USA Travel Magazine

ZeroWater Tumbler Is Ideal For Fresh, Drinking Water When Traveling

Recognized by the Water Quality Association, and Good Housekeeping Research Institute, Zero Technologies tap water filtration pitchers and dispensers work at home. We use the ZeroWater Silver Tumbler, which has a built-in water filtration system to purify tap water. We like convenient size of the Tumbler, and the textured, easy-grip lid that makes it easy to open and refill.

While on vacation in Florida we drink a lot of bottled water to stay hydrated. What we did not consider recently was the source of that bottle water, which happened to be a natural spring in Florida. We’re accustom to water from sources in the Midwest. And, while the water was purified, it had some adverse effects on my husbands stomach.

Using the ZeroWater Tumbler made a big difference. In fact, the ZeroWater filtration system removes 99.6% of total dissolved solids. The ZeroWater filter has received certifications by NSF International and the Water Quality Association for the removal of copper, iron, zinc, aluminum, lead, chromium, mercury, chlorine and hydrogen sulfide.

When it comes to replacing our filter we can find them at local retailers like Kohl’s, Meijer’s, Walmart, and other local stores we shop at often. And, with coupons from Zero Technologies we can save on the cost of replacement filters, and other products like their Pitcher, which comes in pitchers ranging from a 6-cup to 23-Cup size. They also offers coupons for recycling the filters we use.

We like the Tumbler because it is handy to fill and keep in the refrigerator home, and perfect for our road trips. And, for those with sensitive stomach’s like my husband, being able to filter the water, whether bottled locally or when using tap water, means the difference between a great vacation or extra time spent in the bathroom!

By Melody Schubert

Learn More About The ZeroWater Tumbler:

To explore the full line of Zero Technologies products available visit their website at https://www.zerowater.com/ or look for them at your local retailer.

Cast Your Vote For The Best of Indiana

Travel around Indiana’s rolling hills and countryside and you’ll discover plenty of fun sites to see, festive events, tasty food, and an abundance of trails and natural treasures to enjoy.

So, where are the best destinations to go biking or hiking? Who has the best BBQ? How about the best Fall Outdoor Activities? We’ll find out soon, but we need your help!

Check out the list of current favorites at Visit Indiana, and cast your vote for the Best of Indiana!

Plan Your Getaway At Sydney’s Glenferrie Lodge Overlooking The Harbour

Overlooking the Harbour is Glenferrie Lodge, which is another wonderful choice for accommodations. They’ve received an Certificate of Excellence Award by Tripadvisor, and is one of a handful of pet friendly hotels in the area. The recently renovated lodge is located in the lively Kirribilli area just down the road from the Prime Minister’s residence.

Glenferrie Lodge offers a free hot buffet breakfast with selections like “Pancakes with maple syrup; lovely hot selection; juices; pastries; and more.” This budget-friendly lodge has shared bathrooms that most guests don’t mind because they’re just down the hall. It’s the excellent services of this “Little Hidden Gem” that draw guests back, “So thrilled to have “discovered” Glenferrie Lodge after we needed accommodation for a wedding at Aqua Dining. The service was excellent and friendly. Room spotless and modern.”

The Glenferrie Lodge is budget friendly option noted for it’s friendly service and comfortable accommodations. Located within distance of nearby Sydney sites to explore and local events, it make ideal options for your trip!

If you’re looking for another option in Syndey, check out the Cremorne Point Manor.

Plan Your Trip To The Glenferrie Lodge

To explore current packages available, and book your trip visit the Glenferrie Lodge website.

Happy Travels!

Join Raise the Woof Pet Festival In Arlington Heights, Illinois

Grab your family, friends, and pets and join the fun at the Annual “Raise the Woof Pet Festival”.Even if you don’t have a dog, the Woof Pet Festival will be filled with fun activities for everyone. Get creative at the paw art t-shirt station or craft station. Take a break in between activities to sample some delicious local chow provided by various food trucks.

If you do bring your dog they can clean up after a day of fun at the dog baths, or enter them in the most-excited-tail contest. There’s also a look-a-like contest, dog rally, 2k pet walk, demonstrations, as well as visits from local pet retailers such as Tailchasers, Inc., Arlington Dog House, & Save-A-Pet.

