Travel Tips & Trends
National Western Stock Show celebrates 100 years 
In January, one of Colorado's most iconic events—the National Western Stock Show—will round out its first century. During its 16-day run, the show's Denver complex will host more than 600,000 people and 12,000 animals, and offer more than 40 rodeos, horse shows and other entertainment. More than 40,000 people will admire fine art at the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, and 20,000 school kids will come on field trips. All of which would amaze and gratify those visionaries who launched the affair a century ago.
The first show, a six-day event, opened in 1906 and attracted 336 entries, including four breeds of cattle. Today, 19 breeds are featured, along with some species that the original show's visitors might not even have heard of: llamas, yaks, alpacas and angora rabbits have all found places at the show in recent years, and even bison and elk.
Rodeo joined the show in 1931. This year more than 700 men and women will compete in seven different rodeo events. In the more sedate halter- and performance-class horse shows, entries will include quarter horses, paints, hunters, jumpers, draft horses and mules.
Until 1951, the rodeo and horse shows shared the Stadium Arena. In 1952 both events moved to the newly opened Denver Coliseum. Buildings continued to be added to the complex, and since 1995, horse shows have been held in the Events Center , rodeo in the Coliseum and livestock shows in the Stadium Arena. The Expo Hall and Hall of Education contain children's exhibits, the Coors Western Art Gallery and the trade show, which this year will feature 360 exhibits ranging from ranch equipment to kitchen gadgets.
The National Western Stock Show, Rodeo and Horse Show's 100th anniversary runs from Jan. 7–22, 2006. For more information call 303-295-1660 or visit www.nationalwestern.com.
AAA Connection
AAA Travel is offering a two-night Stock Show package as part of its Discover Colorado Series.
Albuquerque 's Tricentennial
Albuquerque, N.M., will mark its tricentennial in 2006 with numerous events and celebrations throughout the year. Although the area has been inhabited much longer, the tricentennial date refers to the formal founding of the town in 1706, when it was named Villa San Francisco de Alburquerque (the first “r” was later dropped from the name).
January will feature natural history events, field trips, tours and lectures, while February events will have a literary focus, with a variety of workshops and presentations from renowned authors and storytellers. For more information and a complete list of tricentennial events, visit www.albuquerque300.org.
Airport security: beating the lines
While some delays are unavoidable at the airport, you can save valuable time at security checkpoints by planning ahead and wearing appropriate clothing.
The best way to speed through security is by not wearing any metal items, or else placing them in your carry-on baggage before reaching the checkpoint. Don't wait until you reach the front of the line to start dredging through your pockets: you'll not only cause delays, but risk losing or forgetting an item amongst the confusion.
Items which may set off the alarm include jewelry, watches, metal hair decorations, belt buckles, clothing with metal buttons or clasps, coins, keys, phones and pagers.
If you have body piercings which are normally hidden under clothing, remove them before your journey. If you set off the alarm because of a body piercing, you are allowed to remove it in private and then be re-screened as an alternative to a pat-down body search.
Passengers are no longer required to remove their shoes before walking through the metal detector. However, the security screener might encourage you to remove shoes that have a very thick sole or heel, or contain metal. This is simply because those types of footwear require additional screening—and it's quicker if you take them off beforehand and pass them through the X-ray machine, instead of having a screener hand-wand them while you wear them.
What's happening in hurricane areas
 The 2005 hurricane season was among the most destructive ever seen. As residents continue to pick up the pieces, travelers are also wondering how this will affect their plans.
• New Orleans is proving that you just can't keep a good city down. While damage was extreme, the rebuilding process is proceeding faster than originally expected, and travelers will find that an excellent range of accommodations, eateries, music clubs and other attractions are open for business again. Mardi Gras (Feb. 28), Jazzfest (April) and other festivals are going ahead as usual. Movement is still restricted in the Lower 9th Ward, but the city's tourist areas are open and welcoming visitors back. As of early December, a 2 a.m. curfew was in effect for the French Quarter. For up-to-date listings of which businesses are open, closed or operating on a limited basis, visit www.neworleansonline.com.
• Florida suffered no long-lasting hurricane effects this year.
• Cancun was hit hard by Hurricane Wilma. The airport has now reopened, and electricity, water, telephones and other essential services are all up and running. Several hotels have reopened and are accepting guests: most others aim to reopen in the coming months. Some beaches have lost sand, while others gained it. In general, tourism to Cancun is still an option, with the proviso that you should double-check current conditions for all points on your planned itinerary.
• The Mayan Riviera sustained less damage from Wilma, and was 90% back to normal operation as of early December.
• Cozumel has also reopened 90% of its tourist-related businesses. Electricity and water supply are normal, all roads are open, and reports say the east coast beaches were actually improved! Diving, snorkeling and most tours are operating normally, and the Mayan ruins remain in good condition.
