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Goal!: Obama to Attend 2010 World Cup in South Africa

June 24, 2009 at 10:17 AM | 0 Comments

President Obama may have a lot left to accomplish on his inaugural year agenda, but that doesn't mean he can't start planning his 2010 vacations.

According to soccer's governing body, the hopeful one has accepted an invitation to attend the FIFA World Cup in South Africa next June, the first major sporting event to take place in Africa. But where will Obama stop when he's in SA? It's still a year away, but that doesn't mean we can't start guessing:

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Disney Imagineers Welcome Obama Robot Into Presidential Roll Call

June 19, 2009 at 9:32 AM | 0 Comments

Of must-see things to visit at Walt Disney World, the Hall of Presidents is certainly not as exciting as Space Mountain, but it continues to draw visitors in for a little history with a side of air conditioning. However, starting Independence Day weekend, the show becomes a little more interesting. You see, it'll reopen for the first time since the 2008 election, as President Obama takes the stage in audio-animatronic form.

To craft the figure, Disney folks traveled to the White House in March to make sure every little part of the Obama robot was correct, right down to his braided wedding ring. The President shared his busy schedule with park designers to lend his voice and measurements, so that the new figurine could be practically perfect in every way.

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While Kobe Hits the Beach, LeBron Does DC

June 16, 2009 at 10:27 AM | 0 Comments

NBA Finals Kobe Bryant may be chilling out in Cabo this week, but basketball's erstwhile king is taking a meeting with the president.

LeBron James, last seen exiting the Eastern Conference Finals in quite a hurry, was in DC last night to take in a screening of More Than a Game at the opening night of the SilverDocs Documentary Film Festival. Kristopher Belman’s movie follows five promising young ballers from Akron, Ohio, one of whom just happens to grow up and become the greatest player of his generation (Kobe might argue that title is still pending).

And while LeBron still doesn't have that championship trophy, that didn't stop him from swinging by the White House to chat with Barack Obama for a few.

Of course basketball fans immediately wondered whether the future free agent had a good enough time in the nation's capital to consider a move there next year—can we expect a swing through New York on the way back, LeBron?

Related Stories:
· Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James meets with President Barack Obama, attends premiere of documentary "More Than A Game" [Cleveland Plain Dealer]
· Kobe Will Brave Swine Flu for Cabo Vacation [Jaunted]
· The Obamas Take Paris: A Guide To Their Family Weekend Getaway [Jaunted]

[Photo: Bettor's Edge]

The Obamas Take Paris: A Guide To Their Family Weekend Getaway

June 8, 2009 at 10:02 AM | 1 Comment

None of that constantly hanging out indoors and sticking to all business for President Obama; his last few stops on a whirlwind tour have included some quality tourist time as he takes in more than just the interiors of conference rooms and embassies.

This past weekend when he swung by France to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, he flew in the whole family for a little interlude in Paris. It was the first visit to Europe for Malis and Sasha, as well as Sasha's 8th birthday.

Before arriving, Obama hinted at his touristic ambitions by saying that "American people love all things French, you've got the food, you've got Paris," and sample the city and its cuisine he and the family did.

To do Paris in three days a la Obama, check out our guide to their hotspots from their visit:

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Obama Takes The Pyramids of Giza Tour, But Skips Camel Ride

June 5, 2009 at 11:07 AM | 1 Comment

After a typical date night escape brought President Obama to New York City earlier this week, we can only imagine that he was all warmed up to play tourist on his Egypt jaunt.

He may be in Dresden today addressing issues of Holocaust denial, before he rounds out this week with a visit to the D-Day beaches of Normandy, Obama made sure to drop by Cairo University to deliver a hotly debated speech. Thankfully he brought his khakis and set aside enough time to day trip out to the Pyramids of Giza and the 600-year-old Sultan Hassan mosque. During a private visit to the Spyhnx, Obama even joked that were he a typical visitor, he'd get on a camel.

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Obama Uses Date Night As An Excuse To Play New York Tourist

June 1, 2009 at 9:25 AM | 1 Comment

This past weekend, the paparazzi and attentions of New York City were torn two different ways: Britain's Prince Harry played polo on Governor's Island while President Obama had a date night with Michelle up on Broadway.

Both had a touristy mission to enjoy the city in the early summer, but it was Barack's foray into the typical theater dinner date that reminded us that presidents as well as celebrities really are just like us.

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Pinkberry Takes Over the White House Today, Tomorrow the World

May 26, 2009 at 2:27 PM | 0 Comments

Italy has gelato and Japan its mochi ice cream, but is America about to become the United States of Frozen Yogurt? For people living in New York City and southern California, the explosion of the Pinkberry fro yo chain and its rivals over the last couple years is old news. But a small item in the NY Daily News about Malia and Sasha Obama's new favorite food could make Pinkberry a national household name.

According to the piece, the Obama girls "grew to love Pink­berry frozen yogurt on the campaign trail, says Star, but there isn’t a Pinkberry store within 200 miles of D.C., so the White House chef has learned to replicate the recipe." Apparently they've even begun requesting special, non-existent flavors of Pinkberry fro yo like cucumber (yum!) and honey.

The Pinkberry shops are already mini tourist destinations in themselves, and last week marked the beginning of Pinkberry's bicycle delivery service within NYC. Perhaps now they'll focus on DC and later—the world, even if their sort of fro yo is already pretty ubiquitous in Asia. In this hemisphere, however, it's a special treat and so we'd take a daytrip to DC if they could whip us up a batch of cucumber.

