SkyWest Airlines reached a new milestone this past week with the official launch of its first Embraer E175 aircraft into commercial service! The inaugural flight, operating as United Express, from Chicago O’Hare to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, May 17 represented a tremendous amount of preparation and hard work by many SkyWest employees during the last 15 months. Within the next two years, SkyWest will take delivery of 40 new E175s that will operate under an agreement with United Airlines.

The E175 is the fifth aircraft type in SkyWest’s current fleet, and from full-sized cargo-bins to larger aisles and seats, it’s filled with enhanced features that will help ensure every passenger enjoys a comfortable, convenient flight.

Established more than 200 years ago as a fort during the American Revolutionary War, Fort Wayne, Ind. is the seat of Allen County and the center of a bustling metropolis. And as Indiana’s second largest city, Fort Wayne has an incredible offering of attractions and activities that are affordable, accessible and family-friendly.

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is internationally recognized for its innovative displays, award-winning animal exhibits and well-manicure grounds. Every aspect of the 38-acre facility is intended to delight the young and the young-at-heart. Here families can enjoy a canoe ride through the Australian Adventure exhibit after walking through the kangaroo yard. Sea Lion Beach is a state-of-the-art sea lion exhibit where daily behavioral training sessions are one of the most popular attractions. More than 500,000 people visit this wonderland annually and have given it a 9.6 out of 10 rating for being an exceptional zoo to visit. It is definitely a must stop on any family foray into Fort Wayne when it reopens on April 26, 2014!

The next stop on a weekend of family fun in Fort Wayne should be the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory where nature is always in season! This oasis nestled in the heart of downtown showcases a multitude of indoor and outdoor exhibits, including the Tropical Garden where orchids and palms thrive year-round and the scenic vistas and shaded paths of the Exploration Garden. Families with younger children are encouraged to check out the Family Garden Close-Up class which features a different garden every month to help visitors learn fun and educational facts about plants and gardens!

Of course, nothing is quite as exciting or brings a family together like enjoying America’s national pastime with the Fort Wayne TinCaps at Parkview Field! The TinCaps offer more for families than just a game, fans also enjoy the diverse entertainment available during games throughout the season and monthly theme nights – every Friday night in 2014 – where everyone is encouraged to have fun by dressing to match the nightly theme.

Fort Wayne’s myriad of affordable family entertainment options make it a must-see destination for anyone interested in unique, wholesome fun. And with the addition of a fourth daily flight to Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) from Chicago (ORD) in April, SkyWest Airlines is helping to ensure that not a single TinCap game is missed! Visit www.United.com to book a flight and begin planning a trip today.

Wildlife abounds in Yellowstone National Park throughout the year; however, one of the best times to view bison, elk, moose and other creatures is during the winter months. During these cold, snowy months as icicles hang form tree branches and rainbows glisten through geysers, the animals move closer to the hot springs for warmth and come to lower altitudes in search of food – making for easy viewing as well as providing excellent photo opportunities.

Access to America’s First National Park, which encompasses parts of Wyo., Mont. and Idaho, is varied. For example, entrances like West Yellowstone are only open for snowcoach and guided snowmobile travel. The snowcoaches are heated, with full and half-day tours available, and knowledgeable guides will often pull over for photos, provide park information and answer questions throughout the expedition.

Adventurists looking for a way to combine nature and sports can cross-country ski or snowshoe throughout the park. There are hundreds of miles of trails, some groomed and some out in the backcountry, that range in altitude from 7,000’ (2,133m) to 10,000’ (3048m). Local outfitters, especially in the West Yellowstone area, also offer guided tours.

Ranger-led programs are another great way to learn about the park and experience everything that’s available during the winter and throughout the year. Plus, the majority of these programs are free! At Mammoth Hot Springs, the Mammoth Snowshoe Discovery takes visitors on a two-hour walk with a park ranger (snowshoe rental is available). Also in Mammoth, the aptly-named Evening Program, which runs from December through February, is an illustrated program that showcases Yellowstone’s wonders – from natural to scenic and cultural. A description of the program is posted in the Mammoth Hotel and Albright Visitor Center.

