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Breaking News: JetAmerica Delays Launch Date Until August 14th

July 2, 2009 at 4:49 PM | 1 Comment

Yesterday we got all sorts of worried that JetAmerica would not be taking off on July 13 as initially announced because we couldn't plug in any new flight dates until August. But a call to the reservations/marketing inquiries hotline let us know that the upstart airline's website was just having a bit of "server error" and that our reservation was still good.

Still, we remained skeptical and with good reason. Just as we were wondering why JetAmerica hadn't fixed its "server error," an email came in to us from a Jaunted reader booked on the inaugural flight out of Newark to Toledo. Jet America has now delayed their launch date by 30 days.

First, we thank you for your support in purchasing a ticket on Sun America d/b/a JetAmerica ("JetAmerica"). Unfortunately, however, you are receiving this notice to inform you that due to landing slot issues in Newark, that we are going to have to delay our first flights 30 days until August 14th.

We've posted the full letter after the jump but Jet America is willing to issue a full refund to all passengers within seven to 14 days. Additionally, passengers booked on this flight will receive "special incentives to rebook on future flights" when they call the reservations center after August 1. Those incentives include waiving the $20 reservations convenience fee and the $20 fee for the first checked piece of baggage and any seat assignment fees.

But what about all the fun things we had planned for Toledo on July 14th????

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MapQuesting The Fourth: A Tool For Last-Minute Partiers

July 2, 2009 at 2:34 PM | 0 Comments

Anyone suffering from last-minute Fourth of July plans-making? We're raising our hands over here, and so to give everybody some assistance in making this weekend super festive, MapQuest has added a new feature to their maps: Independence Day events plotted just like the maps show gas stations and Best Westerns.

It's not totally comprehensive, but searching your city or destination and then applying the little fireworks icon will reveal events like outdoor symphony concerts, fireworks-viewing river cruises, or even daytime air shows (yay, Battle Creek, MI).

For example, the MapQuest tool turned up the "Red, White and Zoo" event at Cleveland's Zoo, the "Pied Piper Parade" in Atlanta, and a Pancake Breakfast in Boise, ID. Now you can have an answer ready for when your similarly-slacking friends ask, "hey, what are we doing this weekend?"

Related Stories:
· Fourth of July: MapQuest shows locations for fireworks events [LA Times]
· Fourth Of July Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Image: Mapquest]

Virgin America is Aware of Super Poking; Recommends 'Light Tapping'

July 2, 2009 at 1:39 PM | 0 Comments

The other day we griped about the "super poking" that often goes on aboard flights with touchscreen seat back TVs, like on Virgin America, where cranky grandmas are nearly banging on the RED system to order their ginger ale and crackers.

But the folks at Virgin America are aware of the situation and are going to begin informing passengers that the "light-tapping" method works the best. Here's what they told Jaunted:

In response, our crews are now including a verbal advisory in-flight which notes that light tapping works best for the Red system interface.  This is also included in our in-flight “How to use Red” guide (see attached). 

We’re definitely monitoring this and hope as people get more acclimated to the system they can see that only the gentlest touch is needed to change channels, select movies, videogames, zoom your journey on Google Maps – or any of the other activities Red offers at every seatback.

We also have qwerty keyboards and a handset remote in every armrest that offers guests full control over Red if they’d prefer not to use the touch-screen.

Did ya hear that Grams? Light-tapping works the best. We'll even come back there and show you how to do it.  

Related Stories:
· The Problem With Seat Back TVs: A Different Kind of Super Poke [Jaunted]
· 2009 In-Flight Entertainment Status Update [Jaunted]

Orlando Bloom 'Bikes and Bites' with Olivier Martinez

July 2, 2009 at 11:12 AM | 0 Comments

With all the gals spending most of their time stalking Robert Pattinson these days, we decided to check in with "the other hot British guy"--Orlando Bloom. Yesterday, the usurped heartthrob hopped on his bike to met up with fellow motorcyclist, Olivier Martinez (and former Kylie Minogue beaux) for dinner at The Little Door in Los Angeles. The "ridiculously good-looking" dudes have apparently been friends for a long time and were spotted riding together last year in Paris too.

The Little Door at 8164 West 3rd Street, is popular with celebs and LA locals alike for their fresh ingredients and Mediterranean cuisine. The Little Door's specialties include Couscous “Royale” with Lamb Stew, Lamb Chops, Chicken and Merguez Sausage and Braised Alaskan Halibut with Bouillabaisse Broth and Aioli Sauce, both entrees are $40. Yes, you need to have a celebrity bank account to dine here too.

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Tubing Is The Only Way To Beat The Heat In The Valley Of The Sun

July 2, 2009 at 10:42 AM | 0 Comments

When you think of Phoenix in the summer, you probably think of the sweltering heat and imagine yourself dodging in and out of the comfort of air conditioning. A relaxing trip down a river in a tube doesn’t even seem like a possibility, but it is, and you can beat the summer rays only 30 minutes outside the city.

After a short ride towards Mesa, you’ll find yourself floating and bobbing along the Lower Salt River in the middle of the Tonto National Forest. Although tubing is usually a relaxing experience, there are some rapids along this route to keep you on your toes. Also, they encourage picnicking along the river and even rent out special tubes to float your cooler right along side your group.

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Become An Alaskan Fisherman, At Least For A Few Hours

July 2, 2009 at 8:47 AM | 0 Comments

If your summer vacation plans include a cruise to Alaska with your grandparents, then you might want to seriously start considering some alternate shore excursions. Sure you can wander through some shops and check out the Totem Poles in Ketchikan like everyone else, or you can pretend that you're a true deep sea fisherman fisherperson.

