Jaunted

Road Trips / Lists / Toll Bridges / Driving / Cars / Architecture Travel / Awesome Stuff / Bridges / Landmarks / → All Tags

The Top Ten US Toll Bridges Worth the Money

Uncle Jesse and Danny Tanner are just a toll away...

It’s the middle of July and the season for summer road trips has certainly arrived. There of course some obstacles to the perfect automobile expedition like gross bathrooms, highways rest stops, and way too many chips and candy serving as your lunch. Usually we’d add tolls to the list of annoying distractions out on the highway, but once in awhile there are a few that we really don’t mind paying.

Here’s our picks—in no particular order—for 10 Toll Bridges in the US where paying the fee is worth it:

· Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco, California:
This is an obvious addition to the list and when you drive yourself from San Francisco over into Marin County—or the other way depending on where you’re headed—it’s easy to see why it’s so iconic. Traveling over the bridge will cost you $6 per car when you’re headed south into the city, so at least one of your crossings is on the house. If you need a closer look you can always pull off and head out on foot, as there is plenty of room for bicycles and pedestrians to cross the bridge as well.

more ›

TV Travel / Oprah / Australia Travel / Oprah Winfrey / Celeb Travel / Bridges / Sydney Travel / → All Tags

Oprah Took 249 Audience Members on Sydney's Harbour Bridge, Didn't Break It

So, do all the stories about Oprah's adventures in Australia make you want to book a trip Down Under yet? We're betting that answer is "nope," but obviously the Aussies are betting that it's "ohh yeahhh" instead. Thanks to Winfrey's galavanting around—from helicoptering out to see the Twelve Apostles in Victoria to hosting her show at Sydney's Opera House, she's really aiming to give those who watch her final season a good look at Australia's greatest sites.

Tour operators are gearing up to offer Oprah-centric packages in January, when the Aussie episodes air. Surely her most recent escapade (and world record) will be included: Oprah took 249 of her audience member trip buddies up onto the walk of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with her, creating a record and some photo ops in unflattering grey jumpsuits. It looks scary and thrilling, but it's kinda like a walk through Times Square—we don't know anyone who's ever been to the city who hasn't done it, whether they wanted to or not.

more ›

Active Travel / Sydney Travel / Bridges / → All Tags

Sydney Harbour's Express BridgeClimb is Made for Travelers with Little Time

One of the most sought-after tourist experiences in Sydney, and one that almost every visitor seems to do while in town, is climbing the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge with BridgeClimb. But it’s not just international travelers that come to admire the breathtaking views from the top of the “Coat Hanger’s” arch. Thirty-five percent of the over 2.5 million climbers who've scaled the structure since BridgeClimb began in 1998 have been Australians. Yeah, they seem pretty proud of it.

However, during a recent visit to Sydney, we were hesitant about booking a climb ourselves since the two traditional experiences—the classic Bridge Climb and the engineering fantasist’s Exploration Climb—last a whopping 3.5 hours. That’s a pretty daunting prospect for the small of bladder and the short of time. So imagine our excitement when we learned that the newest climbing experience at BridgeClimb, the Express Climb, takes only two hours.

more ›

Travel Snapshot / New York City / Tourists / Brooklyn Travel / Bridges / → All Tags

It's 70 Degrees in New York City and the Tourists Have Reemerged

It's 70 degrees in New York City today, and before the flurries come again this weekend and next week, we hopped out with our WiFi card to work under the sun in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Sitting nearby the water taxi dock and the River Cafe, noshing on some chocolate-covered Peeps from the Jacques Torres chocolaterie down the street, we watched as busloads of international tourists emerged from their winter hibernation and explored Brooklyn—well, the yuppie neighborhood known as "DUMBO," or "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass."

It's like the birds returning from their migrations in the spring, when the tourists show up in their sunglasses. It's even more telling when said busloads are Italian, and they're looking up into the sun and sighing happily.

Next time you're in New York, you should make your own pilgrimage down to the Fulton Ferry Landing in Brooklyn's DUMBO neighborhood (if you haven't already), and savor the city in the spring and summer, especially now that they're readying to open a new section of the park. Perhaps you'll even catch one of the free outdoor films they show in the park, and then you'll really thank us.

