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Rates from $31.99 /night - Weekend Stays at Extended Stay Hotels

November 30, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Last minute deals for new bookings this weekend (stays 12/02 through 12/04) and next weekend (stays 12/09 through 12/11) at select Extended Stay Hotels(sm) locations. Visit our Weekend Deals section by clicking here.  From there, you can book and save at least 20% on stays this weekend or next at your favorite destinations, like Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Chicago, Minneapolis and many others.

For Arrival Dates 12/02/2011 and 12/03/2011

* Los Angeles, CA - Rates from $43.99/night
* Fort Lauderdale, FL - Rates from $38.99/night
* Orlando, FL - Rates from $31.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $39.99/night
* Minneapolis, MN - Rates from $39.99/night
* Washington, DC Area - Rates from $43.99/night
* See all locations >

For Arrival Dates 12/09/2011 and 12/10/2011

* Sacramento, CA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Atlanta, GA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $39.99/night
* Raleigh/Durham, NC - Rates from $36.99/night
* Houston, TX - Rates from $31.99/night
* Seattle, WA - Rates from $39.99/night
* See all locations >

20% Off - Weekend Stays at Extended Stay Hotels

November 23, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Last minute deals for new bookings this weekend (stays 11/25 through 11/27) and next weekend (stays 12/02 through 12/04) at select Extended Stay Hotels(sm) locations. Visit our Weekend Deals section by clicking here.  From there, you can book and save at least 20% on stays this weekend or next at your favorite destinations, like Los Angeles, Orlando, Atlanta, Chicago, Boston and many others.

For Arrival Dates 11/25/2011 and 11/26/2011

* Los Angeles, CA - Rates from $51.99/night
* Orlando, FL - Rates from $38.99/night
* Atlanta, GA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $39.99/night
* Boston, MA - Rates from $47.99/night
* Raleigh, NC - Rates from $46.99/night
* See all locations >

For Arrival Dates 12/02/2011 and 12/03/2011

* Sacramento, CA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Denver, CO - Rates from $30.99/night
* Raleigh/Durham, NC - Rates from $36.99/night
* Dallas, TX - Rates from $31.99/night
* Seattle, WA - Rates from $35.99/night
* Washington, DC Area - Rates from $43.99/night
* See all locations >

Tablet Gadgets: Getting More Out of Your Tablet

November 21, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Even if you’ve already joined the legions of tablet fans, you may have only uncovered a fraction of how useful these little machines can be. With the accessories now available, many users are finding that their tablets can replace many of their other devices, especially during travel, when packing light really calls for a less-is-more approach. By selecting just a few of the small add-ons for your iPad, Galaxy Tab or other similar device, you, too, may find that you can have all the networking, entertainment, composing and presentation capabilities you need, courtesy of your tablet.

Precision Pointers

One of the major complaints many people have about tablets—at least in relation to extensive use—is how touchy the touchscreens can be. If you can’t hit the right angle, have bigger fingertips or lack just the right degree of pressure, you can find yourself inadvertently closing pages, typing an entire sentence incorrectly or (maybe even more frustrating) not getting anything to happen at all. Here’s where a stylus can save you hours of aggravation. The Targus Touch-Screen Stylus (about $17) is compatible with most tablets (and other touch-screen devices). Its rubber tip is sturdy, but it will not scratch the screen as you turn pages, type or draw. Targus’ deluxe model, the 3-in-1 Stylus ($40), gives you a touch-screen stylus with a ballpoint pen and a laser pointer (with low and bright settings)—all in one compact and classy design.

Comfortable Keyboards

Even with a great stylus, most of us prefer a real keyboard for doing extensive composing. Fortunately, the most popular tablets do offer add-on keyboards—all running in the $60-$100 range. One of the best Bluetooth wireless (and relatively universal) keyboards is the Scosche freeKEY. Marketed as flexible (it actually rolls up!) and waterproof, it may be a traveler’s dream with it’s advertised battery life of sixty hours before recharging is needed (retractable charging cable is included).

If you’d like a keyboard that doubles as another accessory, check out Samsung’s soft-touch, full-sized keyboard dock for the seven-inch Galaxy Tab, which lets you charge your tablet while using it. The built-in headphone jack in the dock can also come in handy if you’re trying to work during a layover in a busy (and loud) airport. Another two-fer is the Adonit Writer for the iPads. This Bluetooth keyboard is fashioned as part of a protective carrying case for the iPad, and it also folds to provide an angled prop, secured by magnets, for the tablet itself as you use the keyboard. The lightweight (1.1 pounds) keyboard and case still leaves you with all the carrying convenience of a tablet.