General admission to the park is free. A number of activities require a fee, although there are Family Activity Passes and Pet Activity Passes available for purchase in advance or at registration and include access to various activities at the festival.

The Raise The Woof Pet Festival, which takes place in Arlington Heights, Illinois at Melas Park benefits over 7,000 children and adults with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other intellectual/developmental disabilities, as well as their families, supported by Clearbrook. So, you’re not only enjoying a great time with your family, friends, and pets, you’re also helping others!

Check your local Humane Society and Shelters for area events and festivals to support!

Plan Your Trip

For regional news on festivals, activities, and more to experience in the area visit the Arlington Heights CVB website.

Enter For A Trip To 2015 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

Known for hosting the world’s most prestigious sporting events that include Formula 1, MotoGP, Lone Star Le Mans and ESPN’s X Games, the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas is the place to be for race fans this October when they could meet with current Formula 1 World Champion and MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team driver, Lewis Hamilton.

COTA has launched an incredible competition for F1 fans, who could win an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2015 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX in Austin, Texas taking place on October 23-25. Plus, you’ll meet Formula 1 World Champion and MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team driver, Lewis Hamilton.

One winner from the EU and the U.S., along with a guest each, will be chosen to attend the 2015 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX, October 23 – 25, and have the opportunity to meet Lewis Hamilton in person! The all-expenses-paid trip will include a 4-night stay in the Texas Capital where each winner (plus guest) will be provided with two (2) three-day tickets in Turn 12, a rental car for the trip’s entirety, and $1000 in spending money.

For a chance to win this wonderful experience, COTA is calling on Lewis Hamilton’s legion of followers to showcase why they should be chosen as the lucky one to meet their hero at COTA and experience the 2015 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX in person. So, why should you meet Lewis at COTA?

Lewis Hamilton is excited to see how creative his fans will get: “The U.S. Grand Prix is always one of the highlights of my year and I can’t wait to return to Austin and COTA in 2015 to defend my title at this amazing circuit. I’m equally excited to meet with my amazing fans when I’m there, so make sure to enter the competition and be as creative as possible and it could be you joining me in Austin! I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with!”

Submit Your Entry

The competition runs through Monday, August 17th and entries will be restricted to social media only. Send COTA your reason ‘WHY I SHOULD MEET LEWIS AT COTA’ via Twitter, Instagram and/or Facebook tagging @circuitamericas and using the hashtag #COTALEWIS2015 at all times.

For full details go to bit.ly/COTALEWIS15.

Photo Credits: Circuit of The Americas

Are You Ready For The Cincinnati Music Festival?

The line-up for Cincinnati Music Festival presented by Proctor & Gamble will be “off the chain” starting out on Friday night with a variety of performing artist including the soulful voices of Luke James and performing artist “Joe”, the smooth and amazing voices of souls most popular and long-lived entertainment group of R&B the O’Jays, the amazing and talented voice of Jennifer Hudson and the one the woman are crazy about with his gifted, magical voice, Maxwell.

Saturday night’s concert line-up will be just as good as Friday with another outstanding evening of great performers that will have you “Turn Up” moving and grooving in your seats with the energetic and great dancing of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, and my personal favorite “the quiet storm” “KEM” who can calm the soul with his powerful voice and lyrics, bringing the gospel with passion to his fans, and then there is the smoothing vocals of Jill Scott and the amazing and powerful music of Avery Sunshine & Mali Music.

What a great line-up of performers that will for sure have the stage fired up with some great and amazing entertainment, making this year a most memorable year in the R&B, Jazz, soul and Hip-Hop world.

Friday Line-up (not in order)

July 24 – 7:30PM

– Maxwell

– Jennifer Hudson

– The O’Jays

– Joe

– Luke James

Saturday Line-up (not in order)

July 25 – 7:30PM

– Maze featuring Frankie Beverly

– Jill Scott

– KEM

– Avery Sunshine

– Mali Music

Join The Cincinnati Music Festival:

For more information about the Cincinnati Music Festival Presented by P&G, please visit: http://www.cincymusicfestival.com.

