IAH

Souvenir Sunday at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport

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Etsy at an airport?  We’re used to finding Etsy artists and their wares on line. But there’s an Etsy shop filled with Texas-made treasures inside the new United terminal at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

And since it is Souvenir Sunday – the day we look some of the fun, inexpensive and locally-themed items you can buy at airports – here are some more snaps of items I spotted at IAH during a recent visit.

 

(Why is this flavor of Skinny Pop not sold in my town??)

And… (bonus!) here’s the Souvenir Sunday pick from IAH from my last time through:

Souvenir Sunday at George Bush Intercontinental Airport

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iah hello kitt longhorns_edited

It’s Souvenir Sunday – the day Stuck at the Airport takes a look at the fun, inexpensive and locally-themed treasures you can find when you’re stuck at the airport.

This week’s treat comes from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), where we spotted this Hello Kitty doll wearing a cute little Texas Longhorns t-shirt.

The only thing cuter was this t-shirt designed for real dolls:

IAH BABY COWGIRL

Airports named for U.S. presidents

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In honor of Presidents Day, here’s a round-up of airports in the U.S. named for presidents.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): Originally Idlewild Airport (built over Idlewild Golf Course), it was airport rededicated as John F. Kennedy International Airport on December 24, 1963, in memory of the nation’s 35th president.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Texas was named Houston Intercontinental Airport until 1997.

(Drawing of proposed National Airport ca. 1935; courtesy DC Public Library Commons)

Washington’s National Airport (DCA) was renamed Reagan National Airport in 1998.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)  in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was Kent County International Airport until December, 1999.

And let’s not forget Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) in Springfield, Illinois and Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (DIK) in Dickinson, North Dakota.

Are we missing any?

Horseback endurance ride at Houston Airport

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Horseback riding at the airport?

Yup. The volunteer Airport Rangers at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport do it year-round for recreation and to help patrol the airport’s grounds.

And on February 4th and 5th, 2012, 100 riders will show up for the 2nd Airport Express Endurance Ride through the 13,000 acres of groomed riding trails at the airport.

The goal of endurance riding is to complete a marked trail within the time given, as established by the American Endurance Ride Conference standards. Contestants in IAH’s ride will set out on 25 and 50 mile courses, but there will also a 10 mile “Fun Ride” for novice riders.

Even if you don’t have a horse you may want to mosey on over to see the demonstrations put on by the airport’s mounted patrol and to find out what “Cowboy Karaoke” is all about.

Want to find out more about the Airport Rangers? Here’s a link to a story I wrote about them a while back for my “At the Airport” column in USATODAY.com.

And here’s a video put together by the airport:

Free lobby hangouts at BWI, IAH and PHX airports

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If you’re stuck at the airport in Baltimore, Houston or Phoenix between now and December 16th and need to plug in your laptop or some portable gadget, look for a seat in one of the “Lobby Zones” set up by the folks at Marriott Courtyard Hotels.

The airport Lobby Zones are meant to give travelers a taste of what the chain’s new lobby decor offers, but you don’t have to have a hotel reservation to pull up a chair, hang out and recharge your gear.

Find them at BWI on Concourse A, at Phoenix Sky Harbor in Terminal 4 and in Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Terminal E.

Round-up at George Bush Intercontinental Airport

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The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is out of the chute and that means thousands of cowboys, cowgirls and rodeo fans from around the world are making their way to Houston – and through George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

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.

Love the – tax-free – layover at Texas Airports

Free Stuff, Shopping, ,

Several states around the country declare a sales-tax-free weekend at the end of summer. Texas is one of them.

So why not do some back-to-school shopping at the airport?

Today through Sunday (Aug 15-17) travelers stopping at any Texas airport including Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), can buy backpacks, sneakers, dresses, t-shirts, caps, jackets and a variety of clothing accessories without having to pay the regular sales tax on purchases under $100.

At DFW, where the sales tax is usually 8.25%, airport officials point out that it’s a good chance for travelers to get some extra “cowboy bling with less ca-ching.”