When the Colonials learned that British forces were planning to send troops out of the city to the surrounding unoccupied hills, they acted. The colonials set up shop at the top of Bunker & Breed's Hill and picked off the redcoats sending them retreating towards Cambridge. Seems to us that FLL is the new Bunker Hill, though we will leave it to you to determine which airline wears what uniform.

By now we all know how Virgin America launched their 10th destination earlier this week at FLL and we have the photo gallery to prove it. However, what really struck us about our jaunt to meet them in FLL was the obvious jockeying for position that was going on there between JetBlue and Virgin America.

The feud deepens, after the jump.]]> markj 2009-11-20T17:09:33-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/11/7/152831/313

The brand new, unbelievably huge Oasis of the Seas cruise ship has been rocked by some serious waves on its first voyage. As USA Today points out, the 5,400-passenger vessel encountered hurricane-strength winds and waves over 60 feet high in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. Fortunately for the cruise line, there aren't any passengers on board, as Royal Caribbean is merely transporting it from the shipyard in Turku, Finland to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for its inaugural cruise. But while many passengers would have likely gotten seasick, they wouldn't have been in any serious peril, as the ship has weathered the waves quite smartly. For maximum stability, Captain William Wright has slowed the world's largest cruise ship down and steered it head-on into the waves. He probably wouldn't admit it, but I bet he's having fun. ]]> Victor Ozols 2009-11-07T15:28:31-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/8/11/0198/00222

Who's ready for spring break?!?!!? Okay okay calm down, because you've still got another eight or so months before you can decamp with your whole camp down to Florida's beaches for barely legal fun. But for you snow birds and West Coasters looking to trade the clubs of LA for the clubs of Miami, the partying will start in November as Virgin America has today announced that they'll be flying nonstop from San Francisco and Los Angeles to sunny Fort Lauderdale.

Jaunted thought this would be a VA destination long ago, though we were leaning MIA over FLL.

Tickets went on sale today for flights beginning November 18, and with two direct roundtrips daily from each city, including the only directs between FLL and SFO, we expect them to go like hotcakes. True to their LCC nature—who thinks of them a low-cost carrier anymore, with their WiFi and great service?—the tickets will start out rather cheap. We're talking prices from $99 each way for economy and $499 and up for higher classes (those with the white leather massage chairs). ]]> JetSetCD 2009-08-11T07:28:26-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/19/16524/2411

Attention extreme sports enthusiats: Kite surfing is not one of the things the National Hurricane Center considers "Preparations to protect life and property."

A guy in Fort Lauderdale had to find that out the hard way after he was snatched up by a wind gust, slammed to the ground, dragged over a busy highway and thrown into a wall. He's in critical condition at a local hospital, though he did manage to survive the ordeal. Uh... congrats?

Related Stories:
· Caught On Tape: Wind Blows Kite Surfer Into Building [WFOR]
· Kite Surfer Injury: Blame the Media? [Sun Sentinel]
· Fort Lauderdale Kite Surfing School [Official Site]
· Catching a Wave--with a Kite [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-08-19T17:00:13-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/4/29/92819/2118

With all these killer beaches, so much for a summer of frolicking in the sea, right? But Ft. Lauderdale is cleverly profiting from Florida tourists' shark-phobia by offering a ton of "beyond the beach" deals that won't leave you limbless.

Adventure-seekers can captain their own fishin' boat for a day with Best Boat Club. They're giving a full-day rental at a half-day rate, saving you $219 and giving you a few extra hours to hunt down Jaws' offspring. The tamer offers include a visit to Red Door's Lauderdale Spa for a "Signature Spa Break" massage and facial with bonus hair and makeup, which will have you feeling special when you and your date take a $99 2-for-1 cruise to Grand Bahama Island.

If you book one of the twofer tours now you'll also become the proud owner of a "Summer of Discovery" swag bag complete with beach towel and beach ball for use on your trip. Just make sure you don't use 'em too close to the water!

Related Stories:
· Summer of Discovery [Official Site]
· Shark Travel: New Smyrna Going for Gold [Jaunted]
· Killer Beaches 2008 [Jaunted]]]> CourtScott 2008-04-29T13:20:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/11/21/132358/43

We had a connection last week in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (don't ask) and as we deplaned and made our way to the baggage claim in Terminal 3, we saw this public art sculpture. It was so strikingly weird that we snapped a picture right away.

Once we got back in front of a computer, we tracked down the meaning of this thing. Titled "Vendor with a Walkman" the piece was done by late sculptor Duane Hanson in 1990. Here is the official description from the Broward County Cultural Division:

Featuring a seated thirty-something male in a red T shirt and blue pants, listening to a walkman radio/cassette during a break. The installation accessories give additional clues to the narrative of the artwork: toy airplane, various signs and announcement for the shop, janitorial supplies... Hanson again presented a slice of Americana in the most unexpected locale.

Interestingly enough, the picture on the Broward County website shows the vendor with a Miller Lite hat. Our picture has the guy wearing some other sort of trucker hat. Looks like not much has changed since the 90s here. Oh well, we guess it's less shocking than sheep in formaldehyde.

Have your own travel snaps? Drop 'em in the Jaunted Flickr Pool, and we'll highlight the best.

Related Stories:
· Travel Snapshots coverage [Jaunted]
· Jaunted Photo Pool [Flickr]]]> juliana 2007-11-21T15:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/1/16/102524/879

Last month we told you how Florida earned its own category on news commentary site Fark.com. Furthermore, we told you that Florida Tourism was going to spend more money in 2007, to try and reverse the 2.4% tourism slip that occurred in late 2006.

How? Well for starters, The Greater Ft. Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau took over a building in New York City's Union Square for a week (Jan 10 - 16) and turned it into coast(954), a pop-up tourism store selling trips, offering free massages, virtual fishing, a sand box and a volleyball net. The Bureau also hired some ambassadors to welcome visitors and bring to life what Florida is really about: beach bodies, from what we saw.

We noticed bikini clad Lauren sitting on her "virtual beach," a fenced-in installation of sand where a heat lamp played the role of the sun, and decided to liberate her from the monotony of oglers with a quick interview, letting her tell you directly why you should visit FLA, and more specifically Ft. Laud. Why should one visit Ft. Lauderdale and not arch-rival Miami? Because, as she points out, Miami has gangs while Ft. Lauderdale keeps it classy. ]]> Jaunted 2007-01-16T10:33:24-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/