Virgin Airlines: Lucky Flier Will Get Free Space Trip
Most frequent flier programs offer only free airline trips, hanging out in posh airport lounges and a few other goodies. Now, Virgin Airlines offers one its lucky frequent fliers a free trip into outer space.
Richard Branson and his Virgin Galactic planners have been working on putting commercial flights into space for the past decade. The future seems to be getting closer, and they hope within the next few years to schedule space tours through Earth's atmosphere and beyond.
Until August 7, 2013, Virgin offers its top frequent flier the chance to upgrade to Galactic status. Whoever accumulates the most points by that date will win a free passage aboard the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo space vehicle, a $200,000 value. Some 500 eager passengers, including celebrities, have already bought tickets.
The second-place winner of the contest will get a free zero-gravity floating fun flight in a passenger jet. For more information, go to virgingalactic.com
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming USA
To Cruise and Schmooze or not
Q: I met a great guy on an LA-Mexico cruise. We hit it off immediately, and when when ashore for a sunset beach stroll, it was togetherness for the rest of the cruise. The problem is that I’m in the middle of a divorce, and I told him I was single. He wants to book us for another cruise in September, this time Fort Lauderdale-Bahamas. He says he’s single, too, has a great job and offered to pay my way on the Bahamas cruise. I’m not sure he’s telling the truth either. Should I take a chance and go for the new cruise?
A: What do we look like here on www.travel55plus.com, a lonely hearts club? We’re experts in travel, not romance. However, we can tell you that cruises always create an emotional wonderland, a temporary fantasy world that often masks reality. That’s why all the fibs and promises work on new romances at sea. Or at least delay the truth until we must face real life on shore.
Tell the romantic guy the truth. Give him an idea of when you’ll be completely free. Ask him to level with you, too. Then, when there are no spouses or other complications keeping you apart, accept the invitation for the Bahamas cruise. If you feel you can afford to pay your own way on this cruise, tell him so. He’ll respect your indepenence. Then, if you really enjoy each other’s ... er ... company, why not get together again. And again. And again.
National Museum of American History's New Exhibition Goes "On the Water"
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History today opens "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America," a new, permanent exhibition designed to engage the public in a dynamic exploration of America's maritime heritage. The 8,500-square-foot exhibition builds on the Smithsonian's unparalleled National Watercraft Collection of rigged ship models, patent models, documents and images to bring the sights, sounds and stories from the oceans, inland rivers and coastal communities to the museum's millions of visitors.
