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With oceans covering more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, there are still corners of the underwater world that have yet to be uncovered. Case in point: the discovery last week of an Australian coral reef so large that it’s taller than the Empire State Building. In a recent press release, the Schmidt Ocean Institute announced that its research vessel Falkor, which is currently on a yearlong mission of the oceans surrounding Australia, located a more than 1,640-foot-tall detached coral reef in the Great Barrier Reef....

The Best Cooling Bed Sheets for Comfortable Sleep All Summer Long Secondly, the cooling technology is pretty simple to activate, but you do need to follow a couple of steps to make it work: First, you need to douse the fabric of the product in water (the cooler the better). Then, once it’s completely soaked, wring the fabric out to remove excess water, and then snap it. After this, put it on however you want to, and you’ll feel the fabric cool down against your skin....

The American Queen Steamboat Company is expanding with voyages to Alaska and beyond, and consolidating its brands into a new umbrella company: American Queen Voyages. Under American Queen Voyages, the company will sail river cruises, lake, and ocean cruises, and new expedition voyages to Alaska and Central America starting next year, the company shared with Travel + Leisure. “Through a decade of transformation, American Queen Voyages has surged from the great American rivers to include lakes, ocean and expedition experiences,” Shawn Bierdz, the president of American Queen Voyages said in a statement provided to T+L....

One artist decided to pay tribute to the essential medical professionals who have put their lives on the line to save others in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. According to Artnet News, Cuban American artist Jorge Rodríguez-Gerada created a gigantic mural as a tribute to frontline workers in the parking lot of the Queens Museum in New York City. GreenPoint Innovations/Eduardo Amorim for Gerada Art The mural itself measures 20,000 square feet, taking up the entire parking lot, according to Artnet News....

The United Arab Emirates is about to get a whole lot more lush. In 2022, Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort will open its doors and welcome guest to the new Maldivian-inspired resort that will feature overwater villas. The hotel, destined by the global hospitality firm Wilson Associates, will come with 306 rooms and suites, along with a discovery and eco-learning center, a world-class wellness center, yoga studios, an outdoor swimming pool, kids’ club, signature spa, and meeting and events spaces....

Switzerland is turning a 500-passenger cruise ship into a floating vaccine distribution center able to vaccinate dozens of people every hour. The MS Thurgau had previously been used to ferry people across Lake Constance between cities on the Swiss and German side, but was sidelined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, it has been retrofitted to include two shot stations able to vaccinate 24 people each hour with the possibility to later expand, Reuters reported....

Mild climate and calm waters around Hilton Head Island’s flats, bays, and ocean make it idyllic to go on a private boat tour any time of the year. You can explore the coastline, watch the local wildlife, wave at animated dolphins, and soak in a glorious sunset. Sail along Calibogue Sound, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Intracoastal Waterway, and enjoy views of some of Hilton Head’s landmarks, such as Harbour Town Lighthouse, South Beach area, Daufuskie Island, and Baratara Island....

It’s beginning to look a lot like winter again at ski resorts across California as a storm dumped fresh powder on the Sierra Nevada mountains and Lake Tahoe, giving the spring ski season a much-needed boost. In total, the storm dropped more than 3 feet of snow over seven days on some area mountains, according to the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab. And it’s not done, with the lab predicting over the weekend that “more is on the way this week!...

More than 130 destinations are now classified under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s highest travel warning as the agency advises Americans to “avoid” traveling to those areas. The updated list reclassified seven more destinations under its “Level 4” warning: Armenia, Cuba, Israel, Japan, Libya, Oman, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The CDC recommends that anyone who does travel to a “Level 4” destination is “vaccinated and up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before travel,” but warns, “Even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, you may still be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19....

Dubai is the land of superlatives and over-the-top everything from the world’s tallest building to the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab — the world’s only seven-star hotel. And now new plans have been unveiled to build the city’s latest in unique accommodation options: a floating resort. According to Lonely Planet, the Sea Palace resort is being constructed by Seagate Shipyard, an Emirati ship-building company, and will eventually float through the waters near Dubai Marina....

