Travel category, Page 17
Easing into vacation aboard the Boston-to-Cape Cod train
BOSTON — Boston’s buttoned-up South Station doesn’t typically conjure images of fold-up beach chairs, straw hats and rolling Yeti coolers. But on weekend mornings during the summer, that is what you’ll see. Instead of frenzied passengers running to catch a train to another East Coast city, today’s throng of delighted...
Find quiet wilderness and a touch of luxury on water so treacherous, it’s known as the ‘River of No Return’
SALMON, Idaho — When Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery were in Salmon, Idaho, in 1805 looking for a river that could help speed their journey west, they hoped to find something akin to the Missouri with a slow, gentle flow. Instead, they found the Salmon River, a...
U.S. proposes to increase refund protections for air travelers
WASHINGTON — The Transportation Department is proposing to require airlines to offer passengers a refund if their flight schedule is changed significantly or the airline makes major changes to their itinerary. The proposed rule announced Wednesday would require airlines to give refunds if their departure or arrival time changes by...
Splendid Byzantine churches head Thessaloniki’s holy sites
THESSALONIKI, Greece — Under fluttering strings of Greek and Byzantine flags, three men raised a party tent on the terrace of the 5th century Osios David church one recent Saturday, hoping it would shelter festivalgoers from the heat that already shrouded the view of Mount Olympus across the gulf. That’s...
JetBlue-Spirit deal brings hope and concern for Western Pa.
Westmoreland County Airport Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo said he’s hopeful a $3.8 billion deal for JetBlue to purchase Spirit Airlines ultimately will be a boon for local travelers. But there are no guarantees. The deal was announced Thursday. Spirit has been the sole carrier at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport...
French riverboat tour was worth the pandemic wait
“We’ve been waiting for you” was the common theme among our cabin crew, bartenders, waiters, tour guides and the Tapestry II River Boat captain. It had been two years of waiting for the riverboats to take to the water since the boats were shut down for the pandemic. The staff...
New owner vows to preserve period appeal of Bedford County’s Lincoln Motor Court
A Bedford County native is the new proprietor and steward of a historic landmark along the Lincoln Highway. Lucas Steinbrunner, 41, said the Lincoln Motor Court, which has been in business along Route 30 in Napier Township since 1940, is a perfect fit for him. “I’ve always liked older things,”...
Up in the Bavarian Alps, rugged trails with German cheer
SCHÖNAU AM KÖNIGSSEE, Germany — At 23 minutes before midnight, at 5,600 feet above sea level, the lashing rain and furious winds outside the darkened bunkroom prompted two questions to turn over in my head: Will the roof of this hut be ripped off in the dead of night? Will...
Europe as a budget-friendly travel option? It’s true in 2022
Flying to Europe this year might sound as absurd as opting for premium gasoline. With prices this high, is it really the right time to splurge? “As a result of labor shortages and all these things going on, travel is more expensive than it’s been in a while,” says travel...
Disney’s Splash Mountain will become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in late 2024
ORLANDO, Fla. — Walt Disney Co. has announced a timeline for the re-theming of Splash Mountain and a new name for the ride set to become based on “The Princess and the Frog.” The attraction’s name will be Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and it will open at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland...
Explainer: When is Manhattanhenge? Where can you see it?
NEW YORK — Didn’t make it to Stonehenge for the solstice? There’s still time to catch Manhattanhenge, when the setting sun aligns with the Manhattan street grid and bathes the urban canyons in a rosy glow. The last two Manhattanhenge sunsets of 2022 are Monday and Tuesday. Some background on...
Black parade culture museum reopening in New Orleans
Ten months after Hurricane Ida damaged a museum celebrating New Orleans’ African American parading culture, the Backstreet Cultural Museum is reopening. A parade is planned Saturday afternoon from the original building to the new museum site just blocks away in the city’s Treme neighborhood, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported....
