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WEB SITE OF THE
WEEK
PAST WEB SITES OF THE WEEK:
THE WORLD'S AIRLINES - PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
A U.K. site that does just what it says.
BORN
RICH
Want to see who has the most private jets? The biggest Yachts? The
most lavish homes? This is your site!
AMERICAN BARNSTORMING
Wouldn't it be cool to take a spin in an old biplane?
These folks can make it happen. Check the schedule and see if they'll be flying
in your Midwestern U.S. neighborhood this summer.
WORLDWIDE FISHING
For folks who like to fish this is the time to start
planning that trip of a lifetime. These folks can hook you up, pardon the
expression!
LET'S GO FLYING!
Have you ever dreamed about flying your own plane?
Well this website is a good start. These folks at the Aircraft Owners and
Pilots Association can help get you off the ground in cities and towns all over
the U.S.
BROACH SPORTS TOURS
It's almost playoff time for pro hockey and basketball in
the U.S. The NASCAR season is roaring and soon the boys of summer will begin
play in the major leagues. It's a good time now to check out a sports
vacation and these folks might be able to help!
SAN FRANCISCO DOT COM
I had the good fortune of working at one of the greatest
rock stations in history and in one of the greatest cities on earth. Those would
be The Big 610 KFRC with the legendary, late Dr. Don Rose and in the City of San
Francisco. From Fisherman's Wharf to Chinatown to Lombard Street to the
famous cable cars, this is a great town. And it's an easy drive to wine
country. If you ever have a chance to visit the City by the Bay, you
really should do it!
ALL THINGS 787
This is one of the best blogs I've seen about the Boeing
787 Dreamliner including the latest delivery schedules. Very well done!
BENCHWARMER SPORTS - NCAA FINAL FOUR PACKAGES
March Madness is here! If you're a big fan of
college basketball these folks offer tour packages to the final four games down
in the Big Easy.
SINGLE HOME EXCHANGE INTERNATIONAL
The concept here is rather than vacation at hotels you
stay in somebody else's home while you're away and others stay at your home
while you're gone. Sounds like an interesting concept.
FRESH POND TRAVEL
You'd never guess from the name but this website specializes in travel to dog
shows all over the world. Check it out!
HERMAN THE DUCK
Herman the Duck used to be one of the most recognizable logos in the United
States. Remember him? He was the logo for North Central Airlines
that eventually became a part of Northwest Airlines. This site takes a
look back at the life and times of North Central Airlines.
FLYING COMPANIONS
This outfit will accompany elderly people on trips or
people who are disabled or may be afraid to travel alone.
SPORTS VACATIONS
If you've go the coin there's still time to book a trip to
the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. These folks also deal with many other sports
trips and vacations. Check 'em out.
SMITHSONIAN
NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM
I've had the good fortune of visiting this incredible museum in Washington, D.C.
several times and it never ceases to amaze. Even if you can't make it in person,
I think you'll find their web site interesting. Enjoy and try to visit the
museum in person in the future!
Got time for a quick story? The first time I visited
this wonderful place was in 1983. I was attending an RKO Radio convention
in D.C. and a friend and I took an afternoon off to visit the museum. When
we got into the cab at the Madison Hotel, I asked the apparent Ethiopian driver
to take us to the Smithsonian Institution. He replied: "Where would
you like to go?" In amazement, I again replied "the Smithsonian
Institution." Again, in broken English, he asked where we would
like to go. This time I raised my voice and said: "THE SMITHSONIAN
(bad word here) INSTITUTION." His kind reply was: "But sir, it's a
large museum over many square blocks. Where do you want to go there?"
Then I had the sense to say the Air and Space Museum!
PAN AM DOT ORG
This a nice site about Pan Am from its beginning to demise done by the
daughter of a Pan Am family. Lots of pictures and info.
SUNSHINE SKIES
A fantastic site for airline buffs featuring incredible pictures from
Florida and Georgia airlines that have since vanished from the skies.
DELTA HERITAGE MUSEUM
The best way to enjoy this great facility is to see it in person
at Delta World Headquarters in Atlanta. But until you can get down
there, check it out online first! It's all about Delta Air Lines
from the beginning to the present.
THE BOEING STORE
If you've ever wondered what kind of merchandise they offer at the
Boeing Store at their giant assembly building in Everett, Washington,
this is it. Quite frankly, I was a little disappointed when we
visited in Washington. But check it out for yourself online.
A-Z WORLD AIRPORTS
A
great guide to just about any airport in the world I can think of. Check
it out!
AIRLINE TIMETABLE IMAGES
Folks - this one absolutely blows my mind! It features actual airline
timetables (flight schedules) for airlines dating back many, many
years. A tear came to my eye as I checked out the pages of an Eastern
Airlines schedule from the 60s. There it was - Eastern flight 142,
DC-7B service from St. Petersburg to Indianapolis with an intermediate
stop in Louisville! Incredible! What memories! I was a little brat
when we took that flight several times. Check this site out!
WINE COUNTRY
How about spending the holidays in California's beautiful wine country?
Granted it gets a little chilly sometimes at this time of the year but
it's drop dead beautiful and if you've never visited the region, you're
in for a pleasant surprise even if you don't partake in vino. This
site has loads of information about the famous Napa and Sonoma valleys
in Northern California. Cheers!
INTERNATIONAL LIVING
I ran
across this site by accident the other day. It's interesting,
though, and suggests very inexpensive places to live for those who might
consider retiring somewhere outside the U.S. Some opportunities do
seem pretty affordable including health care.
BRANIFF INTERNATIONAL
Remember the airline with the "Flying Color" jets? Remember when
famed artist Alexander Calder painted a couple of their jets. The
legendary Braniff International called Dallas home and was a cutting
edge leader until the end came. Check out the info and pictures on
this site.
I FLY
BUSINESS DOT COM
I haven't been fully able to check this site out yet. But from
what I've seen, I like it. It's designed to help people book low
cost premium cabin flights. But there's a lot of information on
the site about airlines, airplanes, etc.
BEST PAPER AIRPLANES
Okay, this is a little lighthearted but fun! It's actually a great site
to use with kids to get them interested in flying and taking trips.
U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT COUNTRY SPECIFIC TRAVEL INFO
Before we venture to a brand new country we always check out our
destination on this website. You'll gain valuable information about the
country and possible dangers and annoyances.
HISTORIC ROUTE 66
A great section from The Truckers Report on this famous U.S. highway
which now, sadly, is pretty much forgotten thanks to the Interstate
Highway System. Check it out. They've got some great links.
SUN CLOCK FROM WORLD TIME ZONE
This is really cool. It's a world time zone map complete with a
graph of where it's dark and where it's light all over the world.
You can buy a similar map that lights up to hang on the wall but it's
something like $3,000. So I just enjoy this one!
BOEING 787 DELIVERY CEREMONY - FINALLY!
More than three years behind schedule, Boeing finally delivered its
first 787 Dreamliner to ANA Airlines in the Seattle Area on September
26th 2011. Watch the video of this milestone.
FITNESS INTEREST TRAVEL
This isn't my cup of tea! When I go on vacation I want to relax
but many love working out while traveling. And this website
specializes on going on vacation to get fit.
AIRLINE PILOT CENTRAL
A great site for airline pilots and those who are interested in the
airline industry. Check it out!
TRAVEL TRUTH
A good travel site dealing primarily with cruising but also with
airlines, restaurants and more.
CORPORATE TRAVEL SAFETY
An excellent site with travel tips for just about any case scenario.
If you travel a lot, this could save your life!
WINTER PREDICTION 2011-2012
OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC
Each year these folks take a long range stab at day by day forecasts for
the winter and they claim they are as accurate as any other
organization. To get the full forecast you'll have to buy their
book. But go here for an overview of what they think winter will
have in store for your area in the U.S.
CELEBRITY AIRCRAFT
Have you ever wondered if your favorite movie star or sports player owns
his/her own jet? Well this website answers those questions pretty well.
It's not perfect but it is interesting to check out.
THE BOEING 737
TECHNICAL SITE
If you're a fan of the most popular jet ever built in terms of sales,
then you'll want to check this U.K. based site out. Loads of information
and pictures. Lots of technical stuff, too, as the site's name would
indicate!
LOCAL
EATS
This is a great site for foodies who enjoying eating out and exploring
new restaurants in new cities around the U.S. It's all about where
the locals eat
FAMILY VACATIONS
Many kids are due back in school in the U.S. in just a matter of weeks.
So now is the time to finalize that late summer family vacation.
This site has some good ideas!
STONE OAK
VACATION CLUB
This is a great site for people considering vacations in the Gatlinburg,
Tennessee region. This area has gone from a sleepy little vacation
spot in the 50s to a mega popular, mega busy vacation destination.
Still, it's a fun area with lots to do if you haven't ever been there.
It still has that down home, southern spirit and this site lists motels,
hotels, lodges, rental cabins, chalets, etc.
THE GHOSTS OF EASTERN FLIGHT 401
In 1972 while approaching Miami International Airport at night, Eastern
Airlines flight 401, a jumbo jet Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, plunged into
the Everglades. When they initially put the landing gear down in
preparation for landing they failed to get three green lights.
While circling to check it out the pilot either didn't have auto pilot
engaged or he accidentally knocked it off. The plane slowly kept
getting lower and lower without the pilot noticing eventually plunging
into the Everglades. How could that happen? It's pretty easy
when you're over the glades with no lights as reference points.
After the crash it was reported several times that the flight deck
crew--two of them anyway--appeared in ghost form. One account I
read said the cockpit voice recorder actually picked up the voice of one
of the ghosts! Check out this site for some interesting
information.
PEGGY WILLIAMS' SHELL TRIPS
Shell collecting is pretty popular but having lived in Florida four
times, it always helps to have somebody who knows where to go and when
to go to find the best shells. This website actually offers shell
collecting vacations. See what you think.
GO BARGING
- EUROPEAN WATERWAYS
A guide to barge vacations in Europe. We've seen families enjoying
barge trips many times during our visits to Europe and I always thought
it might be fun. Maybe next trip. Check it out!
FLYAOW LIST OF OLD AIRLINE WEBSITES
Longing for the late, great Braniff International Airlines? The
"Wings of Man" Eastern? What about Pan Am, National, and I could
go on and on? Well now there's a branch of FLYAOW's website that
hooks you up with former airline's historical websites. I think
you'll like it!
VACATIONS BY RAIL
Train travel in the U.S. is absolutely nothing like you'll find
in Europe. We've enjoyed riding the rails in England, Scotland,
Wales, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Holland, Germany, Austria, Canada, Japan
and other countries around the world. It is a most pleasant
experience. Check out this site for worldwide opportunities for
vacations by rail!
GOLF ZOO
Personally, I'm not a golfer. I used to
be but my dad made me take the game so seriously that it ruined it for
me. Many of my friends are busy planning summer vacations centered
around golf. If that's you, you might want to check out this site
with worldwide opportunities.
WORLD CRUISES
We did an around the world trip by air and it was phenomenal. Now
we're dreaming about an around the world cruise although we just don't
have the time now. But if you do, check this site out.
They've got some pretty incredible trips coming up!
STARLINE
TOURS
I was thinking the other day that we have never featured a Hollywood
tour site here. I called a couple of friends out in L.A. for a
recommendation and both said this one was a good one. I can't
personally vouch for these people but you might want to check 'em out
next time you're out that way.
GALLERY OF WORLD BANK NOTES
This site is all about paper money. It features pictures of the
world's currency. Just go to the country you're interested in and
check it out.
SANDALS EMERALD BAY RESORT
GREAT EXUMA, BAHAMAS
We're
doing a live radio broadcast from this fantastic resort and I thought
you might want to check it out. It really is a wonderful all
inclusive place for couples.
AIRPLANE HOMES FROM AIRPORT JOURNALS
Have you ever thought of buying an old airplane like a Boeing 727-200
and turning it into a home? Well a lot of people have done just
that! Check out their floor plans!
