Beginning today, Google is footing the bill for wireless Internet coverage at 47 airports across the country.
Google says the Wi-Fi will be available until January 15, 2010, and they're also extending the free service to Virgin America flights within the continental United States.
The list includes airports in Austin, Boston, Des Moines, Las Vegas, Orlando, San Jose, St. Louis, and more. For a complete list, click here.
"This is one of our holiday gifts to our users, and when you connect, we also hope you'll take the opportunity to try some of the latest Google products," the company said in a statement.
The FAA estimates 100 million people will travel back and forth across the country during the holidays, and those hunkered down in airport terminals due to weather delays will likely appreciate the free Wi-Fi, according to CNNMoney.
Best Western’s Countdown to Savings Sale starts today. For each day of this week, select Best Western hotels will offer deep rate discounts on bestwestern.com until the clock strikes 4 p.m. EST. A new theme each day will reveal new hotel deals.
Gatlinburg, Tenn. Thousands of twinkling lights, a parade and decorated trees bring plenty of cheer to this snowy town that celebrates the cold weather with an annual Winterfest, running throughout November and December. Play: At nearby Smoky Mountains National Park (pictured), you can hike in the snow or cross-country ski on Clingmans Dome Road, which is closed to traffic for recreation. Eat: At Desserts & More, start with a healthy homemade quiche and then choose from the amazing array of pies ($4.99 a slice): from almond joy to peanut butter. Stay: On Main Street, the Best Western Zoder’s Inn offers a fireplace in the lobby, mountain views, an indoor swimming pool with a waterfall, and milk and cookies at bedtime.
Scottsdale, Ariz. This town enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year. In the winter, the average temperature hovers in the high 60’s, but you can also get 80-degree days. Play: For sweeping views of the desert landscape, hike up the sheer sandstone cliffs of Camelback Mountain. It’s a strenuous climb but worth it on a clear winter day. Eat:The Mission in Old Town is one of the hottest restaurants around, but it can be expensive. If you belly up to the bar and order the guacamole ($12; they make it in front of you) and a margarita ($7), you can still sample the happening scene without emptying your wallet. Still hungry? Try the grilled street corn ($5). Stay: Swimming outside in winter? Yes, you can dive into the outdoor heated swimming pool at the Best Western Sundial Resort right in Old Town.
San Francisco, Calif. California’s city known for its hills, Bay views and cable cars has some of its best weather in the winter. Yes, rain falls, but it’s not unusual to have a beautiful crystal clear day when you can comfortably walk about in a T-shirt. Play: The Golden Gate Bridge is the city’s most iconic landmark and it’s free to stroll across its 1.7-mile span. Eat: The Ferry Plaza is a foodie haven with dozens of stalls selling everything from homemade sausage to fresh-baked bread. At Taylor’s Automatic Refresher, known for its big burgers and sweet potato fries, you can easily eat for $10 a person. Stay: Only a few blocks from Union Square, the Best Western Carriage Inn sits in the heart of the city, and if you’re a AAA member you can often book a room for a little under $100.
Lake Placid, N.Y. This little lakeside village surrounded by the Adirondacks has hosted two winter Olympics. It’s a great spot for sledding, ice skating, and skiing at the nearby Whiteface Mountain, where you can hit the slopes for $35 on select Sundays and $38 on certain Wednesdays. Play: At the Olympic Center, skate around the Olympic Speed Skating Oval where Eric Heiden won a record five gold medals in the 1980 Winter Games—costs only $5 for adults, plus a $3 skate rental. Eat: At the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, the onion soup ($6), made with Moose Island Ale, is sure to warm you up. Also, try the steak salad ($11), and fish and chips ($10). Stay: The Best Western Adirondacks has an indoor hot tub and heated pool.
SeaWorld Orlando is raising its base ticket price to almost $80, the Associated Press reports.
The base price of a one-day ticket to SeaWorld will rise $4 to $78.95. The move brings SeaWorld's base price to just 5 cents less than single-day, single-park tickets to Disney or Universal, both of which raised their own prices over the summer.
The news caught my eye because my family is going to Orlando soon, and my children are asking about visiting to SeaWorld. A $4 increase isn't huge, but $79.95 sounds like a lot. What do you think? Is the price too high? Or does it seem reasonable?
Planning to drive over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house this Thanksgiving holiday? AAA offers up the following tips to ensure your trip is safe and smooth.
