TheAirGorillaBlog.com

TravBuddy.com Social Networking for fellow travelers

 TravBuddy.com Eric and David Bjorndahl have created a social site for travelers. Just discovered this site form this article.

The Ultimate Travel Companion

What a great idea. We know all too well the camaraderie of being on the road, and being the constant traveler. It's so great to find advice from people who have been there in real time versus the tourist traps or articles and books published years before.

Congrats on the site and we hope to get these guys into an interview soon.

For a shot at some of the best travel discounts check out AirGorilla.com.

AirGorilla.com is extending it's sale till Dec, 31 227 Cities...

San Diego,CA-AirGorilla.com is extending it's sale till Dec. 31st. If your not on the email list please join as we send out special discounts and more.

Don't Forget Your Travel Insurance...

Found this article that speaks to the importance of not forgetting travel insurance. It's terrible when you find a great deal but then lose something that can't be replaced via insurance. It's an awful feeling.

Deal-Seeking Travelers Should Not Overlook Need for Travel Insurance

While this article touts TravelGuard you can find our travel insurance links at

http://www.airgorilla.com/services/travel-insurance.html

One of my associates last year got his iphone destroyed and of course it was not covered by travel or AT and T. It's one of the reasons I use sprint myself.

The Bloggers are back in business...

TheAirGorillaBlog.com is back in writing business attempting to be more up to date on what's happening in the travel world. We invite you to visit the main site at www.AirGorilla.com and look forward to keeping you updated.

Thanksgiving Travel

The Onion Website has a pretty funny take on Thanksgiving travel.  See it here.  Airports used to be one of the things travelers needed to deal with -- a necessary evil if you will.  But lately, there has been a movement to make them more traveler friendly.  Odd, that.  After how many years?

But the industry finally figured out that comfort is important.  At the San Diego airport, it's the placement of rocking chairs.  Rocking chairs can also be fount in Minneapolis/St. Paul and probably a lot of other places.  And when did airports become municipal art galleries?  Public art is big at airports. 

Now, while the idea is to get in and out of airports as quickly as possible, it is becoming easier to hang out.  If only we could do something about that $10 cup of coffee.

Kevin Six is the head writer for Kamatoy Media Group and a contributing editor to Open A Channel.com. He makes his living as actor, writer, and surf instructor. 

Visit him at www.kevinsix.com or e-mail him at kevin4jugglemail@gmail.com.

Florida Themepark Adventures

Orlando, Florida

 

Sea World, Orlando

Sea World of Orlando was the third Sea World park to open, in 1973. Built on 200 acres near Orlando, it has become one of the premier marine adventure parks in the world. As in San Diego, the star attraction is Shamu the Killer Whale, backed up by a crew of sea lions, dolphins, and other aquatic creatures. But the fun only begins there. Sea World boasts the tallest and only floorless coaster in Orlando, Kraken. Other rides include Journey to Atlantis and Wild Arctic. In between shows and rides, don’t miss the many animal attractions like Manatee Rescue, Shark Encounter, Stingray Lagoon, and Turtle Point. Looking for a different place to eat? Try dining with Shamu backstage, or have lunch underwater at Sharks Underwater Grill.

 

Walt Disney World

What do you get when you take 27,000 acres and mix it with the imagination of Walt Disney? Why, Walt Disney World of course. Disney World, as it is generally called, is actually several theme parks all on one huge stretch of Florida land. This makes it possible to spend an entire week just visiting the different parks, and still feel you’ve missed a lot. And fear not, there are plenty of hotels on the grounds where you can rest in between.

 

Visitors can enjoy traditional Disney-style attractions like Space and Splash Mountains, a Jungle Cruise, and Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom Park. At the Disney-MGM Studios you can enjoy rides and attractions based on hit movies like the Indiana Jones and Star Wars movies, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, or The Chronicles of Narnia. Epcot brings the world together, with “pavilions” dedicated to nearly a dozen countries, plus attractions focusing on the sea, space, and the world of imagination. Animals real and imagined take center stage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, where visitors can hobnob with familiar Disney animals, experience the plains of Africa, or brave an encounter with the Yeti on Expedition Everest. If your taste runs to the wet and wild, check out Blizzard Beach, the world’s only “ski resort” water park, or Typhoon Lagoon.

 

Universal Studios

Universal Studios of Florida encompasses two separate theme parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. These two parks, located on the southwest side of greater Orlando, bring to life many of the great Universal Studios movies and animated work. Whether your tastes run to monster rides, shows, or interactive fun, the Universal Studios parks will fill the bill. In 2008 the Simpsons will join the fun in Universal Studios, and 2009 will bring the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the Islands of Adventure park.