BOEING 787 DREAMLINER
It's the most important project ever for Boeing. Yes, even bigger
than the 747. But how is it progressing? It has been
horribly delayed. Keep track of the testing milestones at this
official Boeing site.
AMERICA BY AIR - THE HEYDAY OF PROPELLER AIRLINERS
Okay I remember DC-6s, DC-7s, Connies and Convairs. So I'm old but
not that old! Check out this site and see what it was like to fly
back in the good old days. I caught the very tail end of the
piston era but it was a wonderful time to be a kid on a big, loud, four
engine piston plane!
FRIENDS OF AVIATION
Aviation news, pictures, forums and more focusing on the private pilot
and general aviation.
CONNIE
SURVIVORS
One of the great regrets of my aviation life is that I never had an
opportunity to fly on a Lockheed Constellation. The triple-tail
planes always amazed me as they came and went from the old Weir Cook
Airport in my hometown of Indy. Check out this site and get to
know the old Connie---and---the few that still survive to this day.
GVI VOLUNTEER ABROAD
Have you ever thought about giving something back and traveling at the
same time? You might want to check this site out!
CNN
CNN is our website of the week this week because I think they have done
an excellent job of reporting on the unfolding earthquake, tsunami and
nuclear power plant disaster.
TOURS THROUGH THE BOOK
With Easter rapidly approaching, Christians might want to visit the Holy
Land at this time of the year. This is a scriptures based tour
company specializing in tours of Israel.
GMANWORLD
Guess what this site is all about? No, it has nothing to do with
the FBI! It's a fun game site for kids! If you're on the
road with the kids in a hotel room, fire up this site and let them have
fun. Once inside the site toggle down for more games. Enjoy!
AIR FORCE
FLIGHT TEST CENTER MUSEUM
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA
So
many records were set at this base. While I have never visited
this museum in person, the web site is pretty cool.
CREDITCARDS.COM
Everything you need to know about credit cards. Good credit, fair
credit, bad credit? It's all there. Strategies and more.
You've got to have credit cards to travel!
PIZZA.NET
You're on the road and want to quickly find what pizza options are
nearby -- this is your site!
CORPORATE TRAVEL SAFETY
Any traveler should be concerned about safety and this site is the best
we've ever seen. It covers just about anything you'd ever need to
know about safe traveling. Those who travel on business will
especially find it rewarding. Check it out!
BOEING 747SP
We've all seen Boeing 747s. I've flown on 747-100s, 747-200s,
747-300s and 747-400s. Soon the 747-8 will be flying. But do
you remember the 747SP? That stood for "Special Performance" and
it was an odd looking big duck. I remember seeing Pan Am 747SPs in
San Francisco and a TWA 747SP at Logan Airport in Boston. It was
much shorter than a standard 747 and with a longer range, at the time.
Check out this website for some interesting pictures and stats on this
special plane.
BEACH HOUSE
VACATION RENTALS
I don't know where you are but where I am right now, it's very cold and
we've got a half foot of snow on the ground. Wouldn't it be just
great to migrate to a nice, warm, beach for a week or two? Why not
stay right on the beach or near it at a beach rental? This site
has a good list to get you started.
WORLDOMETERS
I don't know how accurate this site is but it is extremely
interesting to watch what is purported to be real time stats on births,
deaths, disease, carbon output---you name it around the world.
Check it out and watch the numbers grow before your very eyes!
TRAVEL COUPONS
Just what it says. Coupons and special deals on air, hotel
amusement parks and other travel related fields.
HONDAJET
As a young kid growing up in Indianapolis I remember seeing my first
Honda product - an S-90 motorcycle or motorbike. Then came cars,
generators, and boat engines. Now comes the HondaJet. It
made its first flight a few days ago. Will Honda move in on the
aviation world like they did with automobiles? That remains to be
seen. Check out the specs on this new jet, which Honda hopes to
start selling in 2012.
VIKING RIVER CRUISES
They bill themselves as the world leader when it comes to river cruises.
Worldwide opportunities. Looks like a fun way to travel.
JET LAG - CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT, PREVENTION, DIET
You're either going to not believe me or hate me for saying this but
I've never experienced jet lag. Fatigue, oh yeah. But not
jet lag. And I've been on trips that take 25 actual air hours to complete
(Detroit to Sydney VIA Atlanta & Seoul, for one). Maybe it's because I am
always horribly tired from my real job which has me flying out of bed
each morning at 2:30. This is part of the MedicineNet site. Check
it out and see what you think.
VISITING PHX
PHX is the airline city code designation for Phoenix. And some
guys have put together an excellent web site with great pictures.
If you enjoy commercial aviation, I think you'll enjoy it. I sure
did!
AIRLINE PILOT CENTRAL
If you like commercial aviation, this is a great site. Poke around
and you'll find some really interesting information on airlines and
pilots.
VISIT ARUBA
To go along with our Aruban restaurant this week, this tourism site is
our website of the week. A good guide to hotels, restaurants and
entertainment on our favorite island in the Caribbean. We've been
there 8 times and we're not done yet. Bon bini!
AIR
TRAFFIC ATLANTA
Listen to ATC and check out radar screens from the world's busiest
airport. The site has changed a little bit since I first viewed it
years ago but it's still very interesting
TRAIN
CHARTERING
This another one of those "you probably can't do it but you can always
fantasize" type sites. Here, they specialize in chartering private
rail cars. They are tacked onto the rear of a regular train. You
can go bare bones and take sandwiches with you or have the whole trip
catered.
SPECTRUM AIR
A new option for coast to coast air travel on a private biz jet.
It isn't cheap but compared to private jet ownership or even fractional
ownership, it might be worth considering.
WWCCR - CLASSIC
CAR VACATIONS
This site is for people with classic cars who like to strut their stuff
all over the world. Also, road rallies are listed on the site.
HOTEL VIEW
This site allows you to actually see a small video of a hotel before you
book your trip. Limited hotels in the U.S. and around the world
but interesting none the less.
INTERNET.COM TRAVEL DIRECTORY - INFLIGHT MAGAZINES
This is probably the best site we've seen for direct links to inflight
travel magazines offered by the various airlines. Due to the
economic crunch I know a lot of people who have been grounded, for the
time being, yet they still want to keep up with their airline's
magazine. This is a great place to do it.
RESTAURANT ROW
When you're on the move in the U.S. and need to find a good restaurant,
this is an excellent resource. Reviews are included along with
menus in most cases. Search by cuisine or check all restaurants.
If somebody has recommended a particular restaurant, you can search for
it by name, too.
PODUNK
I discovered this site quite by accident as I was looking for something
else. But there's loads of information here on various cities and
counties around the U.S. Select your state and county and see what
it comes up with!
THE
ROAMING JEW
An ultra Kosher travel site from an expert who insists on adhering to
the laws of Kashrut. It just so happens that this link was posted
on Saturday, September 18, 2010 - Yom Kippur.
SAFERCAR.COM
Has your car been recalled? Are you sure? You can be with
this site, an official U.S. Government site. You'll find loads of
information about child seat safety, tire safety and how to file safety
complaints. Check it out before you take you next major road
journey.
SPAGHETTI MODELS
A guy
by the name of Mike provides this site. With hurricane season at
its peak, this site gives us loads of information about active
tropical depressions, storms, and hurricanes. The "Spaghetti" in
the site's name refers to the anticipated paths storms will take. The
site not only tracks the "official" National Hurricane Center projected
paths of storms but other forecasting agencies from around the world.
SKYTRAX
We've featured this great site before and it's time that you check it
out again. Just about anything you'd ever want to know about your
favorite airline, or most dreaded airline, can be found here. They
site rates worldwide carriers on quality, seating, you name it. I
could and often do spend hours on this site. If you're an airline
nut, you must check it out.
MATTERHORN TRAVEL
This is an agency that specializes in tours of World War II sites in
Europe. In fact now would be an excellent time to start
pre-planning a trip to Normandy as the D-Day anniversary approaches next
June. It's incredible how brave our troops were jumping off into
the water not knowing if they would even make it to the beach alive.
Could you do it? God Bless all who fought to help keep the world
safe.
LOCK ON
AVIATION PHOTOGRAPHY
This is a fabulous site for incredible commercial airliner pictures.
And you know how some airlines put special schemes on planes? You
can go to the airline you'd like to see and check out all their special
liveries. You don't want to miss this one if you love planes!
U.S. HIGHWAYS
A nostalgic look at the highways of the past in America. The site is a
little hard to navigate but is packed with information about such famous
highways as U.S. 1. Take a look at what it was like before we got our
interstate highway system.
AIRCRAFT
COMPARE
Have you ever wondered about how much the airlines have to pay to buy a
brand new Boeing 747-400 or other jet? This site gives you a
pretty good answer. And it covers business jets, too. Take a
look!
ABEHAUS - SUPERMARKET FINDER
You're on an extended stay business trip or vacation and you have
cooking facilities. Where is the nearest grocery store? Abeshaus has
compiled an internet list of just about every major U.S. supermarket
store chain with a web site. Just click on the store of your choice and
find out if there's one near you. Whether you're interested in a
Safeway or a Kroger, you'll find it here.
PLANES TRAINS AUTOMOBILES
A new British site that focuses mainly on cars but also covers
developments in the plane and train world. If you love cars, this
one's for you!
TERRA WIND
-
A MOTOR HOME & BOAT!
How about a luxurious 42 foot motor home RV that can also set sail on
fresh water lakes? As a friend of mine said: "Now if they
can only make it fly!"
AVOID
MOSQUITO BITES
The little blood suckers are out there! This site gives you
helpful information on how to combat them. By the way, did you
know that only the females bite? It's true. The males are
herbivores. And one more thing. Only the females "sing."
RICHARD PETTY DRIVING EXPERIENCE
Learn how to drive a NASCAR racing machine
from the king and his staff. Find out when they'll be coming to a
track near you.
CRUISE
REVIEWS
Thinkin' about going on a cruise? This is an extremely helpful
site with comments from others who have "been there, done that."
DOUGLAS DC-5 - "THE FORGOTTEN DOUGLAS"
Yes, Matilda, there was actually a DC-5 propliner. Prior to
that there was a DC-1, DC-2 and even DC-2 1/2, DC-3 and DC-4..
More about those later. Read all about those later. Find out
more about the DC-5 here.
GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL INFORMATION
If you're considering a visit to Florida beaches, there
is information available on the spread of the oil from the Deepwater
Horizon well.
State
of Florida Information --
Updates from BP Global --
NOAA's Projected Path Of Oil
ISLAND DREAMS TRAVEL
This is for SCUBA divers! They offer diving adventures in the
Caribbean and spots in the Pacific.
SKEETOBITE WEATHER
The Atlantic hurricane season is just days away now.
If you live in the hurricane belt then you probably already know about
this site. It tracks tropical storms and hurricanes and lists
several forecast models including the track prediction issued by the
National Hurricane Center.
Even if you don't live in a hurricane prone area, it's fun to keep an
eye on this site and see where various forecasters think the
storms are going to go.
FULLERS BEST ANTIQUING USA
Now that the weather is nice it's time to get out there and search for a
rare treasure!
U.S. AIR FORCE THUNDERBIRDS
The Air Force precision flying team is just about to move into high gear
for the summer tour. Find out when they may be thundering into
your neighborhood!
AMERICAN AIRLINES C.R. SMITH MUSEUM
A
fantastic look at the history of American Airlines. Of course it's
best to visit in person but the web site is a real gem! And leave
your speakers on, too. Great sounds of the time!
AIR AND SPACE
An interesting site with lots of content from a guy who really loves
aviation. Poke around and you'll find something rewarding!
CRIMEDAR
A very interesting concept here. It's kind of like a neighborhood
crime watch online. And it not only charts your neighborhood but
just about any neighborhood. And, I like this. You can even
apply it to travel. Check it out!
AIRLINE REPORTER
Lots of interesting aviation tidbits on this site including some very
interesting shots of various airline liveries.
HOTEL VIEW
This site features videos of some of the top hotels in the world.
As the site proclaims: "Go there BEFORE you get there!"