Get proper rest. Set aside time to pack your clothes, load your vehicle and get a full night's sleep so you can set out fresh and rested.
Buckle up, and make sure all passengers are secured properly with safety belts and age-appropriate child safety seats. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, eight in 10 safety seats are not installed correctly. Contact your local AAA club to have a licensed child passenger safety technician inspect your child's safety seat for proper installation.
Try to do most of your traveling during daylight hours, when visibility is best. If you find yourself driving into the glare of a rising or setting sun, consider taking a break until lighting conditions improve.
Take stretch breaks and rotate drivers to stay alert. Driving drowsy is extremely dangerous and results in many crashes and deaths each year. A good rule of thumb is to make a rest stop every two hours or 100 miles, especially if you are traveling with children and pets.
Keep children interested and involved in your road trip with a ready selection of cards, maps, family games, sing-along CDs and activity books -- especially ones with references to your destination. This will help keep them occupied and create more interaction among family members.
What tips do you have for travelers braving the road this Thanksgiving?
Yesterday, the Associated Press reported on a 2-year-old boy named Adam and his mom who were kicked off a San Jose-bound flight for being too noisy.
Story goes Adam was screaming "Go! Plane! Go!" and "I want Daddy."
The mom figured Adam would quiet down once the plane took off, but instead the plane returned to the gate in Amarillo Texas, and escorted them back to the airport.
The mom is demanding an apology and compensation for a portable crib and diapers she had to buy for the extra night away from home.
Southwest spokeswoman Marilee McInnis told the AP that removing a crying child from a flight is unusual but that crews have leeway to resolve situations as they see fit.
It's hard to judge the incident without really knowing how long Adam was screaming for, but let's say he was screaming for about 30 minutes, the time it takes to board everyone and roll over to the runway. Did he and his mother deserve to get kicked off the plane?
My parents grew up with Stroker's Dracula. I was an avid reader of Anne Rice. And now the next generation is reading the popular Twilight books, and vampires are more popular than ever. No doubt, a vampire themed vacation could appeal to just about anyone in the family--and Forbes just put together a roundup of 10 destinations around the world where you're bound to find someone who will want to suck your blood.
The area of Romania known as Transylvania—"home to Vlad the Impaler, the historical inspiration for Dracula"—is on the list. So is New Orleans, where you can go on a Haunted History Tours, "which take guests on “bone-chilling” tours of real and fictional vampire sites throughout The Big Easy."
To read about all 10 vampire haunts on Forbes, click here.
Photo: Bran Castle is famous for its association with the Dracula legend.
Zoo animals can't eat candy but who says they can't join in all the Halloween fun. This Saturay, a handful of zoos across the country will be celebrating the spooky holiday by opening their gates to kids in costumes and offering all sorts of Halloween fun, from pumpkin carving to haunted houses.
Here are a few zoos that will be throwing scary parties this weekend:
Jim Hensons Fantastic World, Through November 29James A. Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, PA
Without "fences" to limit where his imagination could roam, Jim Henson (1936-1990)—artist, puppeteer, film director and producer—created elaborate imaginary worlds filled with unique characters, objects, environments and even languages and cultures. Jim Henson's Fantastic World, an exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and the Jim Henson Legacy, offers a rare peek into the imagination and creative genius of this multitalented innovator and creator of Kermit the Frog, Big Bird and other beloved characters.
This exhibition features 100 original artworks, including drawings, cartoons and storyboards that illustrate Henson's talent as a storyteller and visionary. Among the variety of exhibition objects are puppets and television and movie props, photographs of Henson and his collaborators at work and original video productions, including excerpts from Henson's early career and experimental films.
Feeding animals and picking crops might not sound like typical vacation activities, yet this is a popular trend taking off throughout the U.S. by the name of Agritourism. That's right. Thousands of families are loading up and heading to the country -- and having tons of fun along the way. After all, apples taste better minutes after you pull them off a branch and goats are quite friendly when you're feeding them alfalfa from your own hand.
Below are three places oozing with farm fun.
