USA Travel Magazine

The USA’s Top Most Dog-Friendly Destinations For Pampering

Traveling with our pets is a fantastic way to enjoy their company and enjoy America’s pet friendly destinations. To help us plan our trip, our friend, Gideon Parirenyatwa, from Compare The Market, the UK’s leading price comparison websites, is sharing some of the world’s top Pampered Pooch Destinations.

The USA’s Top Most Dog-Friendly Destinations For Pampering:

Long Beach, California – With 985 dog training centers, over 445 kennels and a staggering 259 dog grooming salons, you can treat your canine to some well-deserved comfort.

Mesa, Arizona – Coming in at second, the city of Mesa is a hub for pampering your furry friend, with over 619 vets, 546 dog training centres and 337 kennels.

Atlanta, Georgia – The state capital of Georgia ranks third in the list thanks to its 65 great open parks, 661 vets and 139 dog salons.

The USA’s Top Most Dog-Friendly Destinations For Pampering

Use the link below to explore the Info Graphic on more pampered pooch destinations in America.

Launched in 2006, Compare The Market is one of the UK’s leading price comparison websites. Among the areas Compare The Market reviews are motor, home, life, travel and pet insurance as well as utilities and money products such as, credit cards and loans.

Visit the www.comparethemarket.com website to explore in depth tips and news for savings in these top U.S. destination.

Thank you to Gideon Parirenyatwa for sharing this fun pet news!

Photo Credits: © Compare The Market

A Look Ahead At The 2020 Olympic Games

We are just over a year away from the 2020 Olympic Games that will kick off in the Japanese capital of Tokyo 24th July to the 9th August 2020. It’s a exciting time for the athletes and the world since the last time the games were held in Tokyo in 1964. Much has changed, and this will be “the most innovative Olympic Games ever organized,” according to the organizers. The games “Will rest on three fundamental principles to transform the world: striving for your personal best (achieving your personal best; accepting one another (unity in diversity); and passing on a legacy for the future (connecting to tomorrow)”.

The Tokyo Games will use as many existing competition venues previously used for the Games in 1964. This includes the prestigious Nippon Budokkan for judo, the Baji Koen Park for equestrian events, and the Yoyogi National Gymnasium for handball. The Tokyo National Stadium, where the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and athletics competitions will be staged, will be completely revamped and replaced by a new arena.

The world’s best skateboarder’s and surfer’s have to be stoked by the news – finally their sports will be included in the 2020 Olympic Games!

Right now, you can bet that athletes from around the world are preparing and competing for their shot in the upcoming games. The field of competition is tough, and what is truly exciting is the addition of the new youth and urban-focused sports and disciplines on the program. These additions include the sports of the basketball 3×3, skateboarding, and surfing that will kick off during the first weekend of the Olympic Games.

“I believe the Tokyo 2020 Games will generate more enthusiasm than ever. Starting with a softball match in Fukushima two days before the opening of the Games, until the men’s marathon on the final day, a record 33 sports and 339 events will be packed into the two weeks of the Games,” said Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori.

Follow The Tokyo 2020 Games News

To follow the news on the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games, and other activities visit their website.

To explore activities and sites to explore while in Tokyo visit the area Tourism site.

Discover more of Japan by visiting the Japan National Tourism Organization site.

SKI Magazine Shares The West Top Ski Towns

When the snow falls, many travelers hit the ski slopes. To help you choose the destination for your next trip, here are some tips on this year’s top ski destinations in the Western U.S., as reported by SKI magazine. These destinations provide a good starting point for planning a trip, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or expert-level skier or snowboarder.

Sun Valley in Idaho offers everything from downhill skiing to Nordic sports and dogsled tours, along with exciting après-ski entertainment. Considered by many to be “the perfect little ski town that you read about in books,” skiers are drawn to Sun Valley’s gorgeous scenery and impeccably groomed slopes, making it one of the best destinations to visit for winter adventure and breathtaking mountain views. Sun Valley is located just 13 miles away from the Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, Idaho.

Each year, skiers flock to Vail, Colorado, the third destination on SKI magazine’s list, for its abundant snow, plentiful sunshine, and miles of groomed trails, pristine glades and Back Bowls. Joining Vail in the rankings, Steamboat Springs, Beaver Creek and Breckenridge all scored top spots, giving travelers even more to experience throughout the state.

