Dollywood Adds Calming Room for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Posted on 07/05/2016, 7:30 PM
Theme parks—which are basically shrines to sensory overload—can be overwhelming for kids with autism spectrum disorders. All those noises, lights, and crowds can be downright debilitating if you're especially sensitive to them. For those young park-goers, Dolly Parton's Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, has introduced a special "calming room" where kids with autism spectrum disorders can chi...
Why You Should Stay Away from Cleveland and Philly This Month
Posted on 07/05/2016, 7:00 PM
Cleveland and Philadelphia are both historic and inviting all-American cities—and you should avoid them like the plague this month. Unless, of course, you plan on attending, reporting on, or protesting the Republican National Convention in Cleveland from July 18 to 21, or the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia from July 25 to 28. Both cities are expecting an influx of about 50,000 o...
'70s Teen Heartthrob No Longer a Cruise Director
Posted on 07/05/2016, 9:15 AM
Back in December, we told you that Eight Is Enough and Charles in Charge star Willie Aames was working as a cruise-ship director on the upscale Viking Star. The 1970s teen heartthrob had been in the cruise-directing line—in charge of a ship's activities, entertainment, that sort of thing—since 2010, having previously worked with Regent Seven Seas. Well, it turns out Aames is calling it quits...
Short-Term Rentals Banned in Anaheim
Posted on 07/05/2016, 8:45 AM
The city council of Anaheim, California—home of Disneyland—has voted to ban the operation of all short-term rentals, which will have to shut down within the next 18 months. Given that the city is a popular tourist destination due to its proximity to Orange County theme parks and beaches, Anaheim has a slew of vacation rentals listed at sites such as Airbnb and HomeAway, which offer travelers a ...
Airplane Makers Squeeze Even More People on Board
Posted on 07/05/2016, 8:30 AM
If you've ever sat in coach and thought that another person couldn't possibly be squeezed onto the plane, you've underestimated the ingenuity of the aeronautical industry when it comes to making you uncomfortable. Airbus, makers of the A380—currently the largest passenger plane lumbering through the skies—has revealed a new configuration that can cram 11 people into the same row. In economy c...
Coffee Upgrade on United Airlines
Posted on 07/05/2016, 8:00 AM
Coffee lovers who fly United Airlines got a reason to perk up on Friday. That's when the carrier began serving the premium Italian coffee Illy on flights worldwide. When United merged with Continental Airlines in 2010, the company switched from Starbucks to whatever rotgut Continental was using—one of many operational missteps, large and small, following the merger. But lately United has been ma...
US Airports Tighten Security After Istanbul Attack
Posted on 07/01/2016, 8:15 AM
If you're passing through an airport this weekend, expect huge crowds and heightened security measures. The crowds are due to the July Fourth holiday, of course. The heightened security comes in response to suicide bombings by suspected Islamic State militants at Istanbul's main airport, where 41 people were killed and 239 injured. Airports have been reluctant to get specific about what they'...
Obamas Pick Architects for Presidential Library
Posted on 06/30/2016, 5:45 PM
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have selected the architects who will design the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Choosing from among 144 architects from across the globe (the list was narrowed to seven last fall), the Obamas picked husband-and-wife team Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, whose past works include the Barnes Foundation art museum in Philadelphia. No preli...
Busiest Airports During July 4th Weekend
Posted on 06/30/2016, 5:15 PM
It's going to be crowded at the airports during July Fourth weekend. An estimated 11 million air travelers are expected to pass through the nation's various terminals on the way to wherever they're going to celebrate America's independence. The busiest airport will be Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; the terminals in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, and Dallas should be awf...
Phoenix Considers Hiking Ban During Extreme Heat
Posted on 06/30/2016, 8:30 AM
The city of Phoenix is considering new rules that would close its vast network of hiking trails during periods of extreme heat. Under the policy being mulled over, the closures would kick in for hikers whenever temperatures reach 110 degrees (dogs would be banned from trails at 100 degrees). The proposal comes amid a wave of life-threatening heat in Arizona that has resulted in dozens of emerge...
