Faster Wi-Fi on Delta
Starting next year, passengers on Delta Air Lines' long-haul domestic flights and routes to Latin America and the Caribbean will get to log on to a faster satellite-based wireless Internet. The new system replaces an older air-to-ground system, giving passengers 20 times the bandwidth to stream movies, music and other entertainment.
Los Angeles Times
Runway on ice
Winter on New Hampshire's Lake Winnipesaukee means ice fishing, hockey tournaments and, if the ice is strong enough, airplanes. The Alton Bay Seaplane Base saw dozens of pilots take advantage of a rare, sunny, storm-free Saturday last weekend to touch down on the frozen lake, the only ice runway in the Lower 48 approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Associated Press
Travel trend
Cruise with a wookiee
Disney Cruise Line has announced a Star Wars-themed day at sea, for select sailings on the Disney Fantasy in early 2016. The Fantasy, which sails seven-night Caribbean cruises out of Port Canaveral, Fla., will host the Star Wars Day at Sea on eight sailings that will feature character interactions, a deck party, movie screenings, a version of the Jedi Training Academy and more. The line has rolled out pirate-themed and Pixar-themed days in years past, but the Star Wars universe had not previously been featured on any Disney Cruise Line ships. Meet-and-greets will include Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, storm troopers and others. Characters will also roam the ship during the day, and cruisers are encouraged to dress up. Also promised will be celebrities and experts from the Star Wars universe, and the nightclub will be transformed into the Mos Eisley cantina. The special sailings take place January through April. Inside staterooms for some of the western Caribbean sailings start at $1,076 per person, based on double occupancy.Associated Press
Deal of the week
Take a break at a water park
If a trip to the ocean or a week soaking in the sun isn't in the budget for your family, maybe the kids would be happy with a weekend at a water park. Thumper Pond Resort near Otter Tail Lake in northwest Minnesota is offering a Winter Family Fun package that includes lodging, four water park passes and a pizza at Willy T's Tavern & Grill. The area has miles of snowmobile trails, and there are groomed cross-country ski trails on the property's golf course. Rates start at $89.95 on weekdays and $109.95 on Fridays and Saturdays. The offer is valid through April 30, but some blackout dates apply. For more info: www.thumperpond.com; 1-877-294-7981.
Catherine Preus
On the web
Like couch-surfing, only in the back yard
Are you into extreme budget travel? Campinmygarden.com connects house dwellers (and their back yards) with adventurous campers. More than half the listings are in Europe; the remainder are sprinkled throughout the rest of the world. The offerings are not always just a patch of grass. A range of accommodations appear, including a 1930s bow-top Gypsy wagon in North Devon, England, and a 120-acre plantation in southern India, to name a few. There's a robust search filter if you're looking for gardens that have Wi-Fi, allow dogs or provide other amenities. On the caution side, not all the listings had photos, and there could be cynical listings such as the one for camping in the heart of Los Angeles' skid row.Los Angeles Times
