The Wildseed Farm is a year-round destination stop, not just a springtime oooo and aaaawww place. John R. Thomas, owner, recommends allotting about 4 hours to browse the gift shops, select new plants for your garden and buy your favorite wildflower seeds. The butterfly garden is a “must see”. Then, wonder along the paths, take pictures and bathe in the beauty of Mother Nature.

Come to the Texas Hill Country where people are glad to see you and you’ll hate to leave.

Best Way to See Taos:

May through October, jump aboard the Historic Taos Trolley for a 3-1/2 hour tour of Taos Plaza, Taos Pueblo,  the San Francisco de Asis Church and much more. Catch the trolley at the Taos Visitor Center at 10:30 or 2:00. Cost: $33 for adults and $10 for children.

Enjoy Taos year round:

Spring and summer: hike, fish, raft, mountain bike and horseback ride

Fall and winter: ski at Taos Ski Valley and gaze upon the highest peak in New Mexico, Wheeler Peak, snow shoe along mountain trails, cross-country ski, ice fish and snowmobile.

Art: Art is a passion in Taos with over 80 galleries and three art museums. Just off the Plaza is the gallery of long-time Taos artist, Doug Scott. Not only an artist, but a photographer of waterfalls. Drop in to his gallery and ask him about his new book on Taos Waterfalls.

Upstairs in the Old Country Courthouse located on the north side of the Plaza are the murals painted between 1934-35 depicting social justice. The WPA commissioned these murals. Emil Bisttram, who studied under Diego Rivera, enlisted the help of three other artists, Bert Phillips, Victor Higgins, and Ward Lockwood to complete the three month project. They were paid $56/month. Wow!

Food: Fifty restaurants dot the Taos community. Look for The Gorge Restaurant for great Green Chile Stew and a hamburger to die for. The Margaritas are outstanding. Speaking of outstanding, the wait staff will make you feel right at home and cater to your every wish.

Shopping:  Six Directions, located on the north side of the Plaza, sells Native America items. This is a great place to find that memorabilia to remind you of your fun time in Taos.

This only scratches the surface of all the things to do and see in Taos. Whatever time of year, Taos beckons.

Smithville, located between Houston and Austin; San Antonio and College Station, sits among the giant pecan trees that line the Colorado River. About 4,000 folks call Smithville home. Homes are majestic and ranches surround the community. Everyone knows your name. Even if they don’t, they’ll wave at you and make you feel welcome.

The Smithville Jamboree is an annual event to celebrate spring and life and fun. Sit on the sidewalk and watch the parade. Shop for antiques. Visit the Railroad Museum. Go see Smitty, the gingerbread pan that put Smithville in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2006.  Ride the rides on the Midway and indulge in a funnel cake. I tried to eat the whole cake all by myself. All that sugar was so good, but…oh, I was so sick!!

Don’t take my word for it. Visit Smithville and fall in love.

Houston and I have had this love affair since…well, most of my life. Yet, this was my first time to attend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Makes me sad to think of all the fun I’ve missed over the years.

The HLSR is a yearly Houston event. So, put it on your 2013 schedule as a “must see” and here’s why….

Good Cause: Volunteers, 26,000 of them to be exact, run the Show. This allows the proceeds to be put into scholarships for the young people who participate in the Livestock show.

Kids’ Country: An entire section of the Reliant Center grounds is devoted to the enjoyment of the young people. They can compete in Mutton Bustin’ or Pig Races or ride rides or learn about different animals. Kids’ Country is geared to them. They love it!!

Good Food: Each year food venues vie to win a Foodie Award. On our HLSR adventure, we visited as many of these booths as our stomachs would allow. We thought the Best New Flavor: Aunt Edmoe’s Cookies — Fried Cookie Dough on a Stick was simply a fun way to satisfy that sweet tooth.  Best Value Food: Ranch House Meat Company — Pork Rib Plate was a superb lunch for Fab’s hungry crew.

Top Entertainment: HLSR brings in some of the top names in entertainment.  The day we did this filming Blake Shelton was performing that evening. You won’t be disappointed in the variety of groups on the list from Reba to ZZ Top.

Fun Midway: What would a rodeo be if you couldn’t make your tummy meet your throat? After we interviewed, ate, walked, laughed and pretty much exhausted ourselves, we all went out to the midway to play games and ride the rides.  The excitement is contagious and we all caught the fun.

Great stuff to buy: If you’re into “western” this is a shoppers paradise!  Buy a new cowboy hat, a commemorative buckle from Bubbas Murphy or an elegant jacket or skirt from Patricia Wolf.  Whatever strikes your fancy, your can “fancy up” here.

When:  The HLSR begins in February and ends in March…every year.

Location:  Reliant Stadium area off Loop 610 South

So…Cowboy-Up and put the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on your 2013 agenda.

Eddie’s Fun

Tour a new city and meet new friends

But remember, Eddie’s Fun offers all kinds of day and evening, customizable tours!
1. Eddie Day Tour (7 hours):
• Breakfast and coffee at a typical Italian pasticceria.
• Tour around the oldest and most common inter city neighborhoods to meet some of my friends and other
casual natives along the way. (This adventure will give you a real insight into how Romans live and their culture.)
• Lunch at my ALL‐TIME favorite Italian restaurant! It’s slightly south of Rome in the country side of Castelli Romani; an enchanting small
town which is known for prestigious wine and olive oil. (Tasting the food
that comes from Castelli Romani, in itself is worth a trip to Italy!) Eat
hand‐made pasta and Rome’s masterpiece specialties like amatriciana and carbonara.
• Travel back to the center of Rome for a gelato tasting tour at three of the
most well known magnificent gelato shops.
2. Tommy Day Tour (6 hours):
• Breakfast inside of Rome’s infamous Castel St. Angelo over looking the city. The view from the top of Castel St. Angelo has been considered by some to be the most
fascinating area in the world. It will leave you breathless.

Romantic Italy

• Tour of the impressive Villa Borghese park in a rowboat with only your couple. Over 70 acres of lush gardens filled with winding paths, swans, brilliantly colored
flowers and water spouting from ancient fountains and pools.
• Lunch will be served to you in the gardens allowing the two of you to enjoy the romantic scenery around you.

You will also enjoy several features that are
included in every tour:
• Two tour guides, one of which is a native Roman,
• A local cell phone for any questions/comments
during your stay in Rome,
• Private online photo gallery of your tour,
• Accommodation recommendations and discounts,
• Tourist trap protection,
• 24‐hr operator assistance for city navigation.
After you take a tour with Eddie’s Fun, you’ll feel more like a local and have friends that you can always rely on for any advice you may have, even for future trips. Our

New places...new friends

tours are guaranteed and proven to be something that will not only be unforgettable, but you’ll be telling all your friends about too.
If you would like to learn more about Eddie’s Fun visit
their website at www.eddiesfun.com and click on Rome
Tour Packages to see all tours. You can book directly from
the tour page or email Eddie at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

On March 15th, KZSB Santa Barbara News Press TV & RADIO interviewed travel authorities for their tips about navigating London and the Olympics.

Here’s Annie Coburn’s recommendations for travelers to London for the Olympics or those who plan on making the journey in the future:

Walk London is available on the Fab Placez website or from Amazon.com.

Above the entrance to the Olympic Village is a quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson’s Ulysses: “To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.”

Our best wishes to all the athletes who have reached Olympic greatness.

Food: That “free” bad airplane food has all but disappeared. Now, you can purchase that bad food. Why would you buy bad, expensive airplane food?  No way!  Instead…plan ahead.  So far TSA does not prohibit carry-on food, only liquids. Before you leave home, slice an apple, a few chunks of cheese, nuts and a sandwich. Avoid using excessive mayo since, by the time you eat it, the bread will be soggy. Mustard is a better choice. The drink cart still passes down the aisle so water, soft drinks and juices are still an option.  Your seatmate will be jealous of your delightful meal. You will be the winner on all fronts since you’ve satisfied your hunger with healthy and tasty food.