Serious Sounds

Okay, maybe an MP3 player isn’t that much extra to carry along, but hey, when the goal is to simplify, why not fully outfit your tablet as your sole music and entertainment device? With the number of earbuds, headphones and speakers out now, it’s pretty easy. You can choose among brand-specific models and universals, as well as a wide variety of the quality levels (and prices). For the Motorola Xoom alone, choices range from $15 earbuds to Monster Lil Jamz High Peformance Headphones ($100). As you might expect, iPad’s options run pricier, from about $40 to upwards of $400. If you want something that’ll work for your iPhone and your Android tablet—and something good for your budget in case you lose it—the GE 98974 Voip Stereo Headset (around $15) gets solid reviews.

While a tablet may not fully replace your laptop or iPod (after all, how handy is a tablet while you’re jogging?), perhaps during business trips and vacations you can equip that one mighty little machine to efficiently and compactly serve your needs, and give you one less device to schlep along and keep track of on the road.

Fast Food Picks and Pans

November 18, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

“May I take your order, please?” All of us hear those words at one time or another through a car window or at an airport food court counter—especially when we’re in a hurry to grab a bite and get on our way. Yet we all know that fast food is not exactly synonymous with healthy eating. However, many fast food chains have jumped onto the healthy-eating bandwagon, and even more significant, several health-focused organizations and publications have come out with fast food dining guidelines and even praise for some of the menu items.

Apps-etizers

To make the whole process easier, before you even consider eating fast food, there are also both apps and websites that you can access through mobile phones to help you make the best possible choices right from the start of your meal. A couple of the best are Fast Food Calorie Counter(iPhone, $.99; Android, $2.99) and The Fast Food Explorer website.

Belt-Healthy Burgers and Sandwiches

When easy grab, go and eat is a priority, sandwiches are a natural choice. Unfortunately, most fail the healthy-eating test, being loaded with fat in the fillings—fried (and deep-fried) meats, slathered-on creamy sauces and cheeses—plus overloads of sodium (in processed and salty meats and cheeses). Still, there are a number of fast food sandwiches, and even a burger or two, that can make the grade according to nutritionists, like the following:

  • Subway, Panera Bread and Au Bon Pain’s lean meat sandwich options, like grilled chicken or roast beef, with light vinaigrette-style dressings and plenty of healthy veggies (ranging from 300-400 calories)
  • Starbucks’ Tarragon Chicken Salad Sandwich (420 calories)
  • Wendy’s Jr. burger (only 320 calories)
  • Burger King’s Whopper Jr. (340 calories).

Satisfying Salads

It’s all too easy to think you’ve chosen healthily when you order a salad, but watch out! Many fast food salads are loaded with fatty dressings and often topped with things like cheese, bacon and fried chicken. The result is a meal as high or higher in saturated fat as a full-sized burger. This doesn’t mean you have to give up everything but lettuce, though. Au Bon Pain, for example, has the following several great salad choices, all of which received four-to-five star health-conscious ratings from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine:

  • Garden Salad
  • Charbroiled Salmon Filet & Yellow Peppers Salad
  • Mediterranean Chicken Salad
  • Thai Chicken Salad
  • Tuna Salad

Another four-star winner is Subway’s Subway Club Salad with Fat-Free Italian Dressing.

Chill-Fighting Chilis and Soups

In cooler weather (or after sitting in an over-air-conditioned office all day), soup is a natural comfort-food choice, and several fast food restaurants offer up some choices that can offer that comfort in pretty healthy form, like the following:

  • Chick-fil-A’s Hearty Breast of Chicken Soup (140 calories, 1.5 grams of fat)
  • Quizno’s Creamy Broccoli Cheese (175 calories, 9 grams of fat)
  • Quizno’s Chili (145 calories, 3.5 grams of fat)
  • 13.25-ounce bowl of Panera’s Vegetarian Black Bean soup or French Onion with Asiago Cheese (180 calories, 4 grams of fat each)

Even Desserts!

Of course, we can’t forget the call of the sweet tooth. Fruit is, of course, the healthiest choice, but sometimes, we just want something gooier and more, well, decadent—at least in taste. Even here, there are comparatively healthy choices available at the fast food counter. The following three options that make Fitness Magazine’s list are all at just 3.5 grams fat:

  • McDonald’s Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream Cone (150 calories)
  • Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Lil’ Bucket Strawberry Shortcake (150 calories)
  • Pizza Hut’s Cherry Dessert Pizza (240 calories/slice)

Weekend Nights from $31.99 - Extended Stay Hotels

November 17, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Last minute deals for new bookings this weekend (stays 11/18 through 11/20) and next weekend (stays 11/25 through 11/27) at select Extended Stay Hotels(sm) locations. Visit our Weekend Deals section by clicking here.  From there, you can book and save at least 20% on stays this weekend or next at your favorite destinations, like Sacramento, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Chicago and many others.

