Act Fast for $79 Intro Fares From DCA to Dallas

Virgin America Inaugural Service from DCA to DAL
Virgin America Inaugural Service from DCA to DAL

Virgin America is inaugurating new nonstop service from Washington, DC (DCA) to Dallas (Love Field).

The airline is offering an introductory fare of  $79 one way, including taxes.

Tickets must be purchased today or tomorrow, April 25 or 26, 2014.

The fare is available for travel on most dates from October 13, 2014 through November 20, 2014.  

Do you like the graphics in Virgin America’s advertising campaigns?

BOGO Movie Tickets Friday Nights; Plus 20% Off Fandango Gift Cards

Buy One Get One Free Tickets to Rio2 on Fridays
Buy One Get One Free Tickets to Rio2 on Fridays

Visa Signature and Fandango.com have teamed up to offer a great buy one get one free deal for movie tickets.

Friday Date Night: Buy One Get One Movie Tickets

This deal is really easy:

  1. Purchase 2 movie tickets to a Friday show with Fandango on a Friday.
  2. Pay with a Visa Signature Card.
  3. Receive 1 of the tickets free.

The limit is 1 complimentary movie ticket per Visa Signature card purchase, per 30 day period, and is valid from April 25, 2014 through August 8, 2014.

The tickets must be purchased on a Friday for a Friday showing.

If you have one Visa Signature card, you could take advantage of this offer up to four times before the August 19th deadline.

The Amazing Spider Man 2 in Theaters May 2
The Amazing Spider Man 2 in Theaters May 2

If you have more than one Visa Signature card — you could be eligible for multiple BOGO movie tickets.

For instance,the Chase Freedom Credit Card, the Chase United Mileage Plus Explorer Card, and the Chase Southwest Rapid Reward card, and the Citi AAdvantage credit card each would qualify, as would many other Visa Signature credit cards.

The Amazing Spiderman 2 opens in theaters next Friday!  Are you going?

Twenty Percent Discount on Fandango Gift Cards

There is another joint offer from Visa Signature and Fandango.  You can get a 20 percent discount off $25 Fandango Gift Card purchases, if you pay with a Visa Signature card.

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Audubon Field Guide Apps 80% Off

Audubon Field Guide  Apps on Sale
Audubon Field Guide Apps on Sale

If you are planning an outdoorsy vacation this summer, listen up.

In honor of John J. Audubon’s 229th Birthday on April 26th, 16 Audubon field guide apps are on sale in the iTunes store for 99 cents, an eighty percent discount.

The sale runs from April 24, 2014 to May 1, 2014.

Audubon was the French-American naturalist and artist who revolutionized the practice of field identification and created fantastic illustrations of birds.

Audubon Field Guide Apps on Sale

Audubon field guides are a comprehensive suite of apps created in alliance with the National Audubon Society.

Audubon Field Guide  Apps on Sale
Audubon Field Guide Apps on Sale

The sale extends to both single subject apps and regional guides, all of which are $0.99 each for a limited time.  

The single subject apps cover topics such as mushrooms, fishes, birds, trees, reptiles, wildflowers and insects for all of North America.  

Audubon Field Guide Apps on Sale
The Regional Nature Guides are a Great Deal

 

The regional apps are the real bargain. Each app covers eight subjects in great detail:

  • Amphibians
  • Birds
  • Butterflies
  • Fish
  • Insects and spiders
  • Mammals
  • Reptiles
  • Trees
  • Wildflowers

The regional apps are for these areas of the United States:

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Is a Trip to Iceland in Your Future?

Iceland Travel Workshop TweetI saw this notice in my Twitter feed announcing a travel trade show in Iceland May 15-17, 2014.

I clicked on the link and it took me to a notice advertising a special offer:  $600 for a 3-day workshop in Iceland including airfare, transfers and hotels.  Iceland is an expensive country, and this seemed like a terrific deal.

Screen Shot 2014-04-20 at 7.21.59 PMWhat’s more the workshop organizers were offering a chance to win a tour of Southern Iceland!

This picture of the Northern lights made it seem pretty enticing!

Icelandair is famous for its low cost flights to Europe.  I’ve transited through the Keflavik airport in Reykjavik several times, but I’ve never left the airport.  I’ve always been intrigued by Iceland.

Iceland Travel Workshop
Iceland Travel Workshop

As publisher of the Fishing4Deals travel blog, I figured that I was in the travel industry.