TSA  (Transportation Security Administration) For me TSA is the wild card. The TSA has never mistreated me personally, although I’ve read and heard horror stories from others. My problem is the uncertainty.  The amount of clothing I must shuck to get through the scanner varies from airport to airport as does the sensitivity of the scanners themselves. All that aside, I think what perplexes me the most is the time.  My last wait time to complete the journey through security was 1 hour 17 minutes, almost missing my plane. We need Fritz Lang to do a new version of Metropolis using TSA. Guys, No! That’s a joke. Please don’t put me on your list!

Just stick those ear-buds in, do some people watching as you tap your foot to good music.

As Gene Autry would say…Happy Trails!

St. Patty’s Day Food Tray from Annie Coburn on Vimeo.
Ingredients:

1.  Buy some pre-cooked corned beef slices from your local Deli

2.  Select some spicy horseradish

3.  A green pepper with four “humps” on the bottom

4.  Parsley

Preparation:

1.  Spread each slice of corned beef with some horseradish

2.  Roll it and place it on a plate with the parsley in between

3.  Cut off the bottom of your pepper so the four humps resemble a four leaf clover. Then, place the stem at one send to finish off the effect.

Corned Beef Rolls for St. Patty's Day

The door bell rings and you’re ready to party!!

After we completed our shopping tour, we walked to Toral’s studio to prepare a sumptuous brunch from the items we had selected at the market. We each had the opportunity to stir, chop, fill and learn from Toral’s instruction.

Before long, our group was treated to a mouth-watering meal accompanied by mimosa cocktails. Toral concluded our learning experience with a pamphlet of recipes so we could treat our family and friends to fresh, healthy London cuisine.

The Urban Kitchen is a “must do” London culinary scene. Toral will recommend her favorite restaurants. An unbeatable deal!

Information you need to know:

Cost: £49/person ($78 US) includes a full meal, wine or   cocktails,comprehensive handout £65/person ($103 US) on Saturday workshops

When: Weekday evening events from 7:00 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.  Saturday    workshops from 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (lunch included)

Where: Toral’s work studio at 47 Brunswick Court, Tanner Street.  You can access Toral’s studio from the Tube, exit London Bridge or Tower Hill.

Class size: minimum 4 people – maximum 14 people

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Telephone:  07956 513016

Manuel Antonio Beach at Sunset

Transportation

SANSA and Nature Air run 10 flights/day from San Jose to Quepos, but taking the bus is less expensive and tons more fun. You meet people from around the world headed to the Manuel Antonio National Park.

Hotel in Quepos

Hotel Parador Resort & Spa (1-866-599-6674) is down a winding road off the main highway.  Rooms are spacious, clean, air-conditioned and designed for relaxation. Multiple pools are available. Breakfast is overwhelmingly delicious.

Cost: approximately $175/night

Play time

Biesanz Beach (a secluded beach) – about ½ way between the Hotel Parador and the main road is Biesanz Beach. Hidden from view, those in the know make their way through the trees along a narrow path. Suddenly, the vegetation parts and you find yourself standing on a pristine white beach. Rent snorkel gear, pull black sea spiders off the rocks and keep a watchful eye out for a slow moving sloth in the low tree branches.

Manuel Antonio

At the main road, catch the bus down the hill to Manuel Antonio. Here you’ll find great restaurants, shops (including ice-cream), hotels and adventure tours.

This is where the fun begins….

Along the beach you’ll find representatives from Iguana Tours (Contact info -(506) 2777-2052 e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to help you book your adventure.

River Rafting in Orosi

The van will collect you from your hotel at a specified time. You and other adventurers will travel through the mountains to Orosi. There you’ll be instructed on river safety. Then, get that paddle ready for a thrill along the Savegre River on Class II – III rapids. After your exhilarating ride, you’ll return to Manuel Antonio for good food and drink.

Rainforest Canopy Tour

Feel like zipping along above the world?  A short drive through the orchards of African oil palm trees, you’ll arrive at the camp. Here experienced (bi-lingual) guides will outfit you with the necessary equipment plus a lesson on how to manage the zip lines.  There are 21 platforms and 9 zip lines for you to swoop between the trees.

Other activities

Mountain biking, fishing (Bluefin Tours) and bird watching are just a few additional activities.

River Rafting in Orosi

Zip Line Equipment

Yeeee Haaaaaa!!!