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We all have someone special in our lives who is absolutely smitten with the magic of travel. From outdoor enthusiasts and budget travelers to road trippers, frequent flyers, and luxury travelers, finding memorable gifts for travelers can be both exciting and challenging.

Curated by our team of local travel experts with help from our readers, OnlyInYourState is excited to present our 2023 holiday gift guide for travelers. Featuring both budget selections and splurges, we hope to make your holiday gift-giving a breeze this year, bringing wanderlust to your loved ones with more than 75 unique gifts for travelers – many of which are easily considered the best gifts for frequent travelers under $50. Check out our favorite travel gifts for your Christmas and holiday gift-giving this year.

Table of Contents

Gift Ideas For The Family Traveler

Traveling with a family can often feel like anything *but* a vacation. Luckily, with a little planning and some key must-haves hand-picked by OnlyInYourState family traveling pros, you can not only arrive at your destination sans headache, but even enjoy the journey with these travel necessities and gifts for families.

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Gift Ideas For The Road Trip Enthusiast

From unique gifts for solo travelers to gifts for retirees who travel full-time, the road trip enthusiast in your life is sure to love these one-of-a-kind gifts for road trip lovers.

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Gift Ideas For The Beach Lover

Gift Ideas For The Outdoor Adventurer

Here at OnlyInYourState, we love little more than exploring the great outdoors. Whether your close friend is planning a bucket-list camping trip to a national park or you have a family member who enjoys weekly hiking excursions close to home, your favorite Outdoor Adventurer is sure to love these unique gifts for outdoor lovers.

Gift Ideas For The Frequent Flyer

Whether you have a jet-setting friend or are searching for the best gifts for business travelers, frequent flyers require the right gear, organization, and comfort during those long hours in the air.

Gift Ideas For The Luxury Traveler

If you’re the type whose wanderlust leads to the world’s most exotic locales, who likes to travel in style, and who appreciates high-thread-count sheets and bespoke concierge services, the following luxury travel gifts for her and luxury travel gifts for him are sure to please – and just might inspire you to book your next trip!

Honorable Mentions

Don’t see a gift suitable for the travel enthusiast in your life above? What about the weekend warrior? What about the best gifts for travel photographers, digital nomads, or solo travelers in your life? Read on for our gift selections for all of these travelers and more.

So, tell us, who are you most excited to shop for this year? Do you need even more help finding the best travel gifts for everyone on your list, or do you have a few travel essentials you think everyone should own? Whether it’s for a quick trip to New York or an adventure in Europe, share your recommendations in the comments, and we might add your gift idea to our next gift guide!

247Sports Embed Resource

Even in his 51st season of coaching, Nick Saban still has a few tricks up his sleeve.

The Alabama coach viewed Saturday's game at Kentucky as a potential trap game for his team, so he did what made sense: he set out rat traps around Alabama's practice facility during the week.

"So in our head, we were preaching, talking about some guys -- don't get caught up in the trap," said cornerback Terrion Arnold, who revealed Saban's plot after Alabama resounding beat the Wildcats, 49-21. "Think about it: when you think about all this and all the external factors, you came off of two big wins. Coach Saban said it's human nature to be happy."

Alabama entered 8-1, needing a win to clinch the SEC West. But a chilly noon ET kickoff in sleepy Kroger Field against Kentucky, which entered 6-3, posed a risk for Alabama after two emotional home wins over Tennessee and LSU. Saban even needed to "straighten out" his wife, Terry, after she looked too far ahead to the Iron Bowl following the LSU win.

"I was really pleased that the team didn't buy into the rat poison, or whatever you want to call it," Saban said Saturday after the win in Lexington. "I thought this was a little bit of a trap game."

It was the first time during Arnold's three seasons that Saban had set out the traps to send a message. But even without any signage to explain why the traps were there, players knew.

Terrion Arnold on the literal rat traps around #Alabama’s facilities this past week: https://t.co/vfO6DHdQjO pic.twitter.com/r3agcRx9Gq

— Cody Goodwin (@codygoodwin) November 11, 2023

And in Arnold's case, his curiosity got the best of him.

