Traveling with the Jones

 

It’s Friday afternoon and we’re off to Chicago via Southwest Airlines. Here’s a candid photo taken on our flight. (It’s a good thing that Mr. Jones has long arms.)

 

We arrived a Chicago’s Midway airport, and wheeled our bags to the Orange Line on the Chicago “L” – an incredible deal to get you from either Chicago airport to downtown for $2.25.  Our work isn’t quite done for the day but Mr. Jones makes use of the commute.

 

Even Princess Gracie, our spoiled cat, isn’t immune from the candid photos.  Here’s she’s trying to shield her eyes from watching a painful scene — the unpacking and repacking of suitcases. (She knows this means her servants won’t be around to meet her every demand.

Chicago is one of our favorite quick weekend getaways.  What is yours?  Share your thoughts in comments below.

See all of this week’s Photo Friday submissions for “Candid Shot” here.

We believe a photo is worth at least a thousand words.

View our most popular Photo Friday posts in The Best of Photo Friday.

Learn more about Chicago in these posts:

• Photo Friday: The Bean
• Weekend Wanderings: Chicago
• Photo Friday: Stepping out on the Ledge

This PBS Series on the city’s history peaked our fascination with Chicago:

American Experience: Chicago – City of the Century

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This post is written by Maggie Jo Pruitt, a junior at the University of Arkansas.

After living in Arkansas for 20 years, I want to give my state recognition for the diversity, beauty and adventure it offers locals and tourists. Whether you like shopping, hiking, art, animals, handmade crafts, or all of the above, Northwest Arkansas has something unique for you!

The sunrise view from Hawksbill Crag in Northwest Arkansas

These five Northwest Arkansas attractions are within a two-hour car drive of each other:

1. Buffalo River National Park 

One of Arkansas’ best-kept secrets, Buffalo River National Park offers hiking, biking, picnicking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, camping and star gazing.  It’s a place to feel the clear river water on your toes by day and hear the crackling campfire by night.

My favorite spots near the Buffalo River area are Steel Creek with its crystal clear waters; Boxley Baptist Church–the most photographed church in Arkansas; the exciting Ponca swimming hole;  and Hawksbill Crag, a famous Arkansas landmark. All four are a short car ride away from each other and can be enjoyed in one day.

 

Maggie Jo (middle) and her friends spend an afternoon at Crystal Bridges Museum

2. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Alice Walton founded Crystal Bridges Museum in 2005. It features American art in a quiet, scenic wooded area with six walking and biking trails – at Crystal Bridges Museum, nature and art merge to awaken the senses of exploration and imagination to every visitor. Glass walls expose the scenery surrounding the Museum, giving visitors the rare opportunity to see American art against the natural beauty of Arkansas.

The Museum is free to visitors who want to explore at their own pace, but group tours are always welcome. The limited-time exhibition American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell will be featured March 9-May 27, 2013.

3. Fayetteville Farmers Market

Almost every town has a farmers market, but the award-winning Fayetteville Farmers Market is one to admire.  In 2011, the American Farmland Trust Favorite Farmers Market gave the fifth place title to Fayetteville Farmers Market, and in 2012 it won the Favorite Large Farmers Market contest. Live music from local musicians and freshly brewed coffee from Arsagas create a relaxed environment for visitors to roam the historic downtown square and explore the handcrafted artisans, homegrown produce, crafts, flowers and so much more!

 

 Eureka Springs offers art, shopping, entertainment among winding streets and Victorian-era buildings. Photo by Chris Litherland

4. Eureka Springs

Eureka Springs offers entertainment for the whimsical wanderer to the jazz junkie – and you will never leave the town without seeing something out of the ordinary!

Are you interested in history or strange facts? The Crescent Hotel has an adventure for you! The Voulez Vous Lounge is known for its cocktails, dancing and live jazz, while The Stone House is famous for its exquisite wine and cheese.