Hood River, Oregon
Just follow the "Fruit Loop"-that's all you have to do to find the dozens of farms dotting the valley that spreads between town and Mount Hood. The 35-mile drive passes by pumpkin patches, alpaca farms, lavender fields, harvest festivals, corn mazes, and more fresh pies than you can possibly eat. Play: Don't miss Rasmussen Farms, where kids can pull pumpkins off their vines, Kiyokawa Family Orchards where you can pick your own apples and go on a hayride, and Cascade Alpacas, where you can help feed the animals and learn to spin yarn. Eat: The menu at Celilo Restaurant features ingredients grown at Hood River Valley farms. Stay: Best Western Hood River Inn sits on the banks of the Columbia River.
Bennington, Vermont
It's hard to visit this state without passing a working farm because there are so many (find a guide to all the farms through the Farm Association). But you'll encounter a particularly scenic area in the southern part of the state surrounding this pretty town best known as a Revolutionary War battle site. Drive the tangle of roads and you'll find yourself in the heart of rural country with old covered bridges, grazing animals and fields of crops. Play: At the Apple Barn, tour the orchards, run through a corn maze, and pick up a freshly baked pie. At Adams Farm in nearby Willmington, feed the goats and chickens and go for a hayride. Eat: After a day in the field, the fresh pizzas at Marigold Kitchen hit the spot-try the Mimi Pie with local goat cheese. Stay: Best Western New Englander Motor Inn offers a free continental breakfast.
Sevierville, Tennessee
Corn mazes, pumpkins and apples, oh my! This state has much to offer for travelers hoping to celebrate the fall harvest. And outside this town near Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best places to do that. Play: Get lost in the five-acre corn maze and go for a hayride at Kyker Farms. Shuck corn, pick pumpkins and pet farm animals at Echo Valley Farm (pictured) in nearby New Market. Eat: Break for fried apple pies and fresh cider at the Apple Barn. Stay: Best Western Greenbrier Inn is also near Dollywood theme park.
Disneyland and Disneyworld may be the happiest places on earth but they also can the most overwhelming. How do you navigate them? How do you avoid long lines? Where do you get a decent meal for a fair price?
Enter a bevy of iPhone apps aimed at helping you answer these questions. In the iTunes store, you'll find options ranging from WaitWatch offering up wait times to Hidden Mickey helping you find the mouse ears cleverly hidden throughout the parks.
Of the dozens of apps, here are the best for navigating Disney parks:
MouseWait--This newly released free iPhone app provides accurate wait times at Disneyland and California Adventure, and the chance to bring your Facebook friends into the app to create a true social Disneyland experience. Free.
Disneyland Wait Times--ride wait times for Disneyland and California Adventure. Users submit wait times so the level of accuracy is dependent upon the number of users. Free with ads; 99 cents without ads.
Notecast Disneyland and Disneyworld--a guidebook to the parks wtih over 120 pages of in-depth info on everything from parade times to "must dos" to finding Disney characters. 99 cents.
Disneyland Checklist--Are there a few rides you must go on? This app allows you to develop a checklist. 99 cents.
Disneyland Facts--Did you know that sleeping Beauty Castle was given its name four years before the movie was released? Did you know that until the 1960s young men with beards were not allowed to enter Disneyland? This app will bring alive the history of the parks--and it provides educational entertainment while you're waiting in line. $1.99.
The best apple I ever ate was pulled off a tree at Kiyokawa Family Orchards in Oregon's Hood River Valley. I remember that piece of fruit well. Is was a rose-colored Honey Crisp with a dense, juicy flesh that was the perfect balance of sweet and tart. I actually picked that apple myself at the Kiyokawa "pick your own" orchard. The beautiful setting amidst an orchard spreading across a valley overlooked by snowy Mount Hood only made the apple more delicious.
On a clear, cool fall day my kids and I filled a bucket with apples, and ate nearly half of our harvest on our drive back to Portland. We didn't even have enough leftovers for pie!
Across the country you'll find orchards where you can pull apples right off the tree. Here's a list of places to help you find a pick-your-own orchard: About.com: Apple picking in New England
About eight months after giving birth to my son and returning to work, my boss at the time asked me to attend a convention in Chicago. I was working on a travel magazine, and one of my many responsibilities was to track new travel products--from the latest suitcase designs to high-tech gadgets for working on the road.
"Sure, I'll go I said, but I'm bringing my baby."
My boss gave us the go ahead and a few weeks later we were on a plane to Chicago.
My work obligations consisted of attending the two-day convention where travel companies were showing off their wares. I walked up and down the aisles lined with booths and spoke with salespeople--and wore my son on my back in an Ergo Baby Carrier (like the one pictured).
