Midwest
Posted June 24, 2009 by Jamie Moore
Billing itself as the Waterpark Capital of the World, Wisconsin Dells has more than enough watery (and dry) ways to thrill and delight tourists. Check out these inexpensive spots for water park fun, a beer and burger, and Yogi Bear-themed lodging.
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Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park: Take on the 37 waterslides, two adventure rivers, wave pool, and surf pool at this Greek mythology-themed experience. The surf pool, new last year, is the country's second largest and churns out the world's tallest waves—up to nine feet high. A one-day pass to the water and theme park runs $39.99 ($35.99 if you buy online). Visiting other area attractions? Spring for a $70 Dells City Pass including three-day admission to Mt. Olympus and entry to eight other popular spots.
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Monk's Bar & Grill: The Minneapolis Star Tribune raves about the burgers at this legendary badger-themed sports bar a half hour outside Madison's University of Wisconsin. Grab a beer and try the 1/3 lb Original Monk's Burger or something more offbeat: a Pizza Burger, Black & Bleu Burger, or Jalapeno Cheddar Burger. It's a fun place to watch the Brewers beat the Cubs (or the Cubs beat the Brewers if you're not local) on the big screen.
Stay
Yogi Bear's Camp Resort: Finding affordable lodging in the Dells is a challenge, but this campground and resort is the answer; that is, if you don't mind a daily visit from Yogi Bear. Stay in a yurt ($39 to $89 per night), cabin ($59 to $119 per night) or bungalow ($79 to $159 per night). From these, it's a short walk to the bathroom, but there are other lodging options only a bit more expensive that feature indoor plumbing. Admission to the on-site water park and a full schedule of activities are included in your stay.
To search for flights and compare prices to Madison, which is home to Wisconsin Dells’ nearest airport, please use our price-comparison tool.
(Photo: Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau)
Posted June 18, 2009 by Jamie Moore
Mackinac Island is famous for its annual June Lilac Festival, a 10-day celebration of the island's ancient, abundant, and fragrant trees. But it's worth a trip any time during the summer to experience a car-free getaway, Mackinac (MACK-in-awe) style. This peaceful island in Lake Huron doesn't allow vehicles, so locals and visitors travel by real horsepower, walking, or cycling. Take a carriage seat and tour Mackinac, stopping for afternoon tea at a grand hotel or lunch in a lakeside bistro.
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Mackinac Island Carriage Tours: Clip-clop your way through Mackinac's quaint streets in a traditional horse-drawn carriage. Mackinac Island Carriage Tours has been hitching up horses to entertain visitors for more than 100 years. In fact, it's the oldest and largest livery in the world, and its horses consume 1,250 tons of hay per season. The 1.75-hour tours run throughout the day for $23.50 per person. To really ride in style, find some friends and hire a private carriage for a few dollars extra.
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Grand Hotel: Movie stars and presidents have marveled at the view from this 19th-century hotel's 660-foot porch. Some even attended its elegant dinners in chic evening wear and stayed in the elaborately furnished rooms. You can experience the luxurious atmosphere for a fraction of the price by stopping in between 3:30 and 5 pm for afternoon tea ($25 per person). Step into the parlor and sip tea, sherry, and Champagne; nibble on tiny finger sandwiches and fresh-baked scones; and listen to a soothing chamber music recital.
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Mary's Bistro: Mary's Bistro has lakeside tables for water lovers, street-side tables for people-watching enthusiasts, and a menu of mouth-watering dishes for everyone. The chef uses local ingredients—there's even Michigan hardwood firing the grill—and serves delicious entrees like spit-fired chicken basted in garlic oil and wood-grilled Portobello mushroom with aioli. Dogs are welcome on the terrace and served water and sometimes treats. Breakfast and lunches start at $6.50; dinner entrees at $10.95.
To search for flights and compare prices to Pellston, which is home to Mackinac Island’s nearest major airport, please use our price-comparison tool.
(Photo: Mackinacisland.org)
Posted April 16, 2009 by Kate Hamman
With a museum devoted to education through entertainment, a hotel with a built-in water park, and a restaurant that serves breakfast all day, Indianapolis is the perfect place for a family getaway that won't break the piggy bank.
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The Children's Museum: With 11 galleries displaying exhibits and "hands-on" learning stations, a visit to the Children's Museum is an outing the whole family can enjoy. Here, kids get to walk in the land of dinosaurs, travel through space, become a mad scientist, and hear tales of other inspirational children. Adults will be amazed by the permanent display of Dale Chihuly's 43-foot tall blown-glass tower sculpture. Tickets cost $14.50 for adults and $9.50 for kids, but admission is free for families the first Thursday of every month from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Stay
Holiday Inn North: Now, families can literally play and stay under one roof at Holiday Inn. Adults and kids delight in Caribbean Cove, a 50,000 square-foot indoor water park attached to the hotel. Rooms start at $179 per night, and include admission for up to five guests to the water park. The Children's Museum also offers a package deal that includes one night's stay at the Holiday Inn, four tickets to the museum, and admission to the park starting at $209.
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Cafe Patachou: Ever since it whipped its first eggs into an omelet, locals have equated Cafe Patachou with fresh and savory breakfasts. Now, with four locations in the city to choose from, you can snack on morning items—including the daily free-range omelet and the cafe's homemade granola—all day long. The restaurant also serves a range of sandwiches and salads. Breakfast items start at $7.25.
