Sherman's Travel

Spring and summer seem to be festival seasons, and this time of the year, there’s plenty to celebrate. Warm weather, blossoming flowers, the ability to carry your wife long distances – wait, what? Across the globe, there are tons of strange and spectacular festivals commemorating everything from macaque monkeys to body painting. We’ve selected seven we find a little bit odd, but entirely awesome. Read more

We’ve all been through our fair share of airports. Generally, I’m either running through them or waiting impatiently for my zone on my next flight to be called. But, according to CheapFlight.com‘s recent list, we should be taking a few extra moments to step back and enjoy our airport’s offerings. Read on to find out the awesome services right around the corner from your gate and read our list of top 10 airports for shopping! Read more

With spring breaks and warmer temperatures ahead (we hope), April and May make perfect months for quick weekend jaunts. Whether you live on the East Coast, the West Coast, or somewhere in between, we’ve rounded up a number of great hotel deals – from New England to California – that make it easy for you to escape and relax, even for just a few days. Read more

I’m single this Valentine’s Day. This doesn’t bother me much, as I’ve only had a significant other coincide with the Happy Heart Day twice (in 7th grade, and last year). To me, Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to wear a bunch of pink and gorge myself on candy, so it’s a holiday I can get behind regardless of relationship status. Plus, this year I’ve got a date to get tacos with my mom, so things are going pretty well, I would say.

Other singles don’t share my enthusiasm – or, rather, lack thereof. To many, Valentine’s Day is an annual reminder of his or her failure to land a partner, doomed to a lifetime of unanswered OkCupid messages and plucking errant cat hairs off ratty pajama pants. But, much like the 14 pounds of chocolate I will consume Thursday, there is no need to be bitter. There are plenty of events intended for the singles out there that are guaranteed to make your Valentine’s Day memorable.
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Coupling low airfare with reduced rates at choice hotels and resorts can often prove challenging. So we’ve done it for you with today’s weekly deals round-up. Fly and stay at many favorite U.S. destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, San Francisco, New York, and even Hawaii, for less.

Hawaii always pops up on everyone’s list of dream beach getaways. With round-trip airfare from New York to Honolulu as low as $422, check the “Aloha State” off your bucket list this season. If you call Chicago home, fly to the islands for $599. Depart from Los Angeles for $437. Enjoy accommodation in Oahu, home to the state’s bustling capital, at The Stay Hotel for $136 per night in April, saving you 35 percent. The hotel is conveniently located a block away from iconic Waikiki Beach. Read more

Romance is tricky. One minute you’re buying a dozen red roses for the love of your life, the next you’re flipping furniture and smashing plates, questioning why, why, WHY?! Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and you want to do something special for your significant other. You could go with the old stand-bys – flowers, chocolates, promises you don’t intend to keep – but you run the risk of your sweetheart tearing you apart for lack of originality. This year, skip the clichés and take an adventure in a city that has garnered plenty of attention as of late, San Francisco.

There has been a lot of talk about San Francisco recently, as the hometown 49ers vie for their sixth Lombardi Trophy in their clash against the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday. While there might be some love lost between rival head coaches/brothers John and Jim Harbaugh at the game’s conclusion, visitors to the City by the Bay are enamored with its culture, food, and stunning views. San Fran possesses a diversity that is appealing to couples of all types. Whether your perfect date is a bike ride down Lombard Street (be careful!) or a quiet picnic in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco can deliver.

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Last year, the Bay Bridge in San Francisco marked its 75th birthday, a date that was overshadowed by the 75^th birthday of its more famous sister span across the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge.

But come March, the Bay Bridge will shine as one of the Bay Area’s most brilliant tourist attractions when a spectacular art installation called the Bay Lights will illuminate the bridge’s western side with 25,000 individually programmable, energy-efficient white LED lights. It’s expected to be the world’s largest LED light sculpture, at 1.8 miles in length and 500 feet high.

The project, by world-renowned artist Leo Villareal, is scheduled to be unveiled on March 5 in a “Grand Lighting” ceremony. The installation will stay for two years, offering visitors and locals alike a fantastic – and free! – experience in a city that can be hard on the wallet. Read more

The time has finally come. For too long we’ve stood on the sidelines, lungs filled with frigid air, pushing away the icy hands of doubt in hopes of reaching this moment. After months of preparation, with blood, sweat, and tears poured into the effort, the world will be watching with bated breath as, finally, Beyonce performs in New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome for her Super Bowl half time spectacular. Oh, and there’s also some kind of game? That’s probably worth your attention, too.

The NFL season will reach its dramatic conclusion this Sunday at the biggest game of the year, and the match-up between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers (and head coaches/brothers John and Jim Harbaugh) promises to be a barnburner. The Super Bowl is one of America’s most iconic, beloved events, and there is no better city to play host than New Orleans. But even the most ardent football fans can have a tough time justifying shelling out thousands for a single night of transcendent glory (or blistering defeat, depending on which side your team winds up). Tickets to the game can be hard to come by, and net a pretty penny – the lowest-priced tickets are still going for $1,600. Not to mention, you’ll have to account for the costs of hotel and travel, both of which are expected to spike.

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Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to spend less money? We hear you. Studies show that it’s one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend all of your free time staying home and twiddling your thumbs. With these hotels under $200 per night (and 4-star hotels, at that), you can afford to enjoy yourself while keeping one of those oft-broken resolutions.

With its surprisingly spring-like weather in the winter months, San Francisco makes for a great destination this season. The San Francisco Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf starts from just $129 per night from January 10-15, and $142 per night throughout the month of February, which saves over 45 percent on rates in the spring. Enjoy local California cuisine and weekly wine and cheese receptions at this culinary-centric hotel, which is just two blocks from both famous Fisherman’s Wharf and the shopping and restaurants in Ghiradelli Square. Read more

For mountain biking enthusiasts as well as history buffs passing through San Francisco International Airport in the next few months, an exhibit called From Repack to Rwanda is an excellent reason to arrive at the airport a few minutes early.

It offers a fascinating look at the history of mountain biking, which traces its roots to a group of daredevil riders who started bombing down hills and mountains in the Bay Area during the early 1970s on modified bikes they called “clunkers.”

Included in the exhibit is a display of mountain bikes that chronicles the influence of those riders, as well as the development of the sport over the decades, from the early versions to the super-sleek models of today. Read more