He slept most of the time. He never cried. He was at the perfect age when he had passed the fussy stage yet he was still sleeping a lot. I remember sneaking away into the rest room a few times to nurse. There were no meetings or presentations to attend, which made things easy.
While I was definitely the only one at the convention with a baby, no one seemed to mind. Mostly, people just wanted to hold him or told me what a doll he was.
The trip was a huge success, and I was able to take the trip without leaving my new baby behind.
Have any other readers brought a new baby on a business trip? What made it work or not work?
Best Western just kicked off its week-long deal bonanza, Countdown to Savings, and the clock is ticking. Through 4 p.m. ET each day this week, folks can score great deals on www.bestwestern.com for hotels located in popular fall destinations. Each day, Best Western introduces a new group of destinations and discounts under a new theme. This week’s include:
Bananagrams is basically like Scrabble without the board. You use tiles imprinted with letters to create words. It's fast and fun and doesn't require a board, paper, or pen. It has won oodles of awards for being a great travel game, and when my 6-year-old daughter recently tested it out, she was instantly hooked. And so was her mom. We'll definitely be bringing along this banana on our next trip.
Our family has an Orlando trip on the horizon and so I'm starting to figure out what to do--behond Disney World. In my search for information. I stumbled upon this great blog 67 Days of Smiles.
The blog is written by Kyle and Stacey who are best friends living in NYC. Kyle is a Broadway actor and Stacy teaches kids in Harlem. They entered a contest to represent the Orlando Convention & Visitors Bureau and spend 67 days taking in all that the city has to offer. The contest was mentioned on Good Morning America and tons of people entered.
Kyle and Stacey won (hooray!), and now they're blogging, Twittering, and posting videos on You Tube.
On their site, I learned about Discovery Cove where you can snorkel next to sharks (don’t worry there’s glass between you), the new ropes course that takes you through a tree canopy at the Central Florida Zoo, and Typhoon Lagoon, where you can take surf lessons at the world's largest outdoor wave pool.
Waiting for dinner to come at a restaurant? Long airplane ride or train trip? The iStoryTime application might come in handy if you have kids in tow. The app turns your iPhone into an illustrated children's book.
The books are narrated, so your child can enjoy the book even when you're busy with the woman behind the airport ticket counter. And the application is simply to use because it was designed for kids 2 years and up. You pay $1.99 for each title.
In the light of day theme parks and attractions from coast to coast provide their own form of thrills and family entertainment with roller coasters, children’s rides, shows, and exhibits. Once the sun goes down, things change. The vampires and zombies come out, and these venues undergo total transformations to take the thrills to the next level.
This fall, guest experiences at America’s amusement parks range from intense, horrifying attractions filled with creeping creatures, elaborately themed haunted houses, fog and monster-filled walkways, to family-friendly trick-or-treating extravaganzas, costume contests, and fall festivals complete with pumpkin patches and hay-bale mazes.
Here's a look at a handful of theme parks that are certain to scare you with their Halloween thrills:
• Adventure Landing in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., hosts the annual “Hall of Terror” haunted house attraction beginning Friday, Oct. 9. In addition to the haunted house experience, guests float down the “Haunted River Ride” filled with surprises. www.adventurelanding.com/jaxbeach
• “Howl-O-Scream” returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa Bay, Fla. for its 10th year. The park will provide 335 acres of sinister, adult-filled fun for 17 fright-filled nights. In addition to chilling coasters, guests encounter zombies and monsters as they make their way through seven haunted houses escaping unsettled demons, evil spirits, and possessed objects; four fear-provoking scare zones with crazed townspeople, werewolves, and more; and two frightening shows. The event previews the last weekend in September and runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights through Oct. 31. http://houseofvayne.com/tampa
• Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Va., celebrates 11 years of fears with “Howl-O-Scream,” featuring 15 new attractions and 18 frightening scare zones, haunted mazes, and Halloween-themed shows starring vampires, werewolves, witches, and trolls. Many of the park’s haunted attractions and shows begin earlier in the day for the re-vamped “Howl-O-Scream.” The event debuts Sept. 25 and continues every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through Nov. 1. www.howl-o-scream.com
