20 years ago American Express launched their Membership Rewards program. They were the first to offer points to their members that could be redeemed for rewards.
My husband has carried an American Express card since the mid 80s, yet we didn’t sign up for the rewards program.
I shudder to think how many points we have missed in those 20 years!
Today the AmEx Membership Rewards program is bigger and better than ever. The points can be redeemed for anything from Farmville and Amazon purchases to plane flights and hotel stays.

I have been tasked with the grueling chore of designing
a weekend getaway from Dallas using Membership Rewards points.
I know! I know!
It is pure torture!
I live 20 minutes from DFW airport and would like to come up with something fun, fabulous and a bit off the beaten path.
American Express is giving one of my readers a $100 AmEx gift card for a little planning assistance.
To enter simply leave a comment below answering…
Where should I go?
Should I travel by train, plan or automobile?
What should I do when I get there?
You may leave a new answer each day.
For an additional entry you can tweet:
I told @Texasholly to go *your answer here* with @AmericanExpress – http://bit.ly/reiObM for a chance to win $100 AmEx gift card
If you tweet, please leave a comment.
The giveaway ends July 16, 2011 at midnight CST and the winner will be selected randomly and notified via email.
I will be choosing my three favorite travel suggestions to explore further in future posts while bemoaning 20 lost years of rewards points…
She is Dallas info: The $100 AmEx gift card is being provided by American Express. American Express is also placing 150,000 Membership Rewards points in my newly opened rewards account to plan this trip. Thanks American Express!
tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/Mommy2Marlie/status/90424301311897600
If you want quirky take a plane ride to Niagara Falls. They have lots of weird attractions like the CSI game played at the wineries
http://twitter.com/#!/mellanhead/status/90419101402533888
I told Holly to go to Seattle by plane and to visit the Public Market! It is a hoot.
and then I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/eyewonit/status/90411945051697152
the Canadian side of Niagara Falls!
I’d go to the Grand Canyon and hike.
Go local. you’ll be surprise how many places are in your locale that you never got to check out. Then steal away and pretend to be tourists 🙂
tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/tnrina/status/90258054599278592
How about a hometown post? Take pics of your hometown, local businesses, beautiful places to visit. Not sure if you live in your hometown, so you may not have to go anywhere at all! It would be fun, local businesses would be excited to promote themselves, and you can show others how great your town is!
tweet!
http://twitter.com/#!/ChildrenTeach/status/90255629083611137