Taking off Travel blog

I can’t believe I missed my one year anniversary. I’ve been blogging here on the Taking Off Travel Blog since September 2008, so I’m now officially into my second year. I’ve really enjoyed blogging about travel and getting to know other travel bloggers – it’s just about perfect for a digital nomad. Here are some of the highlights of the year.

Since ParkRideFlyUSA is an offsite airport parking company, I started out by looking at some of the destinations where we have off airport parking facilities. These posts are not just about the facilities but about what you can do in those towns. I kicked off the series with Layover In LAX, and have followed it by posts looking at activities near Chicago Midway, Boston Logan, JFK, Indianapolis and others. Over the course of the year, in response to reader feedback, I’ve changed the series a bit to give more information on airport facilities. The posts on Hobby Airport and Chicago O’Hare are good examples. Read more »

Breaking news: Indy Park Ride Fly is to offer complementary recharging of hybrid vehicles as part of its comprehensive off airport parking service. The service will also be available at Midway Park Ride and Fly and Albany Park Ride and Fly as well as selected parking facilities affiliated with Park Ride Fly USA.

Indy Park Ride Fly Map

WiFi In The Air

It’s time for another round-up of travel news. Today, I’m looking at news of interest to business travelers. First off, there’s good news if you have ever been frustrated by the lack of internet access when flying. Many domestic airlines now offer WiFi access through the GoGo network. Delta, American and Virgin are already signed up, while United Airlines is currently in trials. Other connectivity options are available on other carriers. Find out more in the original story. Read more »

Indiana is home to the new Indy Park Ride and Fly which opened about five months ago and is currently getting great customer reviews. We’ve already looked at places to visit in Indianapolis, but now it’s time for some fast facts about the state. Some of these are quite fun!

Spot the tree growing from this courthouse!

• Indiana covers 35,866 square miles of land
• The population in 2007 was 6.3 million
• It’s known as the Hoosier state
• Its name means ‘Land of the Indians’
• Indianapolis became the state capital in 1825; before that first Vincennes, then Corydon, was the capital
• The highest point in the state is Hoosier Hill, which is 1,257 feet high
• The state song is On the banks of the Wabash (Listen)
• The state motto is ‘the crossroads of America’
• It became the 19th US state on December 11, 1816
• Largest cities are Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, Gary, South Bend
• It’s bordered by Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio
• The state tree is the tulip tree
• The state flower is the peony
• The state bird is the cardinal, adopted in 1933
• There’s a town called Santa Claus Read more »

Want to know where to park when taking a business trip? Here are our most popular airport parking locations at the moment. I’ve also included links to our posts on things to do near some of the major airports.

1. (MDW) Chicago Midway Airport Parking - Chicago Midway Airport is ten miles from downtown Chicago; you can get to central Chicago in less than 30 minutes. It has three concourses and serves more than 17 million travelers a year. There are hourly shuttles to O’Hare International. Layover In Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
2. (IND) Indianapolis Airport Parking - Indianapolis International Airport is seven miles from Indianapolis, with plenty of options for getting to the city quickly. It serves around seven million passengers a year, taking them to more than 100 destinations. Ten Things To Know About The New Indy Airport
3. (ALB) Albany Airport Parking - Albany International Airport is located four miles from Albany and is the main hub for the Capital Region in eastern New York State. it serves three million passengers a year, with more than 200 flights per day.
4. (ORD) Chicago O’Hare Airport Parking - One of America’s busiest airports, serving 70 million passengers a year, O’Hare International is 20 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. There are excellent transport links to the city.
5. (JFK) John F. Kennedy Airport Parking - John F Kennedy Airport is the busiest airport in New York. Thirty million passengers travel through the airport each year. JFK is located 15 miles southeast of downtown Manhattan, with excellent transport links to the city. Layover In JFK – Things To Do

Read more »

Where The Locals Eat

There’s nothing worse than heading to a new city on business, arriving late at night and wondering where to go for a good meal. I should know. I once went on a business trip to Spain and by the time I had got my bags and found a taxi to my hotel, it was already nearly midnight. I know the Spanish eat late, but the local kitchens were closed and I found myself at the Spanish version of Mickey Ds – not what I wanted after a long trip. The next day, I was prepared and I asked the locals I met at the hotel where I could score a good meal so I could have a great dinner that night. When it comes to getting a good meal, you can’t beat local advice – and that’s the premise behind Where The Locals Eat.

Top Eateries In Each State

Where The Locals Eat gives you easy access to the top 100 restaurants in the 50 largest US cities. Since these are where you are likely to be doing business, then this is a great place to find restaurants serving your favorite dishes. The site balances ‘lengthy surveys of serious diners and hopelessly hooked restaurant habitues with the opinions and extensive research of certified foodies’ to bring you the top choices and they are constantly being updated. You can search the site by city and distance to select a restaurant within walking distance of your hotel. Read more »