Category Archives: Festival

Plano Balloon Festival Half Marathon, Relay, 5K & 1K (+Discount Code)

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post however I did receive admission to the event. As always, all opinions are my own. #PBFRaces #ad

On September 24th, the Plano Balloon Festival 1K, 5K Half Marathon and Relay is being held in Plano, Texas! It’s time for some great fall air, a fun and energetic race and the sight of these magnificent hot air balloons and a discount for all Down Home Traveler readers (see below).

The Plano Balloon Festival Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 agency that is dedicated to educating attendees about hot air ballooning and producing a family oriented, high quality event that offers other local non-profits an opportunity to assist in the operations of the Festival. Our objective is to offer the participating non-profit agencies an opportunity to raise funds and awareness for their programs and services…thus enhancing the quality of life for all of us. Last year, 60+ non-profit organizations and corporate groups were showcased at the Festival. They participate as food concessionaires, service providers, or to create awareness for their organization’s services and programs. Because of our long standing commitment to non-profits, in the last 36 years, over 2.5 million dollars has circulated back into our community. (Information via www.PBFRaces.org)

Join the one of these runs on Saturday, September 24th!

The SWAG!

Each registered participant received two tickets to the InTouch Plano Balloon Festival and free race day parking.

5K/1K’ers receive a dry fit style gender neutral, short sleeve t-shirt, plus breakfast tacos and pastries from Corner Bakery.

Half marathoners/rely receive a dry fit style gender specific, tank top and a hot breakfast from Central Market. Plus each distance receives a unique six balloon finisher medal!

To make this event even better, Down Home Traveler has teamed up with this event to offer a 15% discount to each registrant (use ‘DHT’ to save 15%)!

Discount Code: ‘DHT’ to save 15% on registration.

For more information, please see the below websites and links. Space is limited so be sure to sign up soon and use the 15% discount on the race of your choice today!

Additional Information:
Date: September 24th, 2016
Location: Oak Point Park Amphitheater, 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, TX 75074
Website: www.PBFRaces.org
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/pbfraces

***Also sign up for the Rahr & Sons Oktoberfest 5k in Fort Worth on October 1st! See post for 15% discount to this race or your chance to WIN two tickets to the event!

Sugarhouses of Northern Vermont

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This past weekend, The Vermont Maple Festival was held in St. Albans, Vermont. Vermont is well-known for producing maple syrup (aka liquid gold) and the tradition runs generations deep. Growing up, it’s one of the things that I remember with fond memories. Collecting sap and sitting in sugarhouses socializing and embracing what helps to make Vermont, Vermont. In the spring, a sugarhouse is main point of connecting with others, catching up while working and there is nothing in this world like the smell of the sweetness in the air and tasting hot, fresh syrup.

Last year, I went home during sugaring season. This is when the sap is running, the syrup is boiling and the fresh made gloriousness that is maple syrup is sitting in barrels waiting to be sold. It had been quite a while since I had been home during maple season and was lucky enough to have my dad bring me around to some of Vermont’s sugarhouses. He is the World Famous Tim after all.

If you’re unfamiliar with sugaring, here is a quick explanation:

Each spring, when the world begins to thaw from the previously, frigid winter, the sap begins to run from the maple trees. Think of the sap like a sweet, sugar water. The sap is collected and boiled in evaporators using heat generated from wood or oil fires. (If simplified, think of a giant, rectangle pot boiling.) The purpose is to boil out the water to a certain extent and the remainder is maple syrup. Rule of thumb, it takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup. Maple syrup also had more calcium than milk and is a natural sugar – so it’s good for you! All of this is done in sugarhouses.

So in honor of sugaring season coming to an end and all the hard-working folks out there getting ready to clean their equipment, attend maple shows, sell their products and wanting a break, I wanted to feature a few sugarhouses that I saw on my last spring trip home. They come in all shapes and sizes, traditions old and new. One thing is for certain – we all can’t get enough of the liquid gold!