Explore and purchase local art, handcrafted jewelry, and much more in the historic downtown shopping area – where the winding streets and Victorian buildings radiate an ambience of tranquil excitement.

5. Wild Wilderness Drive Through (known as “Gentry Zoo” to locals) 

The Gentry Zoo has exploded in popularity in the recent months as new baby lions have drawn visitors from all ages.

The safari is home to ponies, peacocks, plains zebras and many other animals that can be seen on a 4-mile drive-through and interacted with on a walk-through area and petting zoo. The Zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and visitors are encouraged to spend the day and eat lunch in the picnic area

Hawksbill Crag against the August sunrise

Northwest Arkansas is home to some of America’s most beautiful scenery, diverse attractions and welcoming people. On your next visit to the area, don’t miss any of these opportunities to explore the natural landscape, rich history and artistic talent of Northwest Arkansas, or to try the diverse variety of food.

Have you been to Northwest Arkansas? What’s your favorite discovery there? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Maggie Jo Pruitt is currently studying agricultural communications and agricultural business.

After growing up in a town of 407 people, she lived in Gent, Belgium (population 300,000) for a summer and is currently preparing for another summer internship in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Learn learn more about Maggie Jo here or follow her on Twitter.

 

If you are planning a visit to Northwest Arkansas, you may be interested in this book:

Northwest Arkansas Travel Guide : Insider Secrets: Insider Secrets (Bentonville, Rogers, Fayetteville & Eureka Springs)

Other posts you might enjoy:

• Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
• Destination Discovery: Kimballton, Iowa is home for this “Little Mermaid”
• Destination Discovery: Peanuts on Parade, St. Paul, Minnesota
• Views from Georgia’s Lake Lanier Islands Resort

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Our Hilton HHonors Awards cards arrived last weekend, via small-box mailers, rather than the usual flat envelopes.

Along with the Membership card came a deck of cards, plus an attractive booklet explaining card games popular at various destinations around the world with Hilton properties.

For example, we  learned that the card game Dam, described as “a more sophisticated version of Go Fish” is popular in Cameroon, home of the Hilton Yaounde Hotel.

We are loyal Hilton fans — and have been since 1998.

Our loyalty to Hilton has paid off.  We’ve stayed at some amazing Hilton properties around the world using HHonor Award points.

We are greatful at how well the program takes care of its loyal customers.

And yet, we would have preferred to do without the playing cards and the cool card-game mailer. Because it’s arrival timing seems like a disguise.  A smoke screen.  A sympathy gift.

Why? Because on March 28th the HHonor Award levels are increasing, in some cases dramatically, at some of the best Hilton family of properties around the world. Increasing award levels for hotel awards seems to be a trend. Marriott and Starwood Preferred Guest programs are making similar increases. Is there competitive collusion among leading hotel brands?

Currently through March 27th, the highest Hilton HHonor Award level is 7. even at the most luxurious properties.  Starting March 28, the program is changing to encompass 10 Award Levels, essentially meaning that it will cost significant more points for an Award Night stay.

If you currently have Hilton HHonors Awards Points, now — by March 27th–  is the time to book you award travel. 

Book stays for the next year at the current rates, if you have the points. Here’s the list of the new HHonors Categories for each hotel, effective for Awards bookings on March 28 and later.

So if you want to stay at somewhere like the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort — absoltute paradise  to us — book it by March 27 as a Category 7 Award before it increases to a Category 10 Award per night.

Are you a Hilton HHonors member?  What hotel has been your favorite award stay? 

You also may be interested in these other hotel posts”;

• A Peek Inside Chicago’s Palmer House Hilton Hotel
• A Peek Inside the Four Seasons Hotel-Denver
• A Peek Inside the Prague Marriott Hotel
• A Peek inside the Stanford Court Renaissance Hotel – San Francisco
• A Peek Inside the Hilton New York Fashion District Hotel

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