Tickets are still available on: http://www.ticketmaster.com.

To plan your trip visit the Cincinnati Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for area accommodations, events, and attractions to explore on your trip.

By Judy Worley

Who Will Take The Prize In The Annual Spirited Awards?

Anticipation has been building in the world of Spirits, and now Tales of the Cocktail is ready to reveal the Spirited Awards Top 10 Finalists. The announcements will take place on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. – Pacific Time, when Simon Ford and Jacob Briars, International Committee Chairman, will announce the final four in each category live from San Francisco presented by Perfect Puree.

Among the 24 award categories are the American and International Bartender of the Year, the Best American and International Cocktail Bar, Best American and International Hotel Bar, the Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication, the Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer, as well as Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient.

Who will win? Well, it is not an easy task for the expert panel of 100 American and International industry judges to narrow down the field to the Top 10 Finalists in the 24 award categories. “Since the first Spirited Awards in 2007, I have witnessed the cocktail movement go from strength to strength and each year the work of the Spirited Awards judging panel has become tougher and this year was no exception,” said Simon Ford, Spirited Awards® Chairman and awards show host. “We had thousands of nominations, which our judges had the almost impossible task of voting on to determine our final tens and ultimately our winners.”

All finalists will be invited to the Spirited Awards® ceremony, being held at the Sheraton New Orleans on Saturday, July 18, 2015 as part of the 13th Annual Tales of the Cocktail®. Each award recipient will receive the coveted Riedel Crystal trophy.

“There’s probably no greater honor than being recognized by one’s peers,” said Paul G. Tuennerman, Co-Founder of Tales of the Cocktail®. “The individuals, establishments, products, and publications recognized as finalists for the 2015 Spirited Awards are representative of an industry’s collective efforts to make the world a better place to drink.”

Learn More About Tales of the Cocktail

Discover more about Tales of the Cocktail® and the Annual Spirited Awards® by visiting www.TalesoftheCocktail.com.

Use this link to view a list of nominees.

Do Not Miss The Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational At IMS

Vintage car fans from around the nation will gather at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for one of the largest vintage racing festivals that includes four days of action at the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational.

Race fans will see Vintage Indy cars, Formula One cars, stock cars and more classic cars racing on the famed 2.5-mile oval and the 2.439-mile IMS road course from June 11-14.

The schedule for the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational starts on Thursday, June 11 at 8 a.m.-12:35 p.m. with group practice sessions, with part one of the road course qualifying sessions beginning at 1:05-6:05 p.m.

Friday, June 12

8 a.m.-Noon: Road course qualifying sessions 2

12:40-1:10 p.m.: Pro-Am practice, road course

2:15-6 p.m.: Oval exhibitions

PRO-AM: Thirty-three former Indianapolis 500 drivers, including two-time champion Al Unser Jr., will practice on Friday and race on Saturday in the Pro-Am event.

ON THE BLOCK: “Motostalgia,” a high-end car auction, will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday. Among the cars up for bidding is the Lotus turbine that Graham Hill drove in the 1968 Indianapolis 500.

Saturday, June 13

8:15 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Group races, road course

12:30-1:10 p.m.: Pro-Am fan walk, pit lane

FAN WALK: Before the Pro-Am on Saturday, a fan walk is available on the pit lane. This is an excellent opportunity to meet drivers up-close and obtain photos and autographs.

1:10-1:30 p.m.: Pro-Am pre-race ceremonies

1:35-2:25 p.m.: Pro-Am race, road course

2:25-6:20 p.m.: Group races, road course

A “Show and Shine” event on Saturday in the infield near the golf course will feature hundreds of cars from various car clubs, perfect for walking and taking photos. And, Blood, Sweat & Tears will play Saturday evening in Pagoda Plaza. Free to all BVRI ticketholders.

If you’re at IMS at 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday look to the skies for a hot air balloon that will be tethered in the infield. Fans can ride the hot air balloon 75 feet in the air for a unique perspective on all the action. Rides are $10 per person, with children 12 and under free with an adult. Also, between 6:30-8 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting), six balloons will launch outside IMS to commemorate the 1909 balloon races that were the first events of any kind at the facility.

