Travel category, Page 15
A new Seven Mile Bridge is in the works for the Florida Keys. What the state has planned
MIAMI — The Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys was considered an engineering marvel when it opened in 1982. For 40 years, the span along the Overseas Highway has offered breathtaking views for people driving to and from Marathon in the Middle Keys. If you’re heading to Key West...
Plan to arrive early if you are flying home for the holidays
Airline passengers know they must get to the airport early when traveling. But, how early? One hour? Four hours? A Texas travel company, Upgraded Points, has ranked 50 major airports in the United States to determine how early passengers should arrive to avoid “Christmas chaos.” “There’s no place like home...
Nature experiences in Costa Rica that you won’t want to miss
Costa Rica may well be one of the first countries to come to people’s minds when discussing ecotourism and nature travel. With 25% of its territory protected through parks or nature reserves, the options to immerse yourself in its extensive nature are endless. Here are some of the top nature...
4 Christmas destinations just a road trip away from Western Pa.
Here is a look at four holiday-themed destinations, in addition to Overly’s Country Christmas, just a road trip away that people can enjoy this Christmas season. Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana, Pa. “It’s a Wonderful Life” fans can learn more about the life of the film’s star at the Jimmy...
Report: Reliability, low fares, short trips key to transit in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia
(The Center Square) – As transit agencies across the country struggle to recover from pandemic-induced ridership loss, getting back to the basics of reliability might matter most. A new report from Moovit, a trip-planning app, analyzed user data in 2022 in 10 major American cities. Transit riders complained of unreliable...
The problems with using buy now, pay later to fund travel
Book a flight or hotel room now, and pay it off later? It’s an increasingly common trend in travel spending. Companies like American Airlines , United Airlines and vacation rental website Vacasa now offer the option to make reservations now and pay it back incrementally over time with “buy now,...
34 hours on America’s most scenic train. Is it as dreamy as it sounds?
There are certainly more efficient ways to get from Los Angeles to Seattle than sitting in a metal box for 34 hours. But Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train wasn’t designed for people who are in a rush. Perhaps you’ve come across this train on Instagram, YouTube or TikTok, where people rave...
Daycation: Steubenville, Ohio, boasts world’s largest display of life-sized nutcrackers
Experience a whimsical and traditional holiday walking tour of 200 life-sized nutcrackers on display in historic Steubenville, Ohio, located about 40 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. The Steubenville Nutcracker Village offers a free, 24/7 nutcracker self- guided outdoor tour opportunity through Jan. 7. Billed as the world’s largest collection of life-sized nutcrackers,...
Why booking directly with airlines can be more expensive
Early in the pandemic, many travelers experienced headaches while trying to rebook air travel purchased through third parties such as Orbitz and Kayak. Overloaded customer service centers and constantly changing airline policies resulted in a big mess at these agencies, prompting many travelers to book directly through the airline to...
Low-cost carriers expanding service at Pittsburgh International Airport
As air travel continues to rebound from the pandemic, Pittsburgh International Airport is receiving boosts from some ultra-low-cost carriers that plan to add or expand service to several markets starting next year. Sun Country Airlines said Monday that it will increase seasonal service between Pittsburgh and Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport...
Thanksgiving might bring changes in holiday-travel habits
The Thanksgiving travel rush was back on this year, as people caught planes in numbers not seen in years, setting aside inflation concerns to reunite with loved ones and enjoy some normalcy after two holiday seasons marked by COVID-19 restrictions. Changing habits around work and play, however, might spread out...
‘A Christmas Story’ home for sale in Cleveland
One of the most recognizable homes in holiday cinematic history is for sale. The iconic house from “A Christmas Story,” watched by millions every yuletide, was listed Monday. Vandergrift resident Lisa Dormire took a day trip last December to tour the home with a group of senior citizens from Redstone...
