Travel and Adventure Show Hit DC This Weekend

by Samantha Grieder
Capital Cooking Contributor

The Travel and Adventure Show was in DC this weekend, the last city on the national tour. With about 16,000 anticipated guests this weekend alone, the event marks a great way to help plan your next trip. Whether your eyes are on North Carolina or on far off India, with 800 travel experts and 220 booths at your disposal, you're sure to find a wealth information on any topic of your choosing.

Irish dancers at the Global Beats performance stage

For the gourmands, head to the Culinary Stage for cooking demonstrations and the Fiery Foods Challenge! See Chef Gustavo Huapalla of Rumba Cafe compete with his fabulous Argentine style empanadas. Other local chefs will demonstrate how to make traditional, spicy fare like Jamaican jerk burgers and yellow corn tamales from Belize.

On Sunday, hit the culinary stage to see the Embassy Chef Showcase and watch demos to see how to make Korean and Moroccan food.

Feel like you have what it takes in the kitchen? Three lucky attendees will get a chance to recreate a dish on the spot. The audience-selected winner will get an all-inclusive trip to Yucatan!

Ride a zipline through the convention center

Attendees can watch dancing and cultural performances at the Global Beats stage and sit in at seminars by special guests. Besides gaining a wealth of travel information, probably the most fun is participating in one of the many hands-on activities.

Ever ziplined before? Now is your chance! Climb the rock wall. Learn how to hang glide in a simulator. And for those who feel the need to hit a pool, an instructor is on hand to teach guests how to scuba. Just remember to bring your swimsuit!

Speaker highlights:

- Travel Channel host Samantha Brown

- Patricia Schultz, author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die

- Pauline Frommer, author of Frommer guidebooks

- Marc Peyser, editor of Budget Travel magazine