Sunday, June 14

8:20 a.m.: National Anthem

8:25-9:35 a.m.: Vintage/Classic enduro race (60 min.)

9:55-11:35 a.m.: Historic GTP/GT endure race (90 min.)

11:50 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Fan walk, pit lane

12:35 p.m.: Unser family exhibition race, oval

UNSER REUNION: For the first time ever, five members of the Unser family will drive on the IMS oval at the same time. Al, Bobby, Al Jr., Robby and Johnny Unser will drive on Sunday in vintage Indy cars.

1:05-5:15 p.m.: Oval exhibition

For tickets and additional information, please visit www.ims.com or call (800) 822-INDY.

Don’t Miss The Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational At IMS

Race fans will see Vintage Indy cars, Formula One cars, stock cars and more classic cars racing on the famed 2.5-mile oval and the 2.439-mile IMS road course from June 11-14.

Friday, June 12

8 a.m.-Noon: Road course qualifying sessions 2

12:40-1:10 p.m.: Pro-Am practice, road course

2:15-6 p.m.: Oval exhibitions

PRO-AM: Thirty-three former Indianapolis 500 drivers, including two-time champion Al Unser Jr., will practice on Friday and race on Saturday in the Pro-Am event.

ON THE BLOCK: “Motostalgia,” a high-end car auction, will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday. Among the cars up for bidding is the Lotus turbine that Graham Hill drove in the 1968 Indianapolis 500.

Saturday, June 13

8:15 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Group races, road course

12:30-1:10 p.m.: Pro-Am fan walk, pit lane

FAN WALK: Before the Pro-Am on Saturday, a fan walk is available on the pit lane. This is an excellent opportunity to meet drivers up-close and obtain photos and autographs.

1:10-1:30 p.m.: Pro-Am pre-race ceremonies

1:35-2:25 p.m.: Pro-Am race, road course

2:25-6:20 p.m.: Group races, road course

Sunday, June 14

8:20 a.m.: National Anthem

8:25-9:35 a.m.: Vintage/Classic enduro race (60 min.)

9:55-11:35 a.m.: Historic GTP/GT endure race (90 min.)

11:50 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Fan walk, pit lane

12:35 p.m.: Unser family exhibition race, oval

1:05-5:15 p.m.: Oval exhibition

For tickets and additional information, please visit www.ims.com or call (800) 822-INDY.

Kellie Pickler Is Honored With Operation Troop Aid Chris Kyle Patriot Award

Those joining the CMA Music Festival in Nashville will catch Kellie Pickler perform her new hit “Feeling Tonight” live when she performs on the free Chevrolet Riverfront Stage on Friday, June 12 from 12:45 PM – 1:15 PM.

On Saturday, June 13, she will participate in Q&A and give an acoustic performance on the CMA Close Up Stage in the AT&T U-Verse Fan Fair X located in Music City Center from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM before moving to the Opry Store booth to sign autographs from 12:30 – 1:30 PM.

The Opry Store booth will also showcase products from the “Selma Drye by Kellie Pickler” line of home goods. Later Saturday night, she will perform the National Anthem to kick off the Nightly Concerts at LP Field.

Kellie has been a strong supporter of America’s military men and women and their families, and has performed on eight USO Tours thus far. This year she will receive the Operation Troop Aid Chris Kyle Patriot Award for the acknowledgement for her unwavering and impassioned support and contributions to the United States Armed Forces and their families.

The award will be presented by Operation Troop Aid founder Mark Woods and Kyle’s parents, Wayne and Deby Kyle. The singer and songwriter is the first recipient of this Award since it was renamed in honor of the late American Sniper and U.S. Navy SEAL.

CMA Music Festival also marks the first week of filming on Pickler’s new reality show, “I Love Kellie Pickler,” which will air on CMT later this year.

Learn More About The CMA Music Festival:

For news on her upcoming concerts, download tunes, and albums available visit www.kelliepickler.com.

You can find updates on the CMA Music Festival by visiting http://www.cmaworld.com/cma-music-festival/.