For Arrival Dates 11/18/2011 and 11/19/2011

* Sacramento, CA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Denver, CO - Rates from $31.99/night
* Fort Lauderdale, FL - Rates from $38.99/night
* Atlanta, GA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $39.99/night
* Washington, DC - Rates from $43.99/night
* See all locations >

For Arrival Dates 11/25/2011 and 11/26/2011

* Los Angeles, CA - Rates from $39.99/night
* Jacksonville, FL - Rates from $35.99/night
* Atlanta, GA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $39.99/night
* Dallas, TX - Rates from $31.99/night
* Seattle, WA - Rates from $35.99/night
* See all locations >

Discovering a New-Old Trend in Long Beach’s Retro Row

November 14, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Vintage shopping and “antiquing” are the rage right now, especially with a topsy-turvy economy. Reusing furniture and clothing and purchasing secondhand products is not only better for the environment, but it’s also a quick way to save money, all while being on trend.

The city of Long Beach has made a lifestyle out of buying second hand, and there are literal streets of shops and special events dedicated to selling previously loved furniture, art and clothes. The following are some of the best spots for purchasing your new favorites.

Retro Row

The intersection of Cherry Street and E. 4th Street in Long Beach is the beginning of a strip of street that is affectionately dubbed ‘Retro Row’ by locals. This unique, funky and vibrant part of town has vintage, artistic, musical and contemporary elements fused together. Literally everything from new roller skates to old record players can be purchased on this street.

Some of the funniest and kitschiest items are available at Lil Devils Boutique, which is a rockabilly and vintage store, designed specifically for dressing children in the trendiest attire available. If you want your toddler in Chuck Taylors, band t-shirts and sporting a mini pomp, this is the shop for you. There are also some great gag t-shirts available as well, in addition to pretty and creative diaper bags meant to accessorize Mom’s style, instead of detracting from it.

There are events for every interest going on year-round on 4th Street, with many occurring at the same time. This means it’s best to make plans to stay for a great long weekend to appreciate a little of each event.

Long Beach Antique Market

This isn’t your average flea market. Hipsters, bargain hunters and antique shoppers converge to find their latest steal at this market, which is considered to be one of the best swap meets in the Los Angeles area. Home décor, antiques and vintage pieces are just a few of the items found on the third Sunday of every month at the Veterans Stadium, rain or shine. Admission is affordable, and with a few hundred dollars in cash, you could leave with one-of-a-kind items that would cost double or triple at a retail or antique shop. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and arrive early, as the “best” items for sale usually disappear within a few hours.

The Long Beach Antique Market is also unique in the fact that the items sold cannot be “new;” they have to be considered vintage or antique. The 20-plus acres of shops each have unique curios to make your home or wardrobe more distinguished. Another bonus; the prices set by the vendors are not always firm, so don’t be afraid to haggle to make your purchase a steal.

The Queen Mary

The Queen Mary, though old, isn’t the first place people think of for purchasing antique or vintage items. However, the Queen has its own vintage shop on board: Queen Mary Couture. Found on a ship that pays homage to an era when art deco reigned, it seems fitting to find 40s and 50s-inspired clothing and trinkets for sale within the shop’s walls.

The wares for sale at these shops are constantly replenished, so it may be best to make seasonal trips. These Long Beach hot spots are great alternatives to traditional shopping, and require at least a day dedicated to each area. Make sure to plan accordingly so that you have plenty of time to enjoy each of them with time to spare.

Focus Photos After Shooting Them with a New Lytro Digital Camera

November 11, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

While certain photography icons are rumored to be deliberating bankruptcy because they cannot compete with the digital age, other photography companies are thriving and actually taking advantage of the evolution of digital photography. Having ways to hold onto memories is easier than ever with the convenience of digital cameras, but there are still shots what are missed because someone might not know the basics of digital photography.

This is especially aggravating for individuals on vacations. Individuals on long-term vacations want to be able to take beautiful shots, and go to once-in-a-lifetime viewpoints in order to obtain these shots. Sadly, photos taken by an amateur photographer could come out blurry and out of focus, which can ruin a perfectly good shot that would otherwise be perfect for framing and displaying at home.

