The Atlantic City Air Show

Question: What has flight demonstrations that reach heights of 15,000 feet, jaw-dropping aerial acrobatics, spectacular formation flying, and world-renowned parachutists?

Answer: The Atlantic City Air Show via Charter Bus New Jersey!

And (if you really need more reasons to attend) here’s why the Atlantic City Air Show is worth checking out:

• The 2011 Atlantic City Air Show, “Thunder Over the Boardwalk”, will take place over the Atlantic City boardwalk on Wednesday, August 17th. There will be plenty to see, with initial flybys beginning at 10:30am and the final Thunderbird demonstration ending at 5:00pm. Plus, the whole show is free!

• For just $30 you can join the Flight Line Club. You’ll be privy to premium beach seating and a lá carte refreshments.

• There’s more than just Wednesday’s show. You won’t want to miss the “Atlantic City Salutes America’s Armed Forces Boardwalk Parade” that’s scheduled for Monday, August 15th. You’ll get to see military reps, marching bands, floats, and music by the New Orleans Brass Band and the Jersey Shore Rock & Roll Ensemble.

• And most importantly, there’s the slew of flight demonstrations that make the Atlantic City Air Show one of the best air shows around! There are demonstrations by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the U.S. Coast Gard Search & Rescue Demo, the low-flying Geico Skytypers, the multi-mission V-22 Osprey, and the Heavy Metal Jet Team (and much, much more).

Get to Atlantic City in style! The BusBank’s Bus Charters are professional, reliable, and the best value for top quality transportation.

The Great New York State Fair

Oh New York. We love this state for lots of reasons. Reasons like Broadway, fabulous museums, and a swinging nightlife. But one of the reasons we adore the Empire State is The Great New York State Fair and Charter Bus New York can take you there!

Ready to grab some friends, pack your bags, and head to the fair? Here’s why it’s worth the trip:

• Tickets are just $10 a day. Kids 12 and under get in free every day and youth 16 and under get in free on Fridays. Plus there are special Midway Ride-All-Day wristbands. For just $25, the wristband gives you access to the Midway and Kiddieland rides for 6 special days.

• Maroon 5 is gonna be there. And Gavin DeGraw. And Ce-Lo Green, Ne-Yo, Train, Journey, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Sara Bareilles, Selena Gomez and more. They’ll all be playing at the outdoor State Fair Grandstand with ticket prices ranging from $30 to $65. Plus, if you purchase a grandstand performance ticket then you also have full fair access for the rest of the day.

• There’s a slew of competitions that you’ll either want to enter or observe. Competitions for the best livestock, horses, 4-H, antique autos and tractors, flowers, dairy products, commercial wine, and talent.

• And of course, there’s special days for everyone. Gospel weekend, Dairy Day, Senior Citizen’s Day, Beef Day (complete with a grilling contest), Fire & Rescue Day, Veteran’s Day, Native American Day, and Student’s Day.

The best way to avoid the hassle of New York traffic is with The BusBank’s Charter Bus.Contact an account executive to plan your customized travel intinerary!

Must See Summer Music Festivals

Summer just isn’t summer without the right soundtrack. And if you’re tired of blasting last year’s remixes on your MP3 player, then it’s time to shake things up a bit! Sure, you can sit on your butt at home and watch the latest Youtube videos of your favorite artists…

…Or you could grab your friends and head on a charter bus to some of the must-see summer music festivals of the year! Here are 3 reasons why we think getting off your butt might be worth it:

1. The Montreal International Jazz Festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. June 30th through July 12th marks the 32nd year of the world’s largest jazz festival. Over 2 million music lovers will gather to listen to 3,000 artists from 30 different countries. Some of this year’s top performers are Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck, Esperanza Spalding, trumpeter Hugh Masekela, and saxophone player Wayne Shorter.

3. Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI. From June 29th – July 3rd and July 5th-10th, Summerfest musicians will rock out on 11 stages along Lake Michigan. It’s called “The World’s Largest Music Festival” and with good reason. Over 700 bands will perform and 800,000 to 1,000,000 people are expected to attend. This year’s headliners include Kanye West, Owl City, Anberlin, Kid Rock, Katy Perry, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Britney Spears, and more!

4. Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL. August 5th-7th is the weekend that you’ll want to be in Chicago! Lollapalooza used to be a roaming summer festival, but now is planted in the Windy City. With a range of music genres represented, Lollapalooza draws some of the top musical performers in the world. The 2011 line up includes Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Muse, Eminem, Deadmau5, and Cee Lo Green.

Did you see any of these Fests? OR do you need a ride? Cost-efficient group transportation is available! The BusBank’s Charter Bus Services are the most convenient and reliable way to travel.

Famous Botanical Gardens

Exotic flowers? Check. Rare foliage? Check. Cascading waterfalls, awe-inspiring views, and stunningly artistic landscapes? Check! Botanical Gardens are a premier destination for both botany know-it-alls and general tourists alike. And if you’re looking for a new destination that’s perfect for family reunions and group getaways, then a botanical garden trip may be just what you need!

