Cruising with porpoises and spooning up ice cream highlight final day of Obamas’ trip to Gulf

A boat ride and ice cream cap Obama’s trip to Gulf
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – President Barack Obama and his family cruised the waters off their Florida Panhandle hotel on Sunday, offering a portrait of a family on vacation to boost a region struggling with the economic damage wrought by the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Off the Florida Panhandle, Obamas cruise with porpoises to showcase Gulf as a vacation spot

Obamas take a boat ride during Gulf Coast vacation
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – Catching a glimpse of porpoises, President Barack Obama and his family went boating Sunday as part of a weekend trip to the Gulf of Mexico that was designed to showcase the region’s attractions as well as …. Source article  : Off the Florida Panhandle, Obamas cruise with porpoises to showcase Gulf as a vacation spot.

Luxury residential cruise ship to stop in Maine on yearlong voyage

Luxury residential cruise ship to stop in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine – A luxury cruise ship that serves as a floating vacation home as it navigates around the world has scheduled a stop in Maine.
Portland spokeswoman Nicole Clegg says The World, a 644-foot ship with 165 residences ranging from studio apartments to a six-bedroom ocean penthouse, will … Read more : Luxury residential cruise ship to stop in Maine on yearlong voyage.

Spanish colonial museum exhibit displays diverse cultures that led to unique NM art

Diverse cultures contributed to NM art
SANTA FE, N.M. – For centuries, New Mexico has been home to a distinctive tradition of painting Catholic saints in simple portraits, rather than adhering to the elaborate styles of European art.

Some critics have said the paintings resulted from untrained Spanish artists doing the best they could. But the curator …. Original source  : Spanish colonial museum exhibit displays diverse cultures that led to unique NM art.

Enjoying the ride: Pa. man, 78, makes 4,000th trip on roller coaster after 90 turns in a day

Pa. man, 78, rides roller coaster 90 times in day

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. – A 78-year-old man rode a Pittsburgh-area roller coast 90 times in one day – bringing his lifetime total to 4,000 rides.
Vic Kleman spent about five hours on the Jack Rabbit roller coaster at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin.
The wooden coaster is no …. Original source  : Enjoying the ride: Pa. man, 78, makes 4,000th trip on roller coaster after 90 turns in a day.

Cruising with porpoises and spooning up ice cream highlight final day of Obamas’ trip to Gulf

A boat ride and ice cream cap Obama’s trip to Gulf
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – President Barack Obama and his family cruised the waters off their Florida Panhandle hotel on Sunday, offering a portrait of a family on vacation to boost a region struggling with the economic damage wrought … Original article on : Cruising with porpoises and spooning up ice cream highlight final day of Obamas’ trip to Gulf.

Off the Florida Panhandle, Obamas cruise with porpoises to showcase Gulf as a vacation spot

Obamas take a boat ride during Gulf Coast vacation
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – Catching a glimpse of porpoises, President Barack Obama and his family went boating Sunday as part of a weekend trip to the Gulf of Mexico that was designed to showcase the region’s attractions as well as … Read : Off the Florida Panhandle, Obamas cruise with porpoises to showcase Gulf as a vacation spot.

Luxury residential cruise ship to stop in Maine on yearlong voyage

Luxury residential cruise ship to stop in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine – A luxury cruise ship that serves as a floating vacation home as it navigates around the world has scheduled a stop in Maine.
Portland spokeswoman Nicole Clegg says The World, a 644-foot ship with 165 residences ranging from studio apartments to a six-bedroom ocean penthouse, will …. Source article  : Luxury residential cruise ship to stop in Maine on yearlong voyage.

Obama taking first family on Gulf vacation, seeking to boost region’s sagging tourism industry

Obama Gulf trip part vacation, part sales pitch
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is taking his family to the Florida Panhandle this weekend.
The trip is billed as part family vacation, part presidential sales pitch, as Obama looks to boost the region’s sagging tourism industry in the wake of the oil spill in the Gulf … Read more »».

3 kids buy airplane tickets, fly alone from Fla. to Tenn., unbeknownst to their parents

3 kids buy airplane tickets, fly alone to Tenn.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Bored on a hot summer day, three Florida youngsters were just sitting around when one sent a text message to another with an adventurous idea.
“Hey do you want to go 2 Tennessee today,” the message read.
“Sure,” the other responded.
Not even old enough to get … Read : 3 kids buy airplane tickets, fly alone from Fla. to Tenn., unbeknownst to their parents.

Hey, you, in 22A! Pipe down, take a deep breath and relax _ only you can prevent flight misery

Don’t jump! Ways to fly without wanting to scream

NEW YORK – OK, OK, we get it: It’s tough to be a flight attendant.
We get it even more now after Steven Slater’s now-famous “peace out” move. But a little sympathy, please: it’s tough to be a passenger these days, too. There have surely been plenty of … Read more >>>.

Obama takes first family on Gulf vacation with hopes other Americans will do the same

Obama looks to boost Gulf tourism with family trip
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is heeding his own advice to American vacationers, taking his family to the Gulf Coast this weekend to help the sagging tourism industry.
The president will arrive Saturday and spend just over 24 hours in the Panama City, Fla., area, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Obama takes first family on Gulf vacation with hopes other Americans will do the same.

Cameron’s postcard to UK holidaymakers: Wish you were here, spending money in Britain

Cameron: Wish you were here, in Britain
LONDON – Prime Minister David Cameron is urging British tourists to spend their vacation in the U.K., helping to spur the country’s fragile economic recovery.

Cameron said Thursday that he’s asked tourism minister John Penrose to work up ideas on how to increase domestic tourism.
Britons made 126 million overnight trips …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Cameron’s postcard to UK holidaymakers: Wish you were here, spending money in Britain.

Opportunities abound for volunteering abroad; take some time to pick the program that fits

How to find the right volunteer abroad program

Kathy Boisvert, who teaches preschoolers with special needs near her home in Massachusetts, had never been overseas before she signed up with World Teach, a nonprofit organization that matches volunteer teachers with overseas assignments.
Now Boisvert is spending her third summer at a tiny school in a small community … Read more : Opportunities abound for volunteering abroad; take some time to pick the program that fits.

NYC on track to host record number of visitors in 2010, breaking 2008 record by half a million

NYC on track for record number of tourists in 2010

NEW YORK – The Big Apple is on track to host a record number of visitors in 2010.
City officials say preliminary data show New York is on course to host 47.5 million tourists and visitors this year. That’s half a million more than the record set …. Original source  : NYC on track to host record number of visitors in 2010, breaking 2008 record by half a million.

US revises Israel travel warning following complaints of bias from Israeli government

US revises Israel travel warning after complaint

WASHINGTON – The State Department has revised its travel warning for Israel after the Israeli government complained it unfairly singled out an Israeli resort.
The department on Tuesday replaced a warning issued just five days ago with a new version that eliminates references to the Red Sea resort of Eilat, … Read more >>>.

On 15th anniversary, Cleveland’s rock museum plans to revisit year Elvis turned 21

Rock hall to mark anniversary with Elvis exhibit

CLEVELAND – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame plans to celebrate its 15th birthday with a look back at the year rock’s king turned 21.
An exhibit of photos taken of Elvis Presley in 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer will open Sept. 13 at the hall.
The hall said Tuesday …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

9/11 museum taking shape in NYC offers visitors a raw experience, impression of vast scale

9/11 museum going up in NYC offers raw experience

NEW YORK – The Sept. 11 museum is taking shape 70 feet below ground, a cavernous space that provides an emotionally raw journey and ends at bedrock where huge surviving remnants and spacial voids reveal the scale of the devastation of what once was the World Trade …. Source article  : 9/11 museum taking shape in NYC offers visitors a raw experience, impression of vast scale.

3 June flights sat on the tarmac for more than 3 hours; no increase in canceled flights

3 United flights had long tarmac delays in June

NEW YORK – Only three flights sat on the tarmac for more than three hours in June compared with nearly 300 a year ago, the government said Tuesday. Airlines didn’t have to cancel more flights to avoid potentially massive fines for those long delays.
All three of the … Original source on Gaea Times at : 3 June flights sat on the tarmac for more than 3 hours; no increase in canceled flights.

TxDOT seeks callers with drawls, system ‘learning’ to understand voices for travel help line

Drawls welcome: TxDOT tests phone info line

AUSTIN, Texas – That drawl from y’all could help the Texas Department of Transportation update its phone line for travel information.
The agency on Tuesday launched its interactive voice response interface for the Texas Travel Information Line, at 1-800-452-9292.
The new system, for several weeks, will be “learning” to understand voices. …. Source article  : TxDOT seeks callers with drawls, system ‘learning’ to understand voices for travel help line.

Canadian Maritime provinces throw out welcome mat for motorcyclists

Tourism in Atlantic Canada is motorcycle-friendly

PORT HAWKESBURY, Nova Scotia – Riding through a West Coast state three decades ago on a motorcycle, two hungry riders – my wife and I – stopped at a small roadside restaurant and asked for a couple of seats so we could enjoy steaks that were advertised on the chalkboard.
But …. Original source  : Canadian Maritime provinces throw out welcome mat for motorcyclists.

Israel complains about US travel advisory singling out Israel, not Jordan, for precautions

Israel complains about new US travel advisory

JERUSALEM – Israel is protesting what it says is a biased U.S. warning for American travelers to locate bomb shelters when visiting the Israeli resort of Eilat and not neighboring Jordan.
The travel advisory was issued after rockets hit Israel’s Eilat and Aqaba in Jordan, where one person was killed …. Read the original article  : Israel complains about US travel advisory singling out Israel, not Jordan, for precautions.

Maine State Museum hosts exhibit about Maine’s last sardine cannery

Maine State Museum hosts sardine canning exhibit

AUGUSTA, Maine – The last three sardine cans packed at America’s last industrial sardine cannery are on display as part of a new exhibit on display at the Maine State Museum in Augusta.
The museum’s exhibit, “End of the Line…America’s Last Sardine Cannery,” is on view until Sept. 4.
The old … Read more >>>.

White House aide stresses possibility of work while angling for relaxation on Obama vacation

Hiking, beach – and maybe work – on Obama vacation
BOSTON – President Barack Obama is planning to hike, laze at the beach and visit an ice cream parlor or two while vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard, but his spokesman realizes world affairs may interfere.
Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters Tuesday aboard Air Force …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : White House aide stresses possibility of work while angling for relaxation on Obama vacation.

Pablo Picasso still draws crowds: Exhibit of 300 works brings over 700K to NYC’s Met Museum

Picasso show draws huge crowds to NYC’s Met Museum

NEW YORK – Pablo Picasso is as popular as ever.
An exhibition of 300 works by the Spanish modernist drew more than 700,000 people to The Metropolitan Museum of Art between April 19 and Aug. 15. That makes it the most highly attended show since 2001.
The museum announced …. Source article  : Pablo Picasso still draws crowds: Exhibit of 300 works brings over 700K to NYC’s Met Museum.

JetBlue brings back popular ‘All You Can Jet’ pass, allows unlimited flights for 1 month

JetBlue brings back ‘All You Can Jet’ passes

NEW YORK – JetBlue is bringing back its popular All-You-Can-Jet pass that allows anyone to travel to an unlimited number of cities over a one-month period.
The pass is valid for flights between Sept. 7 and Oct. 6, the company said Tuesday. There are two price tiers: an unlimited … Read more : JetBlue brings back popular ‘All You Can Jet’ pass, allows unlimited flights for 1 month.

Kentucky State Fair to offer new rides to make up for loss of amusement park

Kentucky State Fair bringing in new rides
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Kentucky State Fair will offer some new midway rides this year in an effort to make up for the loss of amusement park rides at Kentucky Kingdom.

A statement from the fair board says the midway operator, North American Midway Entertainment, will bring more than 50 … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Kentucky State Fair to offer new rides to make up for loss of amusement park.

Spanish colonial museum exhibit displays diverse cultures that led to unique NM art

Diverse cultures contributed to NM art
SANTA FE, N.M. – For centuries, New Mexico has been home to a distinctive tradition of painting Catholic saints in simple portraits, rather than adhering to the elaborate styles of European art.

Some critics have said the paintings resulted from untrained Spanish artists doing the best they could. But the curator …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Spanish colonial museum exhibit displays diverse cultures that led to unique NM art.

Enjoying the ride: Pa. man, 78, makes 4,000th trip on roller coaster after 90 turns in a day

Pa. man, 78, rides roller coaster 90 times in day

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. – A 78-year-old man rode a Pittsburgh-area roller coast 90 times in one day – bringing his lifetime total to 4,000 rides.
Vic Kleman spent about five hours on the Jack Rabbit roller coaster at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin.
The wooden coaster is no …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Salvagers to pull rare World War II plane from Calif. reservoir 6 decades after it crashed

Divers to pull WWII plane from Calif. reservoir

SAN DIEGO – It was a surprising image for the fisherman hoping to find bass on his electronic fish finder: The outline of an airplane submerged 85 feet below the surface of a San Diego reservoir.
Navy divers later confirmed it was a rare World War II dive bomber … Read more »».