• Cedar Point amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, celebrates “HalloWeekends” this fall Sept. 18 – Nov. 1. Guests will enjoy haunted houses where toys come to life and storms cause mysterious occurrences; five scare zones with the crew from a sunken ship, crazed clowns, and unruly residents roaming a corn maze; and eight indoor and outdoor fright-filled shows. www.halloweekends.com
• Carowinds theme park in Charlotte, N.C., transforms into “SCarowinds,” featuring haunted mazes, scare zones, and hundreds of creepy monsters lurking around every corner. “SCarowinds” presents a sizeable collection of rides with spooky twists for its 10th Halloween season, and the entire park atmosphere transforms with an eerie glow. www.scarowinds.com
• Darien Lake Theme Park Resort in Darien Center, N.Y., once again transforms into “FrightFest 2009” weekends Sept. 25 – Oct. 18. Activities include a newly themed haunted house, “Crazy Cliff’s Twisted Adventure,” and “Fright Night Field Trip,” a jarring bus tour through the black forest of Darien Lake. www.GoDarienLake.com
• Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., unveils "Halloween Time" from Sept. 25-Nov. 1. This year's event features "Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy," which adds ghosts and other spooks to the classic roller coaster in the dark. The park also features new fireworks show "Halloween Screams—A Villainous Surprise in the Skies," and meet-and-greets with characters dressed in seasonal costumes. www.disneylandnews.com
• Hersheypark in Hershey, Pa., transforms into “Hersheypark in the Dark” on weekends in October. More than 50 rides, including roller coasters and family rides remain open and receive new names for the season. One-price admission includes all the rides and live entertainment. “Ghost Runner” (“Storm Runner”) and “Wicked Racer” (“Lightning Racer”) offer thrilling nighttime coaster rides, while guests both young and old delight in a ride on “Bats in the Belfry” (the “Kissing Tower”) and “Night Mares” (the park’s carousel). www.hersheypark.com
• Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, Pa., celebrates the season with “Phantom Fright Nights.” The park’s ghoulish alter ego comes out to play Friday and Saturday nights in October. Screams from thrill rides, terror, and fun will emanate from the event’s new offerings: six amazing haunt attractions, four scare-zone midways, roller coasters, and food and entertainment. www.phantomfrightnights.com
• Kings Dominion in Doswell, Va., brings back "Halloween Haunt" weekends Sept. 26 through Oct. 31. with scarezones like the Voodoo Swamp, CarnEvil, and Central Stalkway. Live entertainment takes center stage with shows like “Elvira’s Superstition” and “Graveyard Shift.” And guests ready for a scare-infused challenge can enter one of the nine mazes, including “Medieval Macabre,” “Slaughter House,” and the space-themed “Outpost.” www.kingsdominion.com
• Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio, revisits its “Halloween Haunt 2009” for adult park-goers ready for a scare. Now 16 full nights with more terror, the event features more than 500 creatures and costumed characters, 13 haunted attractions, and hair-raising rides, including the new “Diamondback” coaster. The event runs during select times Thursdays through Sundays, Sept. 25 – Oct. 31. www.visitkingsisland.com
• Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif., transforms into “Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt,” from Sept. 24 – Oct. 31, for the 37th Annual Halloween Haunt. The original Halloween experience has 13 creepy mazes, seven terrifying shows, four scare zones, and 1,000 roaming monsters. www.knotts.com
• The Haunted Graveyard opens for its ninth year at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Conn., Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Halloween spirits will transform Lake Compounce into a fog-filled attraction, with spine-chilling walkways and eerie music. Next door, the legendary Haunted Graveyard features a 45-minute hair-raising walk through six haunted houses and a graveyard linked by bone-chilling trails inhabited by ghoulish characters. New frights for 2009 include the mysterious “Mayan Temple,” a frightening experience including a jungle, waterfall, and rope-bridge. www.lakecompounce.com; www.hauntedgraveyard.com
• Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif., presents “Fright Fest 2009,” featuring two new haunted mazes, a zombie scare zone, spooky animal shows, and nightly funeral processions. “Fright Fest 2009” runs weekends Oct. 2 – Nov. 1. www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom
• Six Flags New England in Agawam, Ma., celebrates “Fright Fest” this Halloween weekends Oct. 3 – Nov. 1. The event features hair-raising shows, electrifying street entertainment, nighttime rides, and haunted attractions including “Midnight Mansion” and “Wicked Woods.” www.sixflags.com/newEngland
• “Fright Fest” transforms Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta, Ga., weekends Oct. 2 – Nov. 1. Dr. Fright opens his "Frightorium," a 17–room haunted house to anyone brave enough to enter. This year, four new shows – to be announced soon – join shows, including "Love at First Fright," "Bad Bob the Bone Butcher," and "Mort's Casket Sales.” www.sixflags.com/overGeorgia/index.aspx
• Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, Calif., brings movies to life with “Halloween Horror Nights 19: Ripped from the Silver Screen.” The latest incarnations of “Saw” and “The Wolfman” join with Chucky to lead a host of terrifying horrors torn from the scariest movies of all time. Features include all-new haunted houses, scare zones, live shows, and hundreds of “scare-actors.” The event dates are Oct. 2 – 3, Oct. 9 – 11, Oct. 15 – 18, Oct. 23 – 25, and Oct. 28 – 31. Not recommended for children under 13. www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com
• Step inside living cinematic terror at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando Fla., “Halloween Horror Nights.” The latest incarnations of “Saw” and “The Wolfman” join with Chucky to lead a host of terrifying horrors torn from the scariest movies of all time. “Halloween Horror Nights 19: Ripped from the Silver Screen” features all-new haunted houses, scare zones, live shows, and hundreds of “scare-actors.” Event dates are Sept. 25 – 26, Oct. 1 – 4, 8 – 11, 15 – 18, 21 – 25, and 28 – 31. Not recommended for children under 13. www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com
• Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Fla., hosts "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party" Sept. 4-Nov. 1. The event features tricks and treats throughout the entire park. Special lighting, music, and special effects create haunted hallows suitable for the entire family. Special entertainment includes the "Boo-to-You" parade and "Happy HalloWishes" fireworks show. www.wdwnews.com
• Wild Adventures Water and Theme Park in Valdosta, Ga., turns into a haunted playground for “Phobia: Fright by Night.” The event features five themed haunted houses, including the “Lakeside Sanitarium” and the “Saloon of Doom”; scare zones such as the “Corn Stalkers Maze” and “Psychopath”; and a fright-filled swamp trail. www.wildadventures.com
"Disney is offering a free day's admission to 1 million guests who complete a day of volunteer work next year," according to USA Today.
Beginning January 1, 2010, when you sign up online for the "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program and volunteer a day of service with a participating organization (and your service is completed and verified), you'll receive one day admission to a Disneyland or Walt Disney World theme park. (Click here to sign up.)
You must be at least 18 years of age to sign up, and you may sign-up up to a maximum of 8 additional members of your same household. Children must be at least 6 years of age to volunteer under this program and receive a theme park ticket. Children ages 6-17 must be accompanied by an adult when volunteering. Other age restrictions may apply to certain eligible volunteer opportunities.
You have probably heard the theory that people start to look like their pets over time. Well, Best Western is tying into this idea with its new "Friends Forever Inseparator." The Web application allows you to upload a photo of yourself and one of your pet--and then you watch as both photos are merged. Above you can see a sample of photo that was created by the Inseparator. Below is a sample of an image created by the app.
Why has the world's largest hotel chain created? They want to remind you that they have more than 1,000 around the United States that welcome you and your four-legged friends.
“Best Western is known for being pet friendly and we wanted to create a fun way for pet owners, and pet travelers, to share their love for their pets,” said Troy Rutman, director of external communications for Best Western. “We hope the application will remind travelers that pets need vacations too!”
Dreaming of a tropical island for Christmas? Or are you hoping to visit the family over the holiday? Next week, the first week of October, is the time to start shopping for airline tickets. According to a recent USA Today article, there has been a three-year trend of Christmas travel prices dropping during the first two weeks of October.
Goby (pron: "GO-be") is a new search engine that will help you find something to do. Whether you're at home or on vacation, the site directs you to museums, hiking trails, restaurants, local events, kids' activities...
How does it work? Goby asks you what you want to do, and where and when you want to do it. The site trolls through hundreds of databases and Web sites preselected by the Goby team and then offers up results that are organized in a meaningful way. In other words, the results are better than what you'd find on Google. Instead of just giving you a list of Web pages, Goby converts all those pages into human-friendly information, so you can see things like locations, phone numbers, photographs from around the Web, links to nearby points of interest—basically any information that might help you plan your adventure.
