Death to $7.95-an-hour airport WiFi! After five years of ponying up more than $1 for every ten minutes online at Salt Lake City's airport, the airport itself has finally come to its senses will go free from July 1.

The beginning of free WiFi airport access at SLC in July shows that not only does passenger complaining work, but that it can help bring an airport up to date in keeping people connected. With their Boingo contract set to expire, Salt Lake had to make a choice, and for once it wasn't in favor of the nearly $100,000 in revenue that they got from the Boingo plan.

Now if only the masses who use major hubs like JFK, Las Vegas, LAX and Denver can have the same affect so that they too will make the decision to switch to free WiFi. Do we need to organize a picket line?

Related Stories:
· Salt Lake City airport to offer free WiFi starting July 1 [Salt Lake Tribune]
· Airport WiFi Coverage [Jaunted]

[SLC waiting area photo: stewf]]]> JetSetCD 2009-06-18T12:45:09-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/12/172532/658

Could we have a battle of the airplane wraps on our hands? Southwest unveiled their SeaWorld One this week and today, JetBlue has just christened their "Real Blue" plane in Salt Lake City, Utah. The new A320 is part of a sponsorship of Salt Lake's Major League Soccer team, Real Salt Lake (JetBlue is their official airline) and of course, a way to promote the JetBlue flights to the city.

Looking to fly on Real Blue sometime soon? You better book fast. JetBlue has special fares between Salt Lake and Long Beach, San Diego and New York starting at $49 one-way but only until the end of today. Additionally, the flights are only good for Tuesday and Wednesday travel from June 23- August 26. However, you can get another better perk out of all of this. JetBlue customers will get 50 percent off tickets to the Real Salt Lake game against Toronto FC on Saturday, June 27th.

Related Stories:
· Eep! Southwest Has Penguins On A Plane! [Jaunted]
· JetBlue Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JetBlue/Twitter]]]> juliana 2009-06-12T17:28:15-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/11/71423/8470

If you’ve got a lengthy layover in Salt Lake City and are looking to make the most of it, you might be interested in the Utah Valley Marathon. Starting bright on early this Saturday, June 13, the race takes places only 50 miles south of the airport and is fairly convenient to several National forests. So after the race you can enjoy even more physical activity.

There’s no cheesy stuff to keep you motivated during this course, just nature at its finest. Runners will be surrounded by mountains on all sides while following canyon roads that run along the Provo River and swing by Utah Lake. For the most part you’ll be headed down hill, so if you’re new to running, this should be a good pick. Also, this race is USATF certified, so a good time can help you qualify for the bigger races, like the Boston Marathon. ]]> kjb 2009-06-11T09:02:09-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/13/9114/72034

In southern Utah the forecast this week calls for thunderstorms and possibly snow, but don't tell that to the New York Times travel section: Writer Tony Perrottet reminisces about last year's trip to the unmarked trails of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, little changed since John Wesley Powell and others traversed its canyons for the first time.

The sun-baked expanses peppered with friendly-enough locals are tempting even this close to spring, but the use of the word "outback" though is, for us, a little problematic: As we learned about from the end credits of "Australia," the land Down Under wasn't always so benevolent towards its aboriginal tribes -- but they managed to let them alone to the extent that they can still live on their tribal lands. Explorer Frederick Samuel Dellenbaugh had a Ute Indian to guide him through America's outback; Perrottet had park rangers.

Still, the lure of hiking these deserted locales, even in a few months, makes us want to get our hiking boots on posthaste. And in this economy, camping sites on national park land may be gearing up for the best summer ever as budget-conscious Americans dig out the tents and propane grills. Any national parks (American and otherwise) you think we should check out in '09?

Related Stories:
· America’s Outback: Southern Utah [NYTimes]
· Utah coverage [Jaunted]
· Making You Feel Bad About Not Going Outside [Stuff White People Like]

[Photo: vtveen] ]]> egw 2009-04-13T10:16:45-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/26/999/58516

Did you know you can drink in Utah? The Beehive State has a puritanical reputation due to its majority of Mormons, who don't smoke, drink or Starbucks it up, but that doesn't stop you from drinking. And as this weekend's New York Times travel section points out, a little resistance can mean better beer from the state microbreweries.

Writer Vanessa Chang visited several brew pubs, defined by Utah law as a place where beers produced on site are served, and discovered that yes, Utahns do drink beer. Other options for drinking include taverns, which can sell any beer under 4 percent alcohol by volume, restaurants, where beer drinkers must also buy food, or "private clubs" which charge a membership fee to enter their full bars.

The Times recommends Uinta Brewery (1722 S. Fremont Dr. in Salt Lake City) and Wasatch Brew Pub (250 Main Street in tony Park City) for their delicious eats and local brews. So where's your favorite place to drink in Utah?

Related Stories:
· Brew Pubs Gain A Foothold In Utah [NYTimes]
· UT Liquor Laws Explained [Utah Beer]
· Drinking coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: toprankblog]]]> egw 2009-01-26T11:10:55-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/23/9641/81118

We try not to think about what days of cramp-inducing flights every year are doing to our poor, abused muscles. So if, as the New York Post just reported, Uma Thurman is really doing yoga on a plane, we should support her! And maybe ask what her secret is.

Thurman was flying from JFK to Salt Lake City to attend the Sundance Film Festival, where her indie movie "Motherhood" was debuting, when she got up out of her seat and started stretching in the back of the plane, using the flight attendants' station for balance.

Then again, maybe in-flight stress relief is overrated: Thurman was spotted in the Salt Lake City airport frantically looking for her car service and yelling at the airport-provided escort.

Related Stories:
· Page Six: Limber Lungs [New York Post]
· Uma Thurman's Airport Stress [CeleBuzz]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of Uma at the beach with her kids in 2007: Celebrity Moms]]]> egw 2009-01-23T09:32:43-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/13/15345/5218

Sundance 2009 doesn't officially start until Thursday, but at least one always-hungry-for-publicity "Real World: Brooklyn" cast member is already in festival mode.

Baya Voce, who like another cast member realized she liked DJing while filming a reality show for a cable channel that used to play music videos, will be hosting the fun tonight at The Star Bar in Park City. As it turns out, the Salt Lake City native has been to Sundance before but never to its exclusive parties, she tells The Salt Lake Tribune:

I was always the person standing outside in the snow, not getting in.

God, we know the feeling! During Sundance, The Star Bar competes with Harry O's for who can bring the most celebrity wattage while simultaneously causing blackouts on Main Street thanks to excessive sound and light equipment. (Seriously.) This Thursday, Star Bar hosts the Slamdance Opening Party while Paul Oakenfold and Mark Lewis will drop in on January 20. Harry O's meanwhile brings T.I. to town on Saturday. But who booked Chet Cannon?

Related Stories:
· The Star Bar [MySpace]
· Harry O's [MySpace]
· Cast Member Getting Real in Park City [SLT]
· Six Tips for Surviving Sundance 2009 [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2009-01-13T15:30:48-05:00 40.6420960 -111.49472 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/