By The Way from The Washington Post

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By Gabe Hiatt

Mentioned in this newsletter: A knockout restaurant in Kentucky; a Hawaiian tourism revolution; what’s open during the government shutdown; flying hygiene; and why you should go to the rodeo.

Bourbon on display at Old Forester Distilling Co. in downtown Louisville. (AP Photo/Bruce Schreiner)

A surprise taste of Bourbon

Hello! I’m travel editor Gabe Hiatt, and I’ll be your captain for today’s newsletter.

I’m preparing to fly to Louisville, Kentucky, for a weekend with friends. That reminds of the last time I was in town (pronounced Loo-Uh-Vol), and the same friends took us out for a dinner that knocked my proverbial socks off.

The restaurant was North of Bourbon, a sly name that could refer to the city’s affinity for a particular brown liquor or a menu of Cajun and Creole dishes that would be appropriate on Bourbon Street, a few states over in New Orleans. But if you have any doubts about where you are sitting, the booths are made of giant barrels.

Because I’m from Houston and my first job was in a Louisiana-style restaurant, it was an unexpected taste of home with some playful riffs. Case in point: a vegan Caesar made with mirliton, a.k.a. chayote squash, a crisp vegetable with a texture akin to apple or jicama when eaten raw. My mom used to put it in soups.

That meal was a reminder that A) home is where you make it, and B) great company makes a memorable meal. But it helps if you’re in the hands of a capable kitchen.

TIPS

Zach Top performs during the Academy of Country Music Awards in May. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Plan your next trip around a concert

The excuse for this weekend’s excursion, aside from getting face time with some of our favorite people, is to see ’90s country revivalist Zach Top rock the KFC Yum! Center, a real place, exclamation point and all, I assure you. That means we are participating in a timeless trend that’s now known as “gig-tripping.” This type of trip brought us to Pittsburgh for the first time to see Waxahatchee. We had been talking about a drive up to see the Pirates play ball at stunning PNC Park for a long time, but the show was the nudge we needed.

HAWAII

(Mengshin Lin for The Washington Post)

How Native Hawaiians are reimagining tourism

Hawaii wants visitors to prioritize Native culture. But economic forces and trouble in the state’s tourism agency pose a threat to the “regenerative” revolution.

SHUTDOWN SITES

Tourists flock to Mather Point at Grand Canyon National Park on the first day of the government shutdown.

(Ross D. Franklin/AP)

What’s open during the government shutdown? A running list for travelers.

National parks are open with limited staffing, but sites such as the Liberty Bell and the Washington Monument are closed. Here’s what else visitors need to know.

YEEHAW!

Girls sit on a fence to watch a pole bending event at the Utah High School Rodeo Association Finals in Heber City in 2019.

(Natalie Behring/Alamy)

Getting into cowboy-core? Head to the rodeo.

Pop culture has gone country. The groundswell is bringing attention to one of the most enduring spectacles of cowboy culture — the rodeo.

BTW Concierge

(María Alconada Brooks/The Washington Post)

What’s the hygiene etiquette on a long flight?

The time limit on a single swipe of deodorant, what to keep in your toiletry bag and other tips from etiquette experts.

ON INSTAGRAM

How can the government shutdown impact travel in America? Here’s one example: you could encounter longer lines at the airport. (TSA officers and air traffic controllers are ordered to work without pay, which can lead to staffing issues.)

If you want to read my article on the fastest way to get through security these days, comment with a newspaper emoji