So I went ahead and applied.

Well, to make a long story short, the conference organizer said she would be in touch, but I haven’t heard anything.

I think they are looking for travel agents that do bookings.

So I am passing this along to my readers in case anyone else has an interest and might qualify.

Los Angeles Union Station 75th Anniversary Celebration

Union Station 74th Anniversary CelebrationHistoric Union Station in Los Angeles is hosting a 75th birthday celebration in honor of the iconic art deco train station, which has been restored as a multi-modal transit center.

If I lived in Los Angeles, I’d head over to Union Station on May 3, 2014, for this free family event!

The celebration, sponsored by Metroin partnership with National Train Day, Amtrak and Metrolink will commemorate all things rail on Saturday, May 3, 10 am to 4 pm.

Los Angeles Union Station
Los Angeles Union Station

There will be dozens of exhibitors at the station, tours, entertainment on four stages, as well as free Metrolink rides, a guided bike tour, and discounts at museums, restaurants, and theaters in half a dozen nearby neighborhoods.

Events at Union Station

Events at the station will include:

  • Official ceremony to rededicate of the historic ticket concourse
  • Step aboard one-of-a-kind rail cars
  • Tour the Amtrak Exhibit Train
  • Self-guided architectural tours of Union Station’s architecture, embellishments and artworks
  • Watch model trains in action
  • Play in the Chuggington Kids Depot (a preschool television series)
Los Angeles Union Station
Los Angeles Union Station

Entertainment on Four Stages

There will be more than a dozen acts, from music to dance and children’s theater, performed on four stages throughout the station.  
Highlights include:

  • Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, an all-female mariachi ensemble
  • Las Cafeteras, Afro-Mexican Son Jarocho, Hip Hop, Folk and Native American sounds
  • Big Jay McNeely & The Hollywood Combo, a Rhythm & Blues band
  • The Ladd McIntosh Big Band plays Swing, Two-Beat, Latin, Funk
  • Dr. Pinch and the Pinchtones perform WWII-era swing music
  • Cava, sounds of Afro-Cuban Son, Cumbia, Ska, Salsa and Funk
  • East Wind Lion Dance Troupe performing a traditional Chinese lion dance
  • Choo Choo Bob, railroad-themed music
  • Los Angeles Muses, a cappella harmonies from groups like the Andrews Sisters
  • Vocalist Jennifer Keith leads a quintet in jazz, American roots and pop music

Free Metrolink Rides and Neighborhood Discounts

Step outside the station for fun-filled activities in all directions.  See the full listing of rides and discounts online.

 

Instant Savings: $10 off iTunes Gift Card @ Staples

$10 off $50 iTunes Gift Card at StaplesOn Monday and Tuesday of next week, April 21 and 22, 2014, Staples will be selling $50 iTunes gift cards for $40.  

This is a pretty good deal because if offers a 20 percent discount on purchases of music, books,movies or apps from the iTunes store.

It is an even better deal if you have a credit card that pays 5x points at office supply stores, such as the Chase Ink cards.

Instant savings offers are my favorite.  You don’t have to file any rebate claims or wait for the check to come in the mail!

You can find the offer on page 9 of the ad for the week of April 20-26, which is posted on the Staples.com website.

This deal is limited to one per customer, and will sell out early.

Mad Dash to Tour Colleges? Amtrak’s Secret Discount Program

Amtrak Campus Tour
Amtrak Offers Discount Train Tickets

My daughter is a junior in high school and we have been bombarded with colorful brochures.

How to choose?

The best advice we have been given is to scope out several campuses this spring — a state school, a small college, a large urban campus.

Amtrak offers a buy one – get one 50% off campus visit program to high school juniors and seniors and their parents.  Children over age 13 must buy “adult” tickets on Amtrak, so this deal amounts to 25 percent off of two fares.

This seems like a good deal…but you won’t find it on Amtrak’s deal page!  

The discount tickets must be purchased between December 17, 2013 – December 16, 2014, and are valid for travel  from January 1 – December 19, 2014.  There are a large number of blackout dates, though, include around spring break and other holidays.

