Tampa International Airport (TPA) has a giant flamingo greeting travelers in the main terminal year round. During this holiday season the airport also has free movies.
On December 6, the holiday favorite “The Grinch” will be shown and on December 13 the “Elf” with Will Ferrell and James Caan will be shown for free in TPA’s pre-security Main Terminal Event Space on Level 3 between the shuttles for Airsides E and F.
The space will open at 4 p.m. and the movies will begin at 4:30 p.m. As a bonus, TPA will also provide free popcorn for moviegoers.
September is not only Bourbon Heritage Month, but it evidently also marks one year since the launch of ROW 94 Whiskey, founded by country music singer and songwriter Dierks Bentley.
To mark the month, Bentley and his bourbon teamed up with Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) to install a life-sized Dierks hologram in the airport’s post-security rotunda area.
The hologram welcomes travelers to Louisville, tells them the story of the ROW 94 whiskey and directs them to the airport’s District Distillery Marketplace, where signed and limited-edition bottles are available for purchase.
To celebrate the two-month promotion, on Friday, September 12, the real Dierks beamed in live to SDF from Nashville and gave away a guitar, so no doubt there were plenty of passengers doing double takes.
This morning travelers at SDF got a surprise ✨🍹 Country music superstar Dierks Bentley made a special hologram appearance right here in SDF’s terminal to promote his @Row94Whiskey. 🥃✈️ Guests were able to see the one-of-a-kind technology up close — making for a unique start… pic.twitter.com/MKFd8CbrdM
Thousands of the 70,000 to 80,000 people attending the Burning Man 2025 festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert will arrive and depart via Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO).
And, as it has in the past, the airport is ready for the Burning Man visitors.
The airport partners with Air Playa Info to host a welcome table in the airport terminal lobby to assist with travel questions, including transportation via the Burner Express Bus and via Burner Express Air.
RNO Airport’s depARTures Gallery is also presenting a Burning Man-themed exhibition.
“Tiny Titans: The Power of the Maquette” provides a glimpse into the creative process of two Burning Man artists, Mark Rivera and Turburam Sandagdorj (a.k.a. STuro), through models of the concepts that turn into the giant installations that get built out on the Playa.
We can’t go everywhere that looks pretty. And we can’t eat and drink everything that looks tasty.
But we want to.
Especially when our inbox and our mailbox are full of tantalizing announcements and tasty treats.
Here’s a sampling.
Complimentary cookie at DoubleTree by Hilton
If you’ve stayed at a Doubletree by Hilton hotel, you’ve no doubt already nibbled on one (or more…) of the complimentary warm chocolate chip cookies they offer guests at check-in.
But on National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day – August 4 – anyone who stops by any of the 400 or so DoubleTree by Hilton locations across the United States can enjoy a complimentary cookie of their choice: the original warm chocolate chip cookie or an allergy-free alternative.
Hawaii Food & Wine Festival
Over dinner at Atoma, the highly-acclaimed Seattle restaurant known for its fried, Scandinavian-inspired rosette cookie appetizer made with Walla Walla onion jam and soft farmer cheese, we learned all about the 15th Annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival.
The multi-week epicurean experience takes place across three Hawaiian islands each fall, and this year runs October 17 -18 on the Island of Hawaii, October 24-26 at Kaanapali, Maui and October 30 to November 2 on Oahu.
Birding in Tennessee
Here in Seattle, we’ve been seeing eagles, hummingbirds and, as always, loud crows in our neighbohrood.
But the new, free Guide to Birding in Tennessee, put out by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD), is a great reason to head east with our binoculars.
Available online and at Tennessee Welcome Centers, the 30-plus-page guide offers seasonal tips and regional recommendations for spotting everything from bald eagles and sandhill cranes to colorful warblers, waterfowl and rare migratory visitors.
The guide also lists birding festivals and includes a list of accessible trails, boardwalks and scenic overlooks.
(Sandhill_Crane_Graham_Gerdeman)
Live music line-up at Memphis International Airport
If you’re flying to or through Memphis International Airport (MEM), check to see if any of these live music events will be happening when you’re there.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) hosts an ongoing Culture Corner presenting free activities that include live art demonstrations, crafts, displays, readings, and more.
Since January, local art, culture and history groups have stopped by the PHX Culture Corner to present everything from calligraphy, puppet making and airplane construction to Navajo weaving and petroglyph creation.
This week, the culture corner is going to be a zoo.
On Wednesday, July 30, between 1 and 3 p.m., educators from the Phoenix Zoo will be at the PHX Culture Corner with some animals that make their home in the Arizona desert.
Scheduled to make an appearance are a tiger salamander, an Arizona pocket mouse, a desert tortoise, domestic rabbits, and a red-tailed hawk.
If you’ll be at PHX early afternoon on Wednesday, then head post-security in Terminal 3, near Gate F3 for a chance to visit with some zoo animals.
The 2025 festival takes place from August 18 to 24 and includes kite competitions and performances, including synchronized kite ballet and mass ascensions where hundreds of kites fill the sky at once. Other kite festival activities include kite-making workshops, nighttime lighted kite flying and lots of opportunities to fly your own kite.
The museum is home to more than 1,500 kites from 26 countries and includes a 300-piece Japanese kite collection and a set of WWII military kites.
