Several botanical gardens are having Mother's Day events this Sunday. One of the advantages of going to a botanical garden, I've found, is that they usually have wonderful gift shops that are perfect places for picking up that last minute present.

If you've forgotten to buy your mother a gift, when she's not looking, perhaps, when she's basking in the fragrance of a floral paradise, slip into the shop to buy her a little something. Since the wedding season is upon us, pick up a wedding gift as well. Here are the first 10 botanical gardens I came across that listed a Mother's Day happening. Nine are in the U.S. and one is not.

(This photo is from a tribute to redbuds and mothers at the Children's Garden at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. My mom taught me to love redbuds too, so I thought this fitting.)

This morning, when there was one woman (me) in one car (a Toyota Corolla) going along 3 streets in 5 minutes on my way to teach a class, I heard about these 3 guys who are in a car traveling this week to all 48 states in the continental U.S. They're not traveling through each state, but are at least crossing borders to say they've been in each one.

One of the guys, Joshua Keeler, was being interviewed on the radio about the trip. Originally, years ago, this was going to be his father's trip. His dad, James, had mapped out the journey, but James' mother's death kept him from going. Joshua got hold of the maps and corralled his two friends Joey Stocking and Adam Gatherum to go along with him on this journey they are calling, "The Great American Road Trip." There is an attempt to break the Guinness record for a similar trip, although, Guinness no longer keeps such records for road safety sake.

"Why is it so hard to admit you like the good 'ole US of A?" asks Ben Groundwater, resident Backpacker Blogger at the Sydney Morning Herald.

As a non-American who spends a lot of time in the US, I wept with joy when I read his latest blog "The most underrated country in the world". OK, I didn't weep but I did enjoy it tremendously.

He gets into analyzing the American psyche, which--let's be honest here--has been the full-time job of many a backpacker worldwide. From my own modest experience psychoanalyzing the American "it", I advise against it. Unless of course you take pleasure in pissing people off. (Gadling is hiring, by the way)

Anyway, back to Ben. He shares his own observations about America: "I first touched down in the US as a kid, a time when it's impossible to hate the place....As you grow up, however, the place becomes harder and harder to love....My long-time travel buddy, the Hilton Hippy, has got the shits with the Yanks. Never going back there, he says. Doesn't want to be fingerprinted by some half-witted goon in immigration. Doesn't want to throw his tourist dollars into a place run by a glorified county sheriff....But let's cut to the biggest perceived problem with the US: the people.....They're meant to be loud-mouthed, rude, arrogant, and ridiculously insular."

Hold on here, be patient. This is where Ben goes positive on us. "Thing is, the Seppos get a bad wrap because of their behaviour when you meet them overseas, but at home, they're generous to the point of being overbearing. I've been driven across state lines by people I barely know, been offered directions by New Yorkers before I've even had a chance to pull out a map, had people beg me to come visit so they can show me their home town. Borat made those college kids look pretty damn stupid when he hitched a lift with them in the movie, but have a think about what was actually happening. Here was a bunch of kids heading off on holidays, picking up what was, to their minds at least, a middle-aged Kazakhstani hitchhiker, sharing their precious stash of beer with him and trading stories. Find me any Australians who would do that."

He's got a point there. Americans are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. (As a non-American I can actually say that and not sound like a totally clueless Yankee flag-waver.)

(Read Ben's entire The most underrated country in the world" blog here)

Tax rebates are on the way, with the first deposits inbound as early as Friday (check the schedule here) and Americans are scrambling to figure out how to blow their wad.

I happened to have two weddings to attend over the month of May, so my check will probably be going to wedding presents for the two lucky couples. O Kosta Boda, your uselessness has no end.

Over at CNN.com though, they want you to spend your money on a little R&R. Editors of Southern Living, Coastal Living, Sunset and Cottage Living have cobbled together a list of five "great tax-rebate getaways" where you can spend a portion of your hard-earned rebate on investing back into the economy.

Among their list of top destinations are

• Charleston, South Carolina
• Grand Canyon National Park
• Destin, Florida
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
• San Francisco, California

You can read all about each destination including where to stay and eat at CNN's website. Just make sure you don't do anything CRAZY like pay off bills, credit cards or even (gasp) invest your rebate.

When I told some people I was heading to Mexico to build houses there was a mixed reaction.