Related Stories:
· Dining in Downtown Brooklyn: It's Always 1977 at Junior's [Jaunted]
· Travel Snapshots [Jaunted]

[Photo: Jaunted]

Bridges / San Francisco Travel / San Francisco / Oakland / Oakland Travel / Public Transportation / Accidents / → All Tags

When Bridges Attack: SF's Bay Bridge Closes Indefinitely

Where you perhaps planning on driving over to Oakland from San Francisco to check out why we named Oakland as one of the Five Cities With A Bad Rap worth visiting? It's too bad you'll be cut off from the goodness for who knows how long, after steel cables snapped last night, hitting three cars on the roadway below and stopping up traffic for over two hours.

There were no injuries when the bridge cracked its metal whip, but repairs and general safety issues will keep the region's busiest bridge shut down at least through tonight. Granted, the pieces that snapped were themselves an emergency repair made over Labor Day weekend, but now we're generally worried about bridge fatigue; perhaps we should be putting pennies into boxes for "Save The Steel Bridges" instead of Ronald McDonald House?

Public transporation options, after the jump.

more ›

Bridges / New York Travel / Architecture / Active Travel / Walking / → All Tags

New York State Welcomes The World's Longest Pedestrian Bridge

If you need somewhere to take in the sights of autumn this weekend, then you should consider New York’s newest state park. After rotting away for decades above the Hudson River, the Poughkeepsie Bridge has been reborn. Thanks to the time and deep pockets of local businesses, investors, and dedicated volunteers, the old railroad bridge that connects Poughkeepsie with Highland reopened earlier this month to traffic. The bridge has been transformed into a 1.25-mile pedestrian bridge—that’s two and a half miles roundtrip for the mathematically challenged.

The Walkway Over The Hudson is now the longest pedestrian bridge in the world, and it is certainly something for the Hudson Valley to get excited about. The walkway is totally free and visitors are encouraged to check out the view as it crosses the water about 200 feet in the air. Bicyclists, walkers, runners, and even the eight people that still rollerblade are welcome to take a trip across the Hudson. No need to worry about things being too crowded, the bridge is over 30 feet wide as it crosses the river, so you’ll have plenty of room to set up for some photo opportunities.

more ›

Dubious Destinations / Dangerous Travel / Bridges / Miami Social / Miami Travel / → All Tags

The Sex Offender Bridge Probably Isn't Going to Be Shown on 'Miami Social'

Bravo TV has a new show out this season called Miami Social which follows thirty-something year olds living, working and partying in Miami Beach. The show is full of shallow people we wouldn't want to be friends with in real life and yet there's not one totally outrageous diva character that would keep us tuning in again. Not even the regular appearance of the Gansevoort South which serves as the group's de facto Peach Pit After Dark has us interested in the slightest.

Instead we find the Sex Offender Bridge in Miami far more fascinating. It turns out Miami-Dade County has a rule that bans all sex offenders from living within 2,500 feet of any school, playground, public park or even bus stops. Since there options are so restricted, sex offenders have been told by the state's corrections department to park their stuff under the Julia Tuttle Causeway, a bridge that connects downtown Miami to Miami Beach.

more ›

World's Wildest Bungee Jumps / Bungee Jumping / South Africa Travel / Bridges / → All Tags

Tall Bridge Plus Bungee Equals Terrifying in South Africa

Record-breaking bridges seem like an obviously attractive spot to start a bungee jump, and that's no doubt why the Bloukrans Bridge near Nature's Valley along the southern coast of South Africa is a mecca for bungee fans. The bridge itself is the highest single span arch bridge in the world and you can bungee 216 meters (709 feet) off it towards the Bloukrans River.

Although the jump length is a bit shorter than Macau Tower, the Bloukrans gang like to boast that their jump is the highest and in a way, they're right--it's higher above the ground, but you don't jump all the way down.

Getting to the platform is a feat in itself for anyone shaky about heights. For the braver, there's now a flying fox ride--a cable slide, to be precise--to get you out to the platform faster and with the adrenalin already running.

