FUUD: Best of #CatTravels

By December 2, 2011 #CatTravels, Food

Traveling is tiring.

You wait in airports, you stand in security lines, you drive for miles. There’s nothing more miserable.

But there’s also nothing more inspiring and exciting and completely exhilarating, either. Which is why we endure the pain and suffering and the kid kicking the back of your airplane seat. Because we know the pleasures traveling can bring.

And in my case, that pleasure usually comes served on a plate.

The best part of traveling, for me, is usually the food.

I love trying new restaurants, sampling new cuisines — it’s a fun way to learn about a new city.

On this last trip, I spent three weeks in four states. So imagine all the food I ate!

Here are some of my noshing highlights in Madison, Chicago and Las Vegas. (I didn’t eat much in Arizona.)

Welcome to the Midwest

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I spent most of this trip in the Midwest, particularly Madison, Wisc. and Chicago. So we ate a lot of brats and cheese and drank a lot of beer. Or at least Derek did.

#TodaysGift

Dog Kimono from Inu Inu Hawaii

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Days left: 3

Dog kimono or yukata from Inu Inu Hawaii (www.inuinuhawaii.com)

Price: $30 online or at pet boutiques such as Calvin & Susie in Kilohana Square

The gist: Bored of the usual dog outfits? Or your pooch is quite the fashion diva? Get a kimono (or yukata) from Honolulu-based Inu Inu Hawaii, which specializes in unique Asian-inspired apparel for dogs. They come in all sizes — in fact, you can custom order ones for larger breeds — and patterns. Imagine your Rottweiler in one of these!

Best for: Dog owners, of course!

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#TodaysGift: Your daily gift guide to Christmas

By December 1, 2011 Musings, The Daily Dish

Dog Kimono from Inu Inu Hawaii

Image 1 of 19

Days left: 3

Dog kimono or yukata from Inu Inu Hawaii (www.inuinuhawaii.com)

Price: $30 online or at pet boutiques such as Calvin & Susie in Kilohana Square

The gist: Bored of the usual dog outfits? Or your pooch is quite the fashion diva? Get a kimono (or yukata) from Honolulu-based Inu Inu Hawaii, which specializes in unique Asian-inspired apparel for dogs. They come in all sizes — in fact, you can custom order ones for larger breeds — and patterns. Imagine your Rottweiler in one of these!

Best for: Dog owners, of course!

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#CatTravels VID: Canyon views

By December 1, 2011 #CatTravels, Videos


A panoramic view of the Grand Canyon from Guano Point, Arizona

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#CatTravels: Grandest canyon

By November 30, 2011 #CatTravels

I have a list.

And I’m sure you have one, too.

It’s a list of all the things I want to see and do before I get to an age where I just want people to push me around in a wheelchair.

Seeing the Northern Lights is on the list. So is visiting Stonehenge and surfing the waves at Malibu.

Another stop on the list was walking on the glass-floored Skywalk over the west rim of the Grand Canyon.

I had read about this engineering feat in Time a few years ago when it had been recently opened to the public.

Back in 1996, entrepreneur David Jin of Las Vegas had an idea to build a glass walkway that extended over the canyon. He approached the Hualapai Tribe with the idea and, seven years later, he got their blessing. Four years after that, the Skywalk was opened to the public.

Some facts about the attraction: It’s located 4,000 feet about the Colorado River. It consists of more than 1 million pounds of steel and 64,000 pounds of strengthened glass, imported from Germany. Its foundation is strong enough to support about 71 million pounds, or the equivalent of 71 fully loaded 747 airplanes (though I’m sure no one tested this theory).

But here’s the real deal: The floor isn’t entirely made of glass; the edges are solid metal, and you could — people do — just walk on that part if you’re scared. The walls are about 5 1/2-feet tall with very sturdy railings; if you don’t look down, you feel like you’re at a lookout. Less than 120 people are allowed on the Skywalk at a time, so it doesn’t feel crowded. And everything you heard about cameras is true: you can’t bring ’em. There are staff photographers on the Skywalk who take your photo — as many as you want — and you can purchase them for $30 each inside.

Hey, it’s clever if you want to make money!

And it’s a long day. You need to give the entire tour about four hours from start to finish. You don’t just go to Eagle Point, where the Skywalk is located. You also visit Guano Point — best views of the canyon — and Hualapai Ranch.

Here’s what our day looked like:

Good luck!

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We left the California Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas at around 7 p.m. for the long trip to the historic Grand Canyon West Rim, about 120 miles east.

Grand Canyon Skywalk. Cost is $29.95, but you have to purchase a West Rim entrance pass to get in, which cost, at the least, another $29.95 plus tax and fees. (888) 868-9378, (928) 769-2636, www.hualapaitourism.com.

Follow my adventures on Twitter (@thedailydish) and Facebook. Powered by Oceanic Mobile.

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Today’s happy shot

By November 29, 2011 #CatTravels, Happy Shots

The view of the mighty Colorado River from the bridge above the Hoover Dam. We couldn’t have picked a more perfect day to visit the Grand Canyon.

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