Expect more drivers on the road this Thanksgiving despite record gas prices
Motorists can expect record high gas prices when they hit the road for Thanksgiving next week. The national average fuel price is expected be $3.68 on Thanksgiving Day, almost 30 cents higher than last year and more than 20 cents above the previous record of $3.44 set in 2012. Despite...
Airbnb aims to convince more people to rent out their homes
Convinced that the boom in leisure travel is permanent, Airbnb aims to expand its listings by convincing more people to turn their homes into short-term rentals. The company said Wednesday that it will increase the amount of liability coverage for hosts, up to $3 million, in a play for owners...
The busiest days to fly during the winter holidays
Most weeks of the year, Fridays are the busiest days to fly, and Tuesdays are the least busy. But during the holidays, that trend doesn’t necessarily hold true. In most years, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is actually the busiest travel day for U.S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration,...
Spirit Airlines to cut flights from Arnold Palmer Regional to Ft. Lauderdale
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport is marketing itself to other low-cost carriers as Spirit Airlines told officials it will be halting its flights from the Unity area to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Dec. 5. Spirit’s decision leaves Orlando as the sole destination for commercial flights from the airport near Latrobe, where...
In a recent WWII Days reenactment, some participants played the Nazis — here’s why they do it
Someone has to play the bad guy. Someone has to play the Nazi. Otherwise, how do you teach history? I heard this a lot. Whenever I would ask anyone portraying a German soldier at Rockford, Illinois’ annual World War II Days about why they had chosen to reenact a soldier...
Daycation: Smicksburg offers a rural retreat 60 miles from Pittsburgh
Unplug and unwind with a rural road trip retreat to Amish country in Indiana County. A daycation to Smicksburg offers a glimpse into a large Amish population living a simpler, agricultural lifestyle rich in their religious beliefs. More than 300 Amish families reside in the Smicksburg area, co-existing among those...
Why booking travel on your phone is a bad idea
Since the first iPhone launched 15 years ago, consumer shopping habits have slowly but relentlessly shifted toward mobile devices. According to a survey of 3,250 U.S. consumers from Pymnts.com, a website dedicated to analyzing the role of payments in new tech, the majority of travel service purchases (51.4%) were made...
Alpine views, picturesque towns, and a mountain to cycle up
CLUSES, France — “Be patient, slow down,” I reminded myself as we neared the summit of the Col de la Colombiere in the French Alps, a climb that’s been ridden 23 times in the Tour de France. And, trust me, they don’t include it so regularly in the world’s most...
Visit Kauai to tour, taste through one of America’s only working chocolate farms
KAPA’A, Kauai, Hawaii — In a quiet clearing on the lush, tropical fruit and chocolate plantation of Lydgate Farms, we take our first bite of tangy, mucilaginous cacao fruit. The creamy white pulp could have become an epic sour candy flavor had it not been overshadowed two millennia ago by...
West Virginia spring’s waters still drawing devotees
BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Every couple weeks, Lauren Lee stuffs a few dozen gallon jugs into a big black laundry bag. She brings it to a covered pavilion right in the middle of Berkeley Springs State Park, which itself is right in the middle of downtown Berkeley Springs, West Virginia....
Is inflation affecting travel points and miles?
After years of unusually low prices on airfare and vacation rentals during the pandemic, travel prices have taken off in 2022. And while travel price inflation has cooled with slowing demand and falling fuel prices this fall, it continues to affect travelers’ plans and budgets. So with travel prices still...
Report: Theme park attendance was a roller coaster in 2021
ORLANDO, Fla. — Last year was a roller coaster ride for theme parks worldwide, with U.S. water parks approaching pre-pandemic levels and parks in China struggling with lockdowns, according to a new report. The speed of recovery was greatly influenced by the level of government restrictions, the success of vaccine...
New York’s Hamptons offer a feast of indoor, outdoor art
On the eastern end of Long Island, New York, lies a trove of art venues and a rich cultural scene to explore at leisure. You can find works in lush gardens and meadows, on manicured lawns, around ponds with waterlilies, by marshy creeks, and in historic Hamptons buildings. The list...