Collectively, Colorado’s destinations are favored for their family-friendly atmospheres, varied terrain, and off-the-mountain fun with shops, galleries, restaurants and nightlife. Travelers can fly into Eagle, Denver or Hayden to visit these ski towns.

Known for providing great all-around days of skiing, Deer Valley, Utah is also known for its charming setting, wonderful employees and good snow. With local character and a rich history, Park City offers a variety of entertainment in town and has terrain parks that all ability levels of skiers can enjoy. Both destinations can be accessed with air service into the Salt Lake City airport.

When deciding which destination to visit this season, consider the different accommodations available to you, from hotel rooms and suites to private lodging options that include ski-in/ski-out condos, luxury town homes and spacious mountain residences.

For the best of both worlds, many turn to professionally managed vacation rental companies such as Wyndham Vacation Rentals. It offers properties that combine the conveniences of a hotel stay with the comforts of home. Its properties also offer added services and amenities to enhance your stay, such as a concierge, storage space, ski and snowboard rentals and valet, on-site restaurants, pools, hot tubs and fitness centers.

Plan Your Trip:

Visit Ski Magazine online for current news and events.

To start planning your next ski vacation, visit www.WyndhamVacationRentals.com for great deals in some of the U.S.’s top ski destinations.

Photo Credits: SKI Magazine

Skrillex, Alesso, Illenium Music, and Chris Lake Rock SNAKE PIT

Update: IMS is excited to welcome Skrillex, Alesso, Illenium Music, and Chris Lake to the SNAKE PIT presented by Coors Light! Check out the current updates and full schedule of acts and events via the links below.

Get Your Tickets To The Indy 500 and Snake Pit Activities:

Snake Pit tickets are available for purchase for all Indianapolis 500 ticket holders. General admission tickets to the Snake Pit are available in addition to VIP tickets offering admission to the Serpent Lounge featuring amenities such as entry to the Rattle Zone offering front of the stage access, flat screen televisions with live race coverage, a private cash bar, air conditioned restrooms, along with access to food trucks and viewing mounds.

In addition, Cobra Cabanas return this year offering the ultimate Snake Pit experience where parties of up to 10 people may enjoy their own private area on the Cabana deck overlooking the crowd. Five exclusive private Cabanas are available in the heart of the Snake Pit VIP Serpent Lounge. For Snake Pit wristbands and more information, visit www.indy500snakepit.com.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is located at 4790 W. 16th Street in Indianapolis. For tickets to the four racing events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, 98th Indianapolis 500, Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard and Red Bull Indianapolis GP, upcoming events, and additional information visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at www.ims.com.

Or call 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. You can also purchase tickets at the IMS Ticket Office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.

Kenner Super Boat Grand Prix Brings The Action To LA

Yes, races fans, John Carbonell, the President of Super Boat International announced the first of four races earlier this year. The first events takes us down South for a 3 day event in the city of Kenner, a suburb of New Orleans in Jefferson Parish on June 21-23.

President of Super Boat International, John Carbonell is looking forward to returning to the region in which he last raced in the world championships. “I am really looking forward to seeing a lot of the old friends I raced with there — I have fond memories not just of racing, but also of those races I produced.”

To kick off the weekend Kenner Super Boat Grand Prix will have a spectacular boat parade on the Friday evening. One guest who is thrilled to attend the event is local, Ben Zahn, who happens to be the Mayor of Kenner, “It’s been some years since Kenner hosted a powerboat race. Events like this continue to put our city on the map and attract visitors and business to Kenner and I am looking forward to this exciting event.”

Plan Your Trip To The Kenner Super Boat Grand Prix

To learn more about the Kenner Super Boat Grand Prix, and order tickets for this and other races visit their website.

Photo Credits: Kenner Super Boat Grand Prix

Where Traveler – Travel Guide to the World

It’s amazing how many more books we’ve read thanks to our tablet. Oh yes, there’s another perk to traveling with a tablet – you can take along Where Traveler: Travel Guide to the World. They have a exciting collection of guides on cities and destinations from around the world, including New York.

