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The COVID-19 pandemic may have halted society in its tracks, but it can’t stop the world turning — or sunflowers blooming. As summer begins its creep toward fall, fields of sunny yellow flowers are in full bloom across North Dakota, blanketing the state’s famous plains and prairies in the happiest color on the spectrum. Courtesy of North Dakota Tourism August marks the peak of North Dakota’s sunflower-growing season, and its late-summer fields in full bloom are a sight to behold thanks to the fact that the Peace Garden State is responsible for nearly 40 percent of all sunflowers in the United States....

Imagine this: It’s a late summer evening, and you’re sitting out on your patio enjoying a refreshing spritzer while taking in the nighttime August warmth. Suddenly, you hear a startling buzz, and before you know it, you spot itchy bumps on your ankle, legs, arms, and neck. If this sounds familiar to you, you’re not alone — summer and early fall are high times for insects and mosquitos that thrive in humid conditions, and bugs love to target humans as much as we love to enjoy the outdoors....

Since many of us will likely be spending the majority of this winter at home, there’s no better time to invest in clothing and accessories you can wear around the house. For me, that means a cozy bathrobe I can lounge in. Parachute’s Cloud Cotton Robe is the perfect year-round bathrobe, since it’s comfortably lightweight yet warm enough to make me feel like I’m at the spa, when I’m really just on my couch with a cup of tea and a spa-scented candle....

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, Puerto Rico shut down two of its airports, funneling everyone through San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. After a year of no commercial flights, the other two international airports on the island will reopen on April 1, the Associated Press reported. Both Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla and Mercedita International Airport in Ponce will start receiving commercial airline flights starting tomorrow. Safety measures, including infrared cameras, will be in place to monitor the spread of COVID-19, Puerto Rico Ports Authority’s Joel Pizá said on Tuesday....

Prepare for six more weeks of winter — with some time on the ski slopes. Legendary groundhog Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his snowy burrow early Tuesday and looked down only to see his shadow, predicting six more weeks of cold. The ceremony, which was held in Gobbler’s Knob outside Punxsutawney, Pa., was posted to YouTube as part of a virtual celebration and watched more than 100,000 times. “Punxsutawney Phil, the Seer of Seers, the Prognosticator of all Prognosticators, was awakened from his borrow at 7:25 am by his handler and friend, on this quite morning where few can attend,” Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s “inner circle” said during the ceremony....

If you’re heading to Walt Disney World this year to celebrate the world-famous theme park resort’s 50th anniversary, you might want to hop on Southwest Airlines to get there. Southwest Airlines, which is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, just unveiled a commemorative custom-designed plane to mark the occasion. The Boeing 737-700 is scheduled for service through March 2022 and can be tracked using tail number N954WN. Southwest Airlines and Walt Disney World Resort Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Both Iconic Brands with Commemorative Aircraft....

Saranac Waterfront Lodge, located in the heart of the Adirondack High Peaks in Saranac Lake, New York, wants your help in pampering a few deserving pups. On Aug. 26, which happens to be National Dog Day, the hotel is launching its new “Dogcations for Donations” program, which gives lodge guests an opportunity to directly impact the lives of the dogs housed at the region’s Tri-Lakes Humane Society. Courtesy of Saranac Waterfront Lodge...

Your kids can travel the world without leaving home. Many kids (and adults) are still staying home to help combat the spread of COVID-19. Since many schools are participating in virtual learning this year, kids, teachers, and parents are looking for ways to keep kids engaged and learn new things. Getty Images/Westend61 One of the most enriching things a kid can do is travel the world with them, but how does a kid learn more about travel and other cultures while they’re cooped up at home?...

We’ve already rounded up the best deals on luggage, comfortable shoes, and travel accessories, and now we’re showing you exactly which products the Travel + Leisure readers have been shopping for the most so far on Prime Day. The top 10 products T+L readers have bought so far on Prime Day 2021: BCozzy Chin Supporting Travel Pillow Danjor Linens Bedding Set Lifestraw Personal Water Filter Ostrich Go Travel Pillow Apple AirPods Pro Matein Travel Backpack Fairywell Electric Travel Toothbrush Derma-E Hydrating Face Mist Fire TV Stick Sony Noise-Cancelling Headphones After a year of social distancing at home, it seems our readers are gearing up to hit the skies once again, as both the BCozzy and Ostrich Go travel pillows made our top 10 list....

