May 2012 - Sightseers' Delight

Number of visitors to Florida increases during Q1

May 27, 2012 The Travel Trolley

Florida continues to see an increase in the number of visitors to the Sunshine State. “I’m pleased to say the big story for tourism in 2012 is that we are building on a record year with continued growth and increased visitor spending,” Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Visit Florida, said in a news release. During the first quarter of 2012, 23.4 million visitors — including 19.7 million domestic travelers — visited the state. That’s

Kennedy Space Center offers rare access during 50th anniversary

May 27, 2012 The Travel Trolley

NASA said it is offering visitors rare access to a number of Kennedy Space Center’s key areas during its 50th anniversary this year. The Kennedy Space Center Up-Close Tour has been extended through the end of 2012. The tour provides visitors a look inside the 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), where the Apollo rockets and space shuttles were assembled. One of the largest buildings in the world, the VAB had been off limits to visitors

For Memorial Day, try these Georgia parks

May 24, 2012 The Travel Trolley

ATLANTA — Memorial Day is the perfect time to visit a state park with a unique connection to Georgia’s history. With that in mind Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites has a few recommendations for this Memorial Day: Fort King George State Historic Site, Darien From 1721 until 1736, this fort was the southern outpost of the British Empire in North America. Climb into the reconstructed cypress blockhouse, explore the palisaded earthen fort and tabby ruins,

Delta plans to lease Boeing 717 aircraft, if pilots OK agreement

May 23, 2012 Todd DeFeo

ATLANTA — Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines has agreed to lease 88 Boeing 717 aircraft currently in use by Southwest Airlines‘ subsidiary AirTran Airways, but the deal is contingent upon Delta pilots ratifying a labor agreement. Delta wants to use the Boeing 717 aircraft to replace DC-9 aircraft and 50-seat regional jets. According to a news release from the airline, the proposed agreement also gives Delta “additional flexibility to acquire up to 70 larger two-class, 76-seat

Op-Ed: Gas prices are lower than expected, but is that really something to celebrate?

May 22, 2012 Lynn Westmoreland

It was set to be a record-breaking summer. Experts across the country were calling for some of the highest gas prices ever and many estimated that more people than ever in our history would pay more than $5.00 per gallon of gas. Then, suddenly, prices started to level off a back in April – even started falling slightly. In fact, gas prices were about 17 cents cheaper on Tuesday, May 15th than they were the

Delta flights to be first at Atlanta’s new international terminal

May 16, 2012 Todd DeFeo

A Delta Air Lines flight to Japan’s Tokyo-Narita International Airport will be the first flight to depart from the new Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal when it officially opens for business tomorrow afternoon at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Henry Inman exhibit opens at Booth Western

May 13, 2012 The Travel Trolley

The Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Ga., next month will open an exhibit of works painted by a 19th century artist. The new exhibit — named The Indian Gallery of Henry Inman — will be on view through Oct. 7. As noted in a Booth Western news release: Portrait artist Henry Inman was hired in the 1830s by Thomas McKenney, former head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to copy a series of earlier

Breaking down the ‘Town Too Tough to Die’

May 12, 2012 Todd DeFeo

“The Town Too Tough to Die” is best known for the events of Oct. 28, 1881, when Wyatt Earp, his brothers and Doc Holliday gunned down three cowboys in what is remembered as the “Gunfight at the OK Corral.”

Globetrotting

Travelers want substance this summer

May 12, 2012 The Travel Trolley

Americans will on average spend an average of $1,180 per person on summer vacation, according to the latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker. “Consumers want deeper, richer experiences when they travel,” David Patron, vice president of American Express Travel, said in a news release. “When a traveler visits a destination they want to understand the local traditions and feel like they are getting a true insider experience.” While domestic travel will make up the

Doctor’s orders? Take a vacation?

May 12, 2012 The Travel Trolley

Try this one on your doctor next time. A new survey from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority found that more than half of Americans (56 percent) think doctors should be able to prescribe vacations to relieve “stress related maladies.” At the same time, 77 percent of Americans say their overall health improves after a getaway and more than 9 out of 10 Americans (93 percent) say they are happier after taking a vacation,