"Had the little cheese right there," he said. "I'm kind of, like, they would say, an adventurer. So I kind of put my hand [in there] and see if it really worked. It really did work. I got popped right here on my finger."

Even Terry Saban was sending text messages to Arnold with the same goal in mind as her husband.

"She was just keeping the main thing the main thing," Arnold said. "Just reiterating that it's human nature to be at a high. Just got to stay focused, stay humble, stay disciplined."

Alabama raced to a 21-0 start, scoring three touchdowns on its first three possessions over the game's first 10 minutes. Some blips on defense followed, but four more touchdowns from the offense extinguished any threat from Kentucky.

"I actually asked the players yesterday in the team meeting, to stand up and say what they had to do," Saban said. "Each position, each leader at each position. I told them before the game that I trusted that they would go out and do that. That's exactly what they did."

By Mrs. Patricia Love, Special NDG Contributor

Editor’s Note: The staff of NDG could not agree more that Sis. Tarpley is a remarkable woman who boldly, and loving, shares her love of God with everyone. It is delightful to see her many accomplishments spotlighted and celebrated. We join the officials and members of Bethel Bible Fellowship and dignitaries of the City of Carrollton and the Carrollton -Farmers Branch I.S.D in saluting Sis. Tarpley!

This year Bethel Bible Fellowship decided to honor members of its congregation by highlighting their contributions to Black History. One of the members selected for honoring for her community service is Sis. Shirley Tarpley. On Sunday Feb. 22 the church will honor another member, Mr. Scott Hunter who lived in Selma, Alabama during the march shown in the movie Selma.

Although Sister Shirley Tarpley is a relatively new member of Bethel Bible Fellowship, I mentioned to Dr. Terrance Woodson, Senior Pastor of our church that she is so charming , he asked me if I knew she had been on the City Council of Carrollton. He pointed me to article written about her by the local NAACP. There I saw her many firsts and exclaimed to Pastor Woodson, “She is living history, what a great person for our children and congregation to hear from. A living witness of history.”

The presentation included a video interview allowing Sis. Tarpley to share her story to the church, family, and friends. Always a delightful storyteller. in the video Sis. Tarpley shared a story about what would happen if a teacher had to call her parents because she misbehaved at school:

“I only said, it would be very bad for you, but I didn’t say how it would be bad, now I want to say for all Demus children, if a teacher called our parents about bad conduct, we would get at least four beatings, the first was because had brought shame to the name “Demus”, acting a fool in school, we were always told that we were given that name as a privilege to be respected and worn with pride and honor, as if we asked to be born! (Many times I wanted to say, “Can’t I just give the name back? But, I did not want to die right on the spot!)

The 2nd beating was because we led the teacher to think that we had not been taught how to act in public, another big no, no!

The 3rd beating was we failed to show proper respect to those who had authority over us when we were not at home.

The 4th beating was because we lost our self-respect, you must respect yourself before others could respect you.

The 5th beating was because we had caused them to whip us and they were already tired from working all day making a decent living for us and this made our parents really angry.

And, maybe the 6th and last beating for the infraction in school was for just general principle (GP) they said.

Now keep in mind, these beating would last for two or more days, according to how tired out parents were.

Therefore, if we acted a “fool in school, as our parents would say, it was better to beg the teacher not to call home, we were more than willing to do anything they wanted us to do and to gladly take any punishment, just don’t call our parents!”

Born and reared in Dallas, Texas, Sister Shirley Demus Tarpley believes in a commitment to God, family, church, education and the community. She grew up in a home that consisted of her godly parents (Mr. Lloyd David and Mrs. Cedella Baker Demus), four sisters and three brothers.

Sister Tarpley was educated in segregated schools in Dallas; she attended elementary and middle schools, and in 1959 she graduated from Booker T. Washington High School (known today as Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet in North Dallas) which was one of only three African American High Schools in the Dallas Independent School District (DISD.)

She graduated from Prairie View A & M University, a Historical Black College & University (HBCU) in Prairie View, Texas, with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Education and a Minor Degree in Economics.

