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California is full of clichés. Sandy beaches line the coast, the ocean waves dotted with surfers. Hollywood starlets wink from the red carpet. Hippies and tech moguls (somehow) coexist in the Bay Area. Even majestic Big Sur is a well-trod tourist destination. But there’s one corner of the state that gets little attention, and many residents prefer it that way. The northeast has been called California’s best-kept secret, a high-altitude treasure trove of federally preserved mountain ranges, lava beds, and desert....

The Maldives are famous for being one of the most expensive vacation destinations in the world. But the archipelago could get even more expensive in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. A statement from the Ministry of Tourism stated that the Republic of the Maldives is considering reopening to international tourism as early as July 1 — but it would come with some major rules and regulations. Mainly: visitors would be required to book vacations no shorter than 14 days....

You’ve made it through countless lockdowns, changing mandates, quarantines, testing, and vaccines. Now, it’s time to decide if you’re ready to reenter the world once again. Still feeling a little hesitant to be out and about? This new COVID-19 risk calculator could help. The MicroCOVID project released a new calculator that can “quantitatively estimate the COVID risk to you from your ordinary daily activities.” “We trawled the scientific literature for data about the likelihood of getting COVID from different situations, and combined the data into a model that people can use,” the scientists behind the project explain on their website....

As leisure travel trickles back across the U.S., there’s one thing it’s sure to bring with it: longer airport security lines. A growing number of U.S. travelers have taken to the skies in recent weeks, leading to long queues at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints. (The agency is actively recruiting another 6,000 screeners to help with the rebound in travel.) But passengers flying from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are getting a reprieve....

A historic train experience is making a comeback in Pennsylvania. In April, the East Broad Top Railroad (EBT) located in Orbisonia, within the rolling hills and farmlands of central Pennsylvania, will turn on its engines once again on May 6. Matthew Malkiewicz/Courtesy of The East Broad Top Railroad According to a statement provided to Travel + Leisure, the 150-year-old railroad is the only surviving three-foot gauge common carrier railroad east of the Rocky Mountains and is considered by the Smithsonian to be one of the best-preserved examples of 19th-century American narrow gauge railroads....

United Airlines is teaming up with Virgin Australia for a new codeshare partnership that will allow travelers to fly to more destinations on a single ticket. The new agreement will add to United’s current roster of direct flights to Australia, which it operates from San Francisco and Los Angeles to Sydney. The airline also plans to resume direct service to Melbourne later in 2022. Under the new partnership, United customers will be able to book flights to other Australian cities, including Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide....

“They’re staring at us because they’ve probably never seen a Black person in real life before.” That was just one of many hard truths my parents would have to explain to my siblings and me as we navigated our way through the world as Black travelers. This week, all eyes have been glued on America, as thousands of protestors from every state call for justice after the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, as well as equal opportunities for the Black community....

Waking up before dawn isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but we’re here to tell you that it is indeed worth it if you’re flying. That’s because booking the first flight of the day comes with some significant benefits. Although it may be annoying to miss out on precious sleep time, the earlier you get to the airport, the smoother your experience will be. According to data compiled by FiveThirtyEight, early morning flights are less likely to be delayed than those in the afternoon and evening....

Dreaming of trading in snow for sand? Your dreams may become a reality with this free trip to Puerto Rico. Between now and Feb. 8, the island’s official tourism website, Discover Puerto Rico is giving travelers the chance to win a 3-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico with roundtrip flights courtesy of JetBlue. The sprawling resort offers sweeping ocean views, a dreamy lagoon-style pool with a swim-up bar, tennis courts, and a golf course....

Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls has opened to vaccinated travelers as the country is eager to restart its tourism industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is in view of the realization that over 60% of the population in Victoria Falls has been vaccinated,” Zimbabwe’s Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said of the attraction’s opening, according to VOA News. “The lockdown measures, however, are being enforced throughout the country in order to curtail a surge under the third wave of COVID-19....

