Los Angeles Times Travel Show
The World Comes To LA For Two Days

Relax and see the world at the 2013 Los Angeles Times Travel Show.

That pinch one feels is not a significant other playing around or uncomfortable jeans settling into place. It's the travel bug.

And that travel bug bites everyone who walks through the door at the Los Angeles Times Travel Show.

The annual event – the 2013 show was Feb. 23-24 at the Los Angeles Convention Center –  brings together tourism boards from around the globe, giving people in Southern California the chance to sample countries as if they were appetizers at a dinner party.

You can pillange and plunder all the brochures at the show.

You can also become a part of culture at the show.

Added to this travel bonanza is live entertainment that gives the show a flamboyant flair and a huge panel of travel expert speakers.

In addition to dream travel destinations in Asia, Europe, South America the USA and several places throughout the host Golden State, the LA Times Travel & Adventure Show features a monster list of more than 30 first-rate speakers such as Arthur Frommer, Rick Steves and Johnny Jet talking everything travel and giving travel advice and tips.

The 2013 show also has a culinary flare to it with cooking demonstrations taking place from opening to close.

And where there's food, there's also wine. On Saturday, South African Tourism presents The Wines and Wine Lands of South Africa on the Destination Stage (1:15-1:45 p.m.).

And California's Sonoma Wine Country is among the exhibitors.

Even the Laker Girls are at the LA Times Travel Show.

Some people get in a little rock climbing at the show.

Cultural demonstrations are a big part of the show.

"It's a tremendous opportunity for consumers to get a look at – and dream of – travel destinations," said Catharine Hamm, Travel Editor of the L.A. Times. "They can also get practical and useful information about various places."

More than 500 exhibitors participate and there's even a scuba tank where anyone can pull on a wetsuit and go for an underwater swim and a 25-foot rock climbing wall. In 2011 a zip line became part of the participation activities.

Each year, cultural music and dance takes place at the Global Beat Stage throughout the two days of the show.

Some people just zip around from exhibitor to exhibitor.

South Africa is again part of the Times Travel Show.

Among the destinations at the show are: the British Virgin Islands, Catalina, China, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Korea, Laguna Beach, Los Cabos, Cambodia, Palm Springs, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Tahiti, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey.

The layout of the show is easy to follow with hanging signs identifying areas by region: Africa, Alaska, Asia, California, Canada, the Caribbean, China and Asia, Cruise, Discover America, Europe, Hawaii, International, Latin America, Mexico and the South Pacific.

Activities include rock climbing, a zip line and even scuba lessons.

In addition to the travel booths from visitor's bureaus and resorts, the LA Times Travel Show has prizes and trip giveaways. Those are always popular with travel-seeking tourists.

And, of course, the LA Times is always there, providing readers of the paper's outstanding Travel section the opportunity to meet the writers and editors.

Hours for the show are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. On Friday, there is a Travel Industry Conference ($35), and a free floor preview (RSVP required) from 3-6 p.m.

Cost for the show is $12. The LA Times offers $2 discounts in a special section produced before the event and on its website, www.latimestravelshow.com.

Travel by Metro and show your TAP card for and save $3.