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Renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Jerry Saltz once called museums “wormholes to other worlds.” And if we stick with this description, then we can assure you that there will be plenty of new and fascinating worlds to discover in the new year. And while the pandemic has been very challenging for cultural institutions — delaying new projects and affecting revenues — it has also shown us what an important role museums have in society, not just in educating the public but also in bringing people together....

American travelers can continue using their driver’s licenses to board domestic flights through Oct. 11, 2018. As the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attempts to roll out the REAL ID Act, confusion has ensued for many people at the airport. The act, meant to beef up security for ID cards at the state level, has become an avalanche of constantly changing deadlines. Last week, the DHS approved extensions for the final three states — New York, Louisiana, and Michigan — to continue accepting licenses as identification at the airport through the October 2018 deadline....

Amtrak is cutting service on several routes across the country over the coming months. This week, the company announced cuts on its long-haul service between New York and Florida starting July 6. Amtrak will only operate its Silver Star and Silver Meteor service from New York City to Miami three or four times a week instead of every day. The Silver Star and the Silver Meteor regularly take, respectively, 30 and 27 hours to complete their journeys....

Away, the luggage company that exploded onto the scene with versatile suitcases housing built-in chargers, dropped another bag bombshell yesterday: The Longitude and Latitude Totes. In a quest to takeover your travel lifestyle — whether the journey is near (your commute) or far (across the globe) — Away made its foray into everyday carryalls with its debut of the two minimalist designs, which are meant to keep you ready for any occasion....

Backstreet’s back, alright! To be more specific, they’re heading back to Las Vegas, as all five members of the Backstreet Boys are teaming up to bring a holiday-themed concert series to Sin City. Three years after their successful “Larger than Life” residency, the quintessential ’90s boy band will return to the Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino to launch “A Very Backstreet Christmas Party” on Nov. 11. Ethan Miller/Getty Images...

Editor’s Note: Travel might be complicated right now, but use our inspirational trip ideas to plan ahead for your next bucket list adventure. Protected by fresh-water lagoons and twisting, green mangroves, Banyan Tree Mayakoba’s secluded villas and suites — all with private pools — were made for social distancing before the term was part of our vocabulary. Saffron, the Mexican resort’s signature Thai restaurant, recently expanded to add romantic, candle-lit tables that sit alone on their own miniature docks under glowing trees....

If a European vacation isn’t in the cards for you this year, a visit to Williamsburg, Virginia could do the trick. At Busch Gardens Williamsburg, visitors are transported — by train, no less — through Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, and England. You can build a loaded baked potato at Ireland’s O’Tators before digging into a cannoli in Italy’s Marco Polo’s Marketplace. Then, head to Germany for OktoberZest, a show that promises to entertain with music and dancing that celebrates the German culture....

If your name is Elizabeth, you’re in for a treat. The town of Elizabeth City, located along the coast in North Carolina, where the Inner Banks meet the Outer Banks, is celebrating all its namesakes with the “Calling All Elizabeths” promotion that includes many sweet deals to entice visitors. The deals include discounts on accommodations, dining, and activities for travelers named Elizabeth and kicks off from Nov. 9 to Dec. 30, 2020....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the weekend classified cruising as a Level 4 —or very high — risk of contracting COVID-19, recommending people avoid getting on ships. “CDC recommends that all people avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide, because the risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high,” the agency wrote in its advisory. “It is especially important that people with an increased risk of severe illness avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises....

After seven months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of Madrid’s most famous flamenco spots are finally reopening to customers — albeit with an unusual modern twist to the traditional performance. Flamenco dancers in the capital of Spain are performing behind clear barriers to comply with new COVID-19 regulations, The Associated Press reported. OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images Torres Bermejas, a Moorish-style venue, was the first “tablao,” or flamenco venue, to reopen in Madrid last month....

