relationship the Cowboys organization has with the local school

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districts. Football is life in Texas and that was made pretty clear at the Ford Center!

We then headed up to the brand new Holiday Inn Express & Suites on Henneman Way in McKinney, Texas. We were the first guests to stay in the room and it was a state of the art hotel. The kids were disappointed that the pool wasn’t open, but, they were still doing last minute construction. Plus, the pool was probably pretty darn cold and they did plenty of swimming at the Embassy in Frisco!

That afternoon we headed to downtown McKinney which was SUPER historical. We also got to visit the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. We got to explore 6 miles of nature trails through various habitats. They did have a indoor exhibit, but, we skipped it simply because we were running out of time! We did go through the entire Animals of the World exhibit. The weather was gorgeous and the exhibit happened to be outdoors on the north end of the sanctuary with animals in natural settings.

That’s where my little TT girl wanted to hang out all day! I keep saying that she

34

is going to be a Veterinarian when she grows up!

The next morning we headed to McKinney’s Historic Downtown Square.

You can mapquest/google map 111 N. Tennessee.

This is the address of the McKinney Performing Arts Center and McKinney Main Street office housed in the historic courthouse. This is where you’ll find public restrooms and wonderful local art!

We stopped in the McKinney Visitors Center at 200 W. Virginia and stopped in to say hi to Beth. She set up our family to visit the Downtown area and so glad so extended us an offer because we had a BLAST! The kids needed to burn off some energy and we did that by exploring the quaint local shops. I grabbed a bottle of wine to take to dinner that night, grabbed some spices to take home with us and had lunch at The Pantry located at 214 E. Louisiana. The owner Cleo, hosted our family. If you visit The Pantry check out the numbers made of nails that are hammered into the floor. This place used to be a hardware store back in the late 1800’s and into the 1900’s, they used these numbers to measure rope and chain! I love learning little tid bits about every

place I visit.

We ended up getting the Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie as everyone in the restaurant told us we had to have it! It was pretty darn good!

Later that night we ended up crying and saying our goodbyes to our family as our flight left very early that next morning.

We had an AMAZING time while we were in Texas.

We simply can’t wait to go back! It was one of those family vacations that I truly believe everyone will remember. It was the first time Jas and the kids flew on a airplane, the first time we were away from our house as a family of 5 for a week and the first time the kids were perfect! Like they were the most well behaved kids I ever encountered. I think someone returned my normal kids as soon as we landed! All hell broke loose, everyone was overly exhausted and the Hubs ended up with a migraine as soon as we landed.

Until next time Texas….until next time! ¦ SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

Nothing BRINGS A

Family

TOGETHER

Better Than a Motorcoach.

We’ll Show You Why!

One of the biggest challenges with any large family reunion can be transportation. How do you move that many people around town? How do you get from the destinations to the hotels? How do you spend your time together without spending hours stuck in traffic, in separate rental cars? We understand family reunions and know that transportation can be the difference between an extraordinary event and just another few vacation days wasted. Call us today and let us help you put your family reunion in the fast lane to fun!

GoMotorcoach Make the Smart Move!

Safe | Green | Efficient | Affordable | Fun

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

FIRST CLASS IN EVERY WAY

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FIRST CLASS

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FRISCO, TEXAS BY: KIM SUN

You can find great food in suburban Frisco, just a 25-minute drive from Dallas.

We feel that independent restaurants--those mom-and36

pop venues with fresh food at reasonable prices--make for the best meals while on vacation. It’s important to seek them out, but it’s not always easy. Visitors to vibrant Frisco, Texas, could easily get caught

up dining on fast food, but those who do so miss some of the best flavors in Texas. Here are our favorites.

Everything that comes out of the Tres Méridas kitchen, wwwfirstclasstours.net

SEPTEMBER 2018

will become the tamale with which you’ll compare all future tamales. Classic tortilla soup is vibrant in color and bold in flavor, and at $4 a bowl, how can you go wrong?

Every dish is beautifully presented. One of my favorites is the tostones, fried plantains mashed and topped with ground beef, herb aïoli, homemade salsas, and fresh cheese. The tres leches (threemilk) cake is cold and sweet--a perfect finish to Ritz cuisine at strip mall prices. 2809 Preston Road, Suite 1200; (972) 3340937. Soups and salads: $3-$9, entrées: $10-$22.