After graduation from college, she married and began working for Collins Radio Company (the name was changed to Rockwell International) as a Production Secretary. The company was contracted by the United States’ government to produce the communication system for our first space ship launched by the U.S. Space Program. This is one of the highlights in her life, because she received the highest security clearance from the federal government to work on the project.

In 1965 she and the late Mr. Lorenzo Tarpley moved to Carrollton, Texas, and purchased their first home, which at the time was a small suburban town of only 9,000 plus residents; today its population is approximately 130,000 and Blacks comprised of approximately two percent of its population; it was still geographically segregated, making the Tarpley’s the first Black family to integrate the “all-white” section of town.

Sister Tarpley integrated R. L. Turner High School (RLT), the only high school in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch I.S.D. (C-FBISD) at the time. With the exception of her first year of teaching at RLT, she was voted one of the Top 10 Teachers by each senior class until she transferred to the new high school. She integrated Newman Smith High School (NSHS) in 1978, the second high school built in C-FBISD; she remained at NSHS until her retirement in 1996.

She and her husband had two children, a son, Jarrell Edwin, a graduate of RLT and The University of North Texas University (UNT) in Denton, Texas. Jarrell was a standout, award winning football player and attended UNT on a full football scholarship. He had the honor of being on the prestigious and highly covered Texas All Star Football Team from the North; only 30 are selected from all of the high schools in Texas each year. He lives in Venus, Texas, with his wife, Cleo Spann Tarpley, they have one son.

Her daughter Sheila Donnise is a graduate of RLT and Texas Woman’s University (TWU) in Denton, Texas, was a standout cheerleader in Peewee, Junior High and Senior High Schools (she integrated all three cheerleading squads.) Sheila was honored by the RLT Football Team as their personal Sweetheart her junior and her senor years. She was the first Black and only cheerleader honored with this title two years in a row, and this honor stands today. Sheila attended TWU on an academic scholarship. She is married to William (Bill) Lott; they have three children, and they live in Carrollton, Texas. Sheila is also a minister in the gospel.

Sister Tarpley is the proud grandmother of four: Tyanna Donnise, David Edward, and Philip Immanual Lott and Deven Jaquan Tarpley.

In 1991 she became the first Black female to integrate and serve on the Carrollton City Council. In 1993 she ran unopposed for council and received the second highest votes in the history of Carrollton’s elections. This record stands to this day. In 1995 she became the first Black to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Carrollton.

Sister Tarpley received her Master’s Certificate in Dispute Resolution (Mediation, Negotiation, and Arbitration) from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas.

In 2001 she became the first Religious Editor for the North Dallas Gazette weekly newspaper in Plano, Texas–“North Dallas” Weekly Paper of Choice.” She continues to serve in that position.

Her parents taught her to take pride in her heritage, to strive for the best in everything you do, to accept all people as they are, and to love and trust God above everybody and everything else. She continues to live by the teachings of her late parents and has always shared this philosophy with her children, her family, her church, school and her community.

A look back at the accomplishments and accolades of Sis. Shirley Tarpley

For over 40 years Sister Tarpley received many awards, accolades and “firsts” in her teaching profession and life and they include:

1. Personal Secretary for her Church Senior Pastor.

2. Church Announcer.

3. Sunday School Superintendent at church.

4. Sunday School Teacher at church.

5. 1993, KDFW-TV, Channel 4, selected Mrs. Tarpley as their first “Class Act” Teacher in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex.

6. First Black Board Member of Carrollton’s Park Board.

7. Executive Board of the City of Carrollton Bi-Centennial Commission.

8. Executive Board Member of Carrollton’s Peewee Football Association.

9. Executive Board Member of Carrollton’s Peewee Cheerleader Association.

10. Peewee Team Mother for many of Carrollton’s football and cheerleader teams.

11. Executive Board Member of the Parents, Teachers & Students Associations (PTSAs) at Central Elementary School, Dewitt Perry Jr. High School and R. L. Turner High School.

12. Senior Class Sponsor at Newman Smith High School (NSHS).

13. Junior Cheerleader Team Sponsor at NSHS.

14. PTSA Member at NSHS.

15. Co-Sponsor of NSHSs ACT-SO Organization of the NAACP.

16. Sponsor of Black History Programs in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch I.S.D.

17. Instrumental in bringing the first Black History Class to C-FBISD.

18. Instrumental in C-FBISD honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the schools being closed for his federal holiday each year.

