Virgin America moves in on SFO

by Grant Martin on

As part of what must be Virgin America‘s plan to take over the world, the airline recently announced that it was taking a majority stake in the revitalized Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport. Due to increasing passenger loads the terminal, which was closed in 2000, is slated to spend the next two years refurbishing and will reopen in late 2010.

The most interesting part of this article in this SF Gate article, however, is that Virgin America will be taking TEN of the fourteen available gates. “My,” you say, “that sounds like a lot of gates for an airline that only has about twenty eight departures per day out of SFO.” Could this mean that they plan on expanding further from San Francisco outward? You can bet on it. With routes already planned into Chicago and one of the fastest growth rates in the industry (in an economy that’s shrinking), the airline may need the space sooner than we think.

As for the airport, Virgin America’s stake in the terminal means that they get to weigh in on the overall design. Like Jetblue’s T5 at JFK (they share the same architect), we can expect certain VA “inspired” effects that make you feel super comfy as soon as you set foot in the front door. Said Virgin America spokesperson Abby Lunardini:

“We’re the only carrier based in California and at SFO, so we’re proud to partner with our hometown and the design firm (Gensler) to invest in innovative, guest-facing, and sustainable design for the airport’s next phase — the T2 redesign. Since we launched, we’ve had guests say they want to be on our planes longer, because of the upscale design and amenities — from lighting to the custom-designed seats. T2 is a major opportunity to invest in the airport of the future and to inject some of Virgin’s design aesthetic into the renovation and help create a place travelers may want to spend time.”

The next question is, will the terminal be mood lit as well?

Photo of the Day (09/04/08)

by Kent Wien on

This picture taken by jrodmanjr of a fireworks display in San Francisco really caught my eye. Notice how the bright lights coming from the Bay Bridge create a bit of a vignette around the picture.

The low light makes it tough to get a super crisp shot in these situations, but jrodmanjr did a nice job with this one.

Every picture in his photostream could qualify for a Photo of the Day!

Are you a Flickr user who’d like to share a travel related picture or two for our consideration? Submit them to Gadling’s Flickr group right now!

We just might use it for our Photo of the Day!

Ten top cities in the U.S. for making a living. Tourist spot in each

by Jamie Rhein on

There is a newly published Forbes.com article on the top 10 cities for making a living in the United States. Each has something to offer travelers as well. Here are the top cities and one place to go to in each. These are the first places that immediately came to mind. It’s an odd assortment.

1. Houston, Texas. I’ve been to the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles and found it incredibly worthwhile and moving. From the description of the Holocaust Museum in Houston, it sounds similar, although there is a section that includes first person accounts of the Holocaust survivors who live in the city.

2. Minneapolis, Minnesota. As I’ve posted before, the outdoor art in Minneapolis is fantastic, particularly, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

3. Boston, Massachusetts. The Freedom Trail that winds through the old part of Boston highlights the important places during the American Revolution. Here’s a tour that looks like a fun way to take it in. When I walked the Freedom Trail in Girl Scouts, we were on our own. I wish we had been on this tour.

4. Washington, D.C. For my next trip to D.C., I’d take Jeremy’s suggestion and head to the Brickskeller, a beer lover’s paradise. Sure, I’d take in the sites, many I’ve seen before, but Jeremy’s post offers something new.

5. New York City When I was sweltering in line in Central Park at the Delacorte Theater, not getting tickets to “Hair,” an experience that I recounted in a recent post, a Danish man and his daughter visiting NYC wanted recommendations on what to see. I suggested Ellis Island. The ferry trip there also swings by Liberty Island for a close look at the Statue of Liberty, and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum is superb.

6. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I’ve only driven through this city, but have plans to visit the Andy Warhol Museum one fine day.

7. San Francisco, California. I must have a thing for taking boats to landmarks. I just love the tour of Alcatraz Island, that includes the famous prison that has been the backdrop for escape stories and intrigue.

8. Dallas, Texas. I went here to attend a cousin’s wedding and picked historic Dealey Plaza, the location of the grassy knoll and the Texas Book Depository, the scene of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, as my must-head-to-before-I-leave-town destination.

9. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It’s not that I am overly fond of beer drinking, but the Miller Brewing Factory tour of is a lot of fun, particularly if there is a polka band involved.

10. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Liberty Bell may be just a bell, but there’s something about that crack in it that makes for an icon to see if you can swing it.

To find out why these cities are top notch for making a living, read the article. One hint: It involves money.

Photo of the Day (8/21/08)

by Kent Wien on

Many people are surprised by the cold, foggy weather that a San Francisco summer can deliver. But jrodmanjr made the most of it and snapped this great shot of the Golden Gate bridge.

This just might be that ‘bridge to nowhere’ we’ve all heard about.

Are you a Flickr user who’d like to share a travel related picture or two for our consideration? Submit it to Gadling’s Flickr group right now! We just might use it for our Photo of the Day!

Where to plan your next environmentally vacation: 15 green cities

by Anna Brones on

The good folks at Grist put together their own list of 15 green cities. Although their thought was probably to showcase the green efforts made by local governments and locals to make the cities more environmentally friendly, in reading it I realized it was a great list of places to chose your next eco-vacation.

If you’re looking to take public transportation, play in parks and learn more about sustainability as part of your next vacation, here are the 15 cities that made the list:

  1. Reykjavik, Iceland
  2. Portland, OR, U.S.
  3. Curitiba, Brazil
  4. Malmö, Sweden
  5. Vancouver, Canada
  6. Copenhagen, Denmark
  7. London, England
  8. San Francisco, CA, USA
  9. Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador
  10. Sydney, Australia
  11. Barcelona, Spain
  12. Bogotá, Colombia
  13. Bangkok, Thailand
  14. Kampala, Uganda
  15. Austin, TX, USA

Some of the selections surprised me; Bangkok for example, but apparently it’s all about the city’s strategy to make things greener. Check out the full list with accompanying explanations here.

What green cities have you visited?