IAH

Souvenir Sunday at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport


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

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

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

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: