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Hit the road with TODAY on its Great American Adventure

Lauren Sullivan — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:30:49 GMT

TODAY's going on an adventure!All five anchors — Matt, Savannah, Natalie, Al and Willie — are traveling together for the first time in history for TODAY's Great American Adventure. On their nationwide itinerary: Hawaii, Yellowstone, Chicago, Orlando and the Jersey Shore.The series officially begins Monday, May 20, but producers are already on location, scouting out the very best things to see and ...

Amtrak upgrades Wi-Fi, allowing passengers to complain about it even faster

Rob Lovitt — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:35:30 GMT

Never known for its reputation for speedy service, Amtrak is finally getting on the fast track in at least one regard. On Thursday, “America’s Railroad” announced it was upgrading its Wi-Fi service to take advantage of 4G cellular technology.“This upgrade is delivering the improved speeds and connectivity required to maintain a competitive edge,” said Deborah Stone-Wulf, Amtrak’s chief of sales di...

Pump your fist: TODAY's going to the Jersey Shore

TODAY Travel — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:13:45 GMT

There's no keeping the Jersey Shore down. With its signature irrepressible verve, the shore is back this summer and ready for good times. At the final Great American Adventure location, TODAY's anchors will dip their toes in the Atlantic and rock out on the sand to the sounds of the band fun.! The anchors will welcome Gov. Chris Christie for the shore's reopening, then tour the areas hit by Sandy...

Pump your fist, TODAY hits the Jersey Shore

TODAY Travel — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:02:43 GMT

There's no keeping the Jersey Shore down. With its signature irrepressible verve, the shore is back this summer and ready for good times. For the final Great Adventure location, the TODAY anchors are going to dip their toes in the waters and rock out on the sands to the sounds of the band fun! None other than New Jersey governor Chris Christie will kick the party off and the TODAY gang will spend ...

It's a snap! Americana!

TODAY Travel — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:40:40 GMT

You really took our breath away and touched us this week with your excellent pictures capturing the spirit of AMERICANA. From shore to shore, field to flag, and all the inspiring and awesome places and smiles in-between, you showed what's great about these states united.Next week's photo assignment: NATIONAL PARKS!The U.S. government is sponsoring an amateur national parks photo competition where ...

Hawaii's dangerous destinations revealed

ELYCE KIRCHNER and DAVID PAREDES — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:32:13 GMT

Dolphins and gators await TODAY in Orlando

TODAY Travel — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:31:53 GMT

Fun, laughs and splashes are set to erupt when the TODAY anchors touch down in Orlando -- the fourth of TODAY's Great American Adventure locations.With so many must-do activities to choose from (rides, gator watching, boat tours and more), it's hard to decide what Matt, Savannah, Natalie, Al and Willie should do first during their sun-soaked excursion.To help 'em out, viewers tweeted their ideas u...

American will favor passengers without roller bags

David Koenig — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:31:50 GMT

If you're traveling light, you can board earlier on American Airlines. The airline said Thursday that people carrying just a personal item that fits under the seat — no rolling suitcases — will be allowed to board before most other passengers. American said that the change will speed up the boarding process and allow flights to take off sooner, helping the airline improve its on-time performance...

'Pink stinks': Protests greet Berlin's Barbie Dreamhouse

Andy Eckardt — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:45:32 GMT

With new tool, fewer planes forced to circle airports

Harriet Baskas — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:43:46 GMT

Extra go-arounds are welcome if you’re on a carousel, but not so great if you’re on an airplane hoping to make an on-time landing and a connection at an airport. Now, air traffic controllers have a new computer software tool that’s helps significantly reduce when planes are forced to circle around the airport before a landing.For safety, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has set standards ...

GE, Boeing alert airlines about 777 engine problem

Alwyn Scott — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:51:01 GMT

General Electric Co and Boeing Co have alerted airlines about a potential problem with engines on Boeing's long-range 777 jumbo jet that caused the engines to shut in mid-flight twice this year. The problem affects about 118 so-called transfer gear boxes made between September and March. The part, made by Italian company Avio SpA, are on about 26 in service 777-300ER jets and another 44 aircr...

Beach getaways for Memorial Day weekend

Editors — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:21:53 GMT

Act fast to take advantage of these all-American beach getaways over Memorial Day weekend.Kennebunkport, Maine – Kennebunkport InnGet your fill of lobster rolls and oysters in this quintessential New England beach town. The charming Kennebunkport Inn has a large front porch and sundeck and an outdoor fireplace overlooking the Kennebuck River. You can enjoy complimentary bikes, beach passes, towels...

