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Horse racing at the Kentucky Derby

The U.S. has tons of awesome opportunities for sporty travel. Check out this list of some of the best, from the Kentucky Derby to the U.S. Open.

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Happy Star Wars Day! Star Wars Events and Exhibits in the USA

Friday May 4, 2012

Stormtrooper parade on Star Wars Weekend at Disney

Today, May the 4th, is Star Wars Day. Get it? May the 4th be with you?

Even after almost 35 years since the original Star Wars movie debuted in theaters, the franchise is going strong with several events and exhibits dedicated to exploring the sci-fi film series and its memorable characters. Following are just a few of the Star Wars-related events and exhibits that you can catch in the USA this year.

Star Wars Weekends - May 18-June 10, 2012
Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida, brings back Star Wars Weekends again this year. Beginning on May 18 and running every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through June 10, Disney brings the Star Wars experience to fans with Star Tours, a Jedi Training Academy, and celebrity autograph sessions. About's Guide to Florida Travel has the scoop on everything you need to know about 2012 Star Wars Weekends.

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination
This traveling exhibit, which looks at the science behind George Lucas' science fiction saga has been making the rounds to museums since 2005. This summer, it will make its debut at Exploration Place in Wichita, Kansas, from May 26-September 3 and the Orlando Science Center from October 13, 2012, to March 17, 2013.

Other places where you can get a dose of Star Wars include Las Vegas, which has a grid of streets named after Star Wars characters. Outside of Washington, DC, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum has a display of first edition Star Wars action figures and actual vehicles that have been to space.

Did I miss any? I bet I did! If so, let me know in the comments or send me a tweet.

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What's On in May

Monday April 30, 2012

There are so many events to look forward to in May. This weekend, the race for the Triple Crown begins with the Kentucky Derby in Louisville. Meanwhile, music lovers in New Orleans can check out Jazz Fest, which runs through May 6. As for museum exhibits, ending this month are shows that feature Diego Rivera, Vincent Van Gogh, and the Dutch Masters, including Rembrandt. At the end of May, of course, is Memorial Day, which unofficially ushers in summer.

To find out what's going on in the USA in May, check out the links below.

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Photo of the Day: Welcome Home, Discovery

Tuesday April 17, 2012

Space Shuttle Discovery

I'm just back from watching the final landing of Space Shuttle Discovery. Discovery is the first of four NASA space shuttles being retired to museums this year. A few days from now, officials at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, one of the best (if not THE best) aviation museums in the U.S., will unveil Discovery in its new home.

Over the next several months, the remaining three shuttles - Enterprise, Endeavour, and Atlantis - will make their way to the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum, the California Science Center, and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, respectively.

Enterprise is set to do a fly-over of New York City on April 23 before landing at Kennedy International Airport. According to a report by NPR, Enterprise will then be transported by a barge up the Hudson River. Endeavour will be flown to Los Angeles in September or October and will travel atop a a large transport vehicle 12 miles through the streets of L.A. to get to the California Science Center. Atlantis, meanwhile, will stay in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center.

Couldn't Get to Coachella? Watch It Live on YouTube For Free

Friday April 13, 2012

Coachella 2012
The first weekend of Coachella, one of 2012's top music festivals, kicks off later today in Indio, California. If you weren't able to make it to the festival this year - or if you've got tickets for next weekend and want to see what you're in for - then you're in luck. Coachella will be live-streaming performances all weekend over YouTube for FREE.

Starting at 3:55 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (6:55 p.m. Eastern), Coachella streaming will go live with the English band James. Twenty-four acts, broadcast over three YouTube channels, will hit the stage tonight with headliners The Black Keys going on Channel 1 at 9:45 PDT. Other headliners this weekend include Radiohead, The Shins, and Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre.

I could not ascertain whether Coachella will offer live-streaming for next weekend, which is simply a repeat of this one. So, review the full schedule to check out live performances from your favorite bands this weekend.

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