Double-Dip Frozen Custard

Hinojosa, is a bite of heaven.

This Mexico City native cooked at the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Chicago before gracing Texas with her talents. The menu reads like a culinary journey through Latin America--arepas (stuffed corn cakes), seviche, flautas, enchiladas, cochinita pibil (slow-cooked pork shoulder).

This family-friendly eatery definitely brightens up the town. Candy-colored walls and sliding garage doors draw you in for the not-tobe-missed old-fashioned double-dip custard. Ask owners Lloyd and Nancy Sheets for recommendations, and they’ll tell you everything is good. And they’re right.

Among the most popular choices are the Grasshopper Sundae (fresh custard, creamy mint topping, and a scoop of Oreos), strawberry shortcake, and Caliche’s (blend of chocolate or vanilla custard with a choice of toppings from caramel and peaches to toasted coconut and cookie dough).

Tender hand-pulled pork nestled in fresh corn masa

If you want to start with something savory, try one

which is run by chef Cecilia

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of the famous all-beef hot dogs, which comes split down the middle and served on a wheat bun. I also liked the Frito Pie--fresh corn chips topped with homestyle chili and cheese served in a plastic foam container. Sip on a cool fresh-squeezed limeade or an old-fashioned soda. 7511 Main Street; (972) 377-8668.

Sundaes and Caliche’s: $4.25$5.85; hot dogs: $3-$3.25; quart of custard: $6.85.

Randy White’s Hall of Fame BBQ Texans love their cowboys and their barbecue. At Randy White’s you get two in one.

Grab a tray, and choose from the Hall of Flame Smoked Meats. The ribs and hot link sausage are perfect with a side of spicy jalapeño pinto beans. There’s also brisket (sliced or chopped) and pulled pork. Most can be served on sandwiches. For the non-carnivores, they serve a mess of cornmeal battered catfish fillets (deepfried, of course) with a side of hush puppies. For tailgating parties, pick up one of their paks, which feed a multitude of hungry fans. 8999 Main Street; (972) 377-0540 or www.randywhitesbbq.com.

Barbecue: $10.54 per pound, all-you-can-eat: $15.54. ¦

SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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25 BEST THINGS TO DO IN FRISCO (TEXAS) BY: THECRAZYTOURIST.COM 38

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Headed to Texas? Make a short stop in Frisco first, for a taste of the Texan suburbs. A world away from the bustling downtowns of Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and the likes, Frisco has a small-town vibe that’s perfect for a relaxing getaway still chock-full of Texan flavor.

literally) part of the ballpark?

The Choctaw Lazy River rising about the right field.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Frisco:

2. The Frisco Heritage Museum

1. Dr. Pepper Ballpark

A museum totally dedicated to the history of this Northern Texas town, the Frisco Heritage Museum shows off the culture of the city through artifacts, film and more.

There’s little in life more full of Americana than baseball, and that’s especially true when it comes to minor league baseball, the small city attraction that draws out the crowds on nearly every night of the week throughout the summer.

You can catch the Frisco Rough Riders if you visit the area during season.

But the coolest (quite

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That’s right! You can sit right in the water as you watch the game play out, with great views and lots of access, as well as an all-youcan-eat menu for you and all your friends.

Check out the historic building replicas, a real locomotive and caboose and more.

The replica town includes a jail, homes, a railroad depot, blacksmith shop, school, church, windmill, fountain

and gazebo, and it’s all set on four acres.

While there, check out the various Frisco Public Art pieces that are on display.

3. Frisco Athletic Center For most of us, it’s important to stay in shape while on the road, and the Frisco Athletic Center provides a state-ofthe-art spot to do so.

There are more than 100,000 square feet of indoor workout space, as well as 350,000 gallons of water to swim in! Plus, no matter what level of fitness you’re at, or how old you are, you’ll find an activity to keep you busy.

Plus, right next door is the Frisco Water Park, which has tons of fun attractions, such as The Preston Plunge (a 45-foot water slide platform), The Fort (a multi-level water playground), a lazy river and

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even more slides.

4. Texas Sculpture Garden This is the largest private collection of contemporary sculptures in the state, with dozens and dozens (and dozens) of sculptures all from Texans.

