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Super Bowl Travel / Sports Travel / Football Travel / Sports / Dallas Travel / → All Tags

Jetsetter Can Help You Get To This Year's Super Bowl

The NFL playoff picture has now been figured out, and it’s only about one month until the Super Bowl hits Dallas—well, Arlington—on February 6. Expect the biggest Super Bowl to date, simply because the new Cowboys Stadium is so freaking huge and extravagant. Even if your team failed to make it too far this season, if you’ve always wanted to attend the big game this year might be the best year to do so.

Tickets have been long sold out along with many of the local accommodations, but there’s always plenty of travel packages where you can still score swanky lodging and seats at the 50-yard line. Jetsetter’s football package definitely caught our eye, and it will probably catch yours as well as long as you a wallet deep enough to pay for it.

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Prime-Plane-Spotting-Map / Plane Spotting / Washington DC Travel / DCA / Airports / → All Tags

The Best Plane Spotting Happens Just Outside Of DC's Restricted Airspace

Lately in our series of stories on the best places to plane spot, we've focused on warm weather destinations, but some of us won't be taking tropical trips this winter and maybe still want to check out a little aviation action on our home turf. So we turn to Washington DC's Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), located in Arlington, Virginia, but still within sight of the Capitol and the Washington Monument.

DCA is a plane spotters dream; it has a park with scenic views to the city, over the water, and onto the airport right at the end of the runway. This is Gravelly Point Park, and those biking the paths or picnicking on the grass are usually all here for the same reason: a little outdoors activity on a nice day, with the additional benefit of watching the mostly domestic flights zoom a few hundred feet above them and then make a left turn to avoid restricted airspace over DC.

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Football Stadium Tours / Tours / Sports Travel / Football Travel / Sports / Dallas Travel / → All Tags

Are You Ready For Some Football? Tour The New Home Of The Dallas Cowboys

While we were resting on the couch after eating ourselves into a food coma on Thanksgiving, we couldn’t help but gaze in amazement at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium. If taking in the glory of Cowboys Stadium from the comfort of your living room isn’t good enough, then make for the Lone Star state since there are tours available. It’s only $15 per person—way cheaper than tickets to a game—and they’re available most days of the week.

The tour reveals the secrets behind the press box, player interview rooms, and even the team locker room. The whole things lasts about an hour, so you’re sure to get a decent behind-the-scenes look at what makes the huge shrine to football tick. Visits to the fancy seating level and even a suite will show you how the other half of football fans live. There’s even a stop in the control room for the massive scoreboard and video monitor—it’s the largest high-definition screen in the world. Hopefully we won't see ourselves on the big screen; that would be a little too much.

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Recession Restaurants / Recession-Restaurants-Map / Restaurants / Sandwiches / → All Tags

Bebo Trattoria

Italian-born chef Roberto Donna is one of DC's biggest culinary stars, so when he closed high-end eatery Galileo for renovations, District power-lunchers were more than disappointed. But their pain was NoVa cheapskates' gain, as Donna used his time off to open a more casual take on Galileo: The new-ish Bebo Trattoria in Crystal City, Virginia.

Given the bustling family-style atmosphere and the sub-$10 prices, you’d be forgiven for thinking Bebo Trattoria is just another suburban Olive Garden clone. But look closer and you'll see the salads, sandwiches and homemade pastas here are all dotted with imported Italian delicacies like Belgian lettuce, pepper-cured prosciutto and guanciale (cured pork cheeks). The newest offering is the selection of pizzas, straight from the wood-burning oven and topped with a drizzle of olive oil and sea salt, along with gourmet toppings like Gorgonzola dolce cheese.

But the best deal is the one that grew out of Donna's popular take-out lunch counter service at Galileo. The locally famous pork shoulder panini, topped with provolone and broccoli rabe, are available at lunchtime for just $6.25.

Related Stories:
· Bebo Trattoria [Official Site]
· Something for the Poors at Vidalia [Jaunted]
· Recession Restaurants Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: kthread]

Good Burgers / Restaurants / Washington D.C. / → All Tags

Best Burger in DC?

After heading out to the country for some delish rib eye last weekend, we ended up back in DC. But even all that steak couldn't sate our taste for beef. That's when Five Guys came to the rescue.

Yes, yes, the operation has gone into franchise mode recently. But it all got started in Arlington, VA. The thing that keeps Five Guys legit is the focus on just doing a few things right: You'll find burgers, fries and little else on the menu.

We went for the cheeseburger, which is actually two beef patties smothered with American cheese. The "fried onion" topping turned out to be little bits of sauteed onion--totally not worth it. A huge bag of fries and a root beer later, we were in a massive burger-induced food coma. In other words: It may be a chain, but damn it's still good.

[Photo: mrmatt]

Related Stories:
· Five Guys [Official Site]
· Jaunted's Good Burger coverage [Jaunted]

Food / → All Tags

Square Pegs

Pentagon Row in Arlington, VA is known for its upscale restaurants and myriad international cuisines on display. Most of the restaurants there sport some sort of Asian flair, but La Creperie, with its Maghrib-inspried French cuisine attempts difficult feat of chic French dining.

As their name would suggest, La Creperie is known for their crepes, both salty and sweet. Be forewarned: These crepes are not your typical Parisian fare. For one, they have a square shape and lay flat on the plate.

Per our waiter's suggestion, we opted for the Beef Stew. Julia Child might have a bone to pick with our Moroccan friends regarding the French authenticity of le plat--Hungarians might recognize this dish goulash with some Moroccan trappings. For dessert, the banana Crepe drizzled in chocolate syrup looked good, but no Frenchman worth their salt would use Hershey's syrup in a dessert as La Creperie does. Degolas!

[Image via nirakara/Flickr]