"Goby, unlike Google, understands the concept of a general area; if you search for hiking trails in San Francisco, it'll alert you to ones in Marin, too," writes Harry McCracken for PCWorld. "Unlike Google, it can figure out the dates in results-if you're going to New York over a specific long weekend, you can search for gallery shows taking place then. And Goby does a good job of winnowing out Web pages that don't relate to activities and events-in my tests, it never returned results out of left field."
I took the site on a test drive for an upcoming trip to Charleston, S.C. We'll be traveling with the kids and looking for things to keep the little ones busy. A search turned up 117 results including the South Carolina Aquarium, a couple bowling alleys, and dozens of public parks. The cool thing is that there are photographs for each of the playgrounds so you can check out the play structures. A more refined search for children's museums offered up a listing for the city's one and only children's museum. A search for family events happening over Thanksgiving turned up no results, and a search for family friendly restaurants was also unfruitful and provided only two options, a Chinese restaurant and a sandwich-ice cream shop.
From the reviews that came out last week after the site launched, it sounds as if the Goby team is continuing to refine its search and add to the list of Web sites it mines for information. Before we leave for our trip, I'll definitely check out Goby again.
Scary movies and haunted houses—they're overrated. At least that's how you'll probably feel when you're lost in the middle of a gigantic corn maze. It's the ultimate Halloween thrill. These labyrinths cut into fields of corn are cropping up all over the country and there's probably one within driving distance of your home. To find one near you log onto the Corn Maize Directory or The Maize.
Yelp, Chowhound, and TripAdvisor—These Web sites are hugely popular with travelers because they offer up insider advice through the highly opinionated (and entertaining) content developed by their readers. Want to eat at the best taco stand in San Diego? On Chowhound, for example, you can read a long string of posts from readers who have sampled and reviewed all the tacos in the area.
Now the California Tourism Bureau is offering travelers a Web site where they'll find similar content. Friday Fives (www.CaliforniaFives.com) is meant to be a place where you can track down tips on what to see and do in the Golden State from locals in the know.
The site features lists of fives revolving around topics, which are as broad as California’s five best beaches and as narrow as the five preferred wines in Sonoma County. The lists are submitted by readers and others have the opportunity to rank someone else’s California Fives (giving it the appropriate stars), or provide their own twist on a subject.
The site launched with a few lists from well-known Californians. You'll find Slanted Door owner Charles Phan's list of top five favorite California markets and Surfrider Foundation CEO Jim Moriarty's favorite surf spots for beginners. I submitted a list of my favorite family friendly restaurants in San Francisco. You can find it by clicking here.
After road-tripping with my kids this summer for 17 days straight, I felt as if I had played every car game possible with my children. License plate bingo, I-Spy, 20 Questions--you name it, we played it.
We recently visited the California Sierra for the weekend--a four-hour drive from our home--and I knew that I would need to come up with something new for the car ride. On the Cookie magazine Web site, I stumbled upon a list of 21 road trip games to keep your kids from saying "Are we there yet?" Here I found a few new games to try. My daughter kept herself busy with "100." You pick one thing--red cars, trees, whatever--and try to find 100 of it. My son had fun playing "Castle in the Sky" and trying to pick out clouds and deciding what they look like.
And both of my children loved playing Slug Bug, which is actually a game I remember playing with my brother as a kid, but I had completely forgotten about it.
See a Volkswagen Beetle and call out, "Slug bug!" One point is awarded to whoever calls it out first, but beware—a point is deducted if one is wrongly called out. Traditionally, this game involves the administration of a gentle "slug" to the shoulder of another player as the bug is called, but depending on the energy level and age of your children, you may select to forgo this part.
Click here to find the complete list of road-trip games in Cookie.
I'm a girl on the go. I travel for fun. For work. With my kids. With my husband. With my girlfriends. For me, traveling is not about luxury. It's about getting out there and experiencing new things. Best Western signed me up because, like me, they want to get people talking about travel. So let's talk! Tell me your travel tales, teach me your tips, and, when the airline loses your luggage, feel free to throw a temper tantrum. Believe me, I understand.
Got a travel question? Looking for an affordable hotel in New York City? Planning a family trip to the Caribbean and want to know which island is best for kids?
Send your questions to onthegowithamy@gmail.com for advice. Questions may be edited for clarity and space.
Beginning today, Google is footing the bill for wireless Internet coverage at 47 airports across the country.
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