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Filed under: Climbing, Hiking, Paddling, North America, United States, Camping, News

A month ago we were lauding Yellowstone National Park for setting a new attendance record for the month of June, when 694,000 people dropped by America’s oldest national park. It seems that Yellowstone’s allure didn’t diminish any in July either, as the park has set yet another record for visitors, this time shattering all previous records for any month.

According to the Park Service, more than 957,000 people visited Yellowstone last month, which is 60,000 more than in July of 2009. That number also marks the most visitors in any single month since the park first opened back in 1872. So far, 2010 has been a good year in general, as it is also the first time in the park’s history that it has recorded over 2 million visitors in the first seven months of any year.

This increased number of visitors has made for a very busy summer on the roads in Yellowstone, and the campsites and surrounding resorts have been sold out nearly every night too. This has, at times, caused delays in getting in and out of the area and has made booking a place to stay a bit of a challenge. Park officials recommend that you book your stay well in advance of your visit if you intend to camp anywhere near the place.

Visitors have had one thing to cheer about though, as they have been treated to some rare animal sightings throughout the summer. Park spokesperson Al Nash says “This has been an extraordinarily good year for wildlife viewing,”

It seems that economic conditions continue to fuel these increased attendance numbers in Yellowstone and other national parks. A lot of travelers are looking to keep their budgets at a modest level this year, and national parks offer a relatively good bargain for many. There has also been an increasing number of Americans that have been going outside more regularly in recent years, as hiking and camping have both become more popular activities as well.

[Photo credit: National Park Service]

Yellowstone sets attendance record again originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When viewed from a distance, the striking Buddhas of New-York based Taiwanese artist, Long-Bin Chen, look like marble or wood sculpture. They have stony expressions, but they are soft and so pliable you can actually flip through them. Award-winning Chen joins other artists like Vik Muniz who would agree that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Muniz assembles his leftovers, creates a painting, photographs his work, and then destroys the original. Chen assembles but doesn’t discard. He uses primarily trashed paper for sculpture believing that nothing should go to waste— not out-of-print phone books, magazines, newspapers, or computer printouts.

Continue reading From Ordinary to Art: Long-Bin Chen

Filed under: Art

From Ordinary to Art: Long-Bin Chen originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: North America, United States, Transportation, Luxury Travel

The Florida Keys are a bit of a hidden gem. Sure, Florida is a well known, and much loved, tourist destination, but the Keys dangle at he far southern end, stretching out into the sea, forming a barrier between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Many travelers never make it that far south, preferring to stop in the theme park that is Orlando or maybe wander down to Miami for the never ending beach party there.

Those who do make the trip south along scenic U.S. Highway 1 will be treated to quite a destination. The Keys are a fantastic mix of deep south hospitality and Caribbean charm that blends well to give the place its own unique feel. The islands have a laid back vibe that is quite contagious, and after just a day or two, you’ll be shopping for real estate and contemplating making a permanent move.

The more than 1700 islands that make up the Keys are sprinkled throughout the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, a 2800-square nautical mile area that stretches from the Atlantic to the Bay of Florida, and on to the Gulf itself. The Sanctuary boasts the third largest barrier reef in the world, and the only one of its kind in North America. It also happens to be home to more than 1800 different species of plants and animals, including sprawling fields of seagrass and thick copses of mangrove trees surrounded by beautiful deep blue waters.

The Marine Sanctuary is a place that begs to be explored, both above and below the water, and on a recent visit to the Keys, I was introduced to the perfect way to take in the sights there. Aboard a personal watercraft, aka a “jet ski”, visitors to the Sanctuary are able to gain access to places that are typically unreachable by any other means. The small, but powerful, vehicles are quick and agile in tight quarters, but really fast on the open water, and best of all, they’re simply a blast to ride. Especially in a setting as amazing as the Keys.

Continue reading Exploring the Florida Keys by personal watercraft

Exploring the Florida Keys by personal watercraft originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Skiing, North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations

While most of us continue to suffer through the hottest summer on record, it is difficult to envision ourselves shredding down a mountain on a fresh base of white powder. Fortunately, the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is already looking to the winter ahead, and they’ve received plenty of attention in recent days for actually cutting the prices of their annual ski passes by an unprecedented 25% over last year.

In 2009, a full season pass cost skiers $1970, making it one of the most expensive in the entire country. But during the month of August, JHMR is selling the same pass for the 2010-2011 season for just $1255, a relative bargain in the world of major ski resorts. The price does come with a caveat however, as this early bird discount is good only until August 31st, after that the cost jumps up to $1570, which is still a substantial savings over last year.

Why the reduction in price? Simple economics it seems. The resort took a look at the most common buyers of their annual passes and found that they were most likely to be local skiers who hit the slopes on a very regular basis. Those locals may be a bit strapped for cash considering the current economic climate, so JHMR management wanted to give back to the community and offer up the discounted price. Fortunately, it isn’t just available for the locals.

Located just outside of Jackson, Wyoming, and not far from the Grand Teton Mountains, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort boasts 116 different ski runs, the majority of which are dedicated to the intermediate and expert level skier. With over 2500 acres of inbounds skiable area and a another 3000 acres of backcountry, the resort is amongst the most popular in the western United States.

So far, none of their big name competitors to the south have followed suit with a price reduction this season.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort slashes cost of ski pass originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Back in May we reported on the ultra rare 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic that set a new record as the world’s most expensive car when it changed hands in a private transaction valued at close to $40 million. Now the incredibly valuable vehicle is going on display at California’s Mullin Automotive Museum, an institution that celebrates the Art Deco and Streamline eras, adding fuel to insider speculation that the museum’s founder, financier, philanthropist and Bugatti boffin Peter Mullin, was the purchaser. The car, which has seldom been seen publicly, will go on display August 3rd. “I am honored to have the opportunity to display the Bugatti Atlantic at our Art Deco museum,” Mullin says. “The Art Deco Movement was driven by people who were fascinated by invention and innovation – by the exotic nature of new technology and materials, by art and design, by speed and by the machine – no automobile captures this spirit more than the Bugatti Atlantic. In the historic pantheon of automobiles the Atlantic is without peer.”

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

World’s Most Expensive Car Goes on Display originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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