19. Executive Board Member of Carrollton’s Country Fair Committee

20. Honored for contributions to C-FBISD by Christ Community Connection (CCC), a non-profit community organization in Carrollton.

Patricia Love is the Church administrator at Bethel Bible Fellowship. North Dallas Gazette contributed to this article also.

Applications for vendors to sell crafts such as clothing, jewelry, decor, and candles at the 2015 citywide special events are now available. A craft marketplace will be included in the Taste of Irving in May and the Irving Main Street Event in September. Booth spaces include tent, table, chairs and access to electricity.

Craft vendors interested in participating in one or both of these events must submit a completed Non-Food Vendor Application to the Special Events Team. Irving-based businesses and organizations seeking to have an information booth must submit a Non-Food Vendor Application as well.

Download the application here, or visit the Parks & Recreation Office at Irving City for a paper copy. For more information about craft vendor opportunities, call (972) 721-2773.

The high temperatures crops experienced over recent weeks across much of the state could translate into lower yields for producers, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research expert.

Lee Tarpley, Ph.D., AgriLife Research plant physiologist, Beaumont, said the recent heat wave arrived at a bad time for rice fields along the Gulf Coast. The triple-digit temperatures coupled with lingering drought conditions are also likely to negatively impact other crops during sensitive production stages.

All plants and vegetation experience heat stress when daytime and nighttime temperatures hit extreme highs like Texas has experienced over recent weeks. Heat and drought can stress plants, damage their cell membranes and disrupt metabolic efficiency during processes like photosynthesis and respiration, Tarpley said.

But the combination of high daytime and nighttime temperatures can economically damage commodity crops, especially during sensitive growth periods like flowering, he said.

“The period of high temperatures came so early that it will likely hit a lot of crops when they are most sensitive,” he said.

For example, Tarpley said the cotton fields endured 100-plus degree days, above-normal nighttime temperatures and less than optimal soil moisture levels at bloom. The convergence of conditions is likely to translate into aborted squares and thus fewer pounds per acre or discounted gradings.

Rice and other grains experience similar yield loss under stressful conditions, but differently. Heat and moisture stress lead to reduced seed set and grain fill as heat leads to oxidative stress and can damage flower parts and developing reproductive structure.

High temperatures can also negatively impact the viability of pollen, which can influence how the ultimate crop sets and fills out, Tarpley said. Texas watermelon and cantaloupe producers reported pollination viability issues due to high temperatures earlier this season.

“Pollen development is a heat-sensitive period for rice and some other crops,” he said. “That stage precedes flowering by 10-14 days, and it was in the upper 90s during the day, which is rare for Beaumont. So, I expect there to be some impact on pollen development in rice fields.”

Some later-planted crops, like corn and cotton in the Texas Plains, could also be more susceptible to the recent heat wave, especially in drier areas and if hot, dry conditions persist, Tarpley said.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service reports indicate dryland acres in drought-stricken parts of the state were suffering even before the recent heat wave. Many planted crop acres have not emerged and were replanted with other crops that were also showing signs of drought stress or have not emerged.

Tarpley said he is concerned about water restrictions due to drought and their impact on irrigated crops, including rice, which needs shallow flooded fields. Restrictions could inhibit water pumping from canals. As fields dry down, nitrogen fertilizer becomes volatile in the heat and decreases its availability, further contributing to production losses related to the input cost and the ultimate reduction in yield potential.

“We’ve heard some reports of anticipated lower yields in rice, but nothing alarming so far,” he said. “The question for rice is keeping the fields flooded, which comes down to water availability.”

Water restrictions are also a concern for other parts of the state, including West and South Texas. Pecan and cotton producers in West Texas rely on water from the Elephant Butte Reservoir in New Mexico, which has provided limited water. Some crops in that area have received effluent water from El Paso.

The Rio Grande Valley, which produces a wide range of crops, relies on water released from Lake Amistad near Del Rio and Falcon Lake south of Laredo, but reservoir capacities have been declining. Lake Amistad sits just above 36% capacity, while Falcon Lake is just under 16% full.

