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Sustainable Travel / Ecotourism / Green Travel / Educational Tourism / Tourism / → All Tags

Where to Get the National Geographic Degree in Geotourism

You may not be able to travel full time, but now there's a way for you to at least study it full time. Missouri State University is offering the world's first bachelor's degree in geotourism.

National Geographic worked with the university to create the new field of study, which will look at tourism that sustains an area's environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents. The program also will examine the effects of local and global tourism, focusing on enhancing the quality of life of all affected by tourism development. As part of the program, you'll learn about cultural and environmental geography, community planning, development and tourism.

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Presidents Day Travel / Abraham Lincoln / Historical Travel / Illinois Travel / → All Tags

Celebrate President's Day in the Land of Lincoln's Springfield

Old State Capitol

It seems like George Washington gets all of the love during Presidents Day, so we'll focus on that other February-born president, Abraham Lincoln. To pay homage to the 16th president, of course you have to go to the Land of Lincoln, specifically Springfield.

As Illinois' capital, the city is the state's legislative hub. But Springfield used to be Lincoln's stomping grounds back in the day when he was just an up-and-coming politician and lawyer.

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Possible Presidents Travel / Possible-Presidents-Map / Barack Obama / Joe Biden / → All Tags

Vice-Presidential Travel: Obama Picks Biden

Delawhat? Delaware! Democratic Senator Joe Biden is Barack Obama's pick for his vice president.

The six-term senator from, yes, Delaware is the chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations and one of the most senior members of the Senate. That means he's been a senator for longer than both presidential candidates. A Roman Catholic born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, he had his hat in the ring for the Presidency earlier this year but withdrew after the Iowa caucus. He once drew the ire of Dems for describing Obama as:

"the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy."

The pair will stand onstage together for the first time today in Springfield, Illinois, on the steps of the Old State Capitol where Obama first announced his candidacy for president. The Obama campaign announced this pick via text message and e-mail at 5AM this morning, drawing the ire of news junkies who also like to party.

Related Stories:
· Obama selects Biden to be running mate [AP]
· 2007: Biden's description of Obama draws scrutiny [CNN]
· Possible Presidents coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: American Progress Action]

The Simpsons / Vermont Travel / Pilgrimages / Television Travel / MHT / → All Tags

The Simpsons Now Belong To Vermont

Springfield Vermont is the official home of the The Simpsons, sort of. Now that we know where Homer and crew live, time to make a Vermont pilgrimage, to the official home of the first family of cartoons.

The fourteen Springfields of the United States were encouraged to make videos bolstering their Simpsons-worthiness for viewers to vote on online, and the town of 9,000 took first place with its donut-chasing adventure film.

One bitter Illinois resident, displeased with that Springfield's second-place finish, declared that Vermont isn't even a state in retaliation, while another blogger claimed that the real Simpsons hometown would never win such a contest in the first place. People, please, it's a perfectly cromulent prize, so let's embiggen the winning state.

Citizens of all Springfields in the contest will get a sneak peek of the "Simpsons" movie, although Springfield Vermont will host its July 21 premiere. The movie hits theatres nationwide on July 27th. Closest airport to the Simpson's new official home? MHT in Manchester, New Hampshire.

[Photo: MCPLATZ]

Shooting / Washington D.C. / → All Tags

Awesome Guns in Northern VA

We took a little trip down to DC this past weekend. We could've done the whole National Mall and cherry blossoms thing, but we opted for the shoot guns in Virginia experience.

That's right. We went to Gilbert Small Arms Range in Springfield to get our hands on some firepower. Gilbert's had us shooting in less than 10 minutes. Basically, you'll need an official ID and a membership, which is easy enough to do. A monthly membership is only $8 and is good the second you buy it.

We rented our guns from Gilbert's: A Standard Glock 9mm and a Custom Kimber 1911. They were awesome (as far as guns go, that is). Our standard hour of range time was enough for three of us to shoot through 200 rounds of ammo. The whole deal ran us just under $50 a person.

[Photo: ethernectar]

Related Stories:
· Gilbert Small Arms Range [Official Site]
· Jaunted's Shooting coverage [Jaunted]

Maps / → All Tags

Maps Even Comic Guy Could Love

OK, so these maps aren't really going to be handy for planning any trip you could actually take. That said, we still have to admire the obsessive zeal it took to create the Guide to Springfield USA. Happy clicking.

[Via Manhattan User's Guide].