There are plenty of components we usually consider when scouting out new travel shoes. They should be supportive, versatile, easy to pair multiple outfits with, and comfortable to walk in. Sustainability, however, is one component that’s too often overlooked. The sneaker manufacturing industry has a pretty large carbon footprint. Though in the past several years, new sustainable footwear brands like Allbirds and Rothy’s have made strides in the right direction. And now, Everlane is joining the game with an in-house sneaker brand that took two years to develop, Tread by Everlane, which officially launched Thursday with its first style, The Trainer....

Overwater bungalows are so 2017. Now, it’s all about the underwater experience. The Muraka, the world’s first undersea residence from Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, is now open. The residence allows guests to quite literally immerse themselves in an underwater world in the Indian Ocean. It will join the brand’s undersea restaurant, Ithaa, as yet another pioneering travel experience. Courtesy of Conrad Muraka — which means coral in Dhivehi, the language of Maldivians — is designed to blend into its undersea environment, allowing guests to become one with the vibrant and diverse ocean life surrounding them....

For those that spend their days dreaming about jetting off, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could have a dream job opportunity. They are hiring 1,400 new air traffic controllers to ensure that planes take off and land safely. The FAA already employs more than 14,000 air traffic controllers, and is looking to train an additional 1,400 “in preparation for the new workforce.” Competition for the entry-level positions is going to be tough: The FAA expects more than 25,000 applications....

Many people have been stuck inside since March during the coronavirus pandemic, but that hasn’t altered their desire to travel. With so many places beginning to reopen, you might be wondering how you can swing a getaway safely while still social distancing. In short, planning your summer vacation is going to look very different this year. According to CNN, with the number of passengers going through security checkpoints at U.S. airports starting to rise again, many people might be asking is it safer to drive or fly?...

Move over, Fido — there’s a new top dog (name) in town. Chances are, you know someone who has adopted a new pet this year. At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, animal shelters across the country were emptied as people fostered and adopted canine companions to keep them company while staying home. Wondering what these pet parents named their newest family additions? BarkBox, a monthly dog toy and treat subscription, rounded up the 100 most popular dog names of 2020 based on their subscribers for Travel + Leisure....

When the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City closed to the public due to concerns over coronavirus, like many shuttered museums, they decided to keep their fans updated through social media — and did it by giving their head of security the job of managing their accounts. And to the pleasant surprise of Internet users everywhere, what we got was a wonderfully endearing journey as Tim, the new social media manager, navigated how to use Instagram and Twitter, signing each post with “thanks, Tim” and spelling out the word “hashtag,” rather than using the symbol....

What kind of traveler are you really? PROMTUR Panama, Panama’s destination marketing organization, is here to help you find out. In February, the company launched the “Discover Your Panama” campaign aimed at helping travelers discover the iconic experiences the Central American nation has to offer. With the campaign, the company also launched a quiz to help travelers find out just what kind of travel experiences they may love the most....

If you’ve been binging Netflix recently, you may have found a little show that begs the question, “Is love truly blind?” Depending on how you see the antics on this new reality show, your answer may be a resounding “no” or an enthusiastic “yes,” especially when you consider the ultra-luxurious Mexican resort that contestants get to go to in the show. Courtesy of Grand Velas Riviera Maya Love is Blind may be one of the best and worst dating reality shows in recent times, but that doesn’t make it any less addictive....

Anything dubbed “world’s largest” is sure to be over-the-top, but the $3.5 billion hotel under construction in Mecca is redefining extravagant. Dar Al-Handasah The Abraj Kudai, which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Finance, will feature 12 towers, 10,000 rooms, and upwards of 70 restaurants. That’s more dining options than many towns have. Dar Al-Handasah Entire floors of this 1.4 million square meter complex are to be dedicated to royal guests, and helipads will be added to sections of its roof....

We all need a drink right now — and it shows. The coronavirus has brought much of the world to a standstill, the United States included. All over the nation, life has shut down, including restaurants and stores and we love. However, ingenious people are figuring out ways to keep some sense of normalcy as we all wait this out in our individual homes. And that includes politicians loosening state restrictions on alcohol delivery....