(Kids with kite photo up top courtesy State Library and Archives of Florida via Flickr Commons)
This Oregon inn had us at “popcorn”
The Setting Inn Willamette Valley is a boutique retreat with an on-site wine tasting room in Newberg, Oregon, the heart of Oregon Wine Country.
We were fortunate to spend a delightful evening there a while back and loved the wine, the complimentary breakfast delivered to amenity-rich room, the indoor and outdoor gathering spots and the walkable grounds.
Now one of the inn’s new guest experiences has us contemplating a return trip.
From now through October, The Setting Inn is offering a Popcorn Pairing package that includes a bottle of The Setting Wines’ 2024 barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc with two bags of small-batch rosemary parmesan popcorn from Miss Hannah’s Gourmet Popcorn, a family-owned Newberg favorite.
Cruise news: Holland America’s behind-the-scenes tours
Holland America Line’s popular behind-the-scenes tours of its cruise ships were on pause for the past few years due to a variety of health and safety reasons.
But they’re back on the paid activity list.
Available fleetwide by the end of July, each behind-the-scenes tour visits shipboard locations such as the navigational bridge, galley and engine control room, main laundry, recycling center, bakery and bars.
Holland America Line will also be marking America’s 250th birthday in 2026 with a special round-trip cruise from Boston. The seven-day “America’s 250th Celebration: Stars & Stripes Voyage” aboard Zuiderdam departs July 4, 2026, and includes a special call at Norfolk, Virginia, with access to Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown.
Bob Ross Experience at Indiana’s Minnetrista Museum
In 1887, the Ball family—makers of the famous Ball mason jars—moved their glass manufacturing business from Buffalo, New York, to Muncie, Indiana.
From 1983 to 1988, Bob Ross filmed “The Joy of Painting” in one of the homes on the property, which served as the studio for WIPB-TV.
Now, the home is the site of the Bob Ross Experience, an exhibition featuring original paintings and artifacts, and the restored television studio where the show was filmed.
Visitors can stand where Ross stood at his easel and even take a painting class from a Certified Ross Instructor.
The 150th Preakness Stakes – the second race in the Triple Crown series of thoroughbred horse races – takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday, May 17.
To celebrate the Preakness Stakes race and the accompanying Preakness Festival, two large models of thoroughbred horses are now on display at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Both horses are located on the upper level of the airport, near the center of the terminal and the C security checkpoint. One horse is located pre-security and the other is located post-security.
Passengers may snap a selfie with one or both of the horses.
But, unfortunately, no rides.
Fresh art at Denver International Airport
We’re looking forward to flying into Denver International Airport (DEN) soon and seeing this cool new constellation-inspired artwork near Gate C54.
Star light, star bright. 🌟 The first of two Constellations by Danielle Roney is now glowing near Gate C54!
Flowers, phone calls, brunch, and big hugs are in store for many moms this weekend.
And maybe a bonus postcard.
Over Mother’s Day weekend Norfolk International Airport (ORF) will be handing out free “Thanks, Mom” postcards at the Information Desk between 9 a.m. and 9 p.,m.
They’ll even give you a free stamp to send that postcard (while supplies last).
Traveling for Mother's Day this weekend? We made some special postcards just for Mom! 🌷 You can pick one up at our Information Desk 24/7, but guests who stop by the desk between 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. can ask for a complimentary stamp 💌 (while supplies last). pic.twitter.com/Q5gIFxbOSQ
— Norfolk International Airport (@flyORF) May 8, 2025
Or at least ready to help fans get in and out of the airport smoothly.
In addition to some helpful tips on navigating the airport during what promises to be a extra-busy time, the airport has set up some selfie-worthy signage, including a giant championship belt and a WrestleMania photo backdrop at the T1 baggage claim carousel as well as a Welcome to Las Vegas/WWW Universe sign in the T3 baggage claim area.
SFO’s Cherry Blossom Festival features live music events through April 22, post-security in Terminal 2 across from Compass Books.
Here’s the rundown:
Thursday, April 10: Aki Oshiro and Shinobue (10 AM – 1:30 PM)
Aki Oshiro is a queer, trans, and non-binary, fourth-generation Japanese Okinawan-American professional taiko artist based in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Friday, April 11: Kiyonomoto Ryu (10 AM – 2 PM)
The USA branch of the Kiyonomoto School of traditional Japanese dancing was founded in 1994.
Thursday, April 17: Kaori Suzuki (10 AM – 2 PM)
Sakura Ren is a non-profit performing art group showcasing Japanese traditional dance called Awa-odori and its music.
Friday, April 18: Ito Yosakoi (12 PM – 3 PM)
Ito Yosakoi is a community yosakoi dance program of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) located in San Francisco Japantown.
Many cities around the country celebrate cherry blossom season, but Washington, D.C. goes all out with a four-week-long National Cherry Blossom Festival, which honors the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo’s Mayor Yukio Ozaki to Washington, DC.
The seasonal event includes kite festival, a parade, music, art and lots of other activities from March 20 to April 13, 2025, but the highlight is certainly being able to see all the cherry trees in full bloom around the Tidal Basin.
According to the National Park Service, which maintains the trees and has a “bloom watch” on Instagram and other social media sites (#BloomWatch), the predicted peak bloom dates for the city’s cherry trees are March 28 to March, 31.
If you’re flying into the region, you’ll spot Cherry Blossom selfie stations at both Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Washington National Airport (DCA).