• Grand Cayman in the Caribbean is finally returning, more than a year after Hurricane Ivan. Eighty percent of accommodations are now back up to their previous standard, and the country is working hard to encourage tourists to return, with upgraded airport and cruise facilities planned for 2006.
2006 Travel Challenge
It's time to register for the AAA Travel Challenge.
Open to public, private, and home-schooled ninth- through 12th-grade students, the annual event awards more than $100,000 in college scholarships to top finalists. More than just a geography contest, the Travel Challenge tests students' travel literacy and their knowledge of destinations worldwide.
The 2006 competition kicks off with a national Internet-based contest which will run from Jan. 9–17. In March, the top five scorers in each state will advance to a state competition that consists of a proctored, written exam. State champions and their chaperones will receive an expenses-paid trip to attend the national finals in Orlando, Fla., in May.
Parents, students, and teachers can find more information and online registration details at www.aaa.com/TravelChallenge.
New cruise ships for 2006
If you're thinking of a cruise, the New Year will bring some new options.
In May, Princess Cruises will introduce the Crown Princess, with expanded restaurants, a poolside movie screen and nearly 900 balcony staterooms. The Crown Princess will sail from New York to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, including Bermuda, San Juan, St. Thomas, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, and two new ports for Princess—Grand Turk and Port Canaveral.
Also coming in May is Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world. Freedom of the Seas will sail Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami. Its most notable feature is a full-size water park including interactive fountain sculptures and a surfboarding pool. Adults-only hot pools are cantilevered out from the sides of the ship for a panoramic view 112 feet above the ocean.
Holland America recently added the ms Noordam to its fleet. Its features include ocean views for 85% of staterooms and verandahs for 67%, a Culinary Arts Center and expanded youth facilities. Departing from New York, the ms Noordam will cruise the Eastern and Southern Caribbean: Grand Turk, Tortola, Philipsburg, St. Thomas, San Juan, Roseau, Bridgetown and St. Maarten.
Europe by riverboat
One of the oldest ways of getting around Europe is now enjoying a huge new surge in popularity. For thousands of years, people have navigated Europe 's scenic rivers, relying on the continent's waterways for transport, commerce and recreation.
Today, river cruise vacations aboard luxury vessels is arguably Europe's fastest-growing form of leisure travel—one travel provider saw the number of passengers on its European river cruises jump an astounding 410% during 2005.
Like ocean cruising, riverboating allows travelers to see numerous cities with the convenience of having to unpack just once: you're taking your hotel along. However, unlike ocean cruises, which typically feature one or more full days at sea, a river cruise provides an endless variety of scenery with something new around each bend in the river.
Those who are hesitant about the ratio of shipboard time to port time on an ocean cruise may find river cruising more to their taste. And for the faint-of-stomach, river cruising offers extremely smooth motion with no real waves: just the occasional wake from other passing vessels.
For those who have already enjoyed luxury ocean cruising, European rivers may offer a refreshing variation, and an opportunity to visit non-coastal cities in areas they may never have considered as a cruise destination. Along the lower Danube River alone, for example, riverboats can pass through five countries— Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania —with a wide range of ports revealing the artistic, cultural and scenic treasures of southeastern Europe and the Balkans.
The price of a river cruise will often include all meals, shore excursions, gratuities and port charges. The wise traveler will research this carefully, however, because some river cruise operators include more trip components in their published prices than others.
Spain and Portugal in winter
Spain and Portugal are traditionally considered summer holiday destinations. But for those who are interested in the cultural and historical side of travel, there is no better time to visit than in winter.
Traveling to Europe in winter can cost substantially less than the same trip in summer. In winter, Spain and Portugal 's cities take on a romantic, almost mystical appeal. The sometimes-stifling heat has subsided, making the climate much more suitable to travel.
While the beaches may not hold so much appeal at this time of year, the summer crowds have also vanished from the countries' many cultural and historical attractions. For those who wish to focus more on these aspects, a winter vacation will usually be easier and less rushed.
Travelers who are interested in the Moorish and medieval heritage of Spain and Portugal will find that the cobbled streets of Toledo , the arabesque design of the Alhambra or the monasteries of Lisbon are both more impressive and more peaceful when fewer tourists are present. Local food and drink are an equally intriguing experience no matter what time of year you visit.
Escorted vacations: not what you might think
Some travelers hear the term “escorted vacation” and think the tour caters only to older people, or those who are not confident travelers. In reality, that couldn't be further from the truth.
Typical escorted vacations include couples, singles, families, seasoned travelers, new travelers, and all age groups. The common factor that all these travelers have found is the freedom from planning that escorted vacations provide.
Even the most adventurous travelers may find they enjoy their vacation more and make better use of their time when they don't have to worry about hotel bookings, driving or language difficulties.
Many tours include days when you are free to explore on your own, if you choose. This combines the advantages of independent travel with the ease and convenience of a tour.
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