 

Cypress Gardens Adventure Park

The original Cypress Gardens, which opened in 1936, was the first amusement park in Florida. After a short closing, from April, 2003, to December, 2004, the park reopened with a renewed focus on entertainment for all ages. Not only are there the expected thrill rides, but the gardens which first brought fame to the park are considered among the finest in the world. This wonderful park, which was the location for filming of several Hollywood movies and attracted stars and other celebrities during the 1930s through the 1950s, is poised to reclaim its star status among the theme parks of Florida.

 

Silver Springs

Located about 90 miles north of Orlando, Silver Springs is centered on the headwaters of the Silver River. Attractions include glass-bottom boat tours of the springs and river, historical cruises of the area, animal education shows, and concerts.

 

Tampa/Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens began in 1959 as a brewery and interactive bird garden with a large flight cage where guests could walk among and even touch the exotic birds. Several years later a second animal-themed attraction, the Serengeti Plain, was added and today guests have more than a half dozen ways to enjoy the natural wonders of the world. For those more interested in thrill rides than animals, the park boasts Gwazi, a giant double wooden coaster, SheiKra, the world’s first dive coaster with a 90° vertical drop, and Kumba, with 135 foot and 110 foot drops. Between rides, take in a show or enjoy a cold drink as you enjoy a day in the gardens.

 

Adventure Island

Near Busch Gardens is the park’s companion site, the water park Adventure Island. Float on a lazy river, race your friends down a 55 foot high tube slide, corkscrew down translucent tubes, and ride toboggans down a 72 foot mega slide. If you like your fun with a splash, don’t miss this aquatic playground.

 

Los Angeles Themepark Adventures

Los Angeles/Orange County, California 

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Located in Valencia, just north of Los Angeles, Magic Mountain bills itself as the home of the “Best Coasters on the Planet.” And with rides such as Goliath, Scream, Tatsu, and Viper, that claim may be hard to dispute. Just be ready for 255-foot high tracks, 85 mph top speeds, 360° inversions, 140-foot vertical loops, and 40-foot corkscrews. While you recover from the rides, check out some of the great shows, including the Batman Begins Stunt Show, Corps Grand stilt performers, and the Just Wingin’ It bird show. If you have the time, take an extra day and check out Hurricane Harbor water park, located right next door.

 

Disneyland

Disneyland Resorts

The Magic Kingdom. The Happiest Place on Earth. Is there a person who does not know about Disneyland? For over 50 years Walt Disney’s dream has delighted and entertained, as he might have said, “children of all ages.” More than 450 million visitors have walked through the gates and down Main Street to visit the many “Lands” of this magical park since it opened on July 17, 1955. The park itself has grown from 18 major attractions to more than 60 attractions today, including coasters, carousels, motion rides, and much more.  Some of the world’s most famous rides are here, like the venerable Matterhorn and the recently renovated Space Mountain. Magic Kingdom veterans will be thrilled to find that the subs have returned, now in a ride inspired by the hit movie Finding Nemo. And of course, no visit to Disneyland would be complete without pictures with Mickey, Minnie, and all of the other famous Disney characters. Toss in other rides, games, and food galore, and you have a day to satisfy the hardest to please child – of any age.

 

Disney’s California Adventure

Located just across the plaza from Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure celebrates the Golden State in all its diversity. From a simulated hang glider flight over California to a roller-coaster ride based on Mulhollond Drive and a rapids ride down an imaginary Sierra Nevada river, this park gives visitors a taste of the fun and adventure of the state. Don’t forget to say “hello” to some of the characters from hit movies like Finding Nemo, A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc., and Toy Story.

Universal Studios, Hollywood

The history of Universal Studios itself goes back to 1912 when the Universal Film Manufacturing Company was incorporated in New York.  Three years later Universal City opened its gates in Hollywood, ushering in what would come to be called “the entertainment center of the world.”  Up through the late 1920s, visitors were allowed to observe the movie making process, until the rise of “talkies” resulted in a need for quiet sets.  In 1964 the movie studio tours resumed, but this time with a difference: now visitors rode trams, complete with narration to provide them with some history of the studio.  Since that time the ride has expanded and evolved to include sets from “Psycho,” “Back to the Future” and television’s “Desperate Housewives”; elements of Hollywood film magic such as a parting “Red Sea,” an earthquake, and a flash flood in a western town; and “surprise” appearances from King Kong and the shark from “Jaws.”  With the popularity of theme parks and the extreme rides and other attractions they feature, it didn’t take long for Universal to join in on the action.  Today you can take a soaking ride through “Jurassic Park,” twist and turn through the fastest indoor coaster on the “Revenge of the Mummy,” or enjoy 3-D and 4-D versions of “The Terminator” and “Shrek.”  All in all, expect a day that will thrill, terrorize, and thoroughly amuse you.

Knott’s Berry Farm

Billing itself as “America’s 1^st Theme Park,” Knott’s Berry Farm provides 160 acres of good food and family entertainment in Southern California’s Buena Park. Starting as an actual farm in 1920, the park parlayed berries and chicken dinners into the 12^th most visited amusement park in the U.S. Today the park features five themed areas, including Ghost Town, Wild Water Wilderness, and Camp Snoopy for the younger visitors. After braving such rides as Boomerang, Supreme Scream, or Perilous Plunge – with the world’s tallest and steepest water chute – be sure to take time for dinner at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. Then wander over to the Berry Market and take home a jar of Knott’s original boysenberry preserves. (Check out this animated map.)

