Travel

10/07/2008 Kennedy Creek gets interpretive area The Kennedy Creek estuary is small in size, but it's a high-value habitat when it comes to shorebirds, chum salmon, raptors and salt marsh.

10/06/2008 American Airlines considers a la carte pricing American Airlines is about to accelerate the trend of breaking the cost of a trip into an airfare plus many smaller fees.

10/03/2008 Ski lift ticket prices rising at Wash. resorts Like the ski lifts themselves, prices for lift tickets are going up at Washington's biggest resorts this season.

10/02/2008 Remains found at Fossett crash site A year after his disappearance, searchers have found the wreckage of Steve Fossett's plane in the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains.

Horizon wants to offer service from Paine Field Seattle-based Horizon Air wants to offer commercial flights departing from Paine Field in Snohomish County, but county executive Aaron Reardon opposes commercial flights at the airport.

10/01/2008 Possible Fossett ID, other belongings found A hiker in rugged eastern California found an ID and other items possibly belonging to Steve Fossett, the adventurer missing more than a year since going on a pleasure flight in a borrowed plane.

09/30/2008 Airfares aren't taking off everywhere Air fares are up, right? The short answer is yes - 22 fare increases this year. But fares in some cities are flat or even down, as fierce competition keeps airlines from charging as much as they would like.

Historic Rosario Resort sold The 74-acre resort in the San Juan Islands was sold at auction Tuesday, but the previous owner won't discuss the buyer or the purchase price.

09/15/2008 Metro to add more buses, routes Facing record ridership and a record budget deficit, King County Metro Transit has announced plans to add 22 new buses and two new routes. Bus fares will go up

09/12/2008 Alaska Airlines to cut up to 1,000 jobs The Seattle-based airline announced today that record oil prices and a softening economy have forced the cutbacks.

09/10/2008 Public invited to help name Seattle parks Seattle residents are invited to suggest potential names for three parks located in the Capitol Hill and Sand Point neighborhoods.

09/05/2008 What can I do if my flight is canceled? As airlines look to cut capacity, a lot are rescheduling passengers on other flights, but some aren't advising passengers of the changes ahead of time.

09/04/2008 Seattle Seahawks to fly Hawaiian Hawaiian Airlines is the official charter for the Seahawks for its eight road games, including four cross-country trips to the East Coast.

Boise Police nab traveling theft ring
Three California men have been arrested in Boise and charged with stealing items from local home improvement stores.

09/03/2008 Teens forever grateful to their rescuers Three teens, out for a fun hike, ended up stuck on Three Fingers Mountain when fog, cold and rain trapped them. What happened next was a bond forming between them, the people at the 911 call center and rescuers.

Sammamish hiker dies in fall at Snoqualmie Pass A 46-year-old Sammamish man died in an apparent fall on Monday while hiking on Guye Peak at Snoqualmie Pass.

09/02/2008

3 questioned after bypassing security on Alaska flight
Three passengers on an Alaska Airlines flight were removed Tuesday and questioned after bypassing security on a flight out of Sea-Tac.

Ore. to test pets in yurts in 2009 The state Parks and Recreation Department is easing into its plan to relax the ban on pets in campground yurts and cabins.

08/28/2008 Hiker dies after 200-foot fall from Mount Si A 27-year-old hiker died after falling from the Haystack - Mount Si's rocky summit - where conditions were slick and dangerous.

2 hikers still stranded on mountain A man and woman stranded on a narrow ledge in the North Cascades have made it to safer ground, but will have to spend another night out. Hikers are from Wisconsin

Pack extra caution in your backpack this Labor Day weekend The calendar may still say August, but the weather in the mountains feels more like October. And there is more autumn-like weather in the forecast.

08/27/2008 Travel alert issued for people traveling to hurricane-affected areas A Travel Alert is being issued to urge American citizens to consider carefully the risks of travel to areas affected by Tropical Storm Gustav in Haiti, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

08/28/2008 Three teens rescued from Three Fingers Mountain The boys, who tried to reach the summit lookout, got stranded overnight after encountering bad weather and being unprepared. Teens spend night on mountain

08/27/2008 FAA: Communication breakdown delayed flights Numerous flight delays caused by an electronic communication failure at a Federal Aviation Administration facility drew new criticism for an agency that has been scrutinized over air traffic controller staffing levels and inspection standards for its ground-based equipment.