At Old Faithful, “Geysers Galore” is a talk held at the benches in front of Old Faithful approximately 20 minutes before the Geyser’s eruption. It reveals why Yellowstone is home to one-half of the world’s thermal features. The Old Faithful Visitor Education Center provides the times of these complimentary tours.

Of course, with so much to enjoy at Yellowstone, it’s not always possible to see everything in one day. Thankfully, the park offers a number of lodging options including the rustic Old Faithful Snowlodge and Cabins. Due to their unique locale, the lodge will collect guests via snowcoach for transportation to the facility. There’s also the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, offering full-service dining and accessibility via car from the park’s North Entrance. Both lodges are generally open from mid-December through early March, but check the National Park Service’s website for most up-to-date information, including weather conditions, lodging and live webcams of the park.

As you plan your adventure to Yellowstone National Park, check out www.delta.com where you’ll always find the best fares. Delta provides daily flights from Salt Lake City to Cody, Wyo. (near the East Entrance). Seasonal service is also available during the summer from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Airport (WYS) where you are just seven miles from the entrance of the park when you step off of the plane.

Southeastern Wyoming is known for wide-open prairies, horses and cowboys. And while those descriptions are accurate in many instances, they only give a small glimpse of everything that can be experienced when visiting Laramie, Wyo.

Laramie is home to about 30,000 people, but when the Cowboys, the University of Wyoming football team, are playing, that number skyrockets. When there is a home game, the city is literally bursting with loyal, cheering fans that often fill the 29,181-seat stadium to capacity. There’s nothing quite like the electric charge in the air when experiencing a game that an entire community rallies around.

As the only four-year university in the state, UW is a great place to experience Laramie and there is always plenty to do. Two highlights are the art museum and the Natural History Museum. The art museum features works from Albert Bierstadt and Pablo Picasso, along with stunning landscape photography and modern artwork and the Natural History Museum features a 75-foot tall Brontosaurus skeleton, among other wonders. Conveniently, both locations are free of charge!

Once the campus has been explored, take a step back in time with a variety of self-guided and interactive tours developed by the Albany County Tourism Board that will help one learn more about Laramie’s roots. For example, after the town was founded in 1868, Laramie became home to a number of notorious criminals who were looking to escape the law. Walking through this historic downtown, one soon discovers the location of Laramie’s first jail – once home to Calamity Jane. There’s also Lovejoy’s Novelty Works where Wyoming’s first automobile was built. And on the brand new interactive tour, QR codes can be scanned on smartphones to pull up information and videos depicting a Wild West-era shootout and the origins of rodeo in Laramie.

Of course, no trip to Laramie would be complete without some traditional Wyoming favorites like the Cavalryman Supper Club. The restaurant is located on the parade grounds of historic Fort Sanders and features a menu that includes buffalo steaks, prime rib, fresh seafood and much more. Try a Wyoming staple, the original soda bread, discovered by the Native Americans and adopted by the Irish as a start to an authentic culinary experience. With everything to do and see in Laramie there is no reason to wait! Convenient direct United Express flights operated by SkyWest Airlines are available every day from Denver. Book now at www.united.com, where the lowest fares are always found

It probably sounds a little like someone describing an old western movie: beautiful blue skies stretching in every direction, rolling hills and mountains visible in the distance, long grasses waving gently in the breeze. In fact, it is so idyllic as the sun moves slowly overhead that you can almost hear the clip-clop of horse hooves or you may even catch yourself wondering where that aroma of rawhide is coming from. And while the classic icons of horse hitches on every corner are not exactly accurate anymore, Gillette, Wyo. continues to embody the lifestyle and personality that are a hallmark of The West: open space, relaxed living and plenty of things to do.

One of the most popular events in Gillette throughout the summer months is the rodeo. From May until Labor Day there is some sort of rodeo-related activity going on at the fairgrounds every week. You can actually catch a glimpse of some of the best cowboys and cowgirls from around the country showing off their skills as they compete in team roping, barrel racing, bull riding and plenty of other events.