Of course, since it’s covering New York they have all the best shows included. They have a wonderful section called “Ask The Expert…” Margaret Geraghty, Concierge, for The NY Marriott East Side was asked why it is it important visit museums when in New York City? “NYC’s museum’s are essential cultural attractions. In a city with scores of special exhibits encompassing art, design, science and history, there is a museum experience for everyone taste.

Along with local expert advice Where Traveler features great ideas on what to experience while in NYC. Among the selection were 10 Great Things to do like a visit to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Plus, they feature a calendar of events and concerts which include Cher and Pink who are playing in NYC.

Get your game face on because the Yankees are going up again the Red Sox. After a game, take a trip back into history on a visit to Liberty Island

It’s the local sites and advice that make the experience more memorable – you’re not just passing by – you’re seeing the city as they do.

Explore The Latest Edition Of Where Traveler

To explore current news and editions of Where Traveler visit their website.

To explore local events, attractions and sites visit the New York City OCVB website. To discover festival and activities to enjoy beyond NYC go to the https://www.iloveny.com/ website.

Gen Con Pop-Up Experiences Coming Soon To US Game Stores

Gamers get ready to catch a glimpse of the top games with the new Pop-Up Gen Con program. “We’re excited to bring the Gen Con experience to more tabletop gaming fans than ever before through our new Pop-Up Gen Con program,” said Gen Con President David Hoppe.

It’s exciting news for both tabletop gaming fans and businesses. We frequent The Angry Robot in the Heritage Mall Shoppes in Nashville, Indiana – they have a great selection of comic books and collectibles. It’s also cool to talk about what new games are coming out, and we know their certainly looking forward to Gen Con as much as we are, and are just as thrilled about this news. It’s definitely a new opportunity for gaming fans who want to take their Gen Con experience to the next level.

In partnership with Alliance Game Distributors, the pilot-year program will deliver pre-release copies of new games from major publishers to participating stores, giving Pop-Up Gen Con attendees the opportunity to play and pre-order convention-release games before they hit the market.

“As a leader in the hobby game business, we are excited to be working with the clear leader on the hobby game convention circuit,” said Mike Webb, VP of Marketing for Alliance Game Distributors. “The opportunity to bring a slice of the excitement of Gen Con to Friendly Local Game Stores around the country is a dream come true.”

In the pilot year of the Pop-Up Gen Con program, activation’s will occur at approximately 40 game stores across the United States. In-store experiences will offer space to play pre-release copies of the featured games, and video content will be streamed live from the Indiana Convention Center.

“Gen Con has been the most influential gaming convention in the world for decades. Many gamers look at attending the show as a bucket-list event,” said Travis Severance, Owner of popular Rochester, NY game store Millennium Games. “Having the opportunity to bring a little taste of that to local customers is a great opportunity and a huge honor. We look forward to an exciting premier year and many more to come.”

Learn More About Gen Con’s Pop-Up Experience

Keep an eye out on the Gen Con website for news on this special event. Pop-Up Gen Con registration will be available for a small fee and include a commemorative badge and an exclusive pin. To order your badges, check the schedules, and register for events go to the Gen Con website at http://www.gencon.com/.

Enjoy Sunset Cinema on the Canal At WRSP

Once again Indy Film Fest and Downtown Indy, Inc. have united to bring us a festive season of movies along the Canal. Mark your calendar for these Thursday night dates – May 16, June 20, July 18 & Aug. 22 and come out to watch the FREE outdoor movies. It’s a wonderful way to break up the work week, and enjoy a evening out with friends and family.

“After a great first year, we wanted to bring back another in-Canal experience,” said Bob Schultz, senior vice president of marketing, communication and events for Downtown Indy, Inc. “Thanks to our partners with the Indy Film Fest, we know this will be a unique event and fun for attendees of all ages.”

Float On The Canal

Sunset Cinema on the Canal offers a cool in-water experience to watch movies. This one-of-a-kind experience is designed for individuals age 21+ who can pay $20 and receive a floating innertube, which you get to keep, to watch the movie in the Canal, along with two Sun King beers. In-water participants can register at the above links. Inner-tubes are limited. Pre-registration is required

Gather your friends and family and bring blankets or chairs along with a tasty picnic to enjoy with the movie, then settle in on the grassy areas. The large movie screen will be located on the north end of the Canal near the Admiral Spruance Basin up by 11th Street. There will be a selection of food and soft drinks will be available to purchase near Canal 337 by Thomas Caterers from 7:30 – 9 p.m.

