Wherever your are in the world, whether you’re traveling or grilling or sleeping or working, here’s wishing you a happy, healthy Independence Day from those of us at the Kayak.com blog and Kayak.com.

We’ll be arguing (constructively, of course) with family members over charcoal grilling techniques and the questionable benefits of using an SPF over 30 while trying not to burn ourselves on sparklers, hurricane lamps and citronella candles. That said, things will be quiet around the blog today.

We’ll be back next week to bring you our usual dose of travel news, tips and summer destination suggestions.

5. Instead of Dallas… Austin
If you want to visit a Texas city, but would like to not sweat out your breakfast, Austin is the place to be - the weather is much more tepid than Dallas or Houston. It’s also considered the live music capital of the world and hosts many music festivals (and even more nightclubs and bars). The culture is hip and fun, and if you need proof, visit the Museum of Popular Culture in South Austin.

4. Instead of Phoenix… Albuquerque
See the Southwest at its most authentic as this New Mexico city. The Old Town offers colonial-style buildings, with Native American markets, museums, and more restaurants than you can shake a cactus at. Try everything from hot air ballooning, golfing, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Another little known fact - famous Route 66 rights right through the town!

3. Instead of Vegas… Reno
Sure, Sin City has the flash and notoriety, but if you break it down to basics Reno has everything you will need at a fraction of the cost. Famous acts like Larry the Cable Guy, Billy Idol, D.L. Hughley, Tom Jones, and Chicago. There’s of course, bowling (it’s the bowling capital of the world - don’t’ ask). Kayaking, skiing in winter at Tahoe, camping, golf, and of course gambling at any of the dozen or so resorts.

2. Instead of Boston… Providence
It’s only an hour or so drive down the road, but the New England feel is in full force. The downtown has been revived and offers an amazing open market, great shopping, and beautiful places for strolls, biking, or jogs. Nearby are Cape Cod, Newport, and quaint small towns with the rich history of our forefathers. Don’t miss the WaterFire, where 80 fires alight up the waterways while music plays in the background!

1. Instead of Washington, DC… Philadelphia
If you like history, The City of Brotherly Love has it. Ben Franklin practically built this place, and it gave birth to the American Revolution (not to mention it was the nation’s first capital). Some places to see is Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was first signed, the famous Liberty Bell, as well as many art museums that surround downtown. Compared to Washington, lodging and dining are very cheap. Remember to try a famous Philly Cheesesteak at either Gino’s or Pat’s - they are rival restaurants that both claim to be the first to offer the sandwich.

Summer festivals are a great way to enjoy a quick, last-minute getaway or day trip close to home - and many charge cheap admission (or none at all). Here are some of the many notable festivals happening around the country this weekend:

Culture

San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade & Celebration, San Francisco, California

African American Festival, Dover, Delaware (FREE ADMISSION)

6th Annual Keep Austin Weird Festival & 5K, Austin, Texas

Fishers Freedom Festival, Fishers, Indiana (FREE ADMISSION)

Gettysburg Festival, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Butterfly Festival, Dunwoody, Georgia

Music

Monterey Bay Blues Festival, Monterey, California

Grand Rapids Water Festival, Grand Rapids, Michigan

2008 Summertime Blues Festival, Havre de Grace, Maryland

Hampton Jazz Festival, Hampton, Virginia

Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Omaha, Nebraska (FREE ADMISSION)

Food & Drink

Cleveland Wine Festival, Cleveland, Ohio

Tilghman Island Seafood Festival, Tilghman Island, Maryland

North American Organic Brewers Festival, Portland, Oregon

Taste of Chicago Festival, Chicago, Illinois (FREE ADMISSION)

Lake Country Beer & Music Festival, Hartland, Wisconsin

In order to save on fuel, some airlines are going through every idea in the book.  Many are retiring old planes that are less fuel efficient (compare an old Chevy van versus a new minivan).  Some airlines are actually flying their fleet a few miles per hour slower to a rate that is more gas economical.

However, the most interesting idea is to alleviate overall weight on a plane.  Ever see a movie or show where the plane was running out of gas, so the crew had to strip it of everything heavy?  Apparently the airlines have seen the light and are using similar tactics.  Some ideas are putting less water on planes for bathrooms, removing paint, taking off old drink carts for lighter ones, reducing the number of magazines and newspapers, and even washing planes daily (that dirt and grime only helps slow planes down), or even removing the exterior paint.

Any other ideas to get better mileage?

