Uncategorized

Travel tidbits from United, Alaska, SEA & R2D2

Uncategorized, , , , , ,

Tech glitch hits United Airlines Wednesday night

Big headaches Wednesday night for United Airlines and its passengers due to a major system outage that led to widespread delays and ground stops across the country.

The airline said the issue was related to a technology glitch.

The issue was resolved late in the evening, but it may take days for all travelers on delayed and canceled flights to get to their destinations.

Alaska Airlines announces new flights and a new livery

Alaska Airlines is making news left and right. This week, the carrier announced new routes to London and Reykjavik from Seattle starting in Spring 2026, adding to previously announced new service to Rome, also set to begin in Spring 2026.

The airline also unveiled a new livery for its 787-9 aircraft and announced that by Spring all Dreamliners in its fleet will be flying with this new design.

Already, there’s debate over the new livery.

Some people love it. But others are disappointed because the smiling face of the Inuk man known as “Chester” – which has been a staple on the tail of Alaska Airlines’ aircraft for years – is nowhere to be seen.

What do you think?

Sweet pre-security treats at SEA Airport

There used to be a couple of vending machiens filled with fun and unusual Asian treats in the waiting area outside international arrivals at Seattle-Tacome International Airport.

An equally cool – maybe cooler – concession has taken its place.

All Nippon Airways – ANA – retires its R2-D2 Start Wars livery

ANA (All Nippon Airways) introduced a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with an R2-D2 livery back in September 2015.

After delighting fans and planespottsers with this livery for almost 10 years, the livery was retired on August 6.

Polly want a first class ticket?

We’re hoping this parrot that landed at Dublin Airport has been reunited wiht its family.

Happy 90th birthday, Phoenix Sky Harbor Int’l Airport. Party on!

Aviation history, History, Uncategorized, , ,

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), which calls itself ‘America’s Friendliest Airport,’ was surely the funnest airport to be at this week during an anniversary party commemorating the purchase of the rural airport in 1935.

90 years ago, ‘Sky Harbor’ was nicknamed ‘The Farm’ time because of its location. And back then, the purchase price was $100,000.

At the airport’s 90th birthday party, local leaders presented a proclamation and made some speeches.

Then it was time for a 90s-themed dance party and a parade of airport Navigator Buddies from the pet therapy program dressed in neon, as rock stars, as movie characters from “Clueless,” sports heroes, and more.

After all the dancing was over, airport personnel and the pups paraded through Terminal 4 and then boarded the PHX Sky Train to Terminal 3.

PHX has been celebrating its 90th anniversary all year with monthly events hosted in the Culture Corner, located post-security in Terminal 3. Check here to see if something will be happening next time you’re visiting PHX.  

Other anniversary activities at PHX include trivia with Amelia, the Airport’s mascot and music through the decades as part of the weekly Traveling Tunes programming.

The Airport Museum also has a special 90th anniversary exhibition on display in Terminal 4 called “From Farm Field to Airfield,” showcasing the airport’s beginnings and its significant milestones over the years.

You can read and see the exhibit from home starting here.

And, as a nice bonus, PHX travelers can stop by the Airport Information Counters to pick up a commemorative 90th anniversary airport trading card. Super collectible!

PHX Party photos by Mark Skalny Photo, courtesy of PHX

Fresh art at Milwaukee Mitchell Int’l Airport

Art, Uncategorized

(Courtesy Sarah Madden )

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) and the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) have joined up for a new art installation at the airport.

(Courtesy Max Marlow)

(Courtesy Ben Commer)

The art show is on Concourse D, near the gates for Delta Air Lines and Spirit Airlines and features hand-pulled screen prints by Communication Design students.

Each piece offers a unique perspective on Milwaukee, focusing on the city’s landmarks and culture.

Go fly a kite & other things we’d love to do

Events, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

North America’s largest & longest-running kite festival

During the third full week of August, the charming coastal town of Long Beach, Washington hosts the Washington State International Kite Festival, the largest and longest-running kite festival in North America.

And it’s free.

The 2025 festival takes place from August 18 to 24 and includes kite competitions and performances, including synchronized kite ballet and mass ascensions where hundreds of kites fill the sky at once. Other kite festival activities include kite-making workshops, nighttime lighted kite flying and lots of opportunities to fly your own kite.  

While in Long Beach, be sure to visit the World Kite Museum and Hall of Fame.

The museum is home to more than 1,500 kites from 26 countries and includes a 300-piece Japanese kite collection and a set of WWII military kites.

(Kids with kite photo up top courtesy State Library and Archives of Florida via Flickr Commons)

This Oregon inn had us at “popcorn”

 

The Setting Inn Willamette Valley is a boutique retreat with an on-site wine tasting room in Newberg, Oregon, the heart of Oregon Wine Country.

We were fortunate to spend a delightful evening there a while back and loved the wine, the complimentary breakfast delivered to amenity-rich room, the indoor and outdoor gathering spots and the walkable grounds.

Now one of the inn’s new guest experiences has us contemplating a return trip.

From now through October, The Setting Inn is offering a Popcorn Pairing package that includes a bottle of The Setting Wines’ 2024 barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc with two bags of small-batch rosemary parmesan popcorn from Miss Hannah’s Gourmet Popcorn, a family-owned Newberg favorite. 

Cruise news: Holland America’s behind-the-scenes tours

Holland America Line’s popular behind-the-scenes tours of its cruise ships were on pause for the past few years due to a variety of health and safety reasons.

But they’re back on the paid activity list.

Available fleetwide by the end of July, each behind-the-scenes tour visits shipboard locations such as the navigational bridge, galley and engine control room, main laundry, recycling center, bakery and bars.

Holland America Line will also be marking America’s 250th birthday in 2026 with a special round-trip cruise from Boston. The seven-day “America’s 250th Celebration: Stars & Stripes Voyage” aboard Zuiderdam departs July 4, 2026, and includes a special call at Norfolk, Virginia, with access to Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown.

Bob Ross Experience at Indiana’s Minnetrista Museum

In 1887, the Ball family—makers of the famous Ball mason jars—moved their glass manufacturing business from Buffalo, New York, to Muncie, Indiana.

Today, that property is home to the 40-acre Minnetrista Museum & Gardens.

From 1983 to 1988, Bob Ross filmed “The Joy of Painting” in one of the homes on the property, which served as the studio for WIPB-TV. 

Now, the home is the site of the Bob Ross Experience, an exhibition featuring original paintings and artifacts, and the restored television studio where the show was filmed.

Visitors can stand where Ross stood at his easel and even take a painting class from a Certified Ross Instructor.

Travel tidbits from airports near you

Uncategorized, ,

Happy Birthday BWI Airport


Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) celebrated its 75th birthday on June 24 with parties at various airline gates, refreshments, giveaways and a special water salute by the BWI Marshall Airport Fire and Rescue Department for the 75th daily arrival.

Singapore’s Changi Airport is also celebrating a birthday

Singapore’s Changi Airport is celebrating its 60th birthday this year with plenty of fun activities as well.

San Antonio International Airport (still) has cows

Three painted cow sculptures have mooved into San Antonio International Airport and will be auctioned off in August. While the cows are hanging around, SAT is hosting a photo challenge.

Here’s a better look at those painted cow sculptures.