5 Unique Local Dishes You Should Try

What do you eat in Philadelphia? Cheese steak. How about New Orleans? Jambalaya, of course. And don’t forget that Chicago pizza. Most major cities have one food item so talked about that it has become synonymous with its name. Still, signature dishes make the menu all over the country, from small cities to tiny towns you’ve never heard of. If you happen to be staying at one of the new Courtyard locations in these areas, you won’t want to miss out on the local flavor.

Minorcan Clam Chowder in St. Augustine, Florida
When Spanish settlers arrived in St. Augustine from the Mediterranean island of Minorca in the late 1770′s, they brought with them the datil pepper. The datil is a small green to yellow-orange pepper that is hotter than a jalapeno and less so than a habanero. It’s so popular that there’s actually an annual festival held in honor of the vegetable. The most famous local dish incorporating the datil pepper is Minorcan clam chowder. Unlike the creamy Northeast variety, Minorcan clam chowder is tomato-based and spicy. If you find yourself in the coastal city of St. Augustine, you can try a well-loved  version this traditional dish at O’Steens Restaurant. O’Steens Restaurant is located at 205 Anastasia Boulevard, St. Augustine, FL. (904-829-6974)

Blue Crab in Ocean City, Maryland
Maryland is famous for the blue crab caught along its coast, and there’s no fresher seafood than the kind you get right off the boat. Mug & Mallet is described as an inexpensive “hole in the wall” located steps from the beach, and visitors enjoy eating their crabs right out of the shell.  Mug & Mallet is located at the corner of Boardwalk and 2nd St, Ocean City, MD. (410-289-5995)

Fried Green Tomatoes in Vicksburg, Mississippi
The movie may have been set in the bordering state of Alabama, but fried green tomatoes are a big deal in Mississippi too. In fact, green tomatoes are harvested in much of the south year-round. The traditional way to make them is to fry green tomato slices in bacon fat after dipping them in cornmeal. If you’re in Vicksburg, many recommend Rusy’s Riverfront Grill for great southern fare in general, and for unripened treats in particular. Rusty’s is located at 615 Crawford St, Vicksburg, MS. (601-638-2030)

Whiskey Marinated Steak in Omaha, Nebraska
In the mid-20th century Omaha became the biggest meat packing center in the country. Needless to say, if you’re looking for a good steak, you’ve come to the right city. While Gorat’s may be the old-school standby for steak in Omaha, The Drover Restaurant & Lounge (http://www.droverrestaurant.com/) is praised by patrons for its whiskey-marinated steak The Drover is located at 2121 S 73rd St., Omaha, NE. (402-391-7440)

Frito Pie in San Antonio, Texas
It’s reasonable to assume the closer to Mexico you get, the better the Mexican cuisine is. It’s true in most bordering states, but in Texas they also Tex-ify it… meaning they add more cheese and more meat. One “Tex-Mex” dish that’s got a reputation for greatness is the Frito pie, which you can find in San Antonio at a shabby looking burger joint called Big Bob’s Burgers. Frito pie is a combination of chili, cheese, meat and of course, Fritos corn chips. Patrons can’t say much for the building, but the food at Big Bob’s gets rave reviews. You’ll find it at 2215 Harry Wurzbach St., San Antonio, TX (210-832-8885)

What are some of your favorite dishes from different cities?  Let us know in the comments.

4 Affordable Vacation Spots You Should Consider

Many of today’s travelers love tracking down bargains and great deals for their upcoming trips. For them, finding an incredible hotel rate or landing a round-trip flight to Europe for a few hundred dollars is almost as fun as the trip itself. To help these bargain hunters get their thrill, we put together a list of some U.S. cities that are cheaper to visit than one would think. One great thing all 4 of these affordable vacation spots have in common is that they all have a Courtyard by Marriott hotel nearby. Here are some top choices:

Washington, D.C is a great destination for the whole family. The city has attractions for people of all ages and is not only fun, but also educational at the same time. D.C. can be expensive, but here are some ways to keep costs down:

• Stay in a hotel outside of DC. Northern Virginia and Maryland are right by the city.
• The DC metro system is an inexpensive and efficient way to get around. Even if you are staying in Northern Virginia or Maryland, you can hop on the metro and make your way through the city. Make sure to check out this site for some great directions on how to use the metro.
• Stick to the free attractions. Many attractions in DC won’t cost you a penny. Visit the monuments, memorials, National Zoo or the Smithsonian Museums. There are several websites that share free attractions that you may not want to miss.