The artwork isn’t the only thing you’ll appreciate while there, though.

You’ll also love all of the exceptional landscaping that surrounds the sculptures, including all of the water features.

You can take the self-guided walking tour all on your own,

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and it’s a perfect opportunity to get out and about, walking and enjoying a little Texas culture all at the same time.

5. Frisco Commons Park Looking for a free attraction in Frisco? The Commons Park is a good choice! This historic, beautiful spot has many one-of-a-kind features that will make your visit unique in every way.

Enjoy a picnic at either the two small pavilions or at the large pavilion, if you have a big group.

Stroll around the pond.

Pay a visit to the Veterans Memorial Plaza.

Let the kids play on the large wooden playground system, that was actually created by the residents of Frisco!

Plus, there are a handful of trails that you can walk and hike, depending on your preference.

There are more than 60 acres, an amphitheater, a fishing pier, horseshoe pits and even a field for soccer and lacrosse.

If you stop by on the second Saturday of the month, you can enjoy Frisco Starfest, a monthly event held by the Texas Astronomical Society,

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SEPTEMBER 2018

where guests can observe the beautiful Texas night skies.

6. The National Video Game Museum If you’re a video game aficionado, this is one stop you absolutely have to make.

This museum is all about preserving the history of video games and retelling the stories of the industry’s beginnings and development, from the 1950s onward.

In addition to documenting the creation and evolution of video games, they’re also preserving as many physical

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artifacts as possible, but in addition to all this, they also want to make it possible for visitors to actually play a lot of the video games on display, making for a totally one-of-a-kind experience.

the National Soccer Hall of Fame will be built here.

They also hold classes focused on STEM values.

If you can’t quite catch a game at Toyota Stadium, do make sure to swing by the team shop on the northeast corner of the stadium for some apparel and merchandise.

7. Toyota Stadium

8. Dr. I.S. Rogers Home

Soccer fans rejoice. The Toyota Stadium in Frisco is not only a beautiful multipurpose sports and entertainment facility — it’s also home to FC Dallas, and hosts the FCS Championship Game.

For a little taste of Frisco history, the Dr. I.S. Rogers Home provides a look at one of the town’s most important original residents.

Plus, it’s been decided that

Dr. Rogers, born in 1861 in what is now northeast Frisco, would move away from Texas to seek his medical

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degree, until he later moved back to Frisco, when it was established in 1902.

He moved his family and medical practice to the town in a covered wagon, and then became both Frisco’s very first doctor and very first mayor in 1908. He did a little bit of everything, from dealing with epidemics to delivering babies (at a price of $15). His home here in Frisco was built in 1916, and he died there in 1933.

9. The Museum of the American Railroad A great stop on your list if you have a train enthusiast in your travel group, the Museum of the American Railroad has all things to do with the history of rail in

42

not only Texas, but also the entire country.

The exhibits feature various artifacts from the rail industry, and several trains are also on display, for both viewing and touring.

Though the museum was originally begun in 1961 to preserve the then-outdated steam passenger trains, it has lived on, and still is at its mission today.

10. The Frisco Art Gallery If you’d like to see some art for no cost, this is where you want to do it.

The Frisco Art Gallery’s both main and reception galleries are completely free and open to the public every day

except Monday.

There are rotating exhibits from not only local artists, but also artists from all around the world.

Painting and photography is what’s mostly on display, but occasionally you may see a sculpture or two.

11. Stonebriar Centre If your Texas vacation is a little rainy, head indoors for a little bit of shopping, at the Stonebriar Centre.

With almost 200 stores, they have a little bit of everything, from your favorite mall staples, to more specialized stores.

Dining is never a worry while you’re here, either, as

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SEPTEMBER 2018

the mall has plenty to fill a hungry stomach.

Looking for a good steak? Try Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille.

Want some food with a side of fun? Try Dave & Buster’s for 60,000 square feet of arcade, billiards and more.

If you’d just like a snack, you’ll find more favorites scattered across the mall.

12. iFLY To experience all the fun of skydiving, without the terrifying fear that comes with jumping straight out of a plane, go to iFLY, for indoor skydiving for all ages.