Record hot conditions continued with no rainfall. There were 20 100-plus degree days reported so far. Crop drought stress continued with virtually no soil moisture. Watering restrictions were now in effect. Corn crops were burning up rapidly and otherwise showing widespread insufficient kernel fill. Sorghum was coloring and declining, but fields were still holding on. Cotton looked good, and most fields were flowering. Pastures and rangelands were in poor condition. Stock tanks were becoming drastically low, and local ranchers were purchasing hay bales to supplement pasture growth. There were reports of round bales selling for $150 each, with some reaching $200. Some culling of beef herds was occurring due to the high feed and forage costs.

Extreme heat dried out soil moisture. Daytime temperatures reached beyond 100 degrees. Sudan grass looked good but was starting to die back. Some crop fields were burned up and plowed under. Wind, heat and drought were taking a toll on the few acres of cotton that emerged. Some cotton reached the nine-node vegetative stage with no pest issues and good beneficial insect populations. Sorghum fields had good beneficial insect numbers present as well. Corn and sorghum fields were declining weekly in some areas, and yields were expected to suffer. Peanuts looked good. Cattle were being fed cake and supplemental feed. Bermuda grass fields had some green, but grasses were dry. Most of the hay fields were cut and baled, but producers will be lucky to get two cuttings based on their condition. Hay supplies were tight and expensive. Some crops burned up and needed to be plowed under.

Hot and dry weather persisted, and soil conditions were extremely dry. Most corn fields were nearing full maturity, and some producers were harvesting. Sorghum was close to harvest, with some harvest beginning on early planted fields. Cotton fields were short and maturing at an accelerated rate due to heat and drought. Rice was heading out. All crop yields were expected to be low due to extreme drought. Rangeland and pasture conditions continued to decline, and forage supplies were tightening as supplemental feeding continued. Livestock on rangeland were finding mesquite beans, which were helping to hold condition. Many producers were selling calves early and culling cows to conserve the remaining grass. The livestock market was holding up under the increased number of cattle being sold. The short-term weather pattern showed an increased chance of rainfall.

Drought conditions worsened, as very little to no rainfall was reported. Several counties implemented burn bans. High temperatures and lack of moisture halted grass growth and drastically slowed hay production. Pasture and rangeland conditions varied from very poor to good. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were short to very short. Many producers were culling herds due to input costs. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Creek and pond levels were dropping and caused concern about water supplies. Horse flies were a problem.

Dry conditions continued across the district. Some counties reported some showers that could provide relief for rangelands. Much of the dryland cotton across the district was in poor to fair condition. Some irrigated cotton was starting to square. Cattle were on supplemental feed across the district. Irrigated corn was in fair condition.

Soil moisture was short. Wheat harvest continued, but very little wheat was being harvested due to drought, and yields were low on surviving acres. Corn was doing well under irrigation. Dryland crops were suffering under extreme heat and drought. Isolated showers helped in those areas, but significant, widespread rains were needed. Overall, rangeland and pasture conditions were poor, and crop conditions were poor to fair.

Soil moisture was short following two weeks of 100-plus degree temperatures and sustained winds. Hit-and-miss rain showers did not help soil moisture levels. Some counties were under burn bans. Producers were cutting hay but only reporting one-third of their normal production. Pastures continued to decline. The sorghum crop looked good and appeared to be tolerating the dry heat. Rain in the next few weeks will be necessary for the sorghum to finish strong. Some corn was dying back prematurely due to the lack of moisture. Soybeans looked good, but late-planted fields were struggling. Cattle were in good condition. Parasite and fly loads were decreasing. Goat kidding was going well.

Conditions were dry, and temperatures remained over 100 degrees. Cotton was growing, but most fields were spotty depending on when they were planted and moisture levels at planting. Hay fields were in trouble, with many dollars invested. The pecan crop did not look promising at all. Insect pests were increasing. Culling increased for all livestock, but the cattle market was holding steady.

