The installation will be open to the public on:

• Friday, Sept. 27 (12 p.m.–6 p.m. EST)
• Saturday, Sept. 28 (10 a.m.–6 p.m. EST)
• Sunday, Sept. 29 (10 a.m.–6 p.m. EST)

Merrell aims to inspire urban dwellers to find nature in unexpected places. Visitors will “hike” the wheel’s interior, wearing Merrell’s Moab Speed 2 boots if desired. For more information, visit merrell.com and follow @merrell on Instagram.

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Founder and CEO Bron Launsby, who was recently awarded the Innovation Excellence Award by the International Adventure and Trampoline Parks Association (IATP), emphasized the brand’s commitment to franchisees. “Our franchisees come first. We’re opening corporate locations in tandem so we can guide them based on our own experience,” Launsby said.

Slick City first opened in Denver, CO, followed by locations in St. Louis, MO, Peoria, AZ, Katy, TX, and Denton, TX. Six additional parks are slated to open by the end of 2024, bringing the total to 11 locations, with parks in places like Chandler, AZ, Wauwatosa, WI, and North Aurora, IL. The brand is expanding into major markets such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh, and exploring new construction techniques for future locations.

Slick City continues to innovate, with 48 global patents filed or granted for its slide technology. The park’s appeal spans all ages, with 19% of its revenue coming from adults, a leading metric in the industry. Slick City aims to open 500 U.S. locations, and franchise opportunities are available at slickcityfranchise.com.

Founded in 2021, Slick City offers a unique “waterless slide park” experience, combining innovative attractions with exceptional guest service. To learn more, visit slickcity.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

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The ride builds on the success of Penguin Trek and accommodates guests with a minimum height of 39 inches, making it accessible for most families. The 4:30 minute journey takes place in two multi-level theaters, each holding 30 guests, providing breathtaking views of the Arctic’s landscapes, the Aurora Borealis, and marine life. Riders will enjoy a unique perspective of the Arctic, from its underwater scenes to satellite views of its vast ecosystem.

The attraction, filmed with custom equipment in remote parts of the Arctic, showcases the region’s diverse environment in stunning detail, offering guests a rare and immersive experience. Jon Peterson, President of SeaWorld Orlando, highlighted the park’s commitment to education and conservation, bringing the wonders of the Arctic to life.

SeaWorld 2025 Annual Pass Members will get exclusive early access to this groundbreaking attraction. Passes are on sale now for those eager to be part of this exhilarating adventure.

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Backroads, the leader in active travel, has launched its 285-page catalog for 2025, titled Explore the World the Backroads Way. The catalog showcases over 270 trips across seven continents, including Biking, Walking & Hiking, Multi-Adventure, and Family tours. New offerings include Women’s Adventure Tours, a Private Reserve collection, Active Ocean and River Cruises, Dolce Tempo easygoing journeys, Snow Adventures, and Active Culinary experiences.

“This is our most extensive selection yet,” said Tom Hale, Backroads Founder and CEO. “Get inspired by our catalog, featuring amazing photos from guests, and explore your dream destinations with us.”

To view the catalog or book your next adventure, visit backroads.com or call 800-GO-ACTIVE. Follow Backroads on Instagram @backroadstravel and Facebook @BackroadsActiveTravel.

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Cheer on the University of Texas Longhorns at one of their home games at D.K.R. Texas Memorial Stadium on select Saturdays from September to November. For the first year ever, the Longhorns will compete in the Southeastern Conference(SEC), and go head-to-head with some of the top teams in the country. www.texaslonghorns.com

Taking place September 19-26, Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the U.S., specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, action and just plain fantastic movies from around the world. Each year, organizers bring together fans, guests, industry, press, and movie lovers of all stripes in an inclusive and fun environment for a weeklong celebration. www.fantasticfest.com