A company ahead of its

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time, iFLY features a flight chamber with a stable, wall-to-wall cushion of air, providing participants with a totally safe and super realistic skydiving experience.

To try it out for yourself, you’ll have to make a reservation, check-in and then go through a brief training session.

Then, you’ll gear up and head into the flight chamber.

The entire thing is almost a two-hour experience, and is supposedly equal to one and a half skydives.

13. Sci-Tech Discovery Center

The Sci-Tech Discovery Center is all about inspiring people of all ages to learn more through fun explorations of science, math and technology.

Permanent exhibits focus on topics like homeostasis, nanoscale science, coordination, weather and more.

Special exhibits pass through the museum, so check out what’s on while you’re in town! For the creative types, the MakerSpace is for you! The area has everything you could ever need to make… well, anything! There are six computer work stations with laser cutting and engraving

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software, 3D printing software, movie makers and more; robotics kits; advanced electronics kits; Go Pros; soldering equipment; power tools; hand tools; and so much more!

14. The Star Football fans won’t want to miss this must-see. The Star is 91 acres of awesome, but it just so happens to be the place the Dallas Cowboys world headquarters calls home.

In addition to the Cowboys’ corporate offices and a practice facility, there’s also Ford Center, which is an indoor football stadium.

Additionally, there are tons of entertainment venues, shopping and dining in the immediate neighborhood,

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so you’re able to see a little bit of it all while you’re there.

Yoga Center, both also worth a visit.

If you still haven’t booked your hotel for your Frisco trip, yet, note that the Omni hotel near The Star is a great choice. Book a VIP Guided Tour of The Star to see not only Ford Center, but also the War Room for the NFL Draft, the Nike Star Walk (a collection of the 10 biggest moments in Dallas Cowboy history and a uniform evolution display), the Super Bowl Memorabilia Station, and the Grand Atrium (a tribute to the Cowboys greats).

Hanuman is the Hindu monkey god, who represents becoming a better person and is often connected to guru Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji, a Hindu spiritual leader with a worldwide following, including many of the people who visit this temple.

15. Karla Siddhi Hanuman Temple This $7.5 billion project is a Hindu temple located right next to the Hanuman Cultural Center and Datta

It just so happens to be the first temple outside of India to boast a jade stone Hanuman idol.

The temple is a huge draw, and it not only hosts worship services, but also classes, performances and cultural programs. ¦ SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

YOUTH

SPORTS Transportation

Is our

specialty

Game Day starts here!

Ready, Set, Travel! It seems that every season there are more games, seasons are longer and the travel commitment gets more and more complex. Imagine taking the entire team on one motorcoach, arriving at the game together ready to play, with plenty of space for players, families, and gear. With full sized motorcoaches that accommodate up to 56 passengers, have video capabilities, an onboard restroom and more. The possibilities are endless, often with prices less than driving in separate cars. Call us today and let our team of professionals put your team transportation in the fast lane!

GoMotorcoach Make the Smart Move!

Safe | Green | Efficient | Affordable | Fun

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

FIRST CLASS IN EVERY WAY

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FIRST CLASS

TOURS | CHARTERS | CASINOS

DAILY TRIPS WITH PERKS

10

$

Perk

Meal voucher

EVERY DAY! TICKETS START AT $18 Ride with First Class Tours to L’auberge Casino departing from FM 1960 Terminal and Eastex Terminal Every Day!

CLICK HERE FOR TICKET AVAILABILITY

OVERNIGHT TRIPS WITH PERKS

30

$

Perk

46

OVERNIGHT TRIPS! OCT 15 - 16, 2018, DEC 10 - 11, 2018 $74 PP - DBLE OCCUP $149 PP - SINGLE OCCUP Ride with First Class Tours to L’auberge Casino departing from FM 1960 Terminal and Eastex Terminal!

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SEPTEMBER 2018

L’AUBERGE RESORT

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A beautiful travel picture can be with you for the rest of your life: on your laptop, on your desk or even on the wall, as an element of interior design.

Even if you are not a photographer, you can create high definition images with a smartphone.

Smartphones are more portable than professional cameras, and the quality of photographs has steadily been improving.

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But what makes an high definition image an outstanding image?

In this article you can find the ultimate tips to take better travel photos with your smartphone.

