March 2006
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Last-Minute Escapes
Reported by Lisa Gerry, Deena Guzder, and Andrew Nelson
Photograph by Susan Seubert
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Young musicians give an impromptu concert outside a Boise, Idaho, shop. |
Low-fare airlines can help you get out of town and discover an America you didn't know. n the March 2006 issue of Traveler, writer Andrew Nelson finds that last-minute travel on low-fare airlines can lead you to places you might never have visited otherwise. In "Why I Went to Boise," Nelson discovers a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts that also offers plenty of urban pleasures, including restaurants and outdoor cafés, art museums, and a Shakespeare festival.
Budget airlines—and last-minute booking online—have broadened many travelers' horizons. "With airfares so low, airlines are in effect pulling people off the freeway—to fly instead of drive," says 1-800-cheapseats travel expert Terry Trippler. "If Oklahoma City is a four-hour drive, you may think twice about going, but when you can take a 45-minute flight for only $59, the decision to go is much easier."
Here are some budget airlines and a sampling of their famous and not-so-famous destinations:
AirTran Airways
Allegiant Air
America West Airlines
ATA Airlines
Frontier Airlines
JetBlue Airways
Southwest Airlines
Spirit Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
Ted
USA 3000 Airlines
AirTran Airways
Pensacola, Florida This Gulf Coast city boasts white sand beaches with crystal blue waters. Pensacola Beach is the hub of Santa Rosa Island, which forms the eastern tip of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Check out the Historic Pensacola Village, where admission grants you access to a collection of old homes built in an English colonial style. Visit one of the three largest space museums in the world, the National Museum of Naval Aviation, and watch the Blue Angels—the U.S. Navy's precision flying unit based in Pensacola—practice aerobatic maneuvers.
Dayton, Ohio Flight buffs will delight in Dayton—the "birthplace of aviation." Numerous sites pay homage to the hometown aviation pioneers, the Wright brothers, like Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. Also see the National Museum of the United States Air Force and wander through the Oregon Historic District—Dayton's oldest neighborhood dating back to 1829, where you can sample some of the city's best restaurants, bars, and shopping. Stroll or bike alongside the Great Miami River on Dayton River Corridor Bikeway, a 24-mile (39-km) bike path.
Wichita, Kansas Discover Wichita's roots at the Old Cowtown Museum, recreating an 1870s cattle town along the banks of the Arkansas River. Must-sees also include Botanica: The Wichita Gardens, which offers gardens of native flowers and plants as well as a butterfly house, and the Wichita Art Museum, the largest in the state. Visit Old Town, Wichita's eight-block entertainment district with night clubs, movie theaters, and restaurants, as well as the Saturday Old Town Farmers' Market.
Allegiant Air
Las Vegas, Nevada The world-renowned "Sin City" offers an eclectic blend of attractions. New to the scene is the South Coast Hotel & Casino. Old favorites include the family-friendly Adventuredome, offering roller coasters, games, and rides; the Elvis-A-Rama Museum exhibiting Elvis memorabilia; and an abundance of shows, from Mamma Mia! and Celine Dion to Cirque Du Soleil Mystère and Blue Man Group.
Fresno, California About midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Fresno County is home to the Forestiere Underground Gardens—a complex of about a hundred tunnels and rooms nearly 40 years in the making. Several wineries in the area offer tastings and tours, like the award-winning Fresno State Winery at California State University, the only on-campus licensed vineyard in the U.S. Explore the mountains, canyons, and giant trees of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Venture to Fresno's Tower District, a popular arts and entertainment neighborhood with nightclubs and restaurants, as well as the Tower Theatre for the performing arts.
Lansing, Michigan This capital city is home to Michigan State University. Check out historic and artsy Old Town—a revitalized neighborhood with Victorian buildings. Hike or bike along the eight-mile (13-km) scenic path bordering the Grand Rapids River—the Louis F. Adado Riverfront Park and Trail System. In winter, try ice skating and cross-country skiing. Visit the Cooley Gardens and Turner-Dodge House & Heritage Center, a recently renovated national historic landmark that was originally built in the mid-19th century.