'Super Storm' amusement ride headed for the Jersey Shore

Rob Lovitt — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:46:53 GMT

While local residents on the Jersey Shore try to put Superstorm Sandy behind them, one local attraction is putting the tempest front and center. Later this summer, the Casino Pier amusement park in Seaside Heights, N.J., will unveil “Super Storm,” a new pendulum ride that promoters hope to open by July 4 as a symbol of the region’s resilience.“Tornado, Cyclone, these are common names for rides of ...

Mirror, mirror: Chicago viewers beckon TODAY anchors from 'The Bean'

TODAY Travel — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:40:25 GMT

Officially known as Cloud Gate, Chicago's iconic bean-shaped sculpture is one of the Windy City's top draws — and it's calling out for TODAY's anchors to visit next Wednesday.A massive mirrored form that sits in the center of Millennium Park, the landmark reflects Chicago's skyline, offering a warped yet beautiful perspective on the city. It's like a fun-house mirror maze turned inside out and pla...

Breathtaking views from atop Washington Monument

NBCNews.com — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:47:57 GMT

Still hatin’ on the airlines? J.D. Power says they’re gettingbetter

Rob Lovitt — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:16:34 GMT

If airlines were athletes, low-cost carriers would get the nod as fan favorites but traditional airlines are earning kudos as the most improved players on the field.That’s the gist of the latest J.D. Power and Associates North American Airlines Satisfaction Study. Released on Wednesday, the annual report shows overall satisfaction with the industry climbing to 695 (on a 1,000-point scale), an incr...

Hotel eateries follow lead of upscale restaurants

Martha C. White — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:30:42 GMT

For years, most hotel restaurants could easily be dismissed as unremarkable and unsurprising, their menus seemingly unchanged from year to year. But lately, they have been following the lead of upscale restaurants and offering ingredients grown or produced nearby.“Most hotels for years tried to cater to a mass market,” said Charles D. Dorn, managing director of the Dorn Group, a hospitality consul...

Bison! Geyers! Fans send ideas for TODAY's Yellowstone trip

TODAY Travel — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:05:57 GMT

Matt, Savannah, Natalie, Al and Willie will broadcast from five locations across the country next week for TODAY's Great American Adventure series. Their second adventure? Yellowstone!In anticipation of their national park arrival, TODAY viewers shared what they think the anchors should do in the land of bison and geyers using the hashtag #TODAYinYellowstone and #TODAYAdventure. Check out all the ...

Farm-to-hotel dining

Martha C. White — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:57:24 GMT

Europeans turn crisis into tourist attractions

Silvia Marchetti — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:27:58 GMT

Europeans are finding new ways to make ends meet by turning casualties of the economic crisis into tourism draws.On Serifos, a tiny, elegant Greek island, many once-rich bourgeoisie families are now renting and selling their second summer homes -- and some try to dodge the tax man.“We’re not talking of scandalous revenues," said Leonardo de Chanaz, a real estate agent on the island. "Renting a two...

No more selfies: Travelers snap up vacation photographers

Dana McMahan — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:16:27 GMT

If you think professional photographers only tail the glitterati, think again. A luxury that wouldn't have occurred to most travelers a few years ago, vacation photography is growing in popularity to capture the trip of a lifetime.Paris photography instructor Sophie Pasquet has seen a sharp uptick in demand. “A lot of people were asking me if I was doing portraits,” she said, so in 2010 she launc...

Rent out your car, park for free at LAX

Stephanie Miranda and Angie Crouch — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:59:05 GMT

Luaus! Dolphins! Fans send ideas for TODAY's Hawaii trip

TODAY Travel — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:30:45 GMT

Matt, Savannah, Natalie, Al and Willie will broadcast from five locations across the country next week for TODAY's Great American Adventure series. Their first adventure? Hawaii!In anticipation of their island arrival, TODAY viewers shared what they think the anchors should do in the Aloha State using the hashtag #TODAYinHawaii. Check out all the great photos and ideas -- and add your own to the m...

Woman kicked off flight for singing Whitney Houston hit

Grace Bello — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:52:15 GMT

Dancing on a plane can make you a viral hit on YouTube, but singing on one could get you removed by an air marshal.That's what happened to one disruptive passenger when she repeatedly crooned the '90s hit "I Will Always Love You" on a coast-to-coast American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to New York City last Thursday.The flight left Los Angeles at 3:30 p.m. and was scheduled to land at New Yor...

TSA dog bites passenger at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport

Rob Lovitt — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:35:23 GMT

A Georgia woman is hoping for a negative rabies test after being bitten by a TSA bomb-sniffing dog at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.“It was something that no one would ever expect to happen to them at the airport,” said Susan Dubitsky of Rome, Ga., who was waiting to meet her sister near the baggage area on May 2. “The officer walked by me and the dog reared up and bit my stomac...