Composition Take photos with people Incorporate

a

human

element

into

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SEPTEMBER 2018

BY: ANASTASIA TERENTYEVA

landscapes, such as a person or their property.

For portraits, shoot at eye level or elevate the subject. Avoid shooting down at someone.

It makes photos more personal, more memorable and gives them a sense of scale and place.

Play with reflections and symmetry

Put famous landmark in the background (the Tour Eiffel is a clear example) and capture how locals live their lives around them.

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Symmetry brings aesthetically pleasing balance and proportion into photography.

When used correctly, it can create outstanding images.

Look for reflections as this can make for a beautiful photo: a mirror, a lake or a window 49

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can help you to take a unique shot.

Forget selfies

object on the interception of lines. A specific function is available in every camera app settings.

They are not cool any more. It is cool to take a professional photographer with you, as Will Coldwell suggests. Of course, if you an ordinary traveler, you might use the person with whom who you are travelling.

This is how you will focus attention on the “main object” and improve the composition.

It sounds weird, but it works!

The quality might be not that extraordinary, but still, it’s better than selfie!

Use the rule of third

The crucial thing to remember is to think of your camera when something exciting happens. If you are lucky enough, and keep cool, then it’s done.

This is a key rule of photography: divide the picture up into thirds (you will eventually have 9 equal squares) and place your main

This is why the smartphone is such a useful thing. You don’t need to prepare, just grab it out of a pocket and SHOOT!

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Capture the perfect moment

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Use burst mode to capture the perfect moment in motion. To use burst, hold down the shutter button and it will capture 10 frames per second.

Keep your lens clean We bet that your smartphone is not always in the clean and sterilised place.

So you better wipe your lens before making a shot-of-your-life. Otherwise, no one will believe you if you’re just saying that you really spotted the troll in Norway.

Focus & Light Look for a focal point rather than taking a

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photo just of the sea: a pattern in the sand, footprints, water over rocks.

Use lines in your composition. They should lead to your focal point.

Focus on the foreground even if the backdrop is what you want. It adds character and depth to the photo.

Use High Dynamic Range (HDR) which will result in a perfectly exposed photo.

Use the focus feature by tapping on what you want to be in focus. In this way will adjust the light in the photo (this is really useful for sunset and sunrise).

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Don’t you ever use the flash Not only because it turns nice old ladies in theatres and museums into scariest monsters ever seen, but because it ruins the quality of the image.

Believe us. If you don’t, then try to investigate by taking such pictures, asking your professional friends, reading blogs and magazines and then, just don’t do it. Don’t use flash.

Don’t move Keep your photo sharp using these easy tricks: Hold the smarphone with both hands Lean the smartphone against a steady element or a flat surface;

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Shoot the picture with the volume button instead of the screen tap Use the self-timer Sunset & sunrise always win “For great landscapes get up early or stay up late.” Dave Bouskill founder and photographer of adventure travel blog, The Planet D. Shoot early in the morning or as the sun is setting to give your image more impact, with longer shadows and softer lights.

Shooting at these times means you will likely be there when no one else is, giving you a unique perspective.

Create silhouettes using the sunset (as the

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flash on most phones cannot carry long distances). Try to shoot a sunset with clouds to provide some interesting patterns and uniqueness.

Instagram

Use photography apps

Instagramming travel photographer Kirsten Alana has these tips:

Photography apps are something that might help a simple picture look cool.

Stan Horaczek, reporter from Popular Photography, recommends using Camera Awesome (made by SmugMug).

“It allows you to shoot in bursts and separates the AF lock from the exposure lock” Don’t use Instagram to take pictures: it gives you a lower definition than the builtin photo app.

Edit Crop it. Don’t zoom it.

When you zoom in on your smartphone the quality of the picture is just not as good.

The camera simply guesses what the image looks like and makes it more precise, based on these assumptions. The picture gets ugly fast.

Don’t add fake blur The depth of field is a feature of the cameras that is hard to replicate with smartphones.

Wide angle lenses and sensors makes quite difficult to have a blurred background picture.

But replicating a blurred background effect through an editing app makes things worse!

Apps apply the blur effect uniformly: in this way the picture will have an ugly transition from sharp to blurry and it will look unnatural.