America West Airlines
Columbus, Ohio Check out the contemporary works at the Wexner Center for the Arts on the Ohio State University campus and tour the basket-shaped headquarters of the Longaberger Company. Visit the Whetstone Park of Roses, one of the country's largest municipal rose gardens, and see the 90-acre (36-hectare) Franklin Park Conservatory, where the different greenhouses re-create various ecosystems, from the Himalaya to the tropical rain forest. Tour the German Village, a 223-acre (90-hectare) historic, residential neighborhood, or amble down to the artsy Short North neighborhood, home to funky boutiques, art galleries, coffee houses, and theaters.
Boise, Idaho Boise must-sees include the Boise Basque Museum, a rare Basque museum in the U.S., the Old Idaho Penitentiary, and the Peregrine Fund World Center for Birds of Prey—the only facility of its kind in the world. Also check out the Greenbelt, a 25-mile (40-km) network of trails bordering the Boise River, which passes through 13 of the city's parks and leads to most of the city's museums and Zoo Boise.
El Paso, Texas This city on the Rio Grande is the largest of the U.S.-Mexico border cities. Visit the Tigua Indian Cultural Center, with its 350 years of preserved pueblo history exhibited through demonstrations of cultural dances and ancient chants. See Texas longhorns, buffalo, and more at Indian Cliffs Ranch, home of the famous Cattleman's Steakhouse. From El Paso, take a quick trip across the border to Juárez, Mexico, a cosmopolitan border town energized by dance clubs and dining.
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ATA Airlines
Ft. Myers, Florida Visit the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, the location of Thomas Edison's winter home and museum with hundreds of inventions on the premises. Navigate the Great Calusa Blueway Lee County Paddling Trail—nearly a hundred miles (160 km) of marked paddling trails in the Gulf of Mexico, from Ft. Myers to Bonita Springs. Explore nearby Sanibel and Captiva Islands and Sanibel's J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, refuge to droves of migratory bird populations.
Indianapolis, Indiana The Indianapolis Motor Speedway celebrates the famous Indianapolis 500 race with exhibits of winning cars and trophies as well as showings of rare historic race footage. Stroll the walkways in the White River State Park, home to museums, cafés, and recreation areas, as well as public art and the Indianapolis Zoo. Explore downtown's lively cultural areas such as the Circle Center—a European-style street market—or the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, loaded with hands-on exhibits.
Frontier Airlines
Billings, Montana The Western Heritage Center honors the spirit of the Old West with over 16,000 artifacts, detailing the history of the Yellowstone River Valley. Visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and stroll along historic Black Otter Trail, winding around sandstone cliffs. For a taste of western tradition, go to a rodeo at the MetraPark.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum recently added three galleries, including a re-created western town. For nightlife, explore the revitalized Bricktown—a major entertainment, shopping, and dining area along a canal served by water taxis. The 17-acre (seven-hectare) Myriad Botanical Gardens display over a thousand plant species from every continent except Antarctica.
Little Rock, Arkansas Visit the newly opened William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum—the largest archival collection in American presidential history. Also see the Central High Museum, which commemorates the historic desegregation of a public high school in 1957. Check out the River Market, an eclectic food market with live music and cultural exhibits, in Riverfront Park.
JetBlue Airways
Buffalo, New York Buffalo, the state's second-largest city, was a stopping point on the Underground Railroad. Tours take visitors to historical sites throughout the town, like Michigan Street Baptist Church, a station on the Underground Railroad. See the U.S. side of Niagara Falls and don't miss the Tifft Nature Preserve, with five miles (eight km) of walking trails in the 264-acre (106-hectare) habitat. Shea's Performing Arts Center is a popular venue for many plays, comedy troupes, and musical acts.
Syracuse, New York This city in central New York is home to Syracuse University. Downtown Syracuse has a Tuesday farmers market, festivals every weekend during the summer, and popular entertaining and dining spots like Clinton Square and Armory Square. The Landmark Theater, a Depression-era venue, continues to put on plays and offers historical tours. Beaver Lake Nature Center has 650 acres (263 hectares) of wilderness, with canoeing and hiking.
Rochester, New York Home to Kodak, this upstate burg also has the International Museum of Photography and Film at the George Eastman House. Bike for miles along the scenic Erie Canal or sample wines in the nearby Finger Lakes region. Also check out the National Women's Hall of Fame.
Southwest Airlines
Jackson, Mississippi Jackson, the state's capital and largest city, honors the civil rights movement with the Medgar Evers Home, library, and statue, which pay tribute to the assassinated NAACP field secretary; and the civil rights exhibit at the Old Capitol Museum of Mississippi History, which has memorabilia documenting the movement from 1954 to 1970. The International Museum of Muslim Cultures has exhibits on Islamic history.