And you thought mermaids needed water to get around. This Saturday, thousands of mer-people, antique cards, Neptunes and New Yorkers masquerading as creatures from the deep will descend upon Coney Island for the 26th annual Mermaid Parade, a free outdoor event with a penchant for body paint and Mardi Gras-inspired revelry that attracts the masses to the boardwalk and welcomes the summer beach season in with a bang (and quite a few costumes involving pasties). This year, The Church of Stop Shopping’s Reverend Billy and Savitra D. will rule over the mermaid-a-ratti as King Neptune and Queen Mermaid. After the parade floats wind their way to the sand, participants and spectators alike head to the post-parade Mermaid Parade Ball (tickets $15 at the door, $10 in advance) for live music, burlesque performances and classic Coney Island sideshow acts.

If you’re heading in from the city, the best way to get there is via public transportation. From midtown Manhattan, take the D, Q, N or F train to Stillwell Avenue (it’s the last stop).

Photo Credit: Alexandra Moss

Just as we suspected, the $15 first checked bag fee epidemic is spreading like a bad case of the flu. After United’s announcement yesterday, US Airways followed suit and said it will also implement the first checked bag fee starting July 9.

But US Airways was not content to be just a mere fee follower. Oh no. It stepped forward to become the first major U.S. carrier to begin charging for non-alcoholic beverages in economy cabins on domestic flights, as reported in this story from the Baltimore Sun. Come August, should you need to wet your whistle at 33,000 feet, it’ll cost you $2. And that’s not the only fee.

Others include increases in the fees for alcoholic drinks ($7), frequent flier award bookings ($50, wow!!) and phone bookings ($25-$35).

US Airways Beverage Fees

US Airways Baggage Fees

Which airports currently offer the TSA’s new Black Diamond Security Lanes? After reading this New York Times story on the impact of the new security lanes at airports around the country, I wanted a quick list of the airports using them. Thought it might be helpful for other travelers, too. Here it is:

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Portland International Airport

Oakland International Airport

Mineta San Jose International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport

San Diego International Airport

Spokane International Airport

Boise Airport

Salt Lake City International Airport

Denver International Airport

Tulsa International Airport

Dallas Love Field Airport

Houston Hobby Airport

Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

General Mitchell International Airport Milwaukee

Chicago Midway Airport

Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport

Pittsburgh International Airport

Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Boston Logan International Airport

Orlando International Airport

It seems American Airlines can’t make up its mind. After raising fuel surcharges over the weekend and then rolling them back on Monday, American has reportedly reinstated the $20 per round trip surcharge on domestic routes, except for those competing with low-cost carriers.

No word yet on whether other legacy carriers will follow suit.

This week, we had the pleasure of catching up with podcasting flight attendant phenom Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase. A 21-year veteran of the industry, Betty has won an international cadre of fans over the last two-and-a-half years with her series of podcasts, which feature other flight attendants and pilots dishing juicy on-the-job stories about everything from wayward cats in flight to passengers’ bathroom blunders.

Betty was kind enough to fill us in on her adventures while answering some very important questions about barf bags, airplane blankies and the one thing that baffles air passengers the most (hint: it’s not the ticket prices).

How do you approach the people that you interview? How do you get them going?

It is hard to get stories, and I have a very limited amount of time, because I’m at work, and you have to have time to warm them up.

It’s hard to get them actually warmed up and in a place to tell stories. All-nighters are better for me.

Does your employer airline know?

They do not. I’ve been waiting to get in trouble for two-and-a-half years. The airlines don’t like you to represent them, because they’re always afraid it is going to be taken negatively. I try to keep it, well, not too offensive. Luckily it’s gone well so far, and part of the reason why is because a job with an airline is probably the most unsupervised job in the world. And I do a good job at work, I try to do extra, and, so far, nobody else has complained.

If you could tell every passenger one thing before they boarded your plane, what would it be?

I wish everybody could get into the bathroom. People just cannot get in there. It’s like it’s the most complicated thing in the world. They pull out the ashtray, and then they look at you. It’s like a universal problem, so all day long we’re like, “Push.”

Really? I’m shocked that a large number of people have trouble opening the bathroom door.

I would say 80 percent of the passengers cannot get into the bathroom. I think it’s just an environment they’re not comfortable in. They’re out of sorts, so I think they sort of behave, um, not as smart as they would in other circumstances.

What’s the hardest thing about being a flight attendant?

(more…)

Priceline has just released a very interesting promotion called Sunshine Guaranteed. Essentially, if your vacations is rained out, it’s FREE. That includes airfare, hotel, car rental… the works.

Here’s the lowdown -If it rains a half an inch or more on at least half your vacation to any of their top 100+ vacation destinatinos, the ‘Negoitator’ will give you a refund after you get back. There is a lot of legal mumbo jumbo alongside it, but it’s an interesting promo. I wonder if a lot of people will start thinking of taking a nice trip to Seattle in the coming months.