Related Stories:
· Newsstand Junkie [NY Daily News]
· Pinkberry [Official Site]
· Food Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Pinkberry photo: Jaunted; Globe image: Wikipedia Commons]

Chi-Town's Free 'Instagreeters' Tour Obama's South Side

May 12, 2009 at 2:01 PM | 0 Comments

If you're a Chicago local giving in to a "staycation" this summer or a tourist keeping your trips domestic, the city is going to try their best to attract you down to their newest, hottest spot: President Obama's former residence.

Located on the south side of the city in the Hyde Park neighborhood, the Obama house is just one stop on the free walking tours leaving every Saturday from June 6 to September 26 at 10am thru 3pm from the Hyde Park Arts Center. Now you know we love free stuff, and so this tour appeals in terms of cost (none!) and historical and architectural significance.

When you aren't snapping pics of Obama's street, you're "Instagreeter" guide will take you by Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House and the University of Chicago. Tours are first-come, first-served and no reservations are needed; simply show up at the Arts Center and relish being away from the typical tourist traps of downtown and the north side.

Related Stories:
· New InstaGreeter Outpost in Hyde Park Features Free Walks of President Obama’s Neighborhood [ExploreChicago]
· Chicago Offers Free Walks through Obama's Neighborhood [TravelPulse]
· Chicago's 'Bean' To Get Some Serious Competition This Summer [Jaunted]
· Chicago Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Obama's House photo: Abitare]

How to Get Your Hands on an Obama Easter Egg Without Going to DC

April 10, 2009 at 1:13 PM | 1 Comment

Come Monday evening, expect quite a few of the above eggs to be featured items on Ebay as President Obama's first White House Easter Egg Roll floods the lawn with 1,000 children eager for presidential candy. If your family is heading down to Washington DC for the event, or just for a little touch of Easter in the capital, then we recommend taking a cue from the first family and thinking green.

Those fortunate enough to be holding one of the tickets for the egg roll should take a closer look at the commemorative eggs; they'll be more eco-friendly than ever with 31 per cent less paperboard and colored with renewable vegetable oil-based inks. You can even get your hands on one without a ticket or overpaying on ebay, since the National Parks Foundation is hocking them for $7 a piece online and at the White House Visitor Center. Now if only we could eliminate the gas used to deliver the egg orders by getting the Easter Bunny up off his lazy butt.

Related Stories:
· Michelle and Barack create 'green' egg for kiddies' Easter event [Hello!]
· Presidential Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Rex/Hello Mag]

Handshaking Abroad: Know What the First Lady Didn't

April 2, 2009 at 4:34 PM | 1 Comment

Now we know why our invite to Buckingham Palace keeps getting lost in the mail: First Lady Michelle Obama unwittingly exposed the British taboo against touching the queen, causing cultural critics to bemoan the end of friendship between both copies but ultimately resorting in nothing worse than a string of adorable photos.

The Obamas arrived in London this week bearing gifts (including an iPod for Her Majesty) and plans for the forthcoming G-20 Meeting. As the First Lady met the Queen, she curtsied, but then shook her hand firmly, a huge no-no. And later, when posing for pictures, she even touched the Queen. But soon enough they had their arms around each other's backs like old camp buddies, and other world leaders were jealous.

Is the take-away here that the Obamas, unlike most travelers, can do anything they want abroad and still be adored? Hardly; it only takes one disastrous state dinner to ruin his international face. But here's what Michelle Obama didn't do: Get flustered and over-apologize. Maybe she had words with the queen, but she treated her with the same warmth and grace that she treats everyone. And hey, at least it wasn't a fistbump moment again.

Still, we say you should always be prepared to know what's acceptable in terms of hand-shaking abroad and what's not--provided that you aren't meeting royalty or germaphobes.

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Where Not To Go While London's On Lockdown

April 1, 2009 at 11:21 AM | 0 Comments

Thought you’d take advantage of all the sweet hotel deals to score a springtime trip to London? We’re hoping you didn’t pick this week, because now is not the time to see the city at its best, despite the fact that President Barack Obama's in town.

London’s been on lockdown pretty much since Saturday, when the first march against the G20 Summit took place. Police were expecting trouble then, but there wasn’t any, apart from some bonged-out looking types in Trafalgar Square that evening.

We were hoping that the rest of the protests scheduled for this week would turn out the same way, but on Monday came the news that phone boxes were being removed from the streets of Central London in case protestors tore them down, building sites had been ordered by the Mayor to shut up shop and remove any junk that could be commandeered as weapons, and businesses in the Square Mile and even high profile places like the Ritz were boarding up their windows in preparation for a fight.

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White House Easter Egg Roll Now Selling Tickets Online

March 26, 2009 at 9:52 AM | 0 Comments

Why shouldn't a trip to the nation's best known address be a mouse click away? For the first time ever the White House announced tickets to its annual Easter Egg Roll would be available online, and harried parents with Blackberrys everywhere rejoiced.

The annual and largely secular event attracts thousands of kids to push hard-boiled eggs through the normally sedate White House lawn in a tradition originally begun by First Lady Dolley Madison. This year's Roll, held on April 13, has been given the tech treatment with tickets available here right now through Front Gate, as well as a fitness gloss emphasizing healthy living.

Whether that includes a balanced diet involving eggs is hard to say, but families who are already headed to Washington D.C. for spring break should snatch up a spot and the chance to meet the President and First Lady, who normally preside over the event. But luck has to be on your side: Unfortunately, when we were finally able to load Front Gate's dedicated page, it told us tickets would be available "at various times" and to keep checking back.

Related Stories:
· White House Easter Egg Roll Moves Tickets Online [CBS News]
· Time for Change: Redesigning the White House [Jaunted]
· Berlin Hotels Not Great At Celebrating Easter Properly [HC]

[Photo of the 2006 Easter Egg Roll hunt: teejayhanson]