AIRLINE TIMETABLE IMAGES
Folks - this one absolutely blows my mind! It features actual
airline timetables (flight schedules) for airlines dating back many,
many years. A tear came to my eye as I checked out the pages of an
Eastern Airlines schedule from the 60s. There it was - Eastern
flight 142, DC-7B service from St. Petersburg to Indianapolis with an
intermediate stop in Louisville! Incredible! What memories!
I was a little brat when we took that flight several times. Check
this site out!
VACATIONS BY RAIL IN CANADA
One of the most fun rail outings we ever enjoyed
came on VIA Rail Canada. We left Windsor, Ontario just across the
river from Detroit and headed for Toronto where we spent a few days.
Then back on the train to Montreal for a couple of days. Next came
the incredibly beautiful and European looking Quebec City. Our
last stop before returning to Windsor was Ottawa. This trip came
during the winter and the snow was amazing. This is the official
VIA Rail site in Canada. Check it out and see if a vacation by
rail in Canada might be fun for you, too.
NEWSEUM
A very interesting site that allows you to mouse over a city on a map,
virtually any major city in the world, and instantly see the front page
of a local newspaper. You can catch up on what's going on in the
world in a flash! Neat site. Toggle all the way down for the
map. Countries can be selected at the top.
WORLD'S BEST BARS
We are not "bar people" but many of our friends absolutely love to
sample local bars as they travel the world. If that's you
then I think you'll get a kick out of this site. Cheers!
AIRLINE SPOON COLLECTION
Being an airline nut I can appreciate what a gentleman in France has
done. He collects airline spoons and tons of them. If you've
traveled as much as we have on the great airlines of the world, you know
you really do run across some interesting spoons. Give this site a
look-see!
PALACE ON WHEELS
Climb aboard a train for the luxury ride of your life -- in India!
We'll see you on board once we hit the lottery!
LEARN TO FLY
DAY
Spread your wings for free! Check out how you can get a free
flight and.....learn to fly!
LIMOLINER
An interesting new concept on travel between Boston and New York.
Air travel is probably the worst option. By the time you get your
bags and catch a cab to your destination, you might as well choose the
train. But this is the latest. Luxury bus service between
the two major cities complete with roomy seats, catering and internet
service.
TOP TEN FLOATING RESTAURANTS
Continuing with our Restaurant Of The Week theme of floating
restaurants, take a look at what one magazine considers the top ten in
the world. And the funny part? They didn't even mention
Jumbo in Hong Kong. Go figure!
CLASSIC TRAIN JOURNEYS
Traveling by train
is great and especially in Europe where service is frequent and widespread.
This site kicks it up a notch with classic and ultra luxury train travel around
the world. When we hit the lotto, we'll see you aboard one of these!
BEER VACATIONS - BEER TRIPS
Bottoms up everybody! Check out beer vacations to beer heaven in
Germany and Belgium! Two of our very favorite spots for
sensational brews are Munich and Brussels. They offer trips to
both.
2010 VANCOUVER OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
The winter games are almost here in this beautiful city. This is
the official site to get your juices flowing.
JOB VENT - I LOVE MY JOB / I HATE MY JOB
Okay,
I don't know what this site has to do with travel either! But I
came across it the other day found it interesting. Maybe you could
use it as small talk to get business meetings going. There are
some interesting comments and pretty brutally honest, too!
FEAR OF FLYING - SOAR
Flying is a wonderful way to travel. Okay it sucks now compared to the
"good old days" when the industry believed in comfort and service.
Imagine that concept? And they even served food and it tasted
good. Really. Seriously. No kidding! But flying
is still a great way to go. If you're afraid to fly, overcome that
fear! These folks really know what they're doing.
BOEING - THE 787 DREAMLINER
After a two year delay, Boeing finally got their Dreamliner into the sky
for a test flight on Tuesday, December 15th 2009. Everything seemed to
go well as it nearly always does these days on test flights. Read
more about the Dreamliner, Boeing's most successful launch ever.
PLANE SPOTTERS
Some great pictures of jetliners along with production information for
most major commercial jetliners. Comprehensive fleet lists, too.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE
This is an incredible place to visit! We've been here three times
and each time really enjoyed seeing all the planes and exhibits.
If you like airplanes and you find yourself in the Dayton, Ohio area,
you must stop by and see this museum!
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITIONS
Want to plan something really special for 2010? If you can
come up with the finances, these people offer incredible trips, some via
private jet charter. While we have never had an opportunity to
take one of these trips, some friends have and they absolutely rave
about their learning experiences. But start saving now because
many of these trips aren't cheap!
CELEBRITY JET CHARTERS
Okay, most of us can't live like rock stars. But there's nothing
stopping us from fantasizing!
AIRLINE CALLS
Thanks to Airodyssey.net for putting this page together. It
lists airline codes, what the airlines use as their call sign on the
radio. For instance, Delta is Delta. But British Airways
goes by "Speedbird" on the radio. The late Pan Am used to use
"Clipper." U.S. Airways goes by the call sign "Cactus."
Check it out and see what your favorite airline uses over the VHF and
shortwave band.
GREAT BBQ RESTAURANTS
An interesting site featuring what they consider to be some of the best
barbecue joints in the U.S. You won't find big chains here like
Famous Dave's or Sonny's but you will find some tasty options. If
you like BBQ, give it a shot!
FRANKENMUTH, MICHIGAN
They call this Michigan's Little Bavaria and for good reason. It's
a nice drive, especially when the leaves are at their fall best, from
Detroit and many other Michigan and Midwest cities. I know people
who come from Chicago and even Indianapolis. The big draw are two
all-you-can-eat fried chicken restaurants, the
Bavarian Inn (which
also includes a motel with great indoor pools for the kids) and
Zehnder's. They're
both owned by the same family but the food does vary slightly. They also
have great little sausage, cheese and fudge shops that are top notch.
If you live within driving distance, this might be a nice weekend
distraction just as it has been for our families for many years.
ABESHAUS SUPERMARKET LOCATOR
On the road and need to pick up some steaks for your client's function?
This site lists most major grocery store chains in the U.S.
(P.S. - I'll have mine very rare with a cool, red center!)
SAVE OUR SEVEN
This group, God Bless 'em, is working to restore a venerable DC-7B
piston airliner, one of the best of it's time. Check out their
site and if it moves you, write them out a little check!
ATM LOCATORS
Worldwide service is offered to help you find the machine nearest you. Make
your choice below:
MASTERCARD
VISA
HALLOWEEN TRAVEL
Some spooktacular ideas from the folks at Mahalo!
ROAD TRIPS
Sports vacations galore on this site. Everything from NFL football to the
Monaco Grand Prix!
AGAWA CANYON'S SNOW
TRAIN
Admit it. It's time to start thinking about winter. And this is a
fun trip in Southern Ontario.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO JET AMERICA?
During the past summer there was a great deal of anticipation about a new, low
cost airline that was being launched called Jet America. We included it as
a web site of the week. But what happened to it? We'll let Conde
Nast Magazine explain!
CARD PLAYER
CRUISES
Like to take cruises? Like to play poker? Well here ya go!
ESCAPE ARTIST
Ever wonder what it would be like to move to a foreign country?
This site walks you through the steps. Check it out!
ONLY IN SAN FRANCISCO
We have truly been blessed with travel to some of the most
incredible places on earth. And we've been equally blessed by having lived
in some of the most desirable places in the U.S. One of our most
interesting stops came in San Francisco where there's so much to see and do.
Fisherman's Wharf is always fun. So is Chinatown, Japantown, the Cable
Cars, Alcatraz, Lombard Street, Mt. Tamalpais, and climbing high above the
Golden Gate Bridge on the Marin County side for great views of the city.
And just over an hour's drive away, wine country! Check out this official
city site and "be sure to wear some flowers in your hair" when you visit, as the
old 60s song directed!
SKEETOBITE WEATHER
If you live in the hurricane belt then you probably already know about this
site. It tracks tropical storms and hurricanes and lists several
forecast models including the track prediction issued by the
National Hurricane Center.
Even if you don't live in a hurricane prone area, it's fun to keep an eye on
this site and see where various forecasters think the storms are going to
go.
VIRGIN GALACTIC
Sir Richard Branson and crew are getting closer and closer to making brief space
travel available to the general but rich public. Sir Richard has his own
Airline and soon, he'll have his own Spaceline! Keep up to date here and
if you go flying into space with him, would you let us know how the experience
was?!
AIRLINE TV
An interesting site featuring all kinds of aviation videos including civilian
and military, old and new. Check it
JUMBO HOSTEL
Sleep aboard
an old Boeing 747 jet which has been converted into a hostel at the airport in
Stockholm! Personally, we usually don't stay at anything less than a four
star hotel with 24 hour room service. But we might just bend the rules a
little bit here and share a bathroom to stay in this proud, old bird.
WALT DISNEY WORLD
This might be a very good time to take your family to the world famous "Mouse
House" in the Orlando Area. Due to the recession, poke around their site
and you might just find some great deals. And even if you can't afford to
stay on property, there's something for everyone's budget in nearby
Kissimmee.
HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL
We tend to focus on fixed wing aircraft operations on
this site but thought you might find this site on choppers of interest.
Check it out!
BOEING 787 DREAMLINER
Boeing's betting the farm on this one, just as they
did with the 747 way back when. Keep up to date on the Dreamliner's
much delayed progress at this Boeing web site. And if you ever have a chance to
take the Boeing tour in Everett, you must do it. It's absolutely amazing!
AVIATION SAFETY
NETWORK
Keep up to date on aviation mishaps around the world. Many other
interesting links on the site, too.
BED JUMPING IMAGES
I got wind of this very funny site while watching the Graham Norton Show on BBC
America. A very funny show although not for children! This is a
hotel site with pictures people have sent in of "mid flight" jumping on hotel
beds as they travel. I think you'll get a chuckle out of it!
PET
AIRWAYS
No, we're not making this up! There is actually a company that caters
specifically to bowser and kitty! They use various company aircraft to
speed your beloved pets to their final destination. No humans, either,
just critters. Limited destinations so far but I think you'll agree, it's
an interesting concept!
JET
AMERICA
How about a $9 ticket on a flight from, say, Lansing, Michigan to Melbourne,
Florida? It's possible next month on a new no-frills, low cost carrier
called Jet America flying Boeing 737-800s to a limited number of cities.
Will it become the next JetBlue or will it wind up like Skybus and be
doomed to failure? Interestingly, the guy behind Jet America is
the same man who gave us Skybus.
DAYTONA 500
EXPERIENCE
As they get set to run the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International
Speedway, this is the place to visit for NASCAR fans. See last year's
Daytona 500 winning car complete with beer stains and stuck ticker tape!
Test your skills doing pit work. And get a ride out onto the track.
You'll be amazed at how narrow the track really is and just high the banking is.
If you're traveling through the area, stop by!
EQUITOURS
Horseback riding vacations all over the world. If you're into horses, this might
be a great site to explore!
GOODYEAR BLIMP
I've had the joy of taking three spins in Goodyear blimps and it's always a
great time. Check out their site for some great pictures, accounts by
other blimp travelers, and history of their airship operations.
VIRGIN GALACTIC
The official site of Sir Richard Branson's plan to put common, everyday people
into space briefly using a land based plan that will launch a rocket. If
you've got the desire and geld, go ahead and sign up to be one of the first
passengers!
FIND A GRAVE DOT COM
You might find this site interesting. Say, you're on a road trip and near
a cemetery and wonder whether any famous names are buried there, this site could
prove interesting and especially interesting in California where numerous
celebrities are buried. It's not gruesome at all. Just fun!
(On a personal note: At the place where I'll be planted one of these days,
I'll have the notorious
John Dillinger as a neighbor at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indy.)
HOSTELS DOT COM
This one's
for those traveling on a shoestring budget. Worldwide locations are listed for
cheap lodging
PIKE PLACE FISH MARKET
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Home of the famous "flying fish" as fish mongers heave salmon to customers!
This is a fantastic place to explore and, of course, score some absolutely fresh
seafood. If they have
geoduck
(pronounced: "gooey-duck") clams while you're there, try one. They
are gi-normous!