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Instagram has become one of the most popular ways to edit and share images.

Don’t share everything on Instagram, share your best images.

Edit photos with a light hand that compliments, rather than detracts, from your original.

Though Instagram has filters, remember that putting a filter on a bad photo will not make it great.

These are down to individual choice, but the most liked photos have the following filters: Willow, Valencia and Sierra. #nofilter brings in the most likes on Instagram.

Conclusions Your smartphone can be a great solution to keep beautiful memories of your travels around the world.

The only things you need are a high definition camera and to apply the tricks you’ve just learned.

Posting on Instagram can be a good metric to measure how capable you become with your travel pictures.

The bigger the audience it reaches, the better the results: the more likes you get, the better your pictures are. ¦ SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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12 TIPS TO SIMPLIFY PACKING FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP BY: CHRISTINA TIPLEA

There’s something seriously freeing about packing as light as possible when traveling.

After all, you want to be focused on creating memories while on a trip – not worrying about juggling all the stuff you brought with!

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Pre-kid days, my Hubby and I would easily be able to pack only one small carry-on each and last for an entire week without even having to wear anything twice. On our 9 day honeymoon to Aruba three years ago, we both had just a carry-on and it was such a convenient and peaceful way to travel.

While our traveling adventures aren’t quite as frequent since adding Little Miss to the mix, we have been on many a trip together in the last 9 years and have learned a lot about how to travel more simply while still being completely comfortable.

Today I’m sharing some tips I’ve used over the

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years to make the process of packing for your next trip as easy and painless as possible! I’m also sharing details below about the awesome opportunity you have to enter the Atlantic Luggage sweepstakes for a chance to Win a Yellowstone National Park Adventure, so be sure to check that out!

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12 TIPS TO SIMPLIFY PACKING FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP: 1. MAKE A MASTER LIST OF CONSISTENT ITEMS YOU NEED TO PACK AND KEEP IT ON FILE FOR ALL TRIPS I started doing this after Little Miss was born because I felt like I couldn’t just toss everything into a bag without forgetting

something important. It also helps to not have to recreate a packing list every single time we take a trip, but to just reference the one I already have created.

Try to make a list of all the things you use throughout the course of an average day – like contact solution, underwear, a comb, etc.

Write down all the things

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you use during your typical morning and nighttime routines as you go through them, and it will help ensure that you aren’t forgetting anything important that you might need.

2. TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK UP THE WEATHER FORECAST AT YOUR DESTINATION Planning ahead for exactly what you should be wearing to be comfortable is going to drastically cut down on the amount of clothing you’ll need to bring. Of course you should plan for the weather being a bit different than what the forecast predicts, but it will give you a general sense of how many pairs of pants vs. shorts to bring and will hopefully allow you to cut down on the amount of each of these.

3. CHOOSE ONE PAIR OF SHOES FOR ANY OCCASION When traveling, I usually try to stick to one pair each of gym shoes, dress shoes, and flip flops. If you need to get more dressed up during your trip, choose a more neutral or black dress shoe so that it will go with any outfit you’d like to pair it with. This way, you aren’t bringing multiples of something when just one will do.

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4. PUT SMALL CLOTHING ITEMS IN ZIP TOP BAGGIES INSIDE YOUR SHOES Putting items like underwear or socks into your shoes can not only save space in your suitcase by utilizing the area inside of your shoes, but it can prevent your shoes from crushing too.

5. CALL YOUR HOTEL AHEAD OF TIME TO SEE WHICH ITEMS THEY PROVIDE FOR GUESTS If they provide things like a hair dryer or shampoo and conditioner, those are a few less things you have to pack and then remember to bring home.

Take advantage of this! I usually never travel with a hair dryer because most hotels do provide them for guests.

6. ROLL YOUR CLOTHES INSTEAD OF FOLDING IF YOU ARE TIGHT ON SPACE I find that my clothes take up significantly less space when I fold them, which is always a nice option if you are wanting to travel light but need a bit more room in your suitcase. The only caveat to this is that I find my clothes are a little more wrinkly when I roll instead of fold. I find it worth it

if it means bringing less suitcases with us or not having to pay a luggage fee though, so you just have to determine what works best for you.