Las Vegas is a destination everyone must visit at least once and is a great trip to do with friends or a spouse. From casinos, to shows, to a variety of attractions, Las Vegas has something for everyone. However, many of us have heard that going to Vegas can be quite costly. What many people don’t know is how to go about planning a Vegas vacation without having to work overtime to pay for it.

• Book your flight and hotel together when going to Vegas. This will save you a lot of money. Expedia and Travelocity often have great package deals.
• Go during the offseason. Typically, Las Vegas is less expensive during July, August, January and February.
• Enjoy the free shows. Las Vegas has a lot to offer and if you stick to the free shows and attractions, you will save a ton! This website shares a variety of attractions that won’t cost you a dime.
• Make sure not to get carried away at the casino! Here are some gambling tips that will help you out.

Charleston, South Carolina is a great vacation spot. It has something for everyone whether you are interested in relaxing on the beach, shopping or enjoying the town’s historical features. It is known to many as being a bit pricey, but this is a vacation you can easily take on a budget.

• Visit historical attractions-Charlestown has a lot of history behind it and is a great town to walk through and admire. Many of the city’s most famous attractions are free of charge. If you are willing to spend a little extra, the attractions with admission fees are normally are not more than $10. Here is a great list of attractions you can check out.
• Hit the beach – Charlestown has beautiful beaches. Just bring a bathing suit and towel and you can leave your wallet at home.
• Getting around – In order to avoid renting a car, take advantage of Charleston’s transportation systems. CARTA can help get you from restaurants to beaches to different historical attractions. An all day pass is at the low cost of $5/day or you can buy a 3 day pass for $11. If you are in town and you want to give your legs a break from walking around, hop on a DASH Trolley. If you already bought a pass for CARTA, you can use it on this trolley as well.

With its good weather, great beaches, tourist attractions and more, San Diego is known to be one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country. Although, many of you have heard of San Diego also being a pricey destination, there are ways to enjoy yourself on a budget. Enjoy the free attractions. Here are a few to get you started:

• Walk through the Historic Gaslamp Quarter, a historic district with a lot to offer.
• Go to Balboa Park. It is a gorgeous cultural center and park with 15 world-renowned museums. If you go on a Tuesday, several of the museums even have free admission.
• Hike in Torrey Pines State Park
• Play in the La Jolla Cove, one of the most spectacular landmarks in the country
• Renting a car may be the easiest way to get around San Diego if you don’t want to stay in town. However, they do have a trolley that is known to be reliable and convenient
• Take this vacation between November and January if you are flying. Flights are cheaper during those months.
• San Diego has great beaches, and they are free!

Do you think we left out some good, low-cost vacation spots? Let us know in the comments.

Courtyard's Weekly Round-Up – Apr. 16, 2010

Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. If you are booking a trip any time soon, make sure to check out the article on the most common booking mistakes.  Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy!

In-Flight Food Tries To Be Tasty
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/business/13food.html?ref=travel
Many airlines are changing their whole approach to the food that is served while in the air.  With more combination meals and a greater variety of options, air carrier food sales are expected to increase.  Take a look at this article to learn more.

The 10 Most Common Travel Booking Mistakes
http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/the-10-most-common-travel-booking-mistakes.html?id=4634887
Have you ever booked a plane ticket months in advance in order to save money, and then realized that prices went down four months later?  Many travelers make this mistake at least once in their lives.  Check out this article to learn about the 10 most common travel booking mistakes that you should avoid.