I never thought I’d find myself missing the New York City subway, yearning for the day when I can stand sandwiched between fellow belligerent commuters, jolting back and forth to the motion of the train, and swiping my feet to safety as performers twist and flip to bombastic music in an attempt to grab the gaze of unfazed riders. After all, I spend as much time grumbling about the MTA (the delays!...

Even though the costs of tickets, parking, and Mickey-shaped snacks have been increasing at both Disney World and Disneyland, price hikes don’t have to derail your Disney vacation dreams. One-day Disneyland tickets will cost up to $154 this summer, a record high, but there are still plenty of ways you can save money on Disney vacations, both in California and Florida, from May through August. And with the addition of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on both coasts and the opening of Avenger’s Campus in California this summer, now is the perfect time to book your trip....

At Travel + Leisure, we’re dedicated to helping you find the absolute best products to meet your needs on the road and at home. The T+L Top Picks seal is awarded to items our editors have determined to be the best buys in their category. Many of us have been living in sweats for the past year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start dressing up again at any time, even if it’s just to stay at home....

Bourdain called himself an idiot for not visiting Croatia sooner, and you’ll feel like one too if you overlook the nearby charming island of Šolta. Roughly 10 miles from Split, it’s a speck of a place teeming with great food and natural beauty. You’ll find sleepy fishing villages, lazy beaches and outdoor activities, not to mention world-class Mediterranean seafood. “All year round is a great time to go,” says Julie Banning, a luxury travel advisor with Ovation Vacations in New York, who often plans day trips to Šolta....

As a chronological leader in the cohort of Baby Boomers who are now retired or thinking seriously about it, I’m happy to say that I have the resources and appetite for travel. Time is no longer a constraint, but there are others, of course. While I still have the energy to schlep through airports, carry my own luggage, and spend 12 hours strapped into an airplane seat, I have lost all desire to backpack through Europe or hitchhike across the United States....

Attending or hosting a large holiday gathering may be off the table this year, but that doesn’t mean you need to forgo tasty holiday delights altogether. And sbe, the iconic hospitality group, is here to prove it. This holiday season, sbe is inviting everyone to their virtual gatherings with four star-studded interactive cooking demonstrations that you can join right from home. The Taste of sbe events kick off Dec. 9 and will take place over the course of four consecutive nights....

Rideshare company Lyft is going electric this week with its new and improved e-bike. The electric bicycle, which Lyft spent two years developing, features an adaptive motor, built-in speaker system, and can ride for 60 miles on a single charge, the company shared with Travel + Leisure on Wednesday. The e-bike also has a built-in LCD screen that offers tutorials (for unlocking the bike, parking, and more), and an improved seat clamp makes it easier to adjust the bike to a rider’s height....

Words can wield an immense amount of power in the world. And soon, there will be a museum to celebrate the brilliant impact that words can have. According to the Washington Post, a new museum dedicated to words in all forms will open in Washington, D.C., in May 2020. Planet Word, founded and primarily funded by former public school teacher Ann Friedman, will be an immersive, experiential, and interactive museum “that will bring language to life,” the Washington Post reported....

Centuries after a sudden volcanic explosion destroyed the city of Pompeii, travelers to the area can learn about this legendary site, thanks to the reopening of its museum. Having suffered damage from a World War II bombing and 1980 earthquake, Pompeii’s museum — known as the Antiquarium — closed its doors for decades. Now, it has reopened with impressive artifacts, teaching visitors about life in this ancient Roman city. Antiquarium gives Pompeii a permanent exhibition space, where visitors can see sections of frescoed walls from the city’s excavated villas, examples of some of the graffiti unearthed by archaeologists, and a variety of household objects such as silver spoons, the Associated Press reports....

Believe it or not, November has arrived, and temperatures are dropping quickly. In other words, winter hibernation starts now — and so does shopping for cozy things to cuddle up with. Slippers are key for keeping warm while spending time at home, whether working or relaxing, but with daily use comes inevitable wear and tear, so it’s no wonder that new slippers for the season often end up as holiday gifts....