Does the thought of packing for a trip overwhelm you or make you cringe just thinking of everything you need to bring? Read these 12 Tips to Simplify Packing for Your Next Trip so you can make the process of packing easier and feel more relaxed as a result!

7. DO LAUNDRY ON YOUR TRIP IF POSSIBLE This is something I never did until we started traveling with Little Miss, but it is really nice if you have a laundry room available to you at your hotel. Not only does it cut down on the amount of overall clothing you need to bring, but you might even be able to come home with very little dirty laundry this way. I washed most of our clothes at the hotel before we came back from our road trip in early September, and it was such a treat to just have to unpack them when we got home instead of doing mounds of laundry all at once.

8. TRAVEL ONLY WITH CARRY-ON LUGGAGE WHEN FLYING

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When we are flying, we almost never check bags. As I mentioned above, even on our 9 day honeymoon trip we both each had just a carry-on.

And yes, I still had plenty of cute outfits to wear!

Not only can this strategy save you fees for checking luggage depending on your airliner, but it will also save you the headache of your luggage potentially not showing up when you arrive to your destination.

I will say, this becomes a bit more difficult if you

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have a baby with you. At the toddler stage Little Miss is in, it is doable to travel this way, but definitely wasn’t when we took a trip when she was 6 months old and I needed to pack significantly more items for her.

The bonus of carry-on luggage is that you can put your kids to work and make them haul it across the airport đ&#x;˜‰ . Little Miss is apparently more than happy to help Mama out with this task!

Does the thought of packing for a trip overwhelm you or make you cringe just thinking of everything you need to bring? Read these 12 Tips to Simplify Packing for Your Next Trip so you can make the process of packing easier and feel more relaxed as a result!

9. BUY TRAVEL-SIZED CONTAINERS While this is necessary to get through security if you only have a carry-on bag, it’s also nice just in general to be traveling with less.

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We have reusable travelsized containers that we put our shampoos and lotions, etc. into for every trip and it’s nice even for road trips to only take what you need. A huge bottle of shampoo can really weigh down your suitcase and cramp your style!

10. PACK CLOTHING THAT RESISTS WRINKLING Clothing made from polyester blends, wool blends, microfibers, silk, and rayon tend to do much better with traveling than linen or 100% cotton.

This isn’t something I always practice, especially since Little Miss wears pretty much only cotton clothing and most of mine is too, but it’s definitely nice to do if you can try. You’ll avoid a lot of wrinkles this way!

11. CARRY YOUR ESSENTIALS ONTO THE PLANE If you decide to check your luggage and not bring everything in a 58

carry-on bag, make sure to have at least all of your important documents like your passport and other identification, any medications you need, essential toiletries, and one change of clothes. It’s nice to have these things on hand in case your luggage gets lost. This way you can get by for a day or two at your final destination without too much inconvenience.

12. INVEST IN QUALITY LUGGAGE My hubby travels quite often for work, and I can’t tell you how many suitcases we’ve gone through until we finally invested in more quality luggage that stands the test of time.

If you don’t currently have quality luggage for your travels, Atlantic® Luggage can be a great resource for versatile, lightweight, and affordable luggage.

Amazon is actually currently running a Special offer on Atlantic Luggage

21” Spinner so it’s the perfect opportunity to invest in a quality carryon bag to simplify your packing process if you don’t have one already!

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN TO TRAVEL! Atlantic Luggage is running an amazing sweepstakes where you have the opportunity to Win a Yellowstone National Park Adventure. This trip sounds like the trip of a lifetime to me! If you win, you will get to experience the beauty of Yellowstone National Park with your spouse and kiddos! It would be an adventurous family vacation filled with biking, hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or other countless activities that are available.

Be sure to register today for your chance to win an adventurous trip for your whole family!. ¦ SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE.

CLICK HERE.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

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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...