And Gillette has even more to offer. Each year, Gillette, also known as the Energy Capital of the Nation, hosts the Energy Exposition (http://energyexposition.com/). The event attracts thousands of people who want to immerse themselves in the latest energy production technology that is available and explore the future of the industry. Believe it or not, Gillette is located in the Powder River Basin, which produces more than 140 million tons of coal each year – enough to power all of the households in New York and Texas. Visitors can even schedule a free coal mine tour through the Visitor Center (www.visitgillette-wrightwyo.org) while they are in town so they can get a first-hand account of where energy production begins.

Once you’ve had a chance to visit the mine and the rodeo has wrapped up for the day, make sure you plan a trip outside of town to see Devils Tower or Keyhole State Park. Whether you want to hike, camp, go horseback riding, or just enjoy the scenic drive, you will find yourself getting lost in the incredible views and natural environment that dominates Northeast Wyoming.

No visit to this former frontier region is complete without a stop into Elite Dining’s “Neighborhood Favorite”, Prime Rib Restaurant and Wine Cellar, where they have offered the finest hand-cut U.S.D.A. Choice steaks for over twenty years. Enjoy one of the private dining rooms, the 3500 bottle wine collection or your favorite sporting event in the Blue Martini Lounge.

Daily flights in and out of Gillette make it simple and convenient to enjoy this incredible destination. You can fly directly from Salt Lake City, Utah with Delta Air Lines or Denver, Colo. on United Airlines. Book your tickets today at www.Delta.com or www.United.com — and get ready for an unforgettable experience.

When SkyWest Airlines officially took over service at Falls International Airport on Dec. 15, 2012, travelers were promised “quality” and “reliable” service. And that’s exactly what they’ve gotten.

In the first month of service, every SkyWest-operated Delta Connection flight that took off from Fall International arrived at its destination: Brainerd, Minn. or Minneapolis. Not a simple undertaking when you consider the added challenges of recent winter storms and the busy holiday travel season.

How did we do it? With lots of coordination from dozens of different teams and, of course, great support from the community.

There are about 34 people involved with every flight from Falls International – from pilots and flight attendants, to customer service agents at the airport and maintenance professionals who keep the plane in top condition. So when SkyWest was notified in September 2012 that we would be able to start service in International Falls, we immediately began working with each workgroup to review potential challenges and to ensure everyone was ready for the new flights. This coordination process also extended to the airport as we began to finalize the logistics of the new flights and worked out details for launch day.

Today, that teamwork has continued to help ensure each SkyWest-operated flight remains on schedule. We look forward to even more success in the future, helping connect the International Falls community to destinations around the world. To book your next flight, make sure you visit www.Delta.com for the best fares

SkyWest Airlines has touched down in Rhinelander, Wis., home of the mythical Hodag, Rhinelander’s legendary woodland creature! With twice-daily Delta flights between Rhinelander Oneida County Airport (RHI) and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), Rhinelander passengers now have access to destinations world-wide, including exotic warmer climes of the Caribbean, Cancun and Miami.

Rhinelander visitors have access to a landscape rich in forest, lakes and trails. It is one of Wisconsin’s top winter destinations, offering outstanding snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing, as well as the best shopping and lodging in the Northwoods.

All of these activities and more are available during the exciting Lions Fisheree and Winter Festival this February 9th and 10th. This annual event is packed full of fun winter activities including ice fishing, a broomball tournament, snowshoe races and much more with events sure to please everyone in the family.

Rhinelander is also home to the legendary woodland creature, the Hodag. The mythical creature was created by Rhinelander pioneer and timber cruiser Gene Shepard in 1896. Although it originated as a hoax, the Hodag became a local legend and the symbol of the city. Many local businesses, as well as the Rhinelander High School sports teams, are named for the Hodag.

For those with discriminating pallets for upscale microbrews, the Rhinelander Brewing Company offers their original Export Lager and Craft Brews as unique as the Hodag. Stop by just about anywhere locally and try the wildly popular varieties from the Chocolate Bunny Stout to the Mystical Jack Traditional Ale.

Come join the fun in Hodag Country and make your winter travel plans by booking your flight today at www.delta.com!