The annual Austin City Limits Music Festival returns to give Austin a weekend full of live music, tasty food, and fun activities. Taking place October 4-6 and 11-13, festival-goers can experience a diverse lineup of acts with ninestages, more than 140 performances and have the opportunity to indulge in the fun over two full weekends of music. www.aclfestival.com

The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team will take on Panama on October 12 at 8 p.m. at U.S. Soccer’s Hispanic Night hosted at Q2 Stadium in North Austin. The USMNT has never lost a match at Austin’s Q2 stadium, so come out and show your support. www.q2stadium.com

The Formula 1 Pirelli United States Grand Prix returns to Texas for a celebration of speed and sound October 18-20. The three-day event provides an action-packed experience that features can’t-miss racing action, electrifying performances from global superstars, exhilarating amusement rides, culinary experiences and so much more. Don’t miss unforgettable performances by Eminem and Sting on the Germania Insurance Super Stage. www.circuitoftheamericas.com/f1

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team will take on Iceland on October 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Q2 Stadium in North Austin. Don’t miss your chance to see this Olympic Gold Medal Winning team live in action against Iceland in their first International Friendly match of the season. www.q2stadium.com

Recognized as one of the top film festivals in the country, the Austin Film Festival, taking place October 24-31, shines the spotlight on both top-billed films and indies alike. The event’s mission is to further the art and craft of storytelling by inspiring and championing the work of writers, filmmakers, and all artists who use written and visual language to tell a story. www.austinfilmfestival.com

Get those costumes and tickets ready for the epic psychedelic music and art festival, LEVITATION, taking place October 31 – November 3. This four-day weekend of music brings art to Austin’s diverse Red River Cultural District and east side venues and art spaces. www.levitation.fm

Pamper your palate at the Austin Food + Wine Festival, taking place November 1-3. Join top chef talent, sommeliers and winemakers from across the nation and Austin’s own acclaimed gourmet scene for an indulgent, three-day epicurean adventure unlike any other, topped off with live musical performances. www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com

The Texas Book Festival, taking place November 16-17, has evolved into one of the premier literary events in the country and hosts about 250 authors each year. Join in with other bookworms for readings, panel discussions, signings, cooking demonstrations, live music, local food, YA authors, children’s activities and more. www.texasbookfestival.org

Event dates are subject to change or cancellation. For a complete list of live and in person events taking place now through the end of this year, head to www.visitaustin.org/events.

About Visit Austin
Visit Austin is the official destination marketing and sales organization for the City of Austin. An accredited member of Destinations International, Visit Austin is charged with marketing Austin nationally and internationally as a premier business and leisure destination, thus enriching our community’s overall quality of life.

www.visitaustin.org

SOURCE Visit Austin

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Disney Vacation Club will debut the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows on Dec. 17, adding 268 rooms on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon at Walt Disney World. The 10-story tower features accommodations from duo studios to two-bedroom penthouse villas. Sales start for Disney Vacation Club members on Oct. 1 and for the public on Oct. 29.

Inspired by “Moana,” the Island Tower embraces Polynesian theming with sustainable elements like rugs made from recycled bottles, aligning with Disney’s 2030 environmental goals. The new two-bedroom penthouse villas, sleeping up to eight, offer expansive patios with views of Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom. Other options include one- and two-bedroom villas and deluxe studios, each featuring modern amenities and outdoor spaces.

The addition also includes new amenities such as a fitness center, tropical pool area, and Wailulu Bar & Grill, which offers Polynesian-inspired dining with views of Cinderella Castle. This expansion complements the existing 380 rooms, including deluxe studios and over-water bungalows.

Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows is one of 17 Disney Vacation Club properties, which include The Cabins at Fort Wilderness, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.

About Disney Vacation Club
Since 1991, Disney Vacation Club has offered a flexible vacation points system. With over 250,000 members globally, it provides access to Disney Resorts and exchange options worldwide. Learn more at DisneyVacationClub.com.