As a daughter of the soil, I might be biased — but in my opinion, there is no bad time to visit Trinidad and Tobago. There are simply more expensive times. Ticket prices ramp up in December for the holiday season and stay expensive through the winter. The days around Carnival, which usually falls in late February, are probably the most expensive of the calendar year. Don’t get me wrong — I truly miss the riotous, colorful Trini bacchanal....

The pandemic has heightened our appreciation for where we live, with many reconsidering their hometowns. Coupled with the flexibility of remote work and international borders slowly opening up, now might be the time to consider that relocation you’ve long dreamed of. To determine the ideal places to call home, U.K. finance site money.co.uk studied the best cities to move around the world in its Relocation Report, released this week. Austin came in first, thanks in part to its average temperature of 68....

You may be temporarily homebound, but thanks to today’s technology, that doesn’t mean you have to stop exploring. Despite coronavirus-related lockdowns, and the resulting closures of many national parks from sea to shining sea, lovers of the great outdoors can quench their thirst for wide open spaces by tuning in to one of the many cameras streaming live from inside the country’s parks. Why not plan a virtual trip to one of America’s most breathtaking natural treasures, Glacier National Park?...

When I hit my mid 20s, I suddenly developed insane acne like I’ve never had before. At the time, I was battling hormone imbalances and a range of chronic health issues, including ovarian cysts, which I suspect was why my skin decided to regress to puberty-level pimples. To course-correct, I tried to give my endocrine system a break by eliminating several standby products in my skincare routine in favor of things with more natural ingredients....

Uber Eats is waiving delivery fees for independent restaurants in an effort to promote business for those struggling while coronavirus continues to disrupt daily life. The food delivery service is also working to deliver free meals to more than 300,000 healthcare workers as part of their efforts, according to details of their initiative. Uber “We know the coming weeks will be challenging for many small business owners, and we want to help restaurants focus on food, not finances,” Janelle Sallenave, the head of Uber Eats for the U....

It’s safe to say things are understandably weird right now. As the world reacts to the COVID-19 pandemic, people across the planet are staying home, quarantining, and practicing social distancing as an effort to slow — and hopefully stop — the spread of coronavirus. Though staying home is totally necessary right now, it means many of us have found ourselves with a lot of time on our hands. If you’re struggling to figure out how to keep yourself occupied beyond your usual at-home hobbies of Netflix and chill, you’re not alone....

Editor’s Note: Those who choose to travel are strongly encouraged to check local government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before departure. Girls’ nights and girls’ getaways are fun. But wellness retreats for women are where fun meets transformation. The pandemic may have wiped last year’s retreat calendar clean, but it also helped create a growing need for a holistic holiday....

Air Tahiti Nui is the latest airline to receive its long-awaited Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets, and the airline showed off one of them in a preview at Los Angeles International Airport. Back in 2015, the French Polynesian airline placed an order for two Dreamliners with the option to lease another two, and the first one was delivered back in October. Since then, Air Tahiti Nui put the aircraft into service from its hub in Papeete to Los Angeles and Auckland three times weekly on each route....

Airbnb has been working hard to keep people’s wanderlust going strong while isolating at home. In April, Airbnb launched its new Online Experiences to allow would-be travelers to see the world right from their couch. These experiences includ everything from cooking and dancing classes around the world, to goat meet-and-greets in upstate New York. Now, the home sharing giant is back with an all-new slate of Online Experiences just in time for summer....

American Airlines made plans to cut dozens of routes throughout its network this week, including many that fly out of New York, the airline confirmed to Travel + Leisure. The carrier will slash 27 different routes both domestic and internationally, starting in January 2022. Of those, 18 pass through either John F. Kennedy International Airport or LaGuardia Airport. “Over the weekend, American optimized its flying schedule to better connect customers with the destinations most important to them,” an American Airlines spokesman told T+L....

Amtrak has been celebrating its 50th anniversary year in a big way. Not only did it kick off the year by opening the new Moynihan Train Hall in New York City, but it has also been launching various limited-time sales throughout the year. Now comes one of its best offers yet — 50,000 bonus points for those who sign up for an Amtrak Guest Rewards World credit card by Sept. 30, 2021, as long as they spend $2,500 on the card in the first 90 days....