08/28/2008 Search and rescue underway on challenging hiking trail Two men called for help on the Ptarmigan Traverse - an alpine hiking route in the North Cascades.

08/26/2008 Southwest to cut 200 flights in early 2009 Southwest Airlines will eliminate nearly 200 flights early next as a result of high fuel costs and a weakening economy.

08/24/2008 Muslim Morocco's music festivals promote liberties The North African country is an overwhelmingly Muslim country, but you wouldn't know it from the music festivals. About 400 yearly festivals are sponsored across the country, not to mention the sports, dancing and singing contests organized on popular beaches every summer.

08/20/2008 Big spike in travel fares expected for holidays According to travel search engine Farecast, holiday fare hikes are inevitable due to a "perfect storm" of higher fuel costs, fewer flights and high consumer demand.

08/18/2008 Evacuations as rain breaches dam near Grand Canyon Authorities on Monday evacuated more tourists and residents from a remote offshoot of the Grand Canyon where weekend flooding caused by heavy rains and a breached dam nearly washed away some rafters in the rugged gorge.

08/12/2008 More speed climbers chasing Mount Rainier record For adrenaline junkies with competitive instincts, the speed record is a natural goal. There are no official time records kept, but the unofficial marks are well-known in climbing circles.

08/11/2008 Delta to offer Wi-Fi on flights Delta Airlines says it will soon offer wireless Internet access on its entire domestic mainline fleet by the middle of next year.  Wi-Fi in the sky trend

Alaska Air cancels 44 flights due to volcanic ash Alaska Airlines said it canceled 44 flights between Alaska and cities including Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, Ore., San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.

08/09/2008 Song, natural beauty draw visitors to Suwannee Drawn by an old familiar song, growing numbers of travelers are seeking out the tea-colored waters of the Suwannee River. And galvanized by the song, environmentalists and legislators are fighting to keep the stream unspoiled amid thirsty Florida's development.

State to raise camping fees in Washington parks The Washington Parks and Recreation Commission has voted to raise fees for camping in state parks, beginning in November.

08/08/2008 Get a taste of China - for free So you'd like to go to China but don't have the time, or the money? China is right here in Seattle - in the International District.

08/06/2008 Wildlife agency hopes to improve safety for outdoor enthusiasts Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife managers plan to examine hunter-education practices, possible hunting-age restrictions and other potential safety improvements for areas where mixed-use recreation occurs during hunting seasons.

Alaska Air, Horizon customers alerted of credit card misuse Alaska Airlines and its subsidiary Horizon Air have notified some 1,500 customers of credit card misuse by a former call center employee.

08/05/2008 Airlines' June on-time performance improves The Transportation Department said Tuesday that the nation's airlines were on time more often in June compared to a year ago, and customers filed fewer complaints about their baggage.

08/04/2008 Hunter who killed woman on popular hiking trail is just 14 Authorities say the boy was out hunting with his brother on Sauk Mountain when he mistook Pam Almli for a bear and shot her Saturday. Family can't understand why

Flying friendly skies to cost more A new fuel surcharge on domestic round trip tickets is beginning at Northwest Airlines and others may follow.  Families scrimping

08/02/2008

British Columbia highway set to reopen Sunday
Highway 99 between Vancouver and Whistler, the Sea-to-Sky Highway, is being cleared following the collapse of a cliff face late Tuesday night. Both lanes of the winding road were buried in rock near Porteau Cove.

07/31/2008 Airline responds to near collision at Sea-Tac Earlier this month, a Northwest Airlines plane literally had to take off over an Air Tran flight that was sitting on the runway. Closest since 2001

Woodinville teen nearly killed in Italy Fourteen-year-old Shahayla Doyle was stranded in Italian hospitals after a car accident three weeks ago. This week, a total stranger helped bring her home. the 'ladybug queen'

Near-collision reported on Sea-Tac runway A Boeing 737 and an Airbus A332 nearly collided at Sea-Tac Airport earlier this month, and one safety expert says it's a "wake-up call." A near-miss

07/30/2008 After Ore. climbing death, rescuers advise helmets Ever since Dr. Gary Lee was fatally struck by a watermelon-size rock and plunged down the north side of Mount Hood, his son, Devin, has worn his father's baseball cap, which the doctor had chosen over a helmet.