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1. The Factory of Terror – Canton, Ohio

Factory of Terror in Canton, OH, is a premier haunted destination, boasting the Guinness World Record for the longest indoor haunted attraction. Spanning five horrifying sections, it offers an unparalleled blend of immersive environments, terrifying actors, and mind-blowing effects. As a magnet for thrillseekers, it’s a must-visit for those seeking the ultimate haunted experience in the U.S. It isn’t just a haunt—it’s a destination with four uniquely themed places outside the haunt, extending the chilling immersive atmosphere to socialize and enjoy the thrills beyond the scares.

2. Kersey Valley SpookyWoods Haunted Attraction – Greensboro/High Point, North Carolina

Kersey Valley SpookyWoods in North Carolina stands out with its blend of immersive storytelling, Hollywood-level special effects, and meticulously crafted sets that go on for acres. Visitors are drawn to this megahaunt with its spine-tingling surprises. With its relentless attention to detail and a reputation for delivering top-tier scares at night and fun and games by day, SpookyWoods consistently ranks among the nation’s elite haunted attractions.

3. The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park – San Diego, California

The Haunted Trail of Balboa in San Diego is an outdoor terror unlike any other. Winding through the dark, twisted paths of Balboa Park, it immerses visitors in a nightmarish journey filled with ghastly creatures and terrifying jolts of super scares. Known for its heart-pounding fright and eerie atmosphere in tourist-friendly San Diego, it’s a top choice for those seeking the ultimate scary-fun thrill.

4. Talon Falls Screampark – Paducah/Melber, Kentucky

Talon Falls Screampark, nestled in the unnerving woods of Kentucky, is a horror lover’s dream. With terrifying trails, spine-chilling haunts, and immersive experiences, it’s a must-visit for thrillseekers. Talon Falls is the main attraction, with themes ranging from vampires and voodoo to the Undertaker. It is more geared to scare, making it one of the nation’s top destinations for scream-worthy fun.

5. Beast Haunted Attraction – Kansas City, Missouri

For those who prefer their scares with a side of history, Beast Haunted Attraction offers a hauntingly unique experience. Just blocks away from the Beast is the grandaddy of haunts, Edge of Hell – celebrating its 50^th season and is the oldest haunt in the nation. The Beast pioneered an open format in its massive six-story building with imposing architecture to fiercely compete with Edge of Hell. Scream tourists can go to both for extraordinary screams and laughter.

The Rise of Scream Tourism

The rise of Scream Tourism is a testament to the growing popularity of haunted attractions nationwide. What was once a local Halloween tradition has now become a nationwide pilgrimage for thrillseekers eager to explore the scariest places in America. These top five haunted attractions are a must as more people discover the joy of traveling for a good scare.

About America Haunts

America Haunts is the national association of premier haunted attractions, committed to excellence and originality in fear-based entertainment. With a collective annual attendance surpassing one million thrillseekers, America Haunts represents the best in the industry. Its members are recognized for their longevity, professional reputations, technical expertise, and innovative approaches to creating immersive experiences. These top-tier haunt operators are known for their ability to deliver unforgettable scares, making them world-class leaders in haunted entertainment.

SOURCE America Haunts

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United customers will soon enjoy the same high-speed, low-latency internet service in the air that they enjoy on the ground. The new, gate-to-gate connectivity will unlock game-changing experiences in the sky at scale that no other major U.S. airline provides like access to live TV and streaming services, social media, shopping, gaming and more, on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously.

United expects to have Starlink on all United aircraft – more than 1,000 planes – over the next several years. Testing begins in early 2025 with the first passenger flights expected later that year.

Starlink service on United aircraft will be free.

Leveraging advanced satellites with its deep experience in both spacecraft and on-orbit operations, Starlink is engineered by SpaceX and delivers internet access around the world, including over oceans, polar regions and other remote locations previously unreachable by traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals. United is the largest airline across both the Atlantic and Pacific and will be the first carrier in the world to commit to offering Starlink service at this scale.