The current selection of movies for this series are:

May 16: Grease (PG-13)
June 20: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (PG)
July 18: Splash (PG)
Aug. 22: Days of Thunder (PG-13)
All movies will start at dusk (around 9:15 p.m.)

Sharing The Community Experience

The wonderful thing is that all proceeds from Downtown Indy, Inc.’s Sunset Cinema will go to Indy Film Fest’s mission of creating a shared experience around film, as well as Downtown beautification and décor.

Join The Sunset Cinema on the Canal

To learn more about the Sunset Cinema on the Canal and other events visit the Downtown Indy, Inc. website.

For fun at the Indy Film Fest check out their website for current screenings and news.

We thank 9 on Canal Apartments for providing the inner-tubes, and appreciate the participation of all of the sponsors who make this event possible!

WalletHub Shares The Best Airlines

Planning to fly on vacation? Our friends at WalletHub are offering advice on the best airlines. They compared the 9 largest U.S. airlines, plus three regional carriers, across 15 important metrics. They range from cancellation and delay rates to baggage mishaps and in-flight comfort. We also considered costs in relation to in-flight amenities for the sake of fairness.

Of the airlines, WalletHub found that Delta Air Lines was the most reliable. Delta has the lowest overall rate of cancellations, delays, mishandled luggage and denied boarding’s. The next most reliable company is Hawaiian Airlines.

Our friend Merle might just agree with this next finding by WalletHub – She loves to fly on JetBlue Airways, which was found to lead the pack in terms of in-flight experience, offering free amenities such as Wi-Fi, extra legroom, and complimentary snacks and beverages. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines & Delta Air Lines are tied for the second position for this category.

When it comes to the Most Pet-Friendly – Two airlines tied for being most pet-friendly, ExpressJet and Envoy Air, with no incidents.

As far as which one they thought was the safest Alaska Airlines was at the top of their list. Why? Because they had a low number of incidents and accidents per 100,000 flight operations, no fatalities, under 15 persons injured in the last 6 years and a relatively new fleet of air crafts. The safety runner-up is Spirit Airlines.

These are just a sampling of the best airlines. Check out the full list of Best and Worst Airlines according to WalletHub by visiting their website.

More Excitement and Entertainment Added To Pop Con

Pop Con – is back, and even bigger than in the past, filling more space at the Indianapolis Conversation Center. There will be plenty of entertainment, unique experiencs, along with activities for families, gamers, superfans, and geeks at this year’s Pop Con!

For those whom are attending for the first time it’s a memorable experience filled with so much to do. Here, they celebrate all things pop culture, and PopCon™️ has once again expanded. They’re adding PopCon Geek Week™️, starting May 31 and ending at the close of PopCon Indy™️, June 7-9 at the Indiana Convention Center.

“PopCon looks forward to expanding its fun into much more of Indianapolis and surrounding communities this year leading up to our show. We want to continue to grow our economic impact on the city, and helping local businesses is a way to do just that,” said Carl Doninger, co-founder of PopCon™️ and Broad Ripple resident. “Indianapolis has such an amazing and diverse community, we want everyone to participate in and enjoy all that PopCon has to offer.”

Join The Festivities PopCon

On May 31st, PopCon™️ takes over Food Truck Friday on the west section of Georgia Street with Downtown Indy. Wear something geeky, hang out with PopCon™️ organizers, and enjoy an amazing lunch.

On June 1st, PopCon™️ is sponsoring the charity Child Advocates to support their Superhero Run. Join us for their 5k run or 1 mile walk, and a cosplay costume contest all at White River State Park.

The three-day PopCon Indy™️ event June 7-9 remains full of celebrities, social media personalities, vendors, artists, experiences, and events, but now the entire week leading up to the main show will include activities for the community to enjoy.

Get Your Tickets To PopCon

PopCon tickets can be purchased online or at the door. For upcoming guests, vendors, experiences, events, and represented fandoms at PopCon Indy™️ 2019, visit their website.