Travel Stories and News for 7/6/2009 : Kathika Travel Website

By traveldesk on July 6th, 2009

Below is a list of travel stories and news for 7/6/2009

Get out of the penalty box: 4 tips for avoiding long taxi-in times
As the airline industry toasts its latest on-time arrival record — 79.1 percent of flights in April arrived on schedule, up just a fraction from the previous month and about one percentage point higher than a year ago — no one seems to be paying much attention to the price we pay for this improvement. It’s true that one reason for the uptick in on-time arrivals is that there are fewer flights and therefore less air traffic to get stuck in. But airlines have also given themselves more time, which is often referred to as “padding” their schedules. They’ve added anywhere between five minutes to more than half an hour to some of their domestic flights since deregulation, in order to keep up their on-time ratings.

America’s best ice cream shops – Seasonal- msnbc.com
On any given blissful summer’s day in Portsmouth, N.H., strollers along the charming narrow streets by the harbor are likely to come upon the welcome respite of an ice cream parlor. And better yet, no ordinary ice cream parlor.

North America’s sexiest beaches – Tropical getaways- msnbc.com
Chic, cosmopolitan cities are the pinnacle of sexiness in North America, right? From L.A. to New York to Miami, Mexico City, Montreal and back, we seek sensuality and romance in fashion, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Chalk Hill offers views to match the wines
Elegant yet refreshingly unpretentious. The look is a bit of Pottery Barn meets hilltop chateau, with stunning views over the natural amphitheater of mountains that is the eastern edge of the Russian River Valley. Staffers are friendly, impressively knowledgeable, and nimbly tailor their presentations to each guest’s level of wine familiarity.

Sears Tower Reveals Glass Balconies on 103rd Floor
People in Chicago today can find out at the Sears Tower, which opened its new set of glass balconies for public viewing. “The Ledge,” as they’re collectively called, hangs 1,353 feet in the air. With transparent walls and ceilings, visitors say its like floating in the sky, and the view is, of course, spectacular. Don’t worry, those glass floor can withstand five tons, but just to be safe, jumping up and down is probably not a good idea.
photo credit: notsogoodphotography