In Disney version of ‘Extreme Makeover,’ castle gets updatedVideo
ORLANDO, Fla. — Even Cinderella needs an “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Disney officials said Monday that the iconic Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World in Florida would be renovated over the next several months. The most noticeable changes will be the addition of gold trim to most of the castle...
Public can comment on rule to limit support animals on planes
Roosters have boarded airplanes. So have turkeys, ducks and monkeys — all in the name of service. These animals allegedly helped their owners stay calm. Never mind that they may have had the opposite effect on nearby passengers. The “emotional support” designation also helped owners save money — calming, indeed,...
Travel tip: Pittsburgh is cloudiest U.S. city, but not world’s worst
Here’s another Steel City superlative that you probably suspected: Pittsburgh is the cloudiest city in the United States. According to worldatlas.com, the ‘Burgh averages 77% cloud cover and sees the sun for about 2,021 hours annually. So where to go for a dose of Old Sol? Here are the sunniest...
Travel tip: Go batty at Lincoln Caverns’ 14th annual Batfest
Go a little batty on Feb. 15 at Lincoln Caverns in Huntingdon County. The 14th annual Batfest will feature a day of programs, activities and interpretive tours designed to give visitors a deeper appreciation of these often-misunderstood winged mammals. The day will include bat crafts and games, bat house-building and...
Travel tip: New York City is top spot for Valentine’s getaways
Valentine’s Day isn’t a holiday usually associated with travel, but Global Traveler says New York City is the top U.S. destination for those who do plan a romantic getaway. Little wonder, since the Big Apple offers so many options for dining, entertainment, culture and just plain sight-seeing. Other top destinations...
Cleveland: The Turnpike staycation
Being a stalwart Terrible Towel twirler and lover of all things Pittsburgh Steelers, it pains me to admit it, but there are some pretty cool places to visit in Cleveland Browns territory. Now this may not be a “staycation” in its purest form, but you can easily drive out and...
Use these tips to upgrade your flight without paying full price
For me, flying in business or first class is not about the extra attentive service or the meals — which are, let’s face it, still airplane food — or even about the endless supply of free booze (well, maybe a little about the endless supply of free booze). It’s about...
Travel tip: What to know for Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney
Sunrise is scheduled for 7:26 a.m. Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, the hour when Punxsutawney Phil will make his annual winter weather prediction. Thousands flock to Gobbler’s Knob in the small Jefferson County borough for a glimpse of the furry forecaster. Here are a few things to know before you go:...
Cutting-edge Viking cruise ship is headed for the Great Lakes
A big player in the cruise industry is diving into the Great Lakes market. Switzerland-based Viking, which built its name plying the rivers of Europe, is extending its reach into North America in 2022 with voyages exploring the largest surface of fresh water in the world. The announcement was made...
Delta Air Lines fined $50,000 by government for alleged discrimination
ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Transportation is fining Delta Air Lines $50,000 for alleged discrimination against Muslim passengers in two separate incidents in 2016. Atlanta-based Delta disagrees with the DOT’s contention that it engaged in discriminatory conduct, according to a DOT consent order issued Friday. The consent order comes...
It didn’t take long for someone to pilfer weed from an airport bin where travelers ditch their stash
CHICAGO — One person’s trash is another person’s stash. Chicago police say someone apparently stole marijuana this week from one of the blue boxes placed at Midway Airport for travelers who need to dispose of their weed before they get on a plane. The “marijuana amnesty boxes” were placed there...
Famous ice disk seems to be reforming in MaineVideo
A spinning disk of ice that made Westbrook, Maine, a tourist destination a year ago is returning. The city on Friday shared a photo via Twitter of a rather jagged sheet of ice gently rotating in the Presumpscot River. While it does not yet have the near-perfect round shape of...
Plan that dream vacation at the Pittsburgh Travel Showcase
It’s never too early to start planning your summer (or any season) getaway. In fact, making travel plans in the middle of winter might help chase away those January blues. Whether your vacation destination is in the Laurel Highlands, halfway across the country, on another continent, on land or sea,...
Travel tip: New Mexico’s White Sands now a national park
Travelers who like to visit America’s national parks now have an added destination — White Sands National Park near Alamogordo, N.M. Previously a national monument, the world’s largest gypsum dunes area — covering 275 square miles — was designated the nation’s 62nd national park on Dec. 20, 2019. Visitors will...
Latrobe chamber offers group tour of Ireland
A journey of discovery from Westmoreland County to the Emerald Isle is less than a year away, in the first-ever foreign travel package offered by the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. There is no limit to the number of chamber and community members who can sign on for...
Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau releases destination guide
If you’ve got some free time and enjoy exploring the Westmoreland, Fayette and Somerset counties region, the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau is releasing a free, 72-page brochure packed full of ideas for everything from winter fun to dining, hiking to history. The bureau’s 2020 Destination Guide serves to promote the...
Massive Harry Potter store to open in New York City
And you thought the books and movies were big. Warner Bros. has announced that the first Harry Potter-themed store — Wizarding World — will open for business in New York City this summer. It’s set to be massive. Located next to the iconic Flatiron building at 935 Broadway, the three-story,...
San Francisco’s Beefeater doorman retires after 43 years
Another bit of old, quirky San Francisco will be no more when Tom Sweeney finally hangs up his white pressed collar and signature Beefeater jacket this weekend after more than four decades of opening doors at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel downtown. Sweeney has taken the luggage of movie stars...
Carnival Cruise Line’s new dress code bans ‘offensive’ clothingVideo
Carnival Cruise Line has expanded its dress code policy to include a ban on “offensive” clothing. The new rules state “items worn during the cruise should not contain any message that may be considered offensive or contain nudity, profanity, sexual innuendo/suggestions,” according to the company’s website. “Clothing/accessories should not promote...
Want to know snow, ice conditions at a Pennsylvania state park? Here’s how
Winter is upon us, and despite the occasional warmup, snow- and ice-related activities are out there. Let’s say you’re in the mood to head out to a nearby Pennsylvania state park for a day of, say, cross-country skiing. How would you check on the conditions? Well, the state has made...
Pa. resorts offering January ‘Learn to Ski and Snowboard’ specials
It’s official: January is “Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month” in Pennsylvania, by a declaration from Gov. Tom Wolf and a proclamation from the state senate. For the entire month, members of the Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association (SkiPA) are offering special discounts on learn-to-ski packages, encouraging first-timers to hit the...
Headed to Orlando? Check out these 8 new attractions in 2020
Orlando’s theme park enthusiasts may not have new Kylo Ren or Harry Potter-based attractions to look forward to in 2020. But Disney has a not-so-secret weapon: Mickey Mouse. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, the first-ever ride-through attraction for the iconic rodents, is set to open March 4 at Disney’s Hollywood...
Travel tip: Philly Home Show offers DIY workshops, pet market
Billed as one of the state’s largest such events, the Philly Home Show returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia on Jan. 10-12 and 17-19. In addition to vendors offering everything needed to build or remodel a home and make it livable, inside and out, the show offers such...
Staycation: The Grand Resort in Warren, Ohio
Looking to get away without going far? Consider The Grand Resort in Warren, Ohio — located just outside Youngstown and about an hour northwest of Pittsburgh. It has something for most everyone: fine dining to pub fare, golf, swimming and an array of spa services. The resort is popular for...
Las Vegas: What you will (and one thing you won’t) miss in 2020
Las Vegas is all about the new, but some places disappear, fading away quietly or exiting with a bang. Travelers who have a favorite dining spot in Vegas would do well to check in at Eater Las Vegas’ comprehensive list of 2019 restaurant closures. Here are some of the highlights...