07/28/2008 3 generations summit Rainier together After dozens of trips up Mount Rainier, you might think the climb would become routine, but one Federal Way man says his most recent trek was like no other.

07/24/2008 Snoqualmie River reopened near Carnation The Snoqualmie River under the Tolt Bridge west of Carnation is now open to boats and recreational users, after being closed since July 1.

07/18/2008 McChord Air Expo returns after 3-yr hiatus The Thunderbirds, the Air Force's precision flying team, will be in the skies over McChord Air Force Base this weekend for the first time in three years with the return of the McChord Air Expo.

07/17/2008 WA tribes make big journey to B.C. Dozens of northwest Indian tribes are canoeing to Cowichan, B.C. for a huge event called the 2008 Tribal Journeys. Raw: SkyKING video

07/16/2008 China Airlines to drop Seattle-Taipei flights Taiwan-based carrier China Airlines will drop its nonstop service between Seattle and Taipei as part of a move to cut 100 passenger flights per months due to soaring fuel costs.

07/14/2008 Air travel, fares on verge of turbulent times If your fall travel plans include flying somewhere, listen up.  Travel experts predict air fares are on the verge of turbulent times ahead.Â

FAA announces runway safety improvements The Federal Aviation Administration has announced measures to improve runway safety, including the installation at major airports of lights that signal pilots when a runway is safe to enter. Seattle is part of the program.

07/12/2008 New unofficial Mount Rainier speed king Twenty-nine-year-old Justine Merle took 4 hours, 49 minutes, 35 seconds this week to go from Paradise to the 14,411-foot summit and back down again.

07/15/2008 Pike Place Market in need of an upgrade The Pike Place levy in November will ask voters to approve $73 million to fix outdated wiring, rusty plumbing, broken tiles and more at the Seattle landmark.

07/10/2008 US Airways will stop movies on domestic flights The movie systems weigh about 500 pounds each, forcing planes to use more fuel to get around the country.

07/09/2008 Northwest Airlines to cut jobs, charge bag fee The carrier says it will eliminate 2,500 management and front-line jobs. It previously announced that it would reduce its flight schedule by about 9 percent later this year.

Delta to end Eugene-Los Angeles direct air service Delta's decision is part of an effort to cut operating costs that have risen with the cost of fuel, company officials said.

07/08/2008 New camps enhance City of Rocks With the new Smoky Mountain Campground at Castle Rocks State Park, visitors to the City of Rocks National Reserve have a choice between primitive or plush camping.

07/07/2008 Seattle-based cruise ship grounds near Glacier Bay No injuries are reported after the cruise ship Spirit of Glacier Bay, owned by Cruise West Enterprises, grounded this morning in Tarr Inlet, Alaska.

07/05/2008 A spirit of community and adventure binds Airstream owners Life at one of the world's largest communities for owners of Airstream travel trailers and motor homes doesn't have to be complicated: Work together. Play together. That's about it.

07/04/2008 Lowest holiday travel in 10 years Despite the decline 40 million people are expected to travel for the 4th of July. Gas prices not the only thing higher Check your traffic

07/03/2008 Agency delays halt to Pendleton, Ore., air service The U.S. Department of Transportation has ordered Horizon Airlines to wait at least an extra month before cutting off its Pendleton-to-Portland service.

07/02/2008 Log jams a danger on Green River The King County Sheriff's Department is warning inner tubers to stay off the Green River. At least three log jams are blocking the water flow, posing a serious threat to people using the waterway.

Horizon to cut direct Pendleton to Portland flights Horizon Air is planning to shut down its three direct daily flights from Pendleton to Portland this fall.

06/30/2008 Alaska Airlines takes steps to conserve fuel As the cost of gas seems to just go up, so does the price of jet fuel. But can airlines actually reduce the amount of fuel planes burn?

06/27/2008 Fewer holiday travelers expected July 4 The AAA predicts a slight decline in American travel this Fourth of July weekend, with high gas prices keeping people close to home.

06/25/2008 Surgical Tourism offering sun, sand and surgery A company called Surgical Tourism USA opens its doors in Seattle today, booking patients on getaways for everything from a heart bypass to cosmetic surgery. Surgery for a third of the cost

Say 'I Do' at one of King County's parks' scenic wedding ceremony locations If you're planning an outdoor wedding this year, why not check out one of the several beautiful venues that are available through King County Parks?