Amarillo, Texas The Palo Duro Canyon State Park, outside of town, offers 16,402 acres (6,638 hectares) of rugged outdoors—a great spot for camping, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Take in an outdoor performance at the Pioneer Amphitheater against the backdrop of the Palo Duro Canyon. For a historical perspective, check out the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Texas' largest history museum.
Spokane, Washington Spokane's Riverfront Park has an outdoor ice-skating rink, gondola rides over the falls, and an IMAX theater. Snap a photo of the world's largest Radio Flyer wagon, standing 12 feet (four meters) high and 27 feet (eight meters) long. Nearby, in Mount Spokane State Park, enjoy winter sports as well as camping and hiking in summer. Check out the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge and unwind with the Spokane Jazz Orchestra—reportedly the oldest performing jazz orchestra in the U.S.
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Spirit Airlines
Atlantic City, New Jersey Musicians, food, gambling, games, and saltwater taffy all converge on the historic, six-mile (ten-km) Atlantic City Boardwalk—a popular hangout both day and night. Atlantic City, a gaming mecca, begins to bustle at night: Gamblers have 12 casino hotels from which to choose. Climb the 240 steps to the top of the Absecon Lighthouse, first lit in 1857 and still offering one of the best views of the Jersey shore.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Myrtle Beach is part of the Grand Strand, a stretch of beaches well known for amusement parks and entertainment. Check out the Carolina Opry, a live music and entertainment venue. Spend an afternoon at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion, an 11-acre (four-hectare) amusement park. The Brookgreen Gardens and its more than 9,000 acres (3,642 hectares) house the Lowcountry History and Wildlife Preserve, the Huntington Sculpture Garden, and the Center for American Sculpture.
Sun Country Airlines
Anchorage, Alaska From downtown, you can see two active volcanoes, six mountain ranges, and Mount McKinley—the highest point in North America. You might even glimpse the elusive northern lights. Venture through Chugach State Park, the third-largest state park in the nation and a great place for camping and hiking. Get better acquainted with Alaskan heritage by exploring the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, which chronicles 10,000 years of Alaskan history. Bike, ski, or walk along the 11-mile (18-km) Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.
Laughlin, Nevada Ninety miles (145 km) southeast of Las Vegas, Laughlin is located in the Nevada Desert. Swim, water ski, or fish on the Colorado River and nearby Lake Mohave and Lake Havasu—site of the renowned London Bridge. Look for gold on the Gold Road Mine Tour, and spot ancient Native American petroglyphs in Grapevine Canyon.
Palm Springs, California Visit Joshua Tree National Park, where three California ecosystems converge, and the Little San Bernardino Mountains. On Thursdays, check out the Palm Springs Village Fest, with a farmers market, live entertainment, and vendors selling arts and crafts. Explore the Indian Canyons—four canyon communities believed to be settled by the Agua Caliente Cahuilla tribe.
Ted
Reno, Nevada Gamble at any of the many casinos in "the biggest little city in the world" and take advantage of nearby Lake Tahoe's powdery slopes. At the National Automobile Museum, see the cars driven by such celebrities as James Dean, John Wayne, and Elvis Presley.
Ontario, California This bedroom community between Los Angeles and San Bernadino offers a convenient alternative to Los Angeles International Airport, but it also boasts some attractions of its own. Across from the airport is the Ontario Convention Center. known for its avant-garde architecture. For shopping and antiques browsing, stroll the shops of downtown Ontario. Visit the Museum of History and Art, which offers changing exhibits of regional history and fine art, and the Graber Olive Farm, where you can sample olives produced by the Graber family since 1894.
USA 3000 Airlines
Cincinnati, Ohio Try Skyline's "Cincinnati Chili" served at various locations of this local chain restaurant. Explore the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, then head to the Newport Aquarium in nearby Newport, Kentucky, home to over 7,000 aquatic creatures. Sports fans should not miss the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.
Cleveland, Ohio Experience the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum—filled with multimedia exhibits, instruments, and costumes. Explore University Circle, a culturally rich neighborhood brimming with museums, galleries, concert halls, and green spaces. Check out West Side Market, where over a hundred vendors come to sell their eclectic and diverse fare.
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