35 Travel Tips Revealed: Top Secrets of Travel Writers
http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=1052&category=12
Travel writers are usually experts in their field and know the ins and outs of traveling.  In this article they have shared with us 35 great tips they feel we should know.

How To Travel Green
http://www.travel-rants.com/how-to-travel-green/
Trying to become more eco-friendly when it comes to traveling?  Here are some great tips on how to travel green.

How The iPad Is Changing The Way I Travel
http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/12/how-the-ipad-is-changing-the-way-i-travel-already/
Thinking about buying an iPad?  If you are a frequent business traveler or leisure traveler, it’s a great gadget to invest in.  This article provides you with several ways an iPad can change the way you travel.

The Frequent Flier’s Guide To Finding Cheap Airfare
http://lifehacker.com/5509357/
Traveling this summer?  Make sure to check out this article before you book your air travel tickets.  It has some great tips on how to find cheap airfare.

Four of the Most Common Geolocation Apps

Facebook and Twitter keep us updated with what is on our friends’ minds, so why not know where our friends are headed, too? That is what geolocation apps like Foursquare are for. Location-based apps are starting to become more and more mainstream, and, if you’re a techie and a gadget freak, chances are you’ve probably already tried one or two.

When it comes to geolocation apps, the four big names to know are Foursquare, Gowalla, Brightkite, and Loopt. If you haven’t heard of these before, read on to get a quick overview. And if you’re already a user, let us know in the comments. Which do you like best? Which one is the most fun? The easiest to use?

Foursquare is a social networking app that allows you to connect with your friends and tell them where you are. However, that is not all it does. Foursquare also acts as a game in some ways. You can:

• Earn points and badges based upon the amount of times you check in to a certain location.

• Occasionally receive coupons or discounts at the locations you check into most often.

• Be known as the Mayor of a certain location if you frequently check in.

• Add reviews or tips as well as read reviews from other foursquare users.

These are great features that can be useful in many ways. Maybe you are at a restaurant and aren’t sure what to order. If you checked in on Foursquare, other users may have left some great tips on what to try. For all of you Foursquare users, have these reviews helped you out?

Gowalla is similar to Foursquare and allows you to check in at your destination and has a type of gaming aspect to it as well. When you check in to a destination using Gowalla, you can:

• Stamp your virtual passport, which logs all of your destinations.

• Pick up virtual goods at different locations and trade them with others. These can later be traded for real world items with companies who have advertising deals with Gowalla.

• Add pictures and comments when checking in to different locations.

Although Gowalla has a gaming aspect just like Foursquare, it is not as competitive. There is no point system where you compare the amount of points you have gained to your friend’s points, which some users prefer. Which one do you like better?

Brightkite is similar to the rest of the geolocation apps, allowing you to check into a destination and share your location with your friends. You can also:

• Write short messages when checking into a destination

• Give the messages that your friends write a thumbs up or thumbs down when checking into a destination.

This app has excellent privacy controls allowing you to choose if everyone can see your posts or only your friends. However, unlike Foursquare and Gowalla, it does not have the added gaming element.

Loopt is vailable on the iPhone, Android, Blackberry and other smarthpones. Loopt allows you to check in at different destinations and share your location on social networks (Facebook and Twitter). This app also:

• Has an event directory called Pulse. Pulse allows you to search various attractions such as movies, shows and restaurants that are nearby. So, if you check in using Loopt at a Mexican restaurant in New York, and your friend on Facebook notices that you are close by, but has already eaten, you can browse through Pulse to find a nearby place to meet up after dinner.

• Shows a list of your friends with their latest updates and location

• Allows you to update your status and use pictures to stamp your location

Loopt is more similar to Brightkite than Foursquare or Gowalla. It is straightforward and simple, which is why many users enjoy it. Have you tried out Loopt yet?

These geolocation apps are all a great way to let your friends know where you are and what you are doing. Even better, you can keep track of where your friends are. If you are a smartphone user and haven’t downloaded one of these apps yet, make sure to try one out and let us know what you think.