AIRLINE
COMPLAINTS
Want to hear what others are saying negatively about the world's airlines?
This is a good place to start. But if you post, make sure it is a
complaint! This is not a site where people say nice things about
carriers!
PLANE
SPOTTING HOTELS
For me, anyway, one great treat while traveling is scoring a hotel room with a
great runway or airport view. For my fellow aviation brothers out there,
check out this site for great U.S. and worldwide locations!
BARBECUE FESTIVALS
Do you like to travel and eat? Do you love barbecue? Well the
beautiful spring and summer weather is close at hand. Why not take a few
regional trips and taste some of the best "cue" in America!
ORIENT-EXPRESS
I can't tell you how many times we've watched these world famous trains pull in
and out of European train stations during our many visits. I always
dreamed of what it would be like to travel in such luxury. Maybe some day!
Check out their site and maybe you'll beat us to the experience!
SPA FINDER
Ever consider taking a spa vacation? Not our cup of tea but if it might be
fun for you, check it out!
PLANE CRASH INFO DOT
COM
While it's a fact that commercial aviation is extremely safe, accidents
do happen. And this is an excellent site to use for research.
DAILY AIRLINE FILINGS
For the hardcore aviation buff who insists on keeping up with various airline
moves and transactions with each passing day.
SEAT EXPERT
There are a number of sites out there that yield information on airline seats
and this is a pretty good one. Get information like seat pitch and width
and suggested good and bad seats.
DIGIHITCH
A great resource for hitchhikers backpackers! Personally if it doesn't
have at least four stars and 24 hour room service, it's not for me.
But I know people who say this is the only way to go. Check it out!
HISTORICAL FLIGHT FOUNDATION
These folks have lovingly restored an Eastern Airlines DC-7B, one I personally
flew on in the late 50s as a very young kid. It's beautiful and you may
get a chance to fly on it, too, as it goes on tour. Take a look at one of
the last super piston airliners before the prop-jet and jet age dawned!
AIRLINERS INTERNATIONAL
2009
Official site of this great aviation magazine's 2009 convention coming up this
summer in Orlando. If you're an aviation nut, you should make plans to
attend this one!
DELTAFLIGHT.COM
Read how a pair of brothers in the Greater Cincinnati area built a very
realistic cockpit of a Delta Boeing 757 jet in their basement! There are
links on the site to others around the world who are aviation nuts and who have
built similar simulators. Be sure to click on the picture links the
brothers have listed on their site.
WIDEBODY AIRCRAFT
PARADE
If you're an airplane nut and enjoy great pictures, check out this Dutch site.
Some very nice shots!
CITY MAYORS: THE WORLD'S LARGEST CITIES
There's much more to this site than just
information on the world's largest cities! But we found this section of it
especially interesting. While you're there, check out the rest of the site
for some very interesting information.
BANYAN TREE HOTELS &
RESORTS - LUXURY VACATION SPOTS
This may
well be a first for us -- naming a hotel chain as Web Site of the Week.
But one look at the incredible pictures on the front page of their web sets the
stage. While we haven't yet stayed at one of their properties,
they're now on our list.
BRANIFF PAGES
A look into the past of one of the most innovative airlines ever, Braniff
International. From planes painted by a world famous artist (way before
other airlines tried it) to uniquely colored jets, this was a one of a kind and
great airline. May it rest in peace and live on in web sites like
this one!
AIRSHIP VENTURES
An airship (partially rigid
unlike a conventional blimp) is taking passengers for spins in the San Francisco
Bay Area. If you're ever out that way and have the money to do it, I think
you'd get a kick out of it. I've been up in the Goodyear Blimp three times
and it's always a neat trip.
AIRPLANE AIRPLANE AIRPLANE
A Japanese
site featuring mainly pictures of airplanes. For airplane enthusiasts,
it's worth a look!
GOURMET ON
TOUR
This site bills itself as "Culinary Adventures" and it looks pretty good.
Worldwide opportunities for serious foodies.
CHARTER
WORLD
Luxury yacht charters worldwide. Okay this site is not for most of us.
But there's no law against dreaming. And if we're really careful and
lucky, maybe we'll be able to charter something from these folks at some point
in the future!
MINIMUS
This is a site offering mini-sized products for sale as in "3 ouncers" for
air travel. Soon, bigger sizes will be allowed in your airline carry-on
but for now you might want to check this place out. A friend swears by the
convenience of the products offered here. He says it makes business travel
a lot less painful
WORLD
TAXIMETER
This site is an international taxi fare calculator. At first it may seem
to be a little hard to negotiate but once you get the hang of it, it's great.
Try it out if for nothing more than just fun!
LAX WEBCAM
This is one of our all time favorite web sites and it's back because they added
a second live webcam not long ago. This one is labeled "Across The
Pacific" and shows a large area of the tarmac and planes exiting the runway to
the left. These cams don't always work perfectly but they are usually
pretty reliable. Check out the new webcam and I think you'll get a kick out of
it. And while you're on the site, click on "Our LAX Video - Home Theme &
Welcome Video!"
WHTI
WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE
A U.S. Government site offering some American
travelers a chance to come and go from the U.S. without a full fledged Passport.
Those who stand to benefit most from this program are Americans who live along
the border with Canada and Mexico and make frequent trips to those countries.
Expedited services are also offered for some travelers.
THE CRANKY FLIER
An aviation blog site with plenty of interesting information. I'm not
exactly sure why the host calls himself cranky but it's a neat site.
AIRLINE MENUS
Thanks to Northwestern University in Illinois, actual menus are shown from
various domestic and worldwide airlines from a gentlemen who traveled
extensively between the 1960s through the 1990s. Was the food that much
better back then? From personal experience my vote is yes! But
check out the menus for yourself. The site is just a bit hard to navigate
but once you get the swing of it, we think you'll enjoy it. They sure used
a lot of lobster back then!
FAMILY REUNION
How about choosing a unique travel destination for a big, long overdue family
reunion? Interesting, don't you think? This site has plenty of
information for just such a trip.
HOUSEBOATING
Have you ever
even thought about renting a houseboat for a family vacation. We hadn't
either but it might be interesting. At least check it out!
RATE IT ALL
From restaurants to hotels and airlines to beer and sodas, this site invites
viewers to rate 'em all. It's pretty interesting. Hope you like it!
KROOZE-CAMS
If you know somebody on a cruise and you'd like to see what the weather's like
where they are from their shipboard camera, this is a great site. It
doesn't include every, single cruise line in the country but it does cover many
along with port cams, too.
FUEL ECONOMY
Okay I admit we're a little late on this now that gas prices are coming down but
they're still high enough! This U.S. Government site has some helpful
information on how to save on gasoline. Yes, the government can, on
occasion, be helpful!
BUSINESS TRAVELER
Keep up to date on the latest on aviation, hotel news and much more.
EVERGREEN SUPERTANKER
Evergreen International has provided the "mother of all tankers" in the aviation
fight against wildfires. They've taken a Boeing 747-200 and equipped it to
drop fire retardant in copious quantities. They've posted some neat
pictures on the site, too.
AIRLINE EXTENDERS
Do you have a little trouble getting buckled up in your airline seat? Is
it impossible to get that thing buckled? Well you have two options.
You can ask the flight attendant for a seat belt extender each time and get
chuckles from your fellow passengers. Or you can visit this web
site and purchase your own seat belt extender!
TAXIWAY ALPHA
A Scottish aviation site that we found interesting. We hope you'll enjoy
it, too!
CELEBRITY AIRCRAFT
Check out star athletes,
celebrities and other rich people and find out what kind of private jets these
lucky folks are enjoying.
This site
doesn't list all the VIP jets but covers a lot of ground. Enjoy
and...don't be too jealous!
CRUISEMATES
Planning a cruise? We're off to an Alaskan cruise soon and found this site
very helpful. Give it a shot for plenty of cruise info including message
boards.
DIGIHITCH
High gas prices got you down? How about hitchhiking or backpacking?
This site offers some great ideas!
THE NINETY-NINES
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN PILOTS
Great site for women pilots with many interesting links!
ADMO-TOURS
This is a great site for people who enjoy going on motorcycle tours.
Worldwide opportunities.
VACATION RENTALS
As you plan your summer vacation you might want to consider renting a beachfront
home or villa. This is an excellent site with information, rental rates,
pictures and more on homes/apartments/villas/condos in the U.S., Mexico, Europe
and other areas.
NASA SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION
After a picture perfect take-off on Saturday, May
31st, 2008, follow along with the mission on the official NASA site.
NTSB ACCIDENT
SYNOPSES
National Transportation Safety Board site that lists
aviation incidents and accidents including the N-Numbers of planes involved,
airlines, aircraft type, etc. And it goes back many years. Select a
year and then month. It's interesting just picking a month at random and
checking out all the things that have happened. You might want to bookmark
this one although the U.S. Government changes web site URLs about as often as I
change underwear!
STADIUM TRAVEL GUIDE
Great site for information in all MLB, NBA, and NFL stadiums in the U.S.
But guys, what about the NHL? Come on!
BEERCATIONS
Like beer? Like vacations? Head immediately to this site while the
brew's still ice cold!
ROADSIDE AMERICA
Interesting ideas for weekend and vacation travel within the U.S.
WAVEHUNTERS
Surf's up dude! This site is all about surf travel and
surf vacations. Checking out the worldwide opportunities on this site, I
wished I knew how to surf!
COUNTRY MUSIC VACATIONS
Hey, I heard that laugh! I worked in country radio for
nearly 15 years and these are good folks. Great country vacation ideas here.
THE WORLDWIDE GOURMET
Look this site over carefully and you'll find some very
interesting information about local food, wine, cheese, etc. We especially
liked clicking on "Products" on top of the page and checking out the various
food items. Click on
"Recipes," too. Heck, check out the entire site!
LUXURY LINK
Bid on some great worldwide luxury vacations. Some
interesting prospects here, especially if you're lucky with your bid!
THE S. PELLEGRINO WORLD'S BEST 50 RESTAURANTS
The new list for 2008 comes out next month (April) but
you'll find their top picks for past years on the site. Mind you, these
are not "our" type of restaurants. We like more down home and traditional
restaurants that have stood the test of time. But if you have really ultra
fine dining tastes and like to try the newest and fanciest eateries, you'll
enjoy this site.
STORM CHASING ADVENTURE TOURS
You
know the brave guys (or fools) who chase after the worst severe thunderstorms
and tornadoes? Well they offer the public a chance to do likewise. If
you've ever wanted to see a severe thunderstorm or tornado up close and
personal, this might be an interesting vacation for you!
SLEEPING IN AIRPORTS
Hey don't laugh! This is a really cool site that evaluates airports for
people on tight budgets!
BANK NOTES
Years ago, we started collecting paper money on our international trips.
Thank goodness we did it before the Euro came into the picture! This site
is all about the world's paper money. Ever wished you had kept a paper
note from a country you visited? Well you can buy just about any notes on
this site
AIR NOW
This is a U.S.
government site that offers air quality conditions for hundreds of U.S. cities.
So if you're concerned about an upcoming trip, go here.
ACCESS-ABLE TRAVEL SOURCE
A complete
travel guide for those who have physical disabilities.
AIRLINE HUB
An
interesting site put together for airline employees. A bit difficult to
navigate until you get the hang of it but nonetheless some interesting
information to explore.
AIR FORCE ONE SIMULATOR PROJECT
A recent GOP
Presidential debate took place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library out in
Simi Valley, California. It was the backdrop of this debate that got my
attention. SAM 27000! For those who don't know what SAM 27000 is,
it's the military version of the Boeing 707 that President Reagan and other
Presidents used as Air Force One before the newer Presidential 747s joined the
fleet. This site is a great resource for that legendary Air Force One and
other Boeing 707related topics.
A LITTLE VC10 TENDERNESS
You're no doubt familiar with the DC-10 but have you ever heard of the VC10?