Not sure which garden to visit? Utilize our Charter buses Check out these top picks:

• Denver Botanic Gardens. Mountain wildflowers, numerous educational classes (anyone up for botanical illustration lessons?), and impeccable grounds are what set the Denver Botanic Gardens apart. Not to mention there’s an outdoor amphitheater for summer concerts!
• San Fransisco Botanical Garden. Over 55 acres are covered in 75,000 types of plants. Plus, the San Fransisco Botanical Gardens are home to the renowned Redwood trail – a walking path dedicated to the largest trees in the world.
• Arnold Arboretum. Harvard University maintains the Arnold Arboretum – one of the oldest stateside arboretums. Located in Boston, the Arnold Arboretum specializes in plants from North America and eastern Asia.
• United States Botanic Garden. It’s officially cared for by the US Congress and is located right next to the Capitol. The US Botanic Garden is known for it’s butterfly garden, rose garden, and the spectacular First Ladies’ Water Garden.
• Chicago Botanic Gardens. More people head to the Chicago Botanic Gardens than any other US garden! Visitors come for the Chicago Botanic Gardens’ scientific research, educational programs, and 9,500 unique plant varieties.
• Montreal Botanic Garden. It’s one of the largest in the world and contains over 22,000 different species of plants. Make sure to check out the exquisite Japanese and Chinese gardens when you’re there.

Planning transportation for a botanical garden trip is simple – Just Charter a Bus!

Meet BusBank at Upcoming Conference on Team Travel

The BusBank will be attending the upcoming Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Sports Travel Conference in Indianapolis on July 21-22.  The Sports Conference is expected to have over 200 attendees in the various travel markets including professional and collegiate sports.

This is the second month in a row that The BusBank will be hitting the pavement for an event based around Team Travel as we are continually looking to keep ourselves knowledgeable about the specific needs of athletic teams.

Our National Sales Director, Andrew Ripani and our marketing director Brandon Dudley will both be on-site meeting with customers and taking part in the various learning sessions. Team travel is a major portion of The BusBank and they look forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones at the conference.

The BusBank has long provided Team Travel services based around the following important needs of teams.

• Safety – Our Operator Network is consistently updated and reviewed based upon FMCSA data, past performance on charters and customer feedback.
• Reliability – We understand that the team needs to be focused on the game and not dealing with transportation.
• Flexibility – We are able to accommodate last minute requests and changes.
• Value - We understand the importance of good pricing along with quality equipment to stay within tightening budgets.

If you are interested in hearing more about The BusBank Team Travel program or meeting us at the show, please do not hesitate to contact us at sports@busbank.com

Deluxe Motorcoach Brand: Prevost Car

We hope you enjoyed the previous installments in our Charter Bus types 101 series, when we discussed Motor Coach Industries. Now, we would like to introduce you to Prevost Car, another model of charter bus ideal for long distance travel.

Made by Volvo, Prevost Car is one of the more common deluxe motorcoaches on the road. Prevost Car was started 1924 when a Quebec cabinet maker was commissioned to build a wooden motorcoach body. By 1945, Prevost had moved out of the cabinet business and was devoted completely to building motorcoaches, introducing an all-metal body coach with a metal skeleton.

During the 1960’s Prevost Car expanded, building dealerships in the United States for the first time. Today, it is a leading maker of deluxe motor coaches  continually winning design awards for its groundbreaking motorcoach designs.  Prevost motorcoach models are typically used for entertainer or sleeper coaches; you can frequently see your favorite rock star touring the country in one of these customized entertainer coaches. Even if your trip is not as glamorous as that of a rock star, Prevost Car is a great option for your charter bus needs.

If you are interested in reserving a motorcoach, please don’t hesitate to get a quote.

Bus photo: courtesy of American Bus Association

Deluxe Motorcoach Brand: Motor Coach Industries

Deluxe motor coaches come in various makes and models similar to your car. Different manufacturers have different levels of features and amenities.  At The BusBank, we work with operators that have the various makes and models of buses available for charter.

One of the main manufacturers of deluxe motor coaches is Motor coach Industries (MCI).  Our operator network is filled with each of these types of motor coaches.  The sizes for these models vary from 45 passengers to 61 passenger buses. They each have the standard features such as TV/DVD, PA systems, high back reclining seats and restrooms.  Slight differences in styling are the major difference in deluxe motorcoach models.  Today, we will be discussing MCI and its models of charter buses.

A Winnipeg charter bus repair shop owner named Harry Zoltok formed the company under the name Fort Garry Motor Body and Paint Works Limited in 1933.  They were the first company to create a 40-foot coach and created the U.S. all-time best selling coach the MC-9.  MCI has its corporate headquarters in Schaumburg, IL along with plants and service centers across the United States and Canada. MCI parts are easily and readily available with the ability to reach the service centers throughout North America.

Please visit our website if you  interested in charter bus rental. We will be continuing to talk about the other makes and models of charter buses in upcoming posts.

Photo: Courtesy of American Bus Association