Scientist Ren Ng, who specializes in imaging at Stanford University, spearheaded a research project that just may have made photo problems a thing of the past. Lytro’s first consumer available camera—a digital camera that can capture living images that can be refocused after being captured—is perfect for travelers looking for a camera to capture ideal images from vacations.

Imagine this: a photo of your child running in a field wouldn’t be blurred; if you wanted to focus the photo on your child, a simple touch on the screen would adjust the image. An image filled shot would have endless focuses, all with a few taps on the screen. The Lytro camera allows its user to point at what he or she would like to be the focus of the photo and change the focus as he or she pleases, as many times as he or she wants. This would make it easier to use the same photo for multiple prints but with each having a new subject in the frame.

It sounds like this would be complicated, but the camera has an easy-to-use design and a moderate price. Essentially, anyone can own this equipment and take breathtaking photos. For those so inclined, the camera has an 8x optical zoom lens and a fixed f/2.0 aperture, and the shell is an anodized aluminum.

With its long cube shape, the new camera does not look like a traditional camera at all and uses light field technology to create its amazing photos. Essentially, this means that images are taken in a very low light, and they are captured almost instantly. The information taken from the photo can then be reorganized from the data, allowing the endless variations of focus.

Since the camera is easy to use, nearly every photo taken will be the “perfect shot.” Though the cameras have not yet hit the market, Lytro has a preview of what the “living photos” caught by its camera will look like once taken for users to play with on its website. It’s truly amazing to see how the photos change with a click of a mouse, and it almost appears as if the image shifts with the movement of the eye.

The Lytro camera will be released in early 2012. The Lytro desktop application is already available for Mac computers, and the Microsoft version will be available at a later time.

Save 20% - Select Weekends at Extended Stay Hotels

November 9, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Last minute deals for new bookings this weekend (stays 11/11 through 11/13) and next weekend (stays 11/18 through 11/20) at select Extended Stay Hotels(sm) locations. Visit our Weekend Deals section by clicking here.  From there, you can book and save at least 20% on stays this weekend or next at your favorite destinations, like San Diego, Denver, Miami, Orlando, Chicago and many others.

For Arrival Dates 11/11/2011 and 11/12/2011

* San Diego, CA - Rates from $43.99/night
* Denver, CO - Rates from $30.99/night
* Miami, FL - Rates from $59.99/night
* Orlando, FL - Rates from $35.99/night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $43.99/night
* Washington, DC - Rates from $43.99/night
* See all locations >

For Arrival Dates 11/18/2011 and 11/19/2011

* Sacramento, CA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Atlanta, GA - Rates from $31.99/night
* Las Vegas, NV - Rates from $31.99/night
* Philadelphia, PA - Rates from $47.99/night
* Houston, TX - Rates from $31.99/night
* Seattle, WA - Rates from $35.99/night
* See all locations >

Rustling up the Best Tex-Mex in Austin

November 7, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Texas is known for offering a bigger than life lifestyle, and its booming city, Austin, with its constantly growing population, is a perfect example of just how true this statement is. There are many reasons why over 19 million people from around the world flock to the state capitol every year: the live music, the college football and, of course, the Tex-Mex.

It is nearly impossible to go anywhere in Texas without enjoying the unique flavor of true Texan Tex-Mex, especially since the state prides itself on offering the best. Tex-Mex, for those gringos who have not had the pleasure to enjoy it, is a combination of Texan flavor and Mexican food, which is blended into a signature style that makes the mouths of many water. Spicy salsa, freshly fried tacos and endless mountains of homemade flour tortillas are a staple in any good Tex-Mex stop, but there are a few Austin stops that must be made to experience the real deal.

Chuy’s

Located in South Austin, this restaurant has been a staple stop for Austinites. Perfect for large parties, Chuy’s does a great job of getting you your meal, quickly, while also ensuring that you’re provided with chips and fresh salsa from the self-serve bar. Once the dishes arrive, be prepared: the portions live up to Chuy’s “big as yo’ face” philosophy. Top dishes include the chile rellenos, which are fire-roasted peppers that are filled with cheese or meat before being fried, and the Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom, hand pulled chicken and cheese with a Boom-Boom sauce. You’ll want extra tortillas to sop up any remaining sauce.

For those who aren’t sure what type of spice level they can handle, Chuy’s has several signature sauces for your enjoyment. Pick from a mild, one-jalapeno meter rating, given to the ranchero sauce, to the hot, three-jalapeno rating, given to the hatch green chile. There are other options in between, so make sure everyone orders a different sauce to ensure you get to try the full spectrum. Also, be sure to order the special creamy jalapeno sauce—it’s not on the menu, but it’s well worth asking for.