It was an extremely popular four engine, long haul passenger jet built in
Britain. The engines were mounted on the rear similar to the DC-9's
configuration. Check out this site for some interesting information and
background on this popular jet. It's one of the few past jet airliners
that I wish I could have taken a trip on.
GOT MERCURY?
As world travelers, we have found a lot of fish on the menu on most trips--which
we love! But, are you getting too much mercury when you dive into that
fresh ahi in Hawaii? What about that tilefish in the Mediterranean?
Mahi mahi in Tahiti? Or shark in Australia? Find out by punching in your
weight, amount of fish you plan to eat, and the type of fish. You'll have
your answer!
ABERCROMBIE & KENT
If you've got the bucks then this site will be an
excellent resource for absolute luxury travel. For the rest of us,
we can at least click and dream a little!
SEAT EXPERT
Another web site that helps airline passengers get the
latest on seating configurations on commercial jets.
DAY JET
A new concept of using tiny business jets that carry
only three passengers. This is an "on demand" membership service based in
Florida. Certainly an interesting concept but will it be successful?
Check it out. And for more on Day Jet, check out the special news feature
done on it by News Talk Radio WOKV in Jacksonville, Florida
here. (We're
not sure how long this link will be up.)
ART HISTORY
ALIVE
Enjoy art vacations around the world. Not exactly our
cup of tea but it might be perfect for you!
RIPOFF
REPORT
Think you've
been ripped-off on travel or other services? This sight might prove
helpful.
CROSS COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL - EQUESTRIAN VACATIONS
Like horsey
riding? This the perfect site for you!
COUNTRY CODES
Ever wonder the country where a web site originates
from? What if it ends in a "CN?" Where does "RO" come from.
This site answers those questions. Hope you find it handy. We sure do
at WTG!
HAWAII
VOLCANO VACATIONS
We've been to the national park on the Big Island and
there's something special about just being there. Imagine
staying on the "sacred lands." If you're really into volcanoes or
plain and simply beautiful scenery, check this site out. (And thanks to
Jack Harcourt for e-mailing us and turning us onto the site!)
EXCELLENT ROMANTIC VACATIONS
Just what it says! From domestic B&Bs to top
international destinations and a whole lot more. Go for it!
AREA CODE
FINDER
Ever get a call and wonder: "Where's that area
code from?" Here's your decoder. We use it all the time here at WTG.
HEALTH CLUB
DIRECTORY
On the road and looking for a health club near you?
Here's your guide!
SINGAPORE AIRLINES A380 AIRBUS
We've had the good fortune to fly aboard Singapore Airlines,
by far the world's best, and they introduced this giant jet into regular service
recently. Take the virtual tour on this web site and check out the amazing
features Singapore has incorporated into the world's largest passenger jet!
GHOST TRAVELER
And just in time for Halloween!
WEIRD MEAT!
We ran across an interesting blog done by a fellow traveler on -- weird meat.
As global travelers we certainly have experienced some interesting food, to say
the least. But nothing as incredible as this gentleman has sampled.
Hold your nose, keep one of those airline sickness bags handy, and take a look!
SMILIN' JACK'S
AVIATION DIRECTORY
An interesting web site from a retired Boeing 767 pilot. A good resource
for airlines and airports and he has listed some very interesting aviation
links.
WORLD AIRPORT CODES
Just what it says and then some! Lots of information about the
world's airports, too.
DOG
FRIENDLY
A great site
if you plan to be traveling with your dog! It lists dog friendly cities,
hotels, restaurants, you name it! Interestingly,
it is not at all unusual to see dogs dining in restaurants and even fine
establishments in Europe. We dined at a very expensive fish restaurant in
Brussels and a woman and her husband brought their schnauzer and had him nibble
at scraps off their plate! We've seen many dogs at Munich's famous
Hofbrauhaus. Ditto for cafes in Paris.
DINER CITY
A real blast from the past. This site lists old style diners that still
exist around the U.S.
CRUSIN ALTITUDE
If you're an airplane nut you'll appreciate this site. You can log your
trips, share info with other like minded people, and more.
1001 VACATION IDEAS
Suggestions
for just about everyone in the family.
PLANESPOTTERS
Planespotters are people like me who love to
watch aircraft come and go. You don't hear that term much in the U.S. but
it's common in Europe. Anyway, this is a site for those of us who like to
watch airplanes and especially commercial aircraft. Check it out.
They've got some great pictures on the site!
CIGAR FRIENDLY
While it's
true that a lot of cigar selling goes on at this site, the reason we've posted
it is because it lists restaurants and establishments around the U.S. and in
some international cities that are cigar friendly.
See if there's one in your area if you smoke ropes!
BBQ FESTIVALS
As summer winds down in the U.S. the barbecuing moves into high gear at a number
of regional festivals. Check it out. There may be some hot
competition in your neck of the woods. If you've never been to one of
these, you're missing lots of fun not to mention great tasting 'cue!
FREIGHTER
CRUISES
A different way to cruise! Hop aboard a big freighter and join a handful
of fellow passengers. While we've never taken a cruise on a freighter I
had friends as a kid who always crossed the Atlantic on freighters and they
raved about the unique experience.
HOW TO CALL
ABROAD
Placing an overseas call can be challenging, especially for those who are not
experienced. This site helps people in North America place international
calls abroad.
TRAVEL LEARN
Did you ever consider going on an "educational"
vacation? If so, this might be a good place to start. Worldwide
opportunities. Check it out!
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
The next time you plan a family vacation center to the Mouse House in Orlando,
consider taking a dog leg over to the Space Coast and a visit to the Kennedy
Space Center. There's a lot to see and do for all ages.
VIRGIN GALACTIC
This is one of the coolest
web sites ever. Of course anything that Sir Richard Branson
gets involved with has to be good.
Find out how
you can take a trip into space if you can scratch up $200,000.
Check out the videos. They're "out of this world!"
THE ECONOMY TRAVELER
This is all about making the best of traveling in the rear of the plane.
Check out the airlines offering the least amount of pain and suffering! Various
other discussions as well. If you must fly coach---and most of us
must---you may find this site quite helpful.
VACATIONS BY RAIL
U.S., Canadian and world travel suggestions on taking the train.
GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS
Combine world travel with helping people! An interesting and growing
concept. Check it out!
WORLD AERO DATA
Okay, if you're not really into airports or aviation this site won't be for you.
But if you require information about airports (runway lengths, navaids, etc.),
this is a great resource.
RESTAURANT
ROW
If you're looking for a restaurant in the U.S., this is a great place to start.
Most listings come complete with menu pages to help you decide.
LUXURY
WORLD CRUISES
Just what it says. They work with several of the world's elite cruise
lines to get you good deals.
VACATION RENTALS BY OWNER
Ever considered renting a home for your next vacation?
While we've thought about we have yet to do it. This web site lists
possibilities throughout the United States and over much of the world.
AMERICAN COACH
Travel like a country star in your luxury bus! Okay so most of us can't
afford this lifestyle but there's no law against dreaming. Check it out!
THE WORLD'S BEST
BARS
Just what it says. This site is sponsored by Jameson Irish Whiskey.
If you're bar kind of people, you might this site helpful.
BRANIFF
This site is all about the colorful history of Braniff International Airways and
includes some great snapshots of their colorful jets. While living and
working in Dallas in the 70s I got to fly on several brilliantly colored 727s
including the famous "Calder Jet" pictured on their web site. In fact, I
got to watch the artist (Alexander Calder) paint part of the jet in the Braniff
hangar at Love Field!
TRAIN CHARTERING
Okay, we admit it. This is beyond the means of most people
viewing this site. But take a moment to imagine what it would be like to
charter the Orient Express or other famous train! Hey -- there's no law
against dreaming!
SUN CLOCK FROM WORLD TIME ZONE
This is a neat site that instantly displays where the world is illuminated by
the sun or in darkness. It also displays the current time around the
world.
GOURMET ON TOUR -
CULINARY ADVENTURES
World travel and fine dining - to me it doesn't get any better than that!
This site offers the promise of some of the best dining in the world.
THE VOMITORIUM
Okay this does sound a little weird, on the surface
anyway. This site is all about people who collect airline air sickness
bags. There are a lot of serious collectors out there and you may find the
site somewhat interesting. Check it out!
HISTORY
AMERICA TOURS
Love history? Like to travel? Bingo!
This site's for you.
AIRLINE LOGOS
Airline buffs will appreciate this site. Not only does it feature current
airline logos but ones that date back many years.
WORLD'S TALLEST HOTELS
Thanks to Emporis, in Germany,
for compiling a list of the world's 100 tallest hotels.
CRUISE
REVIEWS
An excellent site for cruisers. All the major lines are covered with
observations and reviews from people who have recently taken trips on various
ships.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITIONS
Imagine traveling around the world in your own private jet, staying in the
finest hotels and enjoying sensational food? Or how about a private safari
to Africa? These people can make it happen if you've got the means
to afford it. But if nothing else, you can still poke around their web
site and just dream!
CRUISE
LINES INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Long title but a great organization! Just about everything you need to
know about taking a cruise can be found on this site.
HAWAII
FOOD TOURS
If you're a "foodie" and have plans to visit Honolulu, this looks like a fun
thing to do
CRUISE
MATES
A comprehensive
site for cruisers. Advice, reviews, message boards -- it's all there.
CONVAIR
JET
Old time aviation fans will enjoy this site and youngins interested in aviation
history will, too. It's all about the super fact Convair 880s and 990s.
These early passenger jets still hold some impressive speed records to this day.
MCDONALD'S
FOODS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Did you know that you could get beer and wine at many McDonald's restaurants in
Europe?
How about a crab cake sandwich at the Mickey D's in Maryland? It's true
and on this web site called "Tikifish" are some interesting McDonald's menu
items found around the world!
RAND
MCNALLY TRAVEL
What could be more synonymous with travel than Rand McNally? On this site
you'll find maps, retail items and a new (new to us anyway) navigation guide
similar to MapQuest.
RAILCAM
For some reason we are fascinated by this site! It quite simply is a live
TV cam that focuses on a very busy railway crossing in the Netherlands not far
from the border with Germany. Listen for the bells and watch the gates go
down as train after train passes by. Above and beyond the trains we think
it's interesting just watching the cars, trucks, bicyclists and pedestrians pass
through the area. The TV pictures are live and of excellent quality.
Once on the site click on Railcam1 and be sure to set
your internet speed for best results.
ADVENTURE
MOTORCYCLE
Here at the WTG we have, unfortunately, ignored motorcycle travel -- until now!
Check out this site for some neat motorcycle trips, information & opinions.
We have also added an entirely new section for the motorcycle enthusiast
here.
EARTHCAM
An interesting site featuring web cams from around the world.
CRUISE
SHIP JOBS
Ever dreamed about working on an ocean going cruise ship? Well maybe you
can!
Check this site out!
LIVE ATC FEED MAP
On this site
you'll find a map of the U.S. and portions of Canada. Various airports are
shown and many allow you to monitor live ATC traffic. Also you can click
on zoom and you'll see a satellite shot of the airport.
Note: You'll find that the live ATC traffic is not available at many
airports but this is a common problem whenever you seek out live ATC radio.
WI-FI FREE SPOT
A list of
places where you'll find free Wi-Fi service.
CRUISE CRITIC
An informative site for first time and seasoned cruisers covering most of the
bases.
PETS ON THE GO
If you're traveling with a cat, dog, bird--whatever--this site will help you
with
your travel plans.
FAA ACCIDENT SYNOPSES
A month to
month review of aviation accidents and mishaps ranging from Cessna 172s landing
in a cornfield to a Boeing 747 going down in Guam. This NTSB data base
goes back to 1972.
LIVE ATC DOT NET
Another great site for the aviation enthusiast. Here you will find many
opportunities to listen to live Air Traffic Control frequencies. And
there's a lot more on the site!
FLIGHT LEVEL 350
In aviation lingo flight level three five zero refers to an altitude of 35,000
feet. Aviation buffs will love the many videos on this site. Just toggle
down and make your selection under "Search for Aircraft Videos." If you're
an airline nut you could spend considerable time on this one!