“Everything you can do on the ground, you’ll soon be able to do onboard a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the world,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. “This connectivity opens the door for an even better inflight entertainment experience, in every seatback – more content, that’s more personalized. United’s culture of innovation is, once again, delivering big for our customers.”

“We’re excited to team up with United Airlines to transform the inflight experience,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer at SpaceX. “With Starlink onboard your United flight, you’ll have access to the world’s most advanced high-speed internet from gate to gate, and all the miles in between.”

United’s new Starlink Wi-Fi service will include experiences like:

• Live streaming: access personal streaming services and watch live TV, shows and movies without buffering, lag or the need to download content in advance.
• Workplace productivity: download/upload documents and edit shared files in real-time.
• Gaming: play live games and follow along on live gaming streaming services.
• E-Commerce: shop online, schedule grocery delivery and make restaurant and travel reservations all from the comfort of your seat.
• Multiple devices: connect multiple devices at once, under one user.
• Live support with the United app: download the United app while inflight to get real-time info about connections and access customer support from a real agent through Agent on Demand.

In addition to using Starlink connectivity on personal devices, United customers also will have access on their seatback screens. United has nearly 100,000 seatback screens across its fleet, with plans to grow these numbers as the airline continues to take delivery of new airplanes and retrofit existing aircraft with its new United signature interiors. The inflight content is available in more than 20 different languages. The new United signature interiors include 16-inch HD touch screens in each United Polaris® business class seat, 13-inch screens in every United First Class seat and 10-inch screens in every United Economy seat. In addition to seatback screens in every seat, United’s new signature interior also includes Bluetooth connectivity, power in every seat, larger overhead bins with room for everyone’s rollaboard and LED lighting.

The new service will also benefit United’s frontline employees – United pilots, flight attendants, technicians and gate agents all use mobile devices to help run the operation and serve customers. As United rolls out the Starlink more broadly, it will give those teams the same rich capabilities in the air, as they have on the ground including when working in remote location or when traditional services might be impacted like during power outages or natural disasters.

United’s Industry-Leading Innovations

United is recognized as one of the most innovative companies in the world and has recently launched a series of policies, products and services that are industry-leading:

• Mobile app with live activities: United has the world’s most downloaded airline mobile app and is the only U.S. airline with Live Activities that gives customers real-time access to their boarding pass, gate and seat number and countdown clock to departure on the home screens of their phone.
• ConnectionSaver: United is the only airline that uses proprietary technology to determine the best time to hold a flight a few extra minutes so more people can make their connection.
• Stuck in a middle seat?: United is the only airline where customers can log their seat preference in the app and move to a better seat – for free – if it opens up before departure.
• Free family seating: United is the first and only airline to offer a digital, dynamic seat map that allows children under 12 to be seated next to an adult in their party for free at time of booking. Since launching the feature last year, United has helped hundreds of thousands of families book seats together for free.
• Real-time text updates: Using AI tools, United sends travelers text messages that provide personalized trip updates on everything from gate changes and boarding times to more specifics like aircraft swaps and weather events, now even including live radar maps.
• Automatic rebooking assistance: Instead of waiting in line to talk to an agent or search for new options, United’s self-service tools automatically present travelers personalized re-booking options, bag tracking information and meal and hotel vouchers when eligible if their flight is delayed or canceled.
• Wheelchair booking tool: United launched a new digital sizing tool that helps customers determine the right aircraft for their wheelchair.
• Agent on Demand: United’s virtual, on-demand customer service tool is patented and lets customers video chat, text or call a customer service representative instead of waiting in line at the airport.
• Miles pooling: United became the first major U.S. airline to allow members of its loyalty program, MileagePlus, to pool their miles with family and friends into a joint account.

About United

At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “UAL”.

About Starlink

Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world. As the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit, Starlink delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more. Starlink is engineered and operated by SpaceX. As the world’s leading provider of launch services, SpaceX is leveraging its deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations to deploy the world’s most advanced broadband internet system.

SOURCE United Airlines

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