Conditions were extremely dry and windy with temperatures in the 100s. Irrigated crops were still in good shape. Corn was drying fast, and many fields were being made into hay. Sorghum turned color. Rangelands were very dry and being de-stocked. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued. A local sale barn reported lower sale volumes due to the lack of cattle in the area. Prices were still fair as producers continued to reduce numbers. Fawn survival rates were questionable due to the heat and lack of vegetation. Local rivers and creeks were at historical lows. Tanks were drying up.

Most areas reported short soil moisture levels, while others reported very short to adequate conditions. All areas reported high temperatures, including daytime highs above 100 degrees. Winds and heat were hurting irrigation applications. Vegetable crop production declined significantly, and row crop conditions were declining as well. Producers were preparing row crop fields for harvest. Peanut planting was completed, and early planted fields were pegging. Corn fields were denting and coloring, and sorghum was showing signs of moisture stress. Sugarcane aphid numbers were increasing in sorghum. Sorghum and corn harvests were underway in some areas. Cotton was blooming, but many dryland fields were not progressing well. Tarnish and green plant bugs were reported in some cotton, and producers were expected to spray. Stinkbugs were in soybeans. Watermelons and cantaloupes irrigated by canal water were doing well. Sunflower harvest was almost halfway complete, with 1,200-1,800 pounds-per-acre yields reported. Citrus and sugarcane were being irrigated. Irrigated Bermuda grass was producing good bales. Forage quality in pastures and rangelands were declining. Hay production was below normal. Pastures and hay grazer were being sprayed with herbicides and liquid fertilizer, but pasture and rangeland conditions continued to decline. Producers were providing supplemental feed to livestock and trying to secure hay. Cattle were being marketed in above-average volumes as producers continued to cull deeper. Cattle body condition scores were declining. Deer were beginning to fawn, but water and food sources were scarce.

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Laura Muntean[email protected]6012481891

903-834-6191

[email protected]

Adam Russell is a communication specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife. Adam is responsible for writing news releases and feature articles focused on Texas A&M AgriLife Extension programs and science-based information generated by Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists across the state. He also generates the weekly Texas Crop and Weather Report and handles public and media relations.

Category:Farm & Ranch

247Sports Embed Resource

Unlike a lot has teammates, Texas A&M wideout Jalen Preston returned quietly and without fanfare for his sixth season of Aggies' football this upcoming fall. However, he used social media to announce that he had landed a NIL deal with Gage-Gandy Bail Bonds.

"Excited to announce my partnership with partnership with @gage_gandy_bail-bonds. Ready to help the Aggies get their feet back on the street!"

Preston caught seven passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in 2022. Despite his limited playing time, he predicted the week before the Aggies' season finale with then fifth ranked LSU that “We’re playing to get this chip off our shoulder. Obviously, we’ve been losing and we’re just trying to prove that we can do it. With UMass coming up, hopefully come out here and dominate them. And with LSU coming up, hopefully we can like ‘I don’t know if this is bad’, but piss in their cornflakes. That’s what we wanna do.”

Preston didn't have any receptions in the contest but his teammate came out and backed up his statement by beating the Tigers 38-23.

Preston was rated as a 0.9557 in the 247 Sports Composite in the Aggies' 2018 recruiting class. He was a top 100 prospect nationally, a top ten prospect in the state of Texas, one of the 20 best wideouts in the country, and the second highest rated member of the class.

Preston averaged over 20 yards per reception during his three years in high school and helped Manvel to the state finals as a senior. He grabbed 47 catches for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns for a 14-1 team in 2017 and in the process earned All-Greater Houston honors from the Houston Chronicle and was the District 23-5A MVP. He also contributed a touchdown via punt return and kickoff return. As a junior, Preston made 33 catches for 664 yards and ten scores and found a way to add three return touchdowns and was named the District 23-5A Special Teams MVP.

He was a big play not only in terms of being able to take the top off of a defense but also making things happen after the catch and even in the return game. He participated in The Opening prior to his senior season and the Under Armour All American game after it.

However, Preston has had just limited playing time during his career in Aggieland, spending most of his time on special teams and catching just 35 balls. He redshirted as a freshman and used his COVID season of 2020 to come back for the 2023 campaign.