HOTEL FUN 4 KIDS
This site is packed with helpful information for families traveling with
children.
Not only does it cover lodging but many other aspects of travel including
trains, planes, and even ski resorts!
LOVE MY SEAT
This is a site that helps you pinpoint the best seats on commercial jets.
ALL AREA CODES
ON-LINE
Need to find out a phone dialing area code in the U.S.? Has somebody
called you from an unfamiliar area code and want to know where the call
originated? This site is for you!
AIR SHOW NETWORK
We should
have posted this earlier in the summer. Sorry! This site is your
complete source for major air shows around the U.S. complete with ticket
information.
ASTEROID AND COMET IMPACT HAZARDS
This is the perfect site for the paranoid and I suppose for
hypochondriacs, too.
This is actually a U.S. government site that keeps an eye out for asteroids and
comets!
Quick, duck!
FUN PLACES TO
FLY
Admittedly this site isn't for everybody. But if you own a plane or are
prone to renting a light plane, this site has some fun information. Above
and beyond plane owners, there is a lot of fun information for the rest of us,
too, such as festivals and local events.
AVIATION NOW
News and
information from Aviation Week Magazine. If it "flies", this is a good
source!
AVOID DELAYS DOT COM
This site, put together by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association,
lists the worst airports for delays along with heaviest traffic times. You
can also punch in your flight number to see how your flight averages when it
comes to delays.
NAPA VALLEY DOT COM
There's nothing more pleasant than touring the famous Napa Valley wine country
in Northern California. This site provides helpful information on planning your
trip. We took the tours often while living in the San Francisco Bay Area
although our kids, little squirts at the time, were bored out of their minds!
RESTAURANTS OWNED BY STARS
Just what it says! If you'd like to increase your chances of bumping into
a star while traveling---especially in Los Angeles---check this site out.
There is additional information about stars on the site as well.
LANDINGS
If you're into aviation you'll appreciate this site. It's loaded with
information on practically everything that flies. You'll find airline
news, aircraft sales developments and even the latest on the space program.
Check it out daily!
MILE HIGH ATLANTA
Yup - it's
exactly what you're thinking! However the site is extremely well done and
the flights are portrayed in a dignified & romantic light. Kids punching
it up will be "none the wiser!"
FLYANA
This site
deals with flying and staying healthy covering everything from recycled cabin
air to pesticides and much more.
FLYING WITH DISABILITY
This site is all about travel for those who are disabled. Max Jennings has
done a great job with this site. Even if you're not disabled, you should
check this site out.
UNIVERSAL CURRENCY
CONVERTER
Whether you're heading to Australia, India or Bulgaria, this site will help you
figure out the monetary exchange rate between your money and their
money. We always use this site before heading to a new country.
HOW TO TRAVEL
AMERICA
A web site and a book
designed to help foreign visitors negotiate travel to and within the United
States. An interesting prospective!
FLYING
WITH KIDS
A site that
will help improve your next airline trip with the kids in tow!
THE WORLD'S BEST SKYLINES
See if your city has made the list! Of the top ten cities listed, we've
personally visited 8 of them and agree with nearly every selection other than
Seoul. We weren't that impressed with Seoul's skyline. An
interesting site with equally interesting links.
MY TRAIN INFO
Interested in trains? This "down home" site probably has you covered.
From mainstream carriers to model railroads, you'll find it here.
FLIGHTAWARE
This is a flight tracking site but much more. You can track airline
flights but aviation buffs will be interested in checking out local airport
radar showing flights in your area. Just type your airport code into the
box at the bottom left on the page. Great site!
AIRLINE ROUTE
MAPS
Remember how the airlines used to pass out elaborate route maps?
Thanks to cost cutting that practice is long gone. But on this site, many
airlines of the world are represented with virtual route maps. If you're an
aviation buff you'll love this site!
HOTEL CHATTER - BEST HOTELS FOR WIFI SERVICE
If you need
WiFi while on the road, check out this site's list of your best hotel bets.
AIRTRODUCTIONS
Air-Troductions as in introductions. Get it? Think of it as a dating
service for travelers. Check out this membership site. It might be
fun!
CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL & PROTECTION
This official U.S. Government site keeps you up to date on avian flu and
conditions in countries all over the world. It will also advise you
whether you should get vaccinations before heading out on your trips.
THE AIRLINE
BLOG
Keep up to
date with daily reports about your favorite or least favorite airline.
Seems pretty accurate!
GOURMET ON
TOUR
Culinary travel with worldwide food vacation opportunities.
CONVERSIONS
Traveling in a foreign country can be confusing when you have to convert
temperature from centigrade to Fahrenheit, liters per gallon and so forth.
This site, thanks to the folks at Science Made Simple, covers all the bases.
AIRFLEETS
Just what it says. If you're interested in finding out about a particular
aircraft or the fleet of your favorite airline, this is a good resource.
ZERO GRAVITY EXPERIENCE
Experience weightlessness in a special experience aboard a Boeing 727 named "G
Force One." Astronauts who have undergone similar training often referred
to their aircraft as the "Vomit Comet" because some people become sick.
CRUISE SHIP SANITATION RATING
Planning a cruise? The Centers for Disease Control in the U.S. has the latest
rating on your ship! Find out if your ship is squeaky clean or a bit on
the unsavory side.
Note: The CDC seems to change this URL often. Please forgive us
if--at some point in the future--this site does not come up. And give it
time. It's a "slow loader."
HILO HATTIE
Blow away the mid winter blues. Check in with Hilo Hattie in Hawaii.
We don't usually select retailers for the Web Site of the Week but this place is
so wonderful we figured it might be fun. Why not log on and order some
inexpensive Hawaiian shirts and throw a luau? And if you're ever visiting the
islands, be sure to drop by one of their stores. They're all things
Hawaii!
PS-Only one small complaint, Ms. Hattie. What's up with the music on the
site? GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH just doesn't put
me in a tropical mood. Slap some Hawaiian music up
there!!!
TRUCKER
WEATHER
A resourceful site for U.S. weather obviously catering to long haul truckers.
But family motorists can take advantage of information on road construction, bad
weather and more.
AIRPORT-DATA
Okay this may be over the heads of some but if
you're a true aviation buff, you'll find it quite interesting. Loads of
information on runway configurations, nearby hotels, pictures and more.
MAP
MACHINE
Ever try to find a map online? Finding the right one can be maddening.
The folks at National Geographic have come up with a great site here. It
covers the United States and the World and is easy to navigate.
CARIBBEAN EDGE
MAGAZINE
One of the best resources we've seen for this part of the world. Hotels,
restaurants, country information, etc.
EPICURIOUS
Recipes, restaurant recommendations and much, much more!
ROAD TRIP USA
An interesting trip around the United States via car along with a look into
landmarks, restaurants, architecture, and more.
AVSTOP MAGAZINE
A nice site for aviation buffs covering everything from airline history to the
first African American airline pilots and much more!
HOT AIR BALLOONING HOLIDAYS
If you seek adventure on your vacation this might be a
perfect trip to consider. This section is part of the Adventure Activities
site and can help you get started.
AIR TIMES
An interesting site for those interested in airline history. This site
covers the world's airlines showing their evolution largely through past
schedules, which bring back a lot of memories.
AIRLINES REVIEWED
This site not only offers user reviews of airlines but airports, as well. Some
of the reviews seem a bit old but some are fairly recent. Either way, you
should find some of these reviews helpful as you plan your selection of airlines
for upcoming trips.
SQUARE MEAL
This is one of the best sites we've seen on dining out in London. So if
you're planning a trip to London, do some homework before taking off. Or,
punch this up on your laptop when you get there!
BOEING 777-200LR WORLDLINER - WORLD
RECORD FLIGHT
During the week of November 7, 2005 this jet set a new distance
record traveling more than 13,000 statute miles flying non-stop from Hong Kong
to London's Heathrow Airport. The most direct route would have taken this
flight over a distance of about 6,000 miles. But to prove the jet's
capability to fly extremely long distances, they took the "scenic" route flying
from Hong Kong over the Pacific to the west coast of the U.S. The flight
continued to the east coast, emerged out over the Atlantic and finally arrived
in London. Follow along on this special Boeing web site.
BRANSON AT A GLANCE
Branson, Missouri is within driving distance of millions of Americans and
provides excellent family entertainment. A number of current, past, and
fading stars have theatres here and provide nearly daily shows for fans.
PLANE SPOTTING
With increased security these days, people who like to watch commercial planes
have been pretty much locked out from many airports. This site has
excellent worldwide information on the best spots to view planes as they come
and go from airports.
AIRLINE TIMETABLE IMAGES
On the surface this
may not sound like a very exciting site but give it a shot. There
are some great pictures on the site along with, of course, timetables
that will really take you back in time if you're an airline buff.
AVIATION
CONSUMER PROTECTION
This is a U.S. government site that can help you with commercial
aviation problems. The site covers cancelled flights, airlines that stop
flying, consumer complaints, safety information and more.
FLIGHT HUMOR
Some interesting stories about flying. Poke around and you'll get
a good laugh!
WEBFLYER
The site is billed as "the
frequent flyer authority" and is packed with helpful information. Randy
Peterson, a travel expert, is prominently featured on the site.
ABERCROMBIE &
KENT
If you're in the market for luxury travel this is a good place to plan a
vacation.
FREE TRAVEL TIPS
Just what it says. Plenty of helpful information!
ROADSIDE AMERICA
An online guide to offbeat
tourist destinations. You'll find some pretty amusing material on this
site!
A-Z WORLD AIRPORTS
A great resource when it
comes to tracking down information on airports all over the world.
You'll also find three letter airport designator codes here.
CRUISE OPINION
This site features reviews from people who have had experiences on the
various cruise lines. Specific ships and dates are mentioned and complete
information on the vessels is listed. Some of the reviews are several
years old, however. Still, you may find this site helpful in making future
cruise plans.
CHANGI AIRPORT - SINGAPORE
Check out their web site to see how one of the best airports in the world is
preparing to handle the new super jumbo A380 Airbus aircraft.
SUNRISE SUNSET
This site helps you figure out when the sun will rise and set at your travel
destination.
You can also check on lunar cycles. For instance, you're taking the love
of your life on a honeymoon to Tahiti and you want to be sure there's a romantic
full moon overhead!
VIRTUAL TOURIST
A web site that is somewhat similar to Trip Advisor. Lots of information
on specific places from people who have "been there and done that." Plenty
of information on hotels, resorts, restaurants, etc.
THE TRAVEL
INSIDER
An interesting site done by a
native Kiwi (New Zealander) now living in the U.S. The site contains
information on airline reviews, aircraft and good and bad experiences with
airline management and crews.
TRAVEL HOP
This is a web site specializing on Caribbean islands. The thing we like
about it is that most major resorts (and some smaller properties) have 360
degree panorama shots. So it helps you get a better idea if the property
before you book your trip.
AIRGUIDE ON LINE
This is a great site for all aviation related topics. The site covers just
about everything. We especially found the frequent flyer program updates
to be very timely and helpful.
FILING AN AIRLINE COMPLAINT
Have you ever gotten so ticked off with an airline that you wanted to haul off
and file a complaint? The folks at
AirSafe.com have put together an excellent page guiding you through every
step of the process.
VOCATION VACATIONS
Considering a career change? How about spending a vacation trying the job
out first to see if it's a good fit! It isn't cheap but it might be a
valuable experience that could save you a lot of grief. Then again it
could confirm your suspicions that switching to a new job would be the perfect
choice.
GOODYEAR AIRSHIP
OPERATIONS
You've seen these big guys flying over major sporting events.
Check out the site for some interesting pictures and information. We've
had the good fortune of flying on the blimps three times and if you ever have a
chance to do it, don't pass it up. My favorite trip came in Detroit.
Goodyear had offered us a standard twenty minute ride in the Airship Enterprise.
However they screwed up and forgot about us and our slot was given to some other
group. This, however, turned out to be a very good thing. Goodyear called
back, apologized, and offered us a three hour ride. The
captain took us wherever we wanted to go and we had a great time.