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s e ri

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CHILDISH GAMBINO September 22, 2018 @ Toyota Center

SOUTHERN SMOKE FESTIVAL

WINGS OVER HOUSTON AIRSHOW

JOSH GROBAN WITH IDINA MENZEL

HOUSTON AFRIFEST

ED SHEERAN

October 20-21, 2018 @ Ellington Airport, Houston

October 27, 2018 @ Houston Baptist University — Holcombe Mall

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September 30, 2018 @ 1018 Westheimer, 1100 Westheimer, and 1415 California

October 23, 2018 @ Toyota Center

November 3, 2018 @ Minute Maid Park

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SEPTEMBER 2018

HOUSTON BALLET NUTCRACKER MARKET

A MOZART & BRAHMS THANKSGIVING

INTOUCH CREDIT UNION PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL

TREASURE ISLAND REIMAGINED

DALLAS OBSERVER TACOLANDIA

BRUNO MARS

November 8-11, 2018 @ NRG Center

September 21-23, 2018 @ Oak Point Park

October 13, 2018 @ Dallas Farmers Market

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November 23-25, 2018 @ Jones Hall

September 23 - December 27, 2018 @ Dallas Children’s Theater

October 14-15, 2018 @ American Airlines Center

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STATE FAIR FOOTBALL SHOWDOWN

DALLAS BIKE RIDE

RED BULL AIR RACE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

CAT POWER

35TH ANNUAL JAZZ’SALIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL

RANGE ON THE RIVER DINNER CRUISE

October 20, 2018 @ State Fair of Texas, Cotton Bowl Stadium

November 17-18, 2018 @ Texas Motor Speedway

September 21-22, 2018 @ Historic Travis Park

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November 3, 2018 @ Dallas City Hall

November 29, 2018 @ Granada Theater

September 26, 2018 @ Range (125 E. Houston Street, San Antonio, TX

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SEPTEMBER 2018

SIX FLAGS FIESTA TEXAS FRIGHT FEST

SAN ANTONIO BEER FESTIVAL 2018

ALAMO CITY COMIC CON

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LUMINARIA CONTEMPORARY ARTS FESTIVAL

FORD HOLIDAY RIVER PARADE

October 2018 @ Six Flags Fiesta Texas

October 26-28, 2018 @ Alamodome

November 9-11, 2018

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October 20, 2018 @ Lockwood and Dignowity Parks

November 2-11, 2018 @ New Braunfels, TX

November 23, 2018 @ Downtown River Walk

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FALL PECAN STREET FESTIVAL

TEXAS CRAFT BREWERS FESTIVAL

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS MUSIC FESTIVAL

FORMULA 1 PIRELLI 2018 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

September 22-23, 2018 @ 6th Street Austin

October 5-7 & 12-14, 2018 @ Zilker Park

TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL October 27-28, 2018 @ State Capitol Building

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September 29, 2018 @ Fiesta Gardens

October 19-21, 2018 @ Circuit of the Americas

TEXAS MONTHLY BBQ FEST WEEKEND November 3-4, 2018 @ The Long Center

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SEPTEMBER 2018

A CHRISTMAS AFFAIR

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NATIONAL FRIED CHICKEN FEST

TREME FALL FEST

November 14-18, 2018 @ Palmer Events Center

September 10-16, 2018

September 22-23, 2018 @ Woldenberg Park

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November 22, 2018 @ The Long Center

September 13, 2018 @ Mercedes-Benz Superdome

October 5-7, 2018 @ St. Augustine Catholic Church

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CRESCENT CITY BLUES & BBQ FESTIVAL

KREWE OF BOO

BOUDIN, BOURBON AND BEER

HELL YES FEST

BAYOU CLASSIC

ASCENSION HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL

October 12-14, 2018 @ Lafayette Square Park

November 9, 2018 @ Champions Square

November 24, 2018 @ Mercedes-Benz Superdome

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October 20, 2018 @ French Quarter

November 14-18, 2018 @ Venues in the French Quarter and Faubourg Marigny/ Bywater

September 21-22, 2018 @ Lamar Dixon Expo Center

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SEPTEMBER 2018

LSU TIGERS VS. OLE MISS REBELS

OKTOBERFEST

HARVEST FESTIVAL

FIFOLET HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL

September 29, 2018 @ Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge

October 19-21, 2018 @ New Roads, Louisiana

GREATER BATON ROUGE STATE FAIR

October 25 - November 4, 2018 @ BREC Airline Highway Park / Fairgrounds

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October 6, 2018 @ Mid City Ballroom

October 19-31, 2018 @ Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE NATURAL HAIR EXPO November 10, 2018 @ Belle of Baton Rouge Atrium

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