To make sure everyone feels welcome, airport greeters are fanning out to welcome travelers and offer them directions, rodeo pins, cowboy hats, and other memorabilia.  Rodeo fan or not: if you’re passing through the airport, keep an eye out for characters, cowboys, and performers.  The concert line-up at the livestock and rodeo show includes the likes of Brooks &  Dunn and the Black Eyed Peas.

One example: contests and giveaways.

So here’s some information about an in-flight Wi-Fi contest and a hotel bounce-back offer to check out as you dig out of the snow and head out on the road this week:

Through the end of February, Gogo Inflight  Internet is offering  the on-line  Great Gogo Race.  Prizes include a free Gogo session or discounts for 25% or 50% off  inflight sessions.  Everyone wins something, and when you use your code on a Gogo-equipped AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, or United Airlines airplane you’ll also get entered into that day’s drawing for a netbook.  End 2/28/10.

Red Roof Inn also has a few special offers rights now.  If you stay two weekend nights in February, you’ll get a voucher for  a free night (Sunday – Thursday) that can be used from March 1 – May 31, 2010.  The chain gives year-round discounts to teachers and, through April, is giving guests of many Red Roof Inns in Georgia, Ohio, and Florida, coupons good for Burger King breakfast sandwiches as well.

Valentine’s Day pops up on a Sunday this year, and that gives everyone a full weekend to celebrate the holiday.

This year, even airports are getting in on the action.

Today, Friday, Feb 12^th,  the Food and Shops at New York’s LaGuardia Airport will be handing out free chocolate kisses in the Central Terminal between 11 am and 4 pm. All the shops are gussied up for the holiday as well, with plenty of grab ‘n’ go treats for your sweetie.

(Photo courtesy Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int’l Airport)

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has a great Sweetheart Jewelry exhibit on loan from the National Museum of Patriotism.

On Sunday, volunteers at Florida’s Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) will be handing out about 1,000 red carnations (they do that on Mother’s Day as well)

And Singapore’s Changi Airport is celebrating the holiday with a bouquet’s worth of giant, Valentine’s Day decorations scattered throughout the terminals.

(Photos courtesy Changi Airport Group)

Happy Valentine’s Day!

But you can learn more about the Nobel Peace Prize winner anytime you pass through Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL).

Since the mid-1980’s, the airport has had an exhibit titled Legacy of a Dream…Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The exhibit, on Concourse E, includes family photos, the permit from Dr. King’s March on Washington, the suit Dr. King wore to his meeting with President Lyndon B. Johnson,  Dr. King’s wristwatch and glasses, the transistor radio he took to marches and rallies to listen to news, and other items.

All of the artifacts and photographs were provided by the Martin Luther King Center.

On Sundays we unpack our bags and take a look at some of the fun, inexpensive, “of the city” souvenirs available at airports.

This week’s souvenirs come from San Antonio International Airport (SAT), where Rich Johnson was kind enough to take photos of some of the items for sale.

Chocolate “Armadillo Droppings” and this colorful box of Tortilla Soup Mix would make lovely gifts, but each sells for just a bit more than the $10 we set as a limit for our “pick” on Souvenir Sunday.

But this box of leche quemada, a fudge-like Mexican candy made in San Antonio, fit the bill.

The entire box sells for just about $8.

Have you found a great souvenir at an airport?

If it is under $10, “of” the city or region and, ideally, a bit offbeat, then please take a photo and send it along.

It may end up in a future edition of Souvenir Sunday.

The Food & Shops at LaGuardia Airport and the Famous Famiglia pizza company are hosting a Pizza Eating Contest at New York’s LaGuardia airport next Thursday, November 19, 2009 at noon on the lower level of the Central Terminal.

Contestants will be six specially-chosen airport employees vying to win cash prizes topping out at $1,000.

No matter the winner, the contest will generate a contribution of $1,000 for City Harvest, New York City’s food rescue organization.  There will also be a canned food drive going on that day at the airport.

So if you’re traveling through LGA next Thursday, go cheer those folks on.

And if you travel through LGA a lot, sign-up for the e-mail newsletter sent out by the Food & Shops at LaGuardia’s Central Terminal Building. The holidays are coming right up and they usually have some great discounts and specials.

Keeping the beat, today I want to draw your attention to the music line-up at Nashville International Airport (BNA).  Free live music performances are offered year-round on stages near the A/B meeter-greeter area, in the Concourse C food court (beyond security), and on the Baggage Claim Level.

Carrissia & Company peforms today at noon.  Here’s a link to the the two dozen other live performances scheduled during November, ranging from solo singer/songwriters to groups performing jazz, Big Band, country, and Rhythm & Blues.