THE ARCHIVE
A wonderful site for airline buffs. You'll find pictures, airline
histories and much more.
FREE TRAVEL TIPS
A helpful guide including checklists you can use prior to your trips and a whole
lot more.
ANDREW CRAM'S FREQUENT FLYER
RESOURCES
A site jam packed with all kinds of helpful hints about making the most out of
your frequent flyer program.
GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS
A site from the United Kingdom featuring great train trips in Britain and
around the world.
CRUISE REPORT DOT COM
Get the latest ratings on the cruise you're about to take. Check out the
hottest itineraries around the world.
AVIATION EXPLORER
A fantastic site dedicated to
aviation. They've got some great videos, pictures and the site is packed
with interesting airline information. This is a must visit site for
aviation enthusiasts!
ARUBA AVIATION
Aruba is the best island in the Caribbean, in our humble opinion, and a local
gentleman named Hyro Oduber has put together a great web site dealing with --
Aruba aviation. But it's not just about aviation. You'll find
many helpful links about the wonderful island of Aruba. Check out the links to
the left on the site. It's amazing how the airport has transformed over
the years. When we first started visiting you walked out on the hot tarmac
to board your plane. Now they have jetways although I kind of miss the
casual stroll to the plane in the wind and sun!
INTERNET
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Just what it says! A very helpful resource for travelers and anybody!
FLYING IN EUROPE
This is a comprehensive web site designed primarily for the aviation community.
However check out the clicks to the left and you'll find some interesting pages
including the best European airport web cam collection we've seen.
COME BACK ALIVE
Robert Young Pelton's site
lists some of the most dangerous places in the world. It also covers dangerous
occupations and much more. There are some interesting stats on the site
although it appears to be a bit dated.
VIA MICHELIN
This is more or less like a European version of Map Quest. This famous
name in travel will give you driving directions for European cities and allows
you to type in an exact address. The site also offers restaurant, hotel
and tourist information for Europe.
DELTA AIR LINES AIR
TRANSPORT HERITAGE MUSEUM
An interesting site highlighting a "work in progress." Some great vintage
photos, collectibles, and news about how this non-profit organization is
collecting old Delta aircraft.
AIRLINERS.NET
An incredible sight for aviation buffs seeking pictures of world airliners.
Type in an airline and aircraft type and watch what comes up! It's fun for
real aviation nuts to make note of the tail numbers of the planes they've flown
on and then check out their pictures on this site.
TIME AND DATE
An interesting site with great calendars and interesting
information about, yes, time and date.
CARSURVEY.ORG/AIR
This site features passenger
reviews on the world's airlines in coach, business and first class. Find
out ahead of time what you might expect on your next long haul!
AIRGUIDE ONLINE
This is a fabulous site for all aspects of commercial aviation. If you
love aviation, you'll spend plenty of time exploring all the nooks and crannies
on this site. Enjoy!
HOTEL VIEW
This site is billed as the
world's largest travel and tourism library video distribution network.
These folks provide videos of many hotels around the world so you can get a
first hand look at a property where you are considering a stay.
As the site says: "Go there before you get there!"
HOLIDAYS UNCOVERED
This is kind of like a European version of Trip Advisor dealing with hotels
only. People who have visited various hotels in much of Europe offer
reviews of their own experiences. The heavy focus is on Spain and the
Canary Islands but other regions are featured, too. We used this site to
help plan a trip to Gran Canaria and Tenerife in the Canary Islands and found it
to be most helpful.
FREQUENT FLIER DOT COM
Loads of helpful information for the frequent flier and how to make the best of
your miles.
PACIFIC ASIA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION
While the world helps Tsunami victims recover from their tragic losses travel is
beginning to pick up in the region. In fact, tourist visits are vital to
many local economies. This site gives you the real picture of what areas
are welcoming tourists.
WWI TV
Watch worldwide live TV via your computer on the internet. Not all the
listed TV stations actually work but if you poke around, you're liable to find
some pretty interesting international TV news and shows.
ROUTES INTERNATIONAL FERRY
SERVICE LISTINGS
This is an excellent source of information for ferry services worldwide.
EARTH
VIEW - DAY
OR NIGHT DISPLAY
An instant picture of the world displaying where it's daylight and dark. If
you know your world geography you'll easily be able to tell which countries are
enjoying light or darkness.
TERRAFLY
This is the place to go to see your house, neighborhood, etc., from space.
Just type in an address complete with U.S. city and state and get an incredible
view. The site allows you to "fly" through the area featuring a zooming
device. If you linger too long while flying, however, the site cuts you
off. You can gain nearly unlimited access by paying a fee.
we8there.com
This is a restaurant review site where anybody is welcome to submit a legitimate
review. As the site says: "Real People. Real Insights." U.S.
and limited international eateries are featured.
FLAGS OF THE WORLD
Take a visual look at current and past flags from all over the world on this
interesting site.
AVIATION CONSUMER PROTECTION
Have you ever wondered how to file a complaint with the U.S.
government over lousy treatment by the airlines? This is the place.
Whether they've shredded your luggage or issued a ticket to the wrong
destination, this is the place to vent and make it count.
TRADER VIC'S
A great world traveler and innovator. He's the man who gave
the world the famous Mai Tai cocktail. Read about how he turned a little
bar in Oakland into a worldwide restaurant empire. Victor Jules Bergeron
was quite a guy!
CAR SURVEY DOT ORG - AIRLINE REVIEWS
This site features recent and past reviews of various airlines
posted by actual travelers. There's a "main" page and a secondary page
featuring reviews of smaller, more obscure airlines. This is a great site
to review before making reservations on airlines you are not familiar with.
And it's interesting checking up on "your own" airline to see what experiences
other travelers have encountered.
1000
TIPS 4 TRIPS
An excellent web site with helpful tips on nearly all
aspects of domestic and foreign travel. If you're driving, flying, or
going on a cruise ship, you'll find valuable information here.
ROAD TRIP
This site hooks people up with car rides all over the world.
It also allows viewers to offer rides to others. Just follow the fields and
enter your information and -- keep your fingers crossed!
UNCLAIMED
BAGGAGE CENTER
When people lose baggage and other items on planes and the items
are not claimed, they wind up here! You may have seen this place featured
on national TV because of the unusual nature of it. It's a fun site to
check out and there are some pretty good deals to be had from time to time.
ORIENTAL
EXPRESS
Hey, maybe we can't afford it but there's no law against dreaming about it!
Check this site out to see how the well to do travel in luxurious old fashioned
style around the world.
RON WISE'S
GEOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF WORLD PAPER MONEY
Long title - great site! Ron has put together a site with
actual pictures of the world's paper money. He features current and past
notes. This is a neat site to review prior to traveling to a new country
to get an idea of what their money looks like.
FREQUENT FLYER MILES
This site, created by a man named Gary Steiger, is all about your frequent
flyer program. He suggests ways to earn additional miles that most of us
wouldn't even think of.
GO NATIVE
BREAD AND BREAKFAST INNS
This is a handy guide to B&Bs throughout the United States. Even thought it says
it's a 2003 guide, this is still an excellent resource for those seeking a B&B
escape.
MILES 4 SALE DOT COM
Need to pick up some miles to score a free ticket through your frequent flyer
plan? You can buy those miles on this site.
FLAT SEATS
A spin-off of the fantastic Skytrax web
site, this site takes a look at the luxurious business beds in first and
business class. See how your favorite airline compares with the other big
dogs on the block!
AIRBUS INDUSTRIES
Check on the progress of their new A-380, the world's largest jetliner.
Well done site and commercial airline enthusiasts will enjoy what it has to
offer.
ALL RECIPES
Have you ever enjoyed a
restaurant dish that you'd like to be able to duplicate at home? This site
can lead you to just about every recipe you'd ever want to find!
AIRLINE PILOT PAY DOT COM
Did you ever wonder what today's high-tech jet jockeys make while transporting
you through the sky? This site takes a look at U.S. salaries. We're not
exactly sure where they get their figures but it is interesting.
LIGHTNING
PROBABILITY INDICATOR
This NOAA government site in the U.S. gives updated information on just where
the bolts are likely to break out. Click on your part of the country for
the very latest.
NORTHEAST & UPPER
MIDWEST
NORTH CENTRAL
SOUTH & SOUTHEAST
SOUTHWEST
WESTERN
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
SMOKE FREE WORLD
This site provides information about smoke-free dining, entertainment and
travel.
RV
PARK DOT COM
As summer gradually runs out of gas there's still time to plan one more camping
trip in your RV. And even if you don't have the means to own one, rentals
are a good bet for many. This site lists RV parks in the U.S. and
throughout the world.
COMBAT PILOT
Have you ever wanted to fly your own fighter plane? This place offers you
actual simulated combat in the air! They have a fixed base of operations
in California but also offer the program at airports scattered all over the
United States.
LATITUDE
& LONGITUDE FINDER
If you've ever been curious about latitude and longitude, this is your site!
It's also helpful in locating areas around the globe with similar climates.
AIR ODYSSEY
This is a fun and informative
site for the aviation enthusiast. We particularly enjoyed
taking the aviation quizzes! But there is also plenty of helpful
information on the site.
AIR SAFE
This site is jam packed with with information relating to all aspects of
airline safety. From individual airline safety records, to the most recent
crashes, to security at the airport before you take off -- this site has it all
and then some!
RAIL EUROPE
Whether you're looking for a one way train ticket from Amsterdam to
Frankfurt or a multi-nation Eurorail Pass, this site can get you all fixed up.
They also handle Eurostar and of course BritRail services. There are many
very good sites dealing with European rail travel but it has been our experience
that this one is the best in terms of easy navigation, frequent updates, etc.
And remember, if you are planning a trip to Europe that will involve extensive
rail travel, consider a multi-day pass and order it before leaving your home
country and chances are you'll save a considerable amount of money.
TRAVEL PETS
Heading out on a family vacation with rover in tow? Finding a hotel that
accepts pets can be a challenge. This site helps you locate "pet friendly"
hotels in the U.S., Canada and at many international destinations. You'll
also find some helpful links, travel tips and some pretty cute pictures.
EXECUTIVE PLANET
Business and social etiquette for 42 countries around the world.
Know before you go!
TINY TRAVELERS
As you prepare to set out on summer vacation by land, sea or air, this site
has valuable hints on how to make the trip successful with little Johnny and
Sally in tow!
SUBWAY NAVIGATOR
An extremely helpful site with maps of most
major subways in the world. It tends to be a slow download but if you need
info on subways, we no of no better place.
TIME TICKER
This is a worldwide time site but anything but a standard no frills site.
Check out the special effects on this baby and you'll be hooked. Fantastic
job! The site even offers audio time.
INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES
These folks can set you up with some incredible experiences.
Everything from flying fighter jets around the world to space training to covert
operations!
GAS BUDDY
During a time of record breaking gas prices in the United States, this site
helps you to find the lowest price in your area. It also covers Canada.
As of press time (5/15/04) it was one of the most popular sites on the internet
as we head into the prime summer driving season.
INTERNATIONAL
HOME EXCHANGE NETWORK
Instead of staying at a hotel or resort on vacations, some people prefer to
exchange homes with others. This site has information on how the
program works along with worldwide listings.
FREE TRIP
A really neat site for people planning driving trips in the U.S.
The site maps out your itinerary along with mileage, routes, the whole nine
yards.
FAST FOOD NUTRITION FACT
FINDER
This is a handy quick
reference guide to the fat, calorie, sodium, and carbohydrate content in fast
food. This can be very helpful when you're on the go.
For instance, you're on a low carb diet but you know
you're only going to have a shot at a quick burger at the airport between
connecting flights. Check this site out before you leave and jot down the
best choices at the fast food places you're likely to encounter.
ROADFOOD DOT COM
Click on "Message Boards" at the bottom right site of the site and off you go!
Foodies will go nuts checking out the various regions of the U.S. All
kinds of restaurant recommendations along with recipes and other information.
Great help for the U.S. traveler. Enjoy!