British, Indian men have Nepal’s first foreign gay wedding ceremony

Gay men hold 1st foreign wedding ceremony in Nepal

KATMANDU, Nepal – A Hindu priest performed the first wedding ceremony in Nepal for a foreign gay couple, a rights group said Wednesday, as activists and tourist agencies increasingly promote the Himalayan nation as a gay-friendly destination.
The ceremony was held Tuesday night in Katmandu for Sanjay Shah, … Read more »»».

Mud delays efforts to pull rare World War II dive bomber from Southern Calif. reservoir

Mud delays efforts to extract WWII plane from lake

SAN DIEGO – Divers worked through the day Thursday to extract a rare World War II dive bomber from the bottom of a reservoir but were unable to finish removing thick silt and mud from the plane to enable it to be lifted out of the water.
Former …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Mud delays efforts to pull rare World War II dive bomber from Southern Calif. reservoir.

AP sources: Phone call was about hijacking an American Airlines plane bound for NY

AP sources: Phone was about hijacking threat

WASHINGTON – A source close to the investigation says a New York-bound jetliner was stopped from taking off from San Francisco after someone threatened to hijack it.
American Airlines Flight 24 was halted just before its scheduled takeoff Thursday morning at San Francisco International Airport after someone called in the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : AP sources: Phone call was about hijacking an American Airlines plane bound for NY.

Correction: American Airlines seat fee story

Correction: American Airlines seat fee story

NEW YORK – In a story Aug. 19 about American Airlines new seat fees, The Associated Press reported erroneously that elite frequent fliers can reserve the first few rows of coach for no charge. Elite fliers have access to other preferred seats without a fee but must pay $19 to … Read : Correction: American Airlines seat fee story.

Veterans’ families watch salvagers working to pull rare WWII plane from California reservoir

Divers work to lift WWII plane from Calif. lake

SAN DIEGO – Salvage divers gently cleared away silt and mud covering a WWII dive bomber buried in the bottom of the San Diego reservoir, carefully working Thursday to lift the rare plane from the water 65 years after it was ditched during a training run.
Bob Metz, … Read more : Veterans’ families watch salvagers working to pull rare WWII plane from California reservoir.

NTSB says metal fatigue led to hole in roof of Southwest Airlines jet last year

Hole in Southwest jet blamed on metal fatigue

DALLAS – Federal investigators say metal fatigue caused a hole to rip open in the roof of a Southwest Airlines jet as it cruised at 35,000 feet last year.
The National Transportation Safety Board says the 14-inch crack developed in a spot where two sheets of aluminum skin were …. Original article  : NTSB says metal fatigue led to hole in roof of Southwest Airlines jet last year.

American Airlines to start charging $19-$39 for seats in the first few rows of coach cabin

American Airlines to charge for front-row seats

NEW YORK – American Airlines has found another fee.
The Fort Worth, Texas, airline said Wednesday it’s now charging between $19 and $39 for “Express Seats” – those spots in the first few rows of coach that include bulkhead seats.
American said the price of the seats includes getting on the … Original article on : American Airlines to start charging $19-$39 for seats in the first few rows of coach cabin.

Website hopes to serve travelers in their own backyards

Website aimed at hometown tourists
BOISE, Idaho – My family will travel halfway around the world to see a koala bear sitting in a eucalyptus tree, but for some reason it took us four years in Boise to see the city’s spooky old 19th century penitentiary, a local favorite just a few miles from our house.

The … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Website hopes to serve travelers in their own backyards.

Man hospitalized after falling 20 feet while waiting to board Disney theme park ride

Man falls at Disney’s California Adventure park

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Police say a man was hurt in a 20-foot fall while waiting to get on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride at Disney’s California Adventure theme park in Anaheim.
The 20-year-old was treated for minor injuries at a hospital and released.
Disneyland Resorts spokeswoman Suzi Brown says …. Read the original article  : Man hospitalized after falling 20 feet while waiting to board Disney theme park ride.

Judge rejects Fisk deal for Ark. museum to take joint ownership of O’Keeffe art collection

Judge rejects Fisk deal to sell O’Keeffe share

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Nashville judge has rejected Fisk University’s proposal to sell a joint share in a 101-piece collection donated by late artist Georgia O’Keeffe to an Arkansas museum.
Fisk argued that its precarious financial state prevents the historically black university from maintaining and displaying the collection.
Judge Ellen … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Judge rejects Fisk deal for Ark. museum to take joint ownership of O’Keeffe art collection.