Hole in the Wall

This bar is not your standard “hole in the wall,” despite what the name portrays. The Hole foods are spectacular, especially the breakfast items, which are served all day long. Try interesting combinations, such as the Crawfish Omelet or the Redneck Benedict for a unique blend of flavors.

Obviously, every bar has specials, and Hole in the Wall has done a good job of making its own spectacular fun.

Maudie’s

If you’re in the mood for finger foods, Maudie’s has some amazing tacos, quesadillas and chips for you to enjoy. There are six Austin locations for you to choose from, so there are plenty of spots for you to enjoy a Mexican meal.

The top favorites are the crispy tacos, which are covered with yellow cheese, lettuce and tomatoes and stuffed with flavorful meat. Maudie’s has managed to make interesting variations of favorite dishes, such as the Skinny Sheryl’s Enchiladas. This tasty dish is made with chicken, a sauce made with tomatillos, lettuce, tomato and even grilled zucchini. For the indecisive, the combination plates have ample portions of everything.

Who Doesn’t Dig Dinosaurs?

November 4, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

From Barney and Baby Bop to Bob, Dawn and Rex (of Dilbert fame), Jurassic Park to Bedrock, children and adults alike find dinosaurs fascinating—and just plain fun. Even officialdom is into the prehistoric game. All but eight U.S. states have official state fossils, and six states plus Washington, D.C. even have official state dinosaurs. While dinosaurs (their remains or recreations) may be seen in almost all the states, Colorado may claim the title of Dinosaur Central.

Dinos in Denver

Even if you’re only in the Mile-High City for a brief business trip, you can say hey to a few prehistoric reptiles. Denver’s Museum of Nature and Science provides plenty of chills and thrills in the interactive Prehistoric Journey exhibit, complete with battles between flying dinosaurs overhead. Another must-see is the new robotics exhibit, T. Rex Encounter: You vs. Sue, where dinosaurs “react to your every move, sizing you up as friend, foe or their next meal.”

Just thirty miles southwest of Denver, near Morrison, is Dinosaur Ridge, where you can actually walk past footprints left by the huge creatures millions of years ago. On some of the trails, you can view naturally formed 3-D sandcast tracks of Triceratops and other dinosaurs, plus imprints of insects and plants that filled the landscape eons ago. Younger members in your group can take a turn at being junior paleontologists in the Cretaceous Crime Scene sand pit, and if you’re there November 11th, you can take in the annual dinner and silent auction fundraiser, Rock Out for the Ridge.

Forests and Ferocious Beasts

For outdoorsy travelers, the Colorado Springs area can’t be beat—with an average of 300 sunny days per year, the Pike National Forest (and Pike’s Peak, of course), the thriving nightlife—and dinosaurs, too! The small town of Woodland Park, less than thirty minutes outside Colorado Springs, is home to the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center. Among the Center’s many dinosaurs is a cast replica of an armored Denversaurus and one of the largest skeletons ever found of its arch-enemy: T-Rex. Other exhibits include marine reptiles and prehistoric fish, plus hands-on activities at the Children’s Learning Center. At Halloween, Veteran’s Day and during the Thanksgiving-Christmas season, you can catch puppet shows and story times with holiday-themed activities.

To round-out your view of the prehistoric era, about thirty miles west of Colorado Springs is the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, “one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world” for petrified trees and other vegetation that fed and sheltered creatures roaming through the Eocene era.

Tracks of Time

Further afield, on the Colorado-Utah border, is the Dinosaur National Monument in (you guessed it) Dinosaur, Colorado (though portions of the park are actually in Utah). Along the half-mile Fossil Discovery Trail or the Quarry Wall in the indoor Quarry Center, you can view over 1,500 fossils embedded in the mountainside. The brand new Center and Exhibit Hall also includes a life-sized Stegosaurus model. At the other side of the state, Picketwire Canyonlands in Southeastern Colorado is the site of the longest trail of dinosaur tracks ever discovered. Along the roughly quarter-mile trail, you can view 1300+ tracks; some were made by carnivorous Allosaurus dinosaurs and some by what scientists believe may have been a group of young and old Brontosaurus traveling together.

Whether you want to view the creatures up close and personal (in recreated or fossilized forms) or follow in their footsteps, Colorado is only one of the many states in which to “dig dinos.” The U.S. government has a great downloadable pamphlet on dinosaurs, and dino fans of all ages can use the Dino Database to plan their next road trip.