Embarking on a solo trip as a senior comes with its own set of challenges — and perks. Travel + Leisure turned to senior solo travel expert Janice Waugh of Solo Traveler World for insight into what not to do as a senior traveling solo. Thinking You’re Younger Than You Are Don’t overestimate your abilities — or underestimate your age. “It’s pretty common,” Waugh laughs. “When you hit about 40 or 50, you really think you’re about 10, 20 years younger than you actually are....

As wine clubs and wine subscription services continue to grow, there now seems to be one to suit every individual’s preferences and palate. While there are the grand, generalist clubs like Bright Cellars, Winc, and Nakedwines.com, there are a plethora of niche clubs that are tailored to very specific audiences. Since many of these companies are inspired by different wine regions, we’ve discovered there’s a type of wine membership not just for everyone, but also for every type of traveler....

Ukraine has been thrown into chaos as Russia continues its invasion of the country, and its citizens have borne the brunt, forced to flee or hide out in temporary shelters to avoid the attacks. As the conflict continues, the travel industry has reacted, canceling cruises and tours that included Russia on their itineraries. But the ongoing turmoil has devastated people around the world and left them feeling desperate for help....

A family in Australia who rescued a stray puppy in their backyard learned that he was actually an endangered dingo. “He was very laid back and happy to be picked up. Really just ever so cute, he was just a little floof,” veterinarian Rebekah Day, who was the first to care for the animal once it was rescued, told CNN The Australian Dingo Foundation heard about the pup and reached out to Day to take him into their care....

I am not ashamed to say that I count myself in the company of Bahamians who are beach snobs. How could I be anything else, living in a county where beautiful beaches are as common as ships in the harbor? I visited the coast on my first visit to Nice and found pebbles on the shoreline. Yes it was beautiful, but no, it was not a beach; at least, that’s what the beach-connoisseur part of my brain thinks....

Perhaps your resolution this year was to get out and travel more. But here we are, a few months into 2019, and you have yet to book a trip. It’s not because you’ve lost the motivation. It’s just that your wallet doesn’t seem to agree. Do not despair. We have all been there. While your travel budget might not have room for the grand tour around Asia or Australia you were dreaming of, 2019 could be the year that you discover and fall in love with a new and unexpected destination....

Copenhagen proves you don’t need mountains to create memorable mountain experiences. CopenHill, an adventure recreation site built on top of a clear power plant in the Danish capital, is planning to open a 279-foot artificial climbing wall it claims will be the world’s tallest. Complete with overhangs, the wall on its facade is designed to look and feel like a real mountain in the middle of the city. The higher you climb, the harder it gets, and ascending to the top will require more than just skill — appropriate certifications and a minimum age of 18 are necessary to make the trip....

For Peloton instructor Ally Love, perfecting her home decor this year became a form of self-care she didn’t know she needed. Teaming up with Lowes Home Improvement, the fitness and lifestyle guru sought out to spruce up her New York City space — a place she’d only use to sleep or “eat dinner certain nights” — and embrace her apartment in a time when staying home became the theme of the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic....

The restaurant appears out of nowhere. One moment you’re driving in a safari vehicle, scanning the scrubby, red-earth landscape of South Africa’s Kalahari Desert for aardvarks, pangolins, and wild dogs. The next, a chalky-white building appears under a boscia tree. A terrace juts out from the 100-year-old farmhouse, with tables draped in pressed white cloths and waiters with crystal glasses on silver trays. It’s as though you’ve stumbled upon a movie set....

Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, may still be figuring out how to leave their current roles as Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but it appears Meghan already has her plan B job lined up. According to The Times, Meghan has signed a deal with Disney to do a bit of voiceover work for an unnamed future project. However, the Duchess will not see a dime from the project, as she reportedly agreed to do the voiceover in exchange for a donation to the charity organization Elephants Without Borders....