China reopens Tibet to foreign tourists three months after violent riots China threw a curtain around Tibet and areas in nearby provinces with sizable Tibetan populations after the March violence, citing the safety of foreign tourists and journalists.

06/23/2008 Local cyclists embark on Big Ride Across America The 12th annual Big Ride Across America, the American Lung Association's fundraiser, kicked off at the University of Washington this morning. From Seattle to Washington, D.C.

06/21/2008 Yurts offer unique alternative to tent camping Oregon's use of yurts in state parks - particularly on the coast - has been a boon for winter campers and for people with disabilities. Rates range from $27 to $30 a night.

Dishman area preserves a wilderness experience in the city On a weekday morning, the Dishman Hills Natural Area is one of the quietest places in Spokane. Walk through the log building at Camp Caro, and the traffic noise from Sprague Avenue and scratching intercom from car dealerships fade in the background.

Boating fatalities increase in the Northwest The Coast Guard reports that as of June 20, there have been 28 reported recreational boating fatalities in the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.

06/20/2008 Study to look at new shared airport shuttle system A new study is taking a look at combining area hotel courtesy shuttle buses. If it works, it could cut shuttle traffic by up to 30-50 percent.

06/23/2008 30 under $30: Cheap ways to spend your summer Puget Sound is packed with fun activities that won't break the bank. We've compiled a list of 30 ideas – each less than $30 - to get you started. 30 cheap summer activities

06/19/2008 Local man pushing for cruise ship safety Seattle has become a cruise ship hub, drawing in tourists from around the world. But one local man wants to give those tourists a warning. Cruise crime victims testifying in D.C. Blog: Cruise ship safety

06/18/2008 Being flexible can lead to summer travel savings With gas heading for $5 a gallon, parents who hoped to take their families on a road trip this summer may have thought it was out of the question.

Northwest Airlines announces larger capacity cuts The reductions were deeper than those announced in April, though they're smaller than cuts announced by many other airlines.

06/17/2008 New Seattle-to-Portland air service at Boeing Field While airlines are struggling and cutting cost, one airline carrier is taking off with new planes and new Seattle-to-Portland flights. Travelers avoid traffic, long lines

Air Canada to cut 2,000 jobs, slash capacity Air Canada will cut up to 2,000 jobs, or 8 percent of its work force, and said Tuesday it is slashing capacity like other major carriers beset by record fuel prices.

Delta trims Salem, Ore. to Salt Lake City service Delta Air Lines is trimming its Salt Lake City flights from Salem, Oregon Tuesdays and Wednesdays from two to one.

06/16/2008 Crews work to prevent dangerous rock slides A rock climber was killed on Mount Baker over the weekend when a boulder came down and crushed him. But you don't have to be a climber to face the danger of being hit by falling rock.

06/12/2008 Sea-Tac diamond lane gets fliers through security faster The lane is designed for frequent fliers who know all the security rules and are ready to zip to their gate. Other lanes for slower passengers

New law: Boaters stay 100 yards away from orcas A new state law effective June 12, 2008 requires that boaters stay at least 100 yards away from orca whales in Puget Sound. It is also now unlawful to feed orcas.

United, US Airways to charge $15 for 1st checked bag Baggage fees are fast becoming an unavoidable part of U.S. flying - three of the largest carriers now charge $15 for a first checked bag.

Seattle now offers a coffee tour There's the Underground Tour and the Ride the Ducks tour. So why not a coffee tour?

Web site ranks Seattle's 'walkable' neighborhoods A new Web site ranks Seattle's most walkable neighborhoods and hopes to make "walkability" a new real estate buzz word. Pioneer Square tops the list

06/11/2008 Cyclists take 'Journey of Hope' from Seattle to D.C. The men of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity will cycle over 4,000 miles across country to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities. Ride averages 75 miles a day

06/10/2008 Bellevue man dies on Mount Rainier A Bellevue man has died on Mount Rainier and two other Bellevue residents are awaiting rescue after getting caught in a blizzard overnight. A blizzard in June

Hainan Airlines starts nonstop Seattle-Beijing service Monday, Hainan Airlines, China's largest non-government-owned carrier, became the first airline to provide nonstop service between Beijing and Seattle.