MILLIONAIRE'S CONCIERGE
Perhaps the ultimate source for the travel needs of the rich and famous.
Whether it's a business jet you require or perhaps a cigarette boat or a Ferrari
for the day, these people can hook you up! Even if you don't have
ten million in the bank it's fun to poke around this fascinating site!
L1011 HOMESTEAD
A wonderful site put together by a Delta Air Lines couple mainly
about the Lockheed L1011 TriStar. We personally crossed the North Atlantic
24 times on these venerable jumbos along with 6 hops across part of the Pacific
to Hawaii and they were great aircraft This site features great pictures
including shots of the last TriStar revenue flight. And you'll also find
information on Delta's retired 727s and on a Delta aircraft way out of the past -
their 747s.
ATW ONLINE
This is the cyber home for Airline Transport World magazine
and it's a "must see" daily for anybody tracking the commercial aviation
industry. And you can sign up online to get daily ATW news delivered to
your e-mail. It's free, no strings attached and a great service.
Above and beyond the great web site, airline industry folks and those interested
in commercial aviation should really sign up for a magazine subscription!
BTS - BUREAU OF
TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS
This site is packed with information about on time flights, etc.
You can even punch in your flight number and find out statistically how often
that flight runs late. Lots of other helpful travel information on the
site, too.
ZIP FIND CENTRAL
Just type in two zip codes in the field
on the right and you'll get the distances between them. It's a quick way
to find out how far away your friends and associates are.
CDC TRAVELER'S HEALTH
An official U.S. government site that keeps up with potential health
problems all over the world. Click the box under "Regions" to check in the
part of the world where you will be heading.
TSA
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration.
These are the folks responsible for keeping terrorists off our commercial
airplanes. Keep up to date with the latest developments on this site including the
latest changes in screening procedures.
WORLDWIDE INTERNET TV
Get caught up with live and recorded t-v news before heading to
your destination. Or check back for hometown news while you're on your
trip. Note that the site isn't perfect. Some links don't work or take you
to a "regular" t-v or radio web site. But if you poke around, you can
watch some interesting live t-v from far away places.
YAHOO AIRLINE NEWS
Check this site daily to see what "your" airline is up to.
From super fare sales to new routes, you can get the jump on other travelers by
keeping tabs on this site.
THE GLOBAL
LOUNGE PROJECT
This site has information on just about every airline airport lounge in the
world. Navigate using the box on the upper left that is labeled
"Views."
CASINO CITY
This site contains information on just about every casino in the world
including world famous casino/hotel mega complexes. They list more than
3,900 gambling establishments.
U.S. PASSPORT INFORMATION
This Official U.S. State Department web site has all the information you need to
get that first Passport or renew an old one. Also, what to do if your
Passport is lost or stolen.
WORLD WIDE PHONE
GUIDE
Traveling with a modem? This site will help you get the job done! Very
in-depth. And there are even more links at the bottom of the page.
DISTANCE - HOW FAR IS IT?
A site compliments of Bali, Indonesia that let's you find out how far
it is between two cities.
CRUISE LINES CONSUMER
COMPLAINTS
This site provides web sites and e-mail addresses
where you can vent over a bad experience on the high seas.
W TRAVEL GUIDES
An excellent resource for all aspects of your trip
to cities all over the world. We first started using the site for
restaurant listings and have found it quite helpful in many ways.
BRADT TRAVEL GUIDES
Not your ordinary garden variety of guide books. These guys deal with
some pretty interesting destinations like Iraq, North Korea and the city of
Kabul. Journalists have reportedly found these guides helpful in covering
developments for the media.
AIRNAV-DOT-COM
A great resource for aviation information.
Click on "airports" on the top left. Just type in the name of the airport
you're interested in. A bit advanced and perhaps mainly helpful for pilots
and aviation buffs, but the site also has airport hotel information at the
bottom once you've selected the airport you'd like to check on.
AIRPORT HOTELS WORLDWIDE
As experienced world travelers, finding suitable lodging near airports can
be a bit of a task. This site is extremely helpful and even shows pictures
of most hotels. But there is one very odd thing about it. It offers
a lot more options than are just listed on the home
page. For instance, we used a search engine to look for airport hotels in
the Cincinnati area and got another branch of the site that is not listed
on the home page. So we'll list that link
here because it not only lists Cincinnati airport hotels but a list of
U.S. airport hotels on the links to the left. This site could be much
better if it was just better organized. A search engine would be nice,
too. But still, it's a great help!
LIVE RADIO ON THE INTERNET
Tune in your hometown stations while you're on the
road. Or, before you leave on a trip, find a station at your destination
to get the feel of the place. This site features radio stations in all
formats from locations all over the world. Sometimes it's a little slow to
load because it's so busy and they sometimes have menacing ads that tick away
for a few seconds on the opening page but your patience will be rewarded!
CHOWHOUND-DOT-COM
This site is the perfect place to go to
get the "skinny" on food and restaurants in the U.S. and around the world.
It's an interactive board that focuses on food. Select the part of the
U.S. or world you're interested in and check the reviews. Or, post your
own question about restaurants in a city that you will be traveling to and see
what suggestions other diners might offer.
CONCORDE
The final Atlantic crossing for the sleek SST came on Friday, October 24,
2003 as a British Airways Concorde traveled from JFK Airport in New York to London Heathrow amid
much fanfare. This site is billed as the definitive Concorde site on the
internet. You'll find plenty of facts and figures, quips and quotes here.
BOEING
This is the home base of the giant American airplane maker now with
headquarters in Chicago but with it's heart and soul in the Seattle, Washington
area. Learn about past, present and future Boeing airplanes. View
videos on various models. They even have an on-line gift store. And
-- if you're ever in the Seattle area on a weekday, be sure to make a
reservation to take the tour of the Boeing 767, 747 and 777 final assembly plant
at Everett.
FREQUENT FLIER DOT COM
This site has just about everything you've ever wanted to know about frequent
flyer programs offered by the airlines including which credit cards yield the
best results, which hotels participate and much much more.
50 STATES DOT COM
If you're looking for information on the various states in the U.S., this is
the place to check out. The site lists how each state got it's
name, info on major cities, universities, economy, maps, politics, lotteries,
license plates, famous people who hail from each state and even the official
birds and other critters of each state. Check this one out carefully and
enjoy!
SKYTRAX - THE WORLD AIRLINE SITE
An absolutely
outstanding site for anybody who wants to know anything about airline and
airport quality.
Here you'll find everything from seat pitch to the type and quality of meals
served on jets to airline ratings
TRUCKER NEWS DOT
COM
An informative site offering information on road closures and problems in
all fifty states. And believe it or not, this is an official U.S.
Government sponsored site. Each click takes you to an individual state's
Department of Transportation.
CNN TRAVEL
A good site to access on the laptop computer while you're on the road. Many
helpful areas to check out.
TRIP ADVISOR
Check out personal accounts of hotels and places at various locations around the
world plus much, much more. This site is very helpful in planning business
and leisure trips.
WEB CAM
CENTRAL
Choose from a wide variety of international locations.
Check out tourist hot spots before you begin your trip. Not all the
cameras work every time they are accessed but this site does offer some pretty
interesting opportunities.
AIRLINE MEALS DOT NET
An interesting look at some of the meals being served up by the world's
airlines. Here you'll find passenger reviews and some menus. Plus,
you'll get a glimpse of what the crews are stuck with--food wise--up on the
flight deck.
CURRENT AIRPORT TRAFFIC
Thanks to the folks at RLM Software you can see inbound
air traffic at many of the nation's major airports in the U.S. The opening
page gives you the national outlook. Click on an individual airport and
see traffic flowing into that
particular airport.
FAA
COMMAND TRAFFIC CENTER
This U.S. government site focuses on the biggest airports in the U.S. and
indicates any problems with delays. Each city has a color coded dot.
If it's not green, put your mouse over it and see what the problem is and what
kind of delays to expect. This gives travelers a quick idea of how things
will be flowing during the day.
SEAT GURU DOT COM
Get airline seat information for American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United
and U.S. Airways jets. You'll find information on seat pitch and width and
a color coded seating chart for each aircraft highlighting what are considered
to be the best seats to occupy.
ROUTES INTERNATIONAL
BUS, TRAM, & TROLLEY SITES WORLDWIDE
If you're looking for helpful information on this mode of transportation, this
one, single site will fill in most of the blanks.
WEB FLYER
A very helpful site hosted by frequent flyer guru Randy Peterson. Here you'll
find info on special airline mileage promotions, guidelines of the various
frequent flyer programs and much, much more. This guy really knows his
stuff! Be sure and check this site before you book your next trip so
you're not missing out on a great promotion!
ABEHAUS - SUPERMARKET FINDER
You're on an extended stay business trip or vacation and you have
cooking facilities. Where is the nearest grocery store? Abeshaus has
compiled an internet list of just about every major U.S. supermarket store chain
with a web site. Just click on the store of your choice and find out if
there's one near you. Whether you're interested in a Safeway or a Kroger,
you'll find it here.
WHERE TO STAY DOT COM
If you're considering a vacation to Hawaii or the Caribbean,
this is a very helpful site. Just punch up the island you're interested in
(under hotels and resorts at the top) and check out the hotel descriptions and
room rates. The site also allows people to rate their hotel experiences so
you can get a better idea of what to expect upon your arrival.
TOILETS OF THE WORLD
Let's face it, if you're going to travel the world you're going to run into some
pretty interesting "facilities". We've encountered very crude "johns" in
China, for instance. This site gives you an interesting look at toilets
dating from Biblical times to the present and it covers many countries from the
far corners of the world. It might make a good homework lesson before you
head to your next exotic destination!
AIRLINE HISTORY
If you're an aviation buff, you'll spend quite a bit of time on this site.
The clicks on the left lead to airline and aircraft histories plus more.
The "of paper" click is of particular interest. Here you will find
pictures and sketches of planes that were in the pipeline but never made it into
the sky commercially such as an early concept of the Boeing 747-300 featuring 3
instead of 4 engines! The site is heavy on European aircraft which is kind
of refreshing for those of us who live in the U.S.A. I was sad, however,
to see that in the "aircraft by decade" section, not a single Douglas prop plane
was included in the 1950-1959 section. No DC-3s or DC-7Bs! Still,
it's a most enjoyable site!
EVENTS WORLDWIDE
Check out various festivals and events around the world and see if they
coincide with your trip. This site can even help you avoid events.
Sometimes the crowds are just overwhelming!
U.S. BUREAU OF CUSTOMS & BORDER
PROTECTION
Here you will find complete information about just how much duty free
merchandise you can bring back into the U.S. following a foreign trip.
Also - this site has lots of information on immigration issues, security and
even a click to border crossing wait times for vehicular traffic.
HEALTHY FLYING
Former flight attendant Diana Fairechild is behind this most informative web
site. Check out the clicks on the lower left of the site. You'll
find everything from ways to deal with ear pain to how to avoid deep vein
thrombosis. Plus lots of other information. In fact, you may want to
buy some of her great books after checking the site out!
Flight Arrivals
Dot Com
If you're not already familiar with this site, it's a great way to keep up
with how your flight is doing. You can check flight arrivals and
departures by airport or by airline. Delays and airport status checks are
also offered. Savvy travelers who know that their flight originates
in one city with an intermediate stop before arriving in your town can check
the status of the first leg of the trip to see if your segment is likely to be
running behind.
The Great Circle Mapper
If you've ever wondered which path your long haul flight might take this
site figures it out for you. Punch in two airline city codes like ATL-TYO
(Atlanta to Tokyo), for instance, and check out your projected flight path.
The World Atlas of Maps, Flags, and Geography Facts and Figures
Very interesting site outlining information on most nations of the world.
Each nation selected has a "ticking" clock showing the exact date and time.
Los Angeles International Airport - Airport Monitor
You can actually "see" planes approaching and leaving Los Angeles International
Airport. You can also see planes that are passing over LAX at high
altitude and you can set the range of your scan. Plus, click on a plane to
find out it's altitude and aircraft type.
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