Imagine being on the Deadliest Catch TV show, except not having to lift a finger. On the Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour, you’ll sit in a heated amphitheater right on the deck where you’ll be free to watch all the action while remaining totally safe. The crew will share some information about the ship, and before long you’ll be watching them haul in rockfish, cod, octopus, and king crab. Too bad they don’t bring drawn butter along.

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Visit The Last Of The Great Railway Stations in Los Angeles

July 1, 2009 at 5:39 PM | 0 Comments

Urban blog Infrastructurist just published a heartbreaking post bemoaning 11 gorgeous American train stations that have been demolished. One that's thankfully been spared: downtown Los Angeles's Union Station, routinely referred to as "The Last of the Great Railway Stations."

Opening in 1939 and costing $11 million, the station quickly became a central destination for the West Coast's passenger trains. It was not uncommon during the 1930s and 40s for 7,000 passengers a day to crowd into the station, which still provides the hub for Greater LA's many rail services. Even if you're not a passenger it's an architectural treasure worth incorporating into your Los Angeles tour.

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Bare It All This Weekend At Our Top 3 US Nude Beaches

July 1, 2009 at 2:32 PM | 1 Comment

This weekend may be Independence Day, but hopefully it'll be hot and sunny enough on both coasts to celebrate a little something else: freedom from clothing. We've run through our rolodex of scandalous vacations locations to retrieve the the best nude beaches, one for each side of the country and a bonus for Miami.

· Gunnison Beach in Sandy Hook, NJ
This is the clothing-optional mecca of the East Coast, since it's designated as the largest such beach and even offers police protection over the 5,000 or so visitors who drop trou here every summer weekend. Best of all, the nudity here is legal and within comfortable range of New York City for...you know...showing off your lack of tan lines at a cocktail bar.

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Pick Your Departure Time Carefully When Driving To and From Vegas

July 1, 2009 at 1:25 PM | 0 Comments

Last week we drove out to Las Vegas from Los Angeles and boy, was it a doozy. While we were happy to save on airfare (weekend tickets to Vegas start at around $150 round-trip; gas was about $75), we just happened to choose the worst times to leave Los Angeles on the way out there and to leave Las Vegas coming home.

We left on Thursday at 4:25pm from Santa Monica which is prime traffic time in L.A. but we couldn't skip out of work any earlier. This was also the day that Michael Jackson died and everyone was flooding the Westside to camp out at the UCLA Medical Center. So try to avoid departing on a day that a major pop icon dies in Los Angeles. For instance, when Britney kicks the can in Malibu, put off your trip for another few hours or possibly a day, if her death was "too soon."

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TSA's Response To Clear Questions: 'Not Our Problem'

July 1, 2009 at 12:37 PM | 2 Comments

It's quick and it's dirty, but it gets the job done; yes, it's the TSA Blog's Response to your Clear questions. Although most of the post is devoted to reminding people that this whole debacle is not TSA's problem, but Clear's and that's who should deal with it, they nonetheless remind us that two other such companies still function out there: Flo and Vigilant.

Beyond that, the TSA assures that the market for such expedited security cards is still open: "This is purely a market-driven, private sector venture offered in partnership with airports and airlines. Another vender could potentially take up the program."

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Daytime Fireworks, Cake, and 'National Treasure' For The Fourth

July 1, 2009 at 9:32 AM | 0 Comments

If you've waited this long to make plans for the Fourth of July, then you've probably already given in to another year of camping out down by the river for the city fireworks display, and this applies to most any city with a river. If, however, you are lucky enough to call Washington DC or Baltimore home, then there's still an option for a day-trip to make it feel as though you did something with your weekend: head to George Washington's old Mount Vernon home for the festivities and the "National Treasure" Tour.

As of this last February, Mount Vernon has expanded their hugely popular tour, based on "The National Treasure 2: Book Of Secrets" to offering it four times daily, with 25 people max per tour. It's an extra $5 on top of the $15 admission to the estate, but it's the only way to investigate areas like the mansion's basement and cornerstone. Apparently, fans of the movie "will recognize the space as the location where Nicolas Cage's character kidnaps the president."

Emerge from underneath Mount Vernon for the Fourth's "made-for-daytime" fireworks, a naturalization ceremony, Revolutionary War re-enactments and a birthday cake! The cake will be cut at 1pm, and we recommend bringing Ziploc baggies for some snacking on the ride back to the city.

Related Stories:
· National Treasure Tours Begin [Press Release]
· Mount Vernon [Official Site]
· Fourth Of July Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: afagen]

A New Island Off Waikiki Beach Hopes To Lure Us Out To Sea

July 1, 2009 at 9:22 AM | 0 Comments

If you somehow get tired of all the natural beauty that Hawaii has to offer, there’s soon going to be a new fake paradise for visitors to check out. A company called KanDoo is almost finished creating their own artificial island about 200 yards off Waikiki Beach.

KanDoo Island is really just a humongous catamaran that will serve as a water sports entertainment paradise for visitors and locals alike. The 98-ton boat will offer snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing lessons, and even jet ski trips off its “shoreline.” After a long day on and in the water, come back to the catamaran for some evening entertainment. There will be live music, nightclubs, and probably a fair share of Mai Tais. The company’s CEO wants KanDoo to be a 24/7 destination, but we’re a little skeptical that people will be swarming the place throughout the night.

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