• Some people wanted to know how they could go along.
• Some thought that this was the greatest idea since sliced bread.
• Some gave money to help fund our endeavor
• Some were wary of the value of a bunch of high schoolers and adults descending into Mexico across from Tijuana to build houses in order to make the world a better place.
• Some thought it was a good idea that we build houses in Mexico to help keep Mexicans in Mexico.
• One person thought it ironic that I was going to Mexico to build houses when there are so many Mexican immigrants building houses here.

Such are the types of comments people make to those who are embarking on do good travel. Even Rick Steves has something to say.

Over at his wonderfully entertaining travel blog Killing Batteries, Lonely Planet author (and former Gadling contributor) Leif Pettersen offers his "Definitive Guide to Hostel Etiquette." (Okay, the post is from last year. What's your point?)

Among the tips:

• Just because you're merrily drunk doesn't mean I'm merrily drunk. This goes double for any time after midnight, because unless I've recently told you otherwise, I like sleep more than I like you.
• You are not the center of the universe, I don't care how long you studied in Paris.
• Spontaneous farting is only funny under very precise circumstances. It requires exquisite comic timing that most of you don't have, so better to just save yourself the embarrassment and do the slow release or, better yet, leave the room.
• Do not have loud sex in the room while everyone is asleep and if you do, don't get mad and demand "privacy" when the rest of us sit up and bemusedly watch.

There are 23 more. Check 'em out.

[HT: Brave New Traveler]

What do Jaunted.com and HotelChatter.com now have in common? Both of these blogs have been snapped up by CondéNet, the publisher of Concierge.com. SFO*Media, the previous publisher of these two travel blogs is now under the CondéNet umbrella.

Does this mean that Jaunted.com or HotelChatter.com will look different? Will they be different? Not necessarily. Both will continue in their blogging world ways with Jaunted honing in on popular culture travel and HotelChatter continuing to provide the latest news bits and tips about hotels and lodging around the world. Add Concierge's focus on upscale, trendy travel to the other two, and that's a powerful travel trio.

What does this mean for me, you might wonder? CondéNet now has more reach when it comes to marketing and attracting big money advertising. There will be more coordination between the three sites, so you might notice crossover information. It also says that the media world is recognizing that the people who are reached by travel blogs are mighty in numbers, are passionate about travel, and they have some money to spend. These are forces to tap into.

I am a big ZipCar fan. I can guarantee that I would like a similar service using bicycles instead of cars, as well.

DC is launching a first extensive bike-sharing initiative in the US. Registered participants can access 120 "smart bikes" at 10 different locations in the downtown area. Retrieving the bike is easy.

• Go to any bike station (see photo)
  
  
• Wave your SmartBike DC user card in front of the card reader
  
  
• Follow instructions on screen
  
  
• Retrieve assigned bike from rack

Bike-sharing has been popular throughout Europe, with cities like Paris, Barcelona or Stockholm using them. Will it work in car-infatuated America? That's a good question.

There are problems with the idea translating into this market. The US is a litigious society. People will sue if something happens to them. Helmets are not provided, yet they are required in many states. There are other liability issues. If they bike gets stolen, the customer pays.

I sincerely hope they can figure out how to make it work. It's a great idea.

If you have the foresight to have your fall travel already planned, Southwest Airlines just released a coupon code that will get you 15% off between August 23rd and October 30th.

Use coupon code DING15 to get your discount, but hurry -- the coupon code is only valid through April 21. Much of Labor day is also blacked out, so if you want to travel over that weekend make sure you take a couple of extra days off and be flexible.

Still not good enough? Keep your ears tuned to Gadling. I hear we might have some tickets to give away in the next few weeks.

Every year when the temperature warms and the wind picks up, we buy a cheap kite to fly for a day or two before we get too busy to head to an open field. As an Earth Day Celebration, what could be more environmentally friendly than kite flying? Except, of course, for the gas to get to a place with wind and enough space.

Open fields are among the best places to fly a kite if you live in an urban area. Think the middle of a high school track for one option. Look out for power lines, though. Kites and power lines are not a good combo. If you live near a coast or a large lake, head to the beach. Other places to consider are fields in city parks.

One thing I like about kite flying, once you have a kite, it's free. It's also participatory. What a great way to join in with humanity in environmentally friendly fun. Here are suggestions--some based on personal experience, what people have told me, or in this article, "The Ten Best Places Around the World to Go Fly a Kite":