Related Stories:
· Bloukrans Bridge Bungee [Official Site]
· The Highest Bungee Jump On Record is All Concrete [Jaunted]
· South Africa Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: peve.de]

China Travel / Bridges / → All Tags

Bridge Travel: China Opens Longest Trans-Oceanic Bridge in the World

When it comes to amazing feats of civil engineering, it's hard to surpass China these days. From the Three Gorges Dam to the Beijing National Stadium, it seems like there's a new monument to people power every other week. One of the latest big projects to be unveiled is the Hangzhou Bay Bridge, a 35-kilometer long bridge that connects Shanghai and Ningbo. Billed as the longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world, it shaves 120 kilometers off the trip between the two municipalities and gives people the thrill of driving vast distances over open ocean in a car.

The bridge has been open to the public since May 1, but you might not be able to get a really good look at it for another year or so. That's because a service center complex at the halfway point is still under construction, leaving drivers with no place to stop and stare. But when it does open, it could be pretty sweet: plans include a hotel, shops, and rest area as well as a funky-looking observation tower. The tower is sure to be a hit among visiting Americans, because, as the Onion points out in a recent item, U.S. tourists just love going to the tops of things.

Related Stories:
· Hangzhou Bay Bridge [Official Site]
· China's Quest to Build the Biggest and Tallest [MSNBC]
· Bridge Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

Crime / Drugs / Bridges / → All Tags

"Bridge Trolls" No Longer Menacing Boulder

A couple of hard-up potheads stood guard at a bridge in Boulder, Colorado, police say, charging joggers and bikers a $1 "toll" to cross. That is, until one passerby--an off-duty sheriff's deputy--refused to pay. In an attempt to shake down the officer, one of the modern-day trolls hit him with a golf club, which as you can imagine didn't end well.

Once in custody, the pair explained to police that they were having a bad acid trip. But why were they hustling money on the bridge? They didn't have enough cash to buy a lighter for the joint they planned to smoke.

While police don't find the antics very entertaining, one local biker loves the story:

I think that's hilarious.

Related Stories:
· "Bridge Troll" Arrested after Confrontation [KMGH]
· Crime coverage [Jaunted]

Attractions / Tourist Attractions / Asia Travel / Bridges / → All Tags

Bridge Travel: Getting Funky in Langkawi

As far as funky-shaped bridges go, the Langkawi Sky Bridge takes the cake as far as we're concerned. We're not really up with the latest bridge-building technology and can't really believe that it stays up, but we still plan to try walking over it the next time we hit the north of Malaysia.

It's been open since late 2004 (so it's had plenty of chances to fall down), and hangs there some 2,200 feet above sea level. The view is, obviously, pretty spectacular, but you have to be the kind of person who can keep their eyes open while slightly petrified to be able to enjoy this view.

Related Stories:
· Gephyrophobiacs Look Away Now [Deputy Dog]
· View Langkawi from a Cable Car [Jaunted]

[Photo: The Dilly Lama]

Attractions / Tourist Attractions / Bridges / → All Tags

Are All These People Really in Line For the Tower of London?

The Tower of London must be making a mini-comeback these days thanks to popular movies like Elizabeth and The Other Boleyn Girl as well as that Showtime mini-series The Tudors. How else to explain the ridiculously long queues on Easter morning in the freezing rain?

We hit up the Tower that day for those exact reasons--Easter and the freezing rain--hoping that those factors would culminate in a perfect storm of the tourism sort that would leave the place virtually empty. No such luck.

However, we amazingly had the foresight in our red-wine hangover haze to order our tickets online from our hotel room--The Baglioni Hotel in Hyde Park had free ethernet--and thus were able to skip the lines and move our shivering body along through the complex.

The only thing we couldn't do? Stay warm and dry. And the line to see the Royal Jewels was insanely long. Since we had seen the Tower and the jewels before (eight years ago), we decided to abort our tour and hit up the restaurant on-site, the New Armouries, for some tea and scones. There we listened to the rest of our audio guide we had purchased. It was totally geeky but we stayed warm.

Admission: £16.50 per adult. £9.50 per child under 16.
Audio Guide: £7 per adult. Special discounts are available for students.

Related Stories:· Tower of London [Official Site]
· Bridges coverage [Jaunted]