New York remains top U.S. port of entry

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Through the first nine months of this year, overseas visitors passed mostly through only 15 ports of entry. These spots, according to the Department of Commerce accounted for 84 percent of entry traffic into the United States, gaining two percentage points over the first nine months of 2008. New York‘s JFK airport, Miami and Los Angeles dominated, pulling in 39 percent of all arrivals, up a percentage point from the same period last year.

Only four of the top 15 ports of entry in the United States saw traffic increase year-over-year: Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia and Fort Lauderdale. Of the 11 that posted declines, three did so at a double-digit rate. Visitation through Chicago fell a whopping 18 percent, which pushed it to seventh on the list, behind Honolulu. Houston fell a mere 3 percent, bringing up to #12, ahead of Boston. Philadelphia’s 6 percent gain moved it to #14, and a 3 percent increase in traffic through Fort Lauderdale brought it into the top 15 at the bottom spot. Detroit‘s 36 percent fall in overseas arrivals caused it to fall from the top 15.

Follow the Ghost of Christmas Past to Park Avenue this month

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Let the Ghost of Christmas Past guide you to a great hotel room for the holidays this year. Kimpton’s 70 Park Avenue Hotel in Manhattan is willing to live in the past to get you into the city that does Christmas right. Starting now and running through December 28, 2009, you can get a room for as low as $199 a night! Be sure to use the rate code XMAS when you book either online or by phone.

The deal comes with a few interesting perks. In addition to a great location on Park Avenue in Murray Hill, you’ll be able to sip mulled apple cider cocktails at the Silverleaf Tavern next door, and you’ll be given a DVD of “A Christmas Carol” to help keep you in the spirit of the season. At the end of the day, plop your head on a complimentary aromatherapy pillow to help melt the holiday stress away.

When you decide to wander out of your room, you’ll be close to some of the best holiday window displays in the city — be sure to check them out!

Sharpen your ice axe, Ouray Ice Park opens tomorrow!

by Kraig Becker on

Global warming? Where? Thanks to unseasonably cold temperatures, the Ouray Ice Park, one of the premiere ice climbing locations in the world, will be opening tomorrow, a full week ahead of schedule. The park’s website credits a new water system, a dedicated team of ice makers, and two solid weeks of cold temps for allowing them to open earlier than ever.

Located in the Uncompahgre Gorge, near Ouray, Colorado, the Ice Park is a unique and popular destination for ice climbers from around the globe. When it opened in 1995, it was the first site exclusively dedicated to ice climbing anywhere in the world, and it has remained a top destination for the sport ever since. The park is maintained by a group of volunteers who work the climbing routes and ensure that the massive walls of ice are safe for others. This year, that crew has a new water system that provides more water pressure, which means harder and more stable ice. The results, according to park officials, is the best climbing conditions in Ouray ever.

Each year the park plays host to the Ouray Ice Festival as well, which includes major climbing competitions and clinics, live music, parties, and seminars put on by top climbers and mountaineers. The Ice Fest serves as a major fundraiser for the park and helps to provide resources to keep the place open for climbing each winter. As a result of this great event, the park remains fee free for adventurous climbers looking to to get a winter workout. The 15th annual Ouray Ice Festival will take place from January 7-10, 2010.

The final stage of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing begins today at the Banzai Pipeline

by Brenda Yun on

It is arguably the most famous wave in the world, the wave that all other waves are measured against. In recent years, Pipeline has provided the perfect arena for the final stage of the Vans Triple Crown, and the first day of competition will be held today in 10+ foot surf.

With its shallow coral reef and a lack of continental shelf to break up the open-ocean swells, Pipeline is one of the most dangerous waves in the world. Add a packed lineup of wave riders trying to get a piece of the action, and Pipe becomes not just a dangerous ride, but an extremely entertaining show for spectators.


Pipeline breaks in the winter because storms from Alaska send groundswells towards the North Shore from thousands of miles away. The waves travel great distances across the northern Pacific Ocean, and unleash some spectacular waves along the north shores of the Hawaiian islands.

Every year, thousands of surfers travel to Oahu from all ends of the earth to test their skills at this famous spot. Depending on the day, surfers go in either direction on the wave. The right is known as Backdoor and the left is called Pipeline.

With the swell that allowed Eddie to go still pumping, the Billabong Pipeline Masters will begin today and possibly wrap up in the next few days. The contest has to finish by December 20. If you aren’t on the islands to see the action with your own eyes, you can watch it live HERE.

Of the three jewels of the Triple Crown, this is definitely the most exciting to watch, as the contests are keen on getting “tubed” and the set waves spit them out at their mercy. If you intend to see these men ride one of nature’s finest spectacles, be sure to provide plenty of time to make the journey north, bring a comfortable chair, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Get some relief from winter in Bal Harbour this year

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Miami is the place to be for holiday shopping. So, put the snow behind you and head for Bal Harbour, where you can pick up a free fourth night’s stay for every three you book at the Sea View Hotel. Once you check in, cross the street and start melting your credit card immediately at the top-rated mall in the United States. Rates start at $537 and are valid through the end of March 2010.

The Sea View Hotel has 220 rooms with views of the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay and an Olympic-size pool surrounded by Key West-style cabanas. If you need relief from the brutality of winter — this usually happens to me in February — plan your exit down to Miami for a few days. And remember that four nights means one of them is free.