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Three places we’d go

The weekend is coming up and, given all the stressful news, we could use a weekend away.

Here are three places on our “We’d go there” list.

Fly to Vancouver International Airport for the cherry blossoms

Vancouver is always a treat, and landing at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) right about now comes with some bonus cherry blossom treats.

Visit Seattle for free museum admissions

In Seattle, museums around the city offer free admission on the first Thursday of each much.

The Museum of Flight is on the list, as is the Seattle Art Museum, the Burke Museum, The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) The National Nordic Museum and many others.

Tennessee seems cool

We visited Nashville for the first time last summer and vowed to return to Tennessee.

This list of spring and summer festivals throughout the state is filled with great events to build a trip around, including the Tennessee Tulip Festival in Eagleville this weekend, the Flower & Food Festival at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge from April 18 through June 8, and the World’s Biggest Fish Fry in Paris, TN from April 19 to 27 with a parade, carnival, demolitions debry, rodeo, catfish races and more.

Airports & airlines celebrate April Fools Day

A therapy giraffe. The world’s shortest escalator. And in-flight sauna.

Here’s a round-up of just some of the fun April Fools’ Day posts we spotted from airports and airlines, plus some bonus pranksters.

Send us your faves and let us know what we’ve missed:

Finnair introduces an in-flight sauna

In a press release, Finnair announced it’s latest innovation: the world’s first in-flight sauna, available only on the carrier’s Airbus A350 aircraft.

Finnair does have a Finnish sauna in the Finnair Platinum Wing lounge on the non-Schengen side of Helsinki Airport. But the April 1 announcement of an onboard version is a joke that we’re sure had some passengers wishing “if only!”

The “Sky Sauna” package does sound pretty good: it includes “a refreshing glass of blueberry juice, a vihta (a traditional birch whisk), a sauna hat, a towel and comfortable slippers” and a sauna designed with beautiful Finnish wood and featuring a panoramic window for breathtaking views.”

If only, right?

More April Fools’ pranks from airports & transit systems near you

Here are just some of the other April Fools’ Day posts we found from airports and airlines and at least one other transit mode. Some are very creative, others a bit corny but all are well withing the spirit of the day.

ATL Airport mural honors Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter

Here’s a nomination for Airport Amenity of the Week.

Like the Carter Center, which shared this image, we love that the mural of President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, is now on view at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

The mural, titled “Well Done Good and Faithful Servant, The Carters,” is by Atlanta-based artist Fabian Williams, the Atlanta-based artist who also created the image below that was featured on the poster for the Jimmy Carter 100 celebration in September 2024.

You can see Williams’ mural of the Carters from an upper balcony of the domestic terminal above ATL’s North baggage claim.

(Images courtesy of the Carter Center).

Celebrate Cheesesteak Week at PHL Airport

Philadelphia is famous for cheesesteak sandwiches. And Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is marking National Cheesesteak Day, March 24, with a full week of cheesesteak events and specials in the terminals.

From Monday, March 24, through Sunday, March 30, passengers traveling through the airport will find exclusive offers, cheesesteak-inspired events and, of course, Philadelphia cheesesteaks.

Passengers will find free events 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the connector space between Terminals B and C.

Look for free samples of Pepsi Zero and Frito Lay, entertainment, a photo booth and assorted giveaways as well as a Cheesesteak Topping Bars (from noon to 1 p.m.) at Chickie & Pete’s, Cibo Bistro & Wine Bar and Passyunk Steaks.

From Monday, March 24 to Friday, March 28, use code PHLSTEAK to get 25% off one order at participating locations offering online mobile ordering through OrderAtPHL. (That code should work whether or not you’re ordering a cheesesteak.)

Weeklong Specialty Cheesesteak Creations & Meal Deals — March 24 to 30

Multiple PHL restaurants are serving up specialty cheesesteaks, including:

  • Bud & Marilyn’s: Shawarma cheesesteak — shawarma-spiced, marinated sliced ribeye steak on pita bread from Angel Bakeries, served with a cherry pepper tzatziki sauce
  • Chickie’s & Pete’s: Salmon cheesesteak with leaf lettuce, American cheese and mild pico de gallo
  • Passyunk Steaks: Salmon cheesesteak with spinach, red onions, roasted red peppers, and spicy mayo and lemon pepper cheesesteak — chopped prime ribeye steak with cheese, seasoned with lemon pepper
  • Tagliare: Pizza cheesesteak — sliced prime ribeye steak chopped with marinara sauce and mozzarella

Not passing through PHL airport during Cheesesteak Week? Don’t worry. You’ll find cheesesteaks and cheesesteak-inspired bits at these PHL food outlets year-round.

  • Bar Symon: Cheesesteak — sautéed, with provolone, mushrooms and onions
  • Chickie’s & Pete’s: Cheesesteak eggrolls, cheesesteak nachos and more
  • Geno’s Steaks: Pizza, mushroom and regular cheesesteak
  • Jack Duggan’s Pub & Restaurant: Cheesesteak eggrolls, chicken cheesesteak and more
  • Jim’s South St.: Chicken cheesesteak, veggie cheesesteak and more
  • Local Tavern: Classic cheesesteak
  • LOVE Grille: Beef, chicken and cauliflower cheesesteak
  • Noobar: Philly cheesesteak dumplings
  • Passyunk Steaks: Various cheesesteaks (onion, pizza, veggie and more)
  • Philly Pretzel Factory: Cheesesteak Rivets
  • Sabrina’s Cafe: Veggie Philly cheesesteak — seitan with sautéed onions and long hots
  • Subway: Philly and classic cheesesteak
  • Tony Luke’s: Various cheesesteaks (beef, chicken, veggie and more)
  • WinKitchen: Cheesesteak eggrolls

Places we’re adding to our ‘go’ list

Transportation cartoons in NY’s Grand Central Station

In celebration of the centennial of The New Yorker Magazine, the New York Transit Museum is presenting Commentary on the Commute: A Century of The New Yorker’s Transportation Cartoons from Wednesday, March 26th to October 26, 2005.

The free exhibit, in the Transit Museum’s Grand Central Gallery & Store, highlights the humor, challenges, and peculiarities of public transportation through the lens of some of the most iconic cartoonists of the past century.

Sarasota, Florida for World Circus Day

World Circus Day is coming up next month (April 19) and that would be a great excuse to head to Sarasota, Florida to visit the Circus Museum at The Ringling.

(Tibbals Circus Collection)

The Ringling’s Museum of Art is also currently hosting Conjuring the Spirit World: Art, Magic, and Mediums.

The exhibit includes paintings, posters, photographs, costumes, film and other objects that explore the role art and objects played for mediums and magicians “communicating” with the dead during the 19th- and 20th-century Spiritualism movement in the U.S. and Europe.