San Diego Themepark Adventures

San Diego, California

San Diego is one of the best... and most popular... travel destinations in the world.  Almost flawless weather, incredibly beautiful scenery, and an abundance of theme parks and amusements, San Diego is sure to please.  Two of the most popular are Sea World and Legoland.

Sea World, San Diego

Opened in 1964, Sea World has become a world leader in aquatic parks.  Mixing education with entertainment, the park has brought the wonders of the sea to millions of visitors. The ever-popular Penguin Encounter, which has been under renovation for the past year, is reopening with its delightful tuxedoed inhabitants. Other not-to-be-missed attractions include Arctic Adventure, with its beluga whales and polar bears; the dolphins and sea otters of Rocky Point Preserve; and the deadly denizens of Shark Encounter. Shows at Sea World range from the hilarious high jinks of sea lions Clyde and Seamore in Risky Rescue and the family fun of Pets Rule to the awesome power of Shamu in the inspirational Believe. Summertime brings the acrobats of Cirque de la Mer and evening versions of the sea lion and killer whale shows. No theme park is without its rides, and Sea World is no exception. Whether your taste runs toward the tame or the exciting, there is a ride for you. The Sky Tower provides a 360° view of Mission Bay and parts of the city; if you like your rides wet and exciting, Journey to Atlantis should fill the bill with its twists and turns and two splashdowns. If you are looking for an experience to remember, try dining up close with Shamu for breakfast or lunch.

Legoland, Carlsbad

Do you consider yourself a “hero”? If so, Legoland wants you. This theme park, inspired by the beloved children’s building blocks, includes adventures for would-be firefighters, explorers, knights, and more. The park is divided into areas with names such as Dino Island, EXPLORE Village, Fun Town, and Pirate Shores. Rides run from the gentle leaf boat rides on Fairy Tale Brook, to the water cannon fun of Splash Battle, to the twists and turns of the Lego Technic Test Track. Kids can even earn their driver’s license at the Volvo Driving School. Besides the rides, not to be missed are the seven replications of famous regions in the United States, created in 1:20 scale using over 20 million Lego bricks. These include such notable places as Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, the Las Vegas Strip, and Washington, D.C. This is definitely a family destination, especially for those families with younger children. With over 50 rides, shows, and attractions, you’re sure to find something for every member of the family.

San Diego Zoo/San Diego Wild Animal Park

The San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park, located just north of San Diego in the San Pasqual Valley, are known world-wide for their ground breaking work in animal care, state-of-the-art enclosures, and conservation work.  The Zoo, which opened shortly after the 1916 Panama-California International Exposition, has grown from an eclectic collection of animals left over from the Exposition to a modern collection of thousands of animal and plant species.  The Wild Animal Park, which opened in 1972, was originally designed to be an overflow for the Zoo itself and a site for working with and breeding animals.  It has since developed into a destination of its own, as well as the site of numerous successful breeding programs for endangered species.

The Zoo has become perhaps most famous for its work alongside Chinese researchers for the successful breeding of the highly endangered Giant Panda.  The zoo has had four successful births in the nearly 11 years that it has been working with pandas, the most famous being Hua Mei, the first panda born in the western hemisphere since 1990 and now the mother of three sets of twins.  The most recent birth came on August 3, 2007, and a report on it can be seen at Panda Birth, plus regular feeds from the panda den are available at Panda Station – Panda Cam.  Meanwhile the Wild Animal Park has focused on the preservation of a number of African animals, particularly the white rhinoceros and the African elephant.  The Park has had three successful births from a group of elephants rescued from culling in Swaziland in 2003.  You can check out the elephants at the Elephant Cam.  If you enjoy animals, you can’t miss these two amazing parks.

Airline Travel: 1960's to the 1980's to the 00's

Found this article by Ralph Hood on Airport Business Blog.

What Do I Like about Airline Travel

As much as we have to deal with the issues of modern travel it's unique to take a moment to look back in time and see how far wev'e come...

Women Pilots, Male Stewards and No Smoking...

Of course 10 hours sitting on the Tarmac is a little crazy...

 

Over 4 Million Mishandled Bags???

In 2006 there were over 4 million reports of mishandled bags up 40% from 2005..WOW!!

This has promted the Department of Transportation to raise the payment limit for lost luggage to $3000 starting Feb 28th. up $200.

The Good News... We're being paid more for lost luggage.

The Bad News... We're losing more luggage.

Check out these two articles on USATODAY...

Payment goes up for luggage lost by airlines- by Roger Yu

How to help prevent your luggage from getting lost, and minimizing the hassle if it is