‘It used to be just retired folks’: Full-time RV residents are getting younger
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Thomas Hoff was tired of living in a regular old house. He was fascinated with “tiny-living,” and often dreamed of moving into a recreational vehicle. When his roommates moved out of his Gardner Lake house in Johnson County in 2018, he saw his opportunity. He has...
How a hotel satisfaction promise has led to more discontent
In the 1990s and early 2000s, the “100% Satisfaction Guarantee” was all the rage among many hotels. The gist was simple: Encounter a problem and receive your money back. In theory, this approach addressed fairly serious issues such as early-morning pool renovations that made the jackhammer an unwelcome alarm clock....
Venice unveils mandatory day-trippers’ reservation and fee
ROME — Starting in January, Venice will oblige day-trippers to make reservations and pay a fee to visit the historic lagoon city, in a bid to better manage visitors who often far outnumber residents in the historic center, clogging narrow streets and heavily used foot bridges crossing the canals. Venice...
Air travelers brace for turbulence over Fourth of July weekend
Scott Vargo was among those Thursday at Pittsburgh International Airport taking their chances and hoping for the best. Amid the airline industry’s nationwide struggles with cancellations and delays, Vargo nonetheless forged ahead with travel plans to fly to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., for the Fourth of July holiday weekend to celebrate...
The worst hidden travel fees and how to avoid them
With travel prices soaring, customers might be tempted to pick the cheapest base option they find. But the base price of airfare and hotels represents only a fraction of the total costs. A parade of add-on fees await any traveler trying to navigate the checkout process, ballooning the final price....
Lake Michigan car ferries make for fun Midwest getaways, plus 16 things to do once you land
A spin around Lake Michigan easily exceeds 1,000 miles and 18 hours of road time when following shoreline instead of interstate. That’s no vacation for the driver, or travelers low on leisure time. Another option: Shorten the loop by using two car ferries to cross the Great Lake, which turns...
These gadgets could make or break your next road trip
Crumbs, odors, discomfort — they can all ruin a good road trip with the family. For children, sitting in a vehicle for hours on end can be daunting. For parents who are unprepared, a road trip can be derailed by gas station stops for last minute supplies. Ensure your road...
Already booked your flight? A lower fare might still be available to you
One of the good things to come out of the covid-19 pandemic is that airlines eliminated those despised $200 and $300 change fees. I was sure that once things got back to “normal,” the airlines also would return to their former ways. But they haven’t, and this bit of airline...
The most welcoming destinations for senior travelers
Retirement is the perfect time to enjoy traveling, but where to go? New research shows the best places for seniors to travel. The Retirement Travel Index, created by AgingInPlace, compiled the list using several data points to reveal the most ideal places for older travelers to visit. Countries were ranked...
Wild meets serene at Tanzinia’s Grumeti Game Reserve
The late afternoon light is fading fast, and with the dust kicked up by the Land Rover catching the low rays of the sun, the terrain of trees, rocks and acacia-flecked hills of the Singita Grumeti Game Reserve seemed cloaked in gold. Maybe that’s why I missed seeing a pride...
Mountains, lakes, trains and villages: Switzerland has it all. And then there’s the chocolate
A few weeks before Swiss Air flew me to Zurich, I read that Switzerland had been anointed “fourth happiest country in the world” by the World Happiness Report. That, and two clever and humorous Switzerland Tourism videos featuring Swiss-born tennis legend Roger Federer, contributed to my decision to spent 10...
Yellowstone Park aims for quick reopening after floods
GARDINER, Mont. — Most of Yellowstone National Park should reopen within the next two weeks — much faster than originally expected after record floods pounded the region last week and knocked out major roads, federal officials said. Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly said the world-renowned park will be able to accommodate...
Silky waters of Turks and Caicos Islands perfect for adventuring, relaxing
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — Snorkeling in sparkling, shallow water as clear as glass, my husband and I spotted schools of gemstone-bright fish in colors of sapphire, topaz and amethyst. On the white sand bed of the sea near a tiny atoll, slow-moving heavy-shelled conch sort of rolled along...