To search for flights and compare prices to Indianapolis, please use our price-comparison tool.
(Photo: Indy.org)
Posted April 3, 2009 by Kate Hamman
There's so much more to St. Louis than the giant arch, especially for those with families. Best of all, you won't have to spend a fortune to entertain your brood. Bring your kids to this Midwestern city to learn about nature, drink luscious hot chocolate, and eat at a diner devoted to pop culture.
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Missouri Botanical Garden: One hundred and forty-nine years after it first opened, the Missouri Botanical Garden is now a National Historic Landmark, which stands as a testament to its devotion to preserving nature. Within its 79 acres, you can explore a tropical rainforest, a Japanese strolling garden, a center for home gardening, and a Victorian district. Plus, the little ones will have plenty to do at the Doris L. Schnuck Children's Garden, open from April through August. Tickets cost $8 for adults and nothing for kids except a $3 charge for the Children's Garden.
Drink
Bissinger's: A Chocolate Experience: With more than 300 years of making handmade chocolates, Bissinger's has taken its confections to indulgent new levels. Here, you can relax with a decadent mug of hot chocolate or delve into a piece of chocolate truffle tart. Kids will get a sugar high just from looking at the range of expertly made sweets. Parents can unwind with liqueur served in a chocolate cup or a glass of wine paired with a dessert. Hot chocolates start at $3, and include flavors such as triple chocolate and Caribbean spice.
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Blueberry Hill: Come get your fill of diner eats and pop history at Blueberry Hill. Known for its hamburgers and live shows, the restaurant has been serving and entertaining hungry patrons since 1972. The menu includes standbys such as hot dogs and sandwiches, but also offers a few specialty items like trout almandine and jerk chicken. There's never a dull moment, as the walls are covered in collectibles, including Simpsons, Pee-Wee's Playhouse, Elvis, and Beatles memorabilia. Hamburgers start at $5.25.
To search for flights and compare prices to St. Louis, please use our price-comparison tool.
(Photo: St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission)
Posted February 24, 2009 by Kate Hamman
With a fairly large Irish population, Chicago doesn't dye its river green every St. Patrick's Day for the pretty color alone. However, you can visit any time of year to tap into the luck of the Irish. Come learn about Irish-American culture at a heritage museum, explore authentic pubs, and eat in a contemporary Irish bistro—all without spending a pot of gold.
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Irish American Heritage Center: Pay a visit to this heritage center, where you can learn more about the literature, art, and music of the Irish in America. The center hosts many events and discussions highlighting the achievements of Irish-Americans. Check its calendar to see what's happening while you're there. Admission is free and many events are, too.
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Chicago's Irish Pubs Northside Crawl: With such a high concentration of pubs in the area, it can be difficult to choose where to enjoy a pint of Guinness. However, you won't have to worry too much about where to go with this free handy-dandy map. Follow the trail, and "crawl" between several authentic Irish bars, where you will hear the brogue of native tongues and can sip on imported Irish brews. It's free to wander, but beer prices depend on the bar.
Eat
Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro: Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro has and added a dash of sophistication to traditional Irish dishes. The restaurant serves contemporary entrees such as bacon confit risotto or oat crusted rainbow trout. If you prefer the old standbys, you can also order shepherd's pie or beef-and-Guinness stew. Entrees start at $12.50.
To search for flights and compare prices to Chicago, please use our price-comparison tool.
(Photo: iStockPhoto.com/Lise Gagne)
Posted March 7, 2008 by Stephen Lin
BookingBuddy is home to some big-time data geeks. While digging through our proprietary data and correlating it with some external studies, we’ve discovered something very interesting: Northwest Airlines appears to be profiting off misery and sin! More specifically, they’re profiting off of miserable people fleeing Detroit (not unlike Snake Pliskin fleeing the Big Apple in Escape from New York) for the temptations of Sin City, Las Vegas.
How did we come to this conclusion?
- Forbes recently released a nigh-indisputable study featuring a “Misery Index” indicating Detroit was America’s most miserable city;
- Detroit to Las Vegas is currently one of the most-searched routes in all of Booking Buddy land (number one in January 2008);
- The most recently released set of data from the US Department of Transportation, Office of Aviation Analysis, clearly states that Northwest is the biggest airline for this route with 46 percent market share.
Ergo, Northwest is profiting off misery and sin.
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Posted February 28, 2008 by Zak Patten
I’ll be the first to admit it—I’m extremely anti-smoking and always have been. So I don’t have a lot of sympathy for people who want to light up in their hotel rooms, rooms that I might have the misfortune of staying in someday. But according to USA Today, the Swissotel Chicago is now taking its anti-smoking measures a step further by turning its staff into bounty hunters who are financially rewarded for catching smokers in the act.
Employees who bag a live smoker are given $10 for their service. Perhaps my high school principal should have utilized this technique instead of spending his time sniffing outside the boys’ bathroom. Our hall monitors could have made more money catching puffers than they did slinging fries at Mickey D’s.
Swissotel Chicago general manager Jack Breisacher insists he doesn’t “want this to sound like a police state,” but "One person having one cigarette is really a big deal," as it costs around $500 to completely clean a room.
I’m with Breisacher. But I hope he expands the program so that guests can turn in other guests. I wonder how many smokers I’d have to nab to earn a free night at his hotel.
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