There are some restrictions: 

  1. Tickets must be booked a minimum of 3 days in advance; no exceptions.
  2. Students must travel with an adult, parent or guardian.
  3. Reservations must be made online.
  4. Promotion is not valid for Acela Express, Auto Train, Canadian portions of joint AMTRAK/Via Rail service to Ontario and 7000-8999 Thruway bus series.
  5. Blackout dates:  February 14, 17; April 17, 18, 21; May 23; July 3, 6; August 29; September 1; October 10; November 25, 26, 29, 30; December 1, 2014.
  6. F0llow the instructions online and the discount will be automatically applied.

Double Points on Amtrak Travel

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Mexico in May, Maybe?

Roundtrip to Mexico City for 28K Miles
Roundtrip to Mexico City for 28K Miles

United Airlines has announced a 20 percent off sale on “saver” award tickets to Mexico City.  Tickets must be purchased by April 29, 2014, for travel in May 2014.

Roundtrip saver awards between the U.S. (excluding Hawaii and Guam) or Canada and Mexico City, Mexico normally cost 35,000 miles.  For the month of May 2014, the price is 28,000 Mileage Plus miles, plus taxes and fees.

There was plenty of saver award availability when I checked flights from and to IAD.

Here’s the link to the full terms and conditions.

The Most Family Fun You Can Have in Vegas for Under Ten Bucks

Pinball Hall of Fame in Las VegasI
Wall to Wall Pinball Machines at the
Pinball Hall of Fame, Las Vegas

The Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas houses the world’s largest pinball collection, with over 200 vintage games available for play.  

The games are from the 1950s to the 1990s, and have been meticously restored and maintained by pinball maven Tim Arnold.  

We met with Arnold when we were in Vegas in 2012, and he graciously  explained everything that goes into running such an enormous operation.

The Pinball Hall of Fame

There’s no admission charge, and all the older pinballs are set to 25 cents per play, with newer 1990s models set to 50 cents per play.

You and your family can have a lot of fun here for a roll of quarters!

The museum is a nonprofit, and all proceeds go to local charities, such as the Salvation Army.

Arnold says:

I like the Salvation Army a lot because they’re kinda like us. They’re downtown on the cheap side, and they put all their emphasis on the areas that need emphasis, and not a lot on hierarchy and organization.

The Pinball Hall of Fame is located about 2.4 miles east of the strip at:  1610 E Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV.  The museum is open every day from 11 am to 11 pm, except Friday and Saturday, when it stays open until midnight.

Fantasia at the Neon Boneyard in Las Vegas
Fantasia at the Neon Boneyard in Las Vegas
Photo by Joel Shprentz

The Neon Museum Family Activities

Another Las Vegas Institution well worth a visit is the Neon Museum and its boneyard of discarded signs from casinos from days gone by.

Our family greatly enjoyed our visit to the boneyard.

If you are looking for some family friendly activities in Las Vegas, the Neon Museum has expanded its educational programming to include a series of events for kids and families. 

Here are a couple of noteworthy events for kids coming up:

  • Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. to noon – Orienteering in the Boneyard.  Families will use compasses to participate in a maze-version scavenger hunt in the famous Neon Boneyard.  Appropriate for people of all ages
  • Saturday, May 24, 2 to 4 p.m. – Drawing History in 3D.  Children will learn how to draw their own 3D/anaglyph sign based on historic signs in the Neon Museum’s collection and make their own 3D-viewing glasses.  Recommended for kindergartners through sixth graders.

Family drop-in events are free and open to the public.  All children must be accompanied by an adult. Register by sending an email to education@neonmuseum.org.

Sign Design: Past, Present and Future

On Tuesday, April 22, the Neon Museum will host its next PRISM Times of the Signs event, a panel discussion:  “Sign Design: Past, Present and Future.”

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Around The World in Eighty Minutes

2014 Around the World Embassy Tour
Embassy of Spain Open House

More than 50 embassies representing six continents open their doors to visitors on Saturday May 3, 2014 from 10 am to 4 pm for the annual Around the World Embassy Tour in Washington, DC.  

Participants can travel the world as they experience the food, art, dance, fashion, and music of different countries.

Last year, offerings included karate demonstrations, dance performances, sari wrapping lessons, and henna demonstrations.

These events are a not just an exhibit of diplomacy.  According to the Washington Post:

…the real reason everyone loves them so much is because if you play it right, the day is an all-you-can-eat buffet. With booze!

2014 Around the World Embassy Tour
Embassy of Malaysia Open House

This year, 54 embassies are participating:

Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Chad, Colombia, Republic of Congo, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea,  Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine,  Venezuela,  Zambia, and League of Arab States.

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