GoCourtyard's Weekly Round-Up – Apr. 9, 2010

Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. Make sure to check out the article on how the iPad can act as a great business tool on your next trip. Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy!

10 Smart Travel Tips From Women Around The World
http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/02/galley-gossip-10-smart-travel-tips-from-women-around-the-world/
Want to read some great travel tips from women travelers around the world? This article shares ten of them that may help you out on your next trip.

Take the iPad, Ditch The Notebook When You Travel
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/193751/take_the_ipad_ditch_the_notebook_when_you_travel.html
Have you been debating whether to head to the Apple store and purchase an iPad? Many people are saying that the iPad can act as an effective business tool, especially while on a business trip. Check out this article to learn why.

Airlines Look To Limit Bumping
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/business/06bump.html
Some travelers enjoy getting bumped from flights because of the perks they will receive from the airline in return. However, due to technological advances over the years, airlines are getting a lot better at predicting how many people will show up for a flight and how many will miss the flight. Take a look at this article to learn more.

A Nudge In The Ribs For Sleepy Travelers
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/business/06road.html?ref=travel
Jet lag is a common problem when traveling across time zones. However, with a little preparation and a customized diet, jet lag may be somewhat avoidable. Check out this article to learn more.

U.S. Changing Way Air Travelers Are Screened
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/01/AR2010040104002.html
Screening procedures at airports are going to be switched up very shortly. Under the new system, airport employees at security will stop travelers for additional security if they match specific pieces of known intelligence. This article shares more on the new screening system.

20 Great Destinations For Shopping
http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/02/20-best-destinations-for-shopping/
Do you ever want to get some shopping time in while traveling but aren’t sure where to go? Check out this article to hear about 20 shopping destinations that you don’t want to miss.

GoCourtyard's Weekly Round-Up – Apr. 2, 2010

Here’s this week’s round-up of travel news, tips and info that we found to be the most interesting and helpful. Make sure to check out the article on mobile phone safety tips to learn how to protect your data if you have a mishap with your phone. Also, feel free to use the comment section to let us know if we left out any articles that should have made it into this week’s roundup. Enjoy!

Travel Safety Tips: Traveling With Jewelry
http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/29/travel-safety-tips-traveling-with-jewelry/
If you often travel with jewelry, you should take special care of those valuable items. Here are some travel safety tips about traveling with jewelry.

Mobile Phone Safety Tips – Protect Your Data And Your Phone Bill
http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/29/mobile-phone-safety-tips-protect-your-data/
Have you ever lost or misplaced your cell phone? If so, you understand how annoying, scary and frustrating it can be. Now days, mobile phones have the capability to store confidential information that you may not want getting out there. Take a look at this article for some mobile phone safety tips you should be aware of.

Airlines Offer New Luxuries To Recapture First Class Fliers
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/mar2010/bw2010032_074824.htm?chan=autos_travel+–+lifestyle+subindex+page_travel+news
Have you ever complained about the seats on airplane being uncomfortable, or the food not being up to par? Delta and American airlines are adding some luxuries to some of their aircrafts to win back customers. Check out this article to learn more.

Top Travel Friendly Uses For USB Memory Drives
http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/26/top-travel-friendly-uses-for-usb-memory-drives/#continued
Seasoned business travelers know that bringing a USB memory drive along while traveling is very important. However, many don’t understand the value of this little device. This article provides you with several reasons why you should use a USB memory drive on your next trip and why you shouldn’t travel without it.

Best iPhone Apps For Business Travel
http://www.businesstravellogue.com/travel-tips/ipod-apps-for-business-travel.html
New iPhone Apps seem to be coming out so often that it is hard to keep track of them! Take a look at this article to learn about the best iPhone Apps for business travel.

Can’t Get No Satisfaction From The Airlines? File A Grievance In 140 Characters Or Less
http://www.frommers.com/deals/airfare/article.cfm
Ever thought that twitter may be the answer to your flying problems? One traveler shared his airline complaint on this popular social media outlet and his problems were solved within minutes. Check out this article to learn more.