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It was dark, the moon and a few muffled flashlights the only sources of light. I knelt down in the sand, hiking my dress up, and reached down to grab a soft egg the size of a ping-pong ball. I gently pulled it up and placed it next to a pile of others. It was near midnight and we were collecting the eggs from underneath an olive ridley sea turtle who had slowly dragged herself from the ocean to lay her eggs one recent fall evening on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, on the western coast of Mexico....

Rome is about to come to Texas this summer. After a successful stint in St. Louis and other cities around the U.S., Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition, is landing in San Antonio starting in June. The acclaimed touring exhibition offers an immersive experience that allows anyone to “visit” the famous Sistine Chapel without having to take an international flight to Italy. About 10,000 Texans already have their tickets for this thrilling exhibition....

Nothing can ruin a honeymoon like other people. Luckily, there are private islands. Turtle Island, located in the center of Fiji’s Yasawa archipelago, has become known as one of the country’s most exclusive retreats for honeymooners. Kama Catch Me Photography | Courtesy of Turtle Island There are only 14 villas on the island, rented out to couples, so there can only ever be a maximum of 28 guests across the 500 acres....

This article originally appeared on Money.com. Judy and James Franklin have discovered how to happily navigate the ebb and flow of life — through 56 years of marriage, in sickness and in health, this retired couple has sailed on approximately 100 cruises. The Franklins’ first cruise, in 1972, was a splurge for James, a private first class in the Army at the time, and Judy, then a nursing student. “The installment plan was very helpful when we were starting out, but at this time in our lives, we pay the cruise off when we book it,” says James, who goes by Jim....

UPDATE: Treefort Music Festival 2020 has been postponed to Sept. 23-27, 2020. All tickets purchased for March will be valid for the new September dates, but anyone who is not able to attend then can request a refund by contacting refunds@treefortmusicfest.com. The world is divided into two different types of people: those who live for music festivals, and those who loathe them. For the most part, I’ve fallen largely into the latter....

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has declared 23 species extinct, including America’s largest woodpecker and 11 species that hailed from Hawaii and Guam. The best-known of the species to have been declared extinct is the Ivory-billed woodpecker. It was America’s largest woodpecker and had been listed as endangered since 1967, although the last official sighting was in 1944. The Bachman’s warbler is also on the list and has been considered endangered since 1967....

If you’ve ever wanted to own a piece of travel history, now may be your chance. New York’s Waldorf Astoria is offering travel fans the chance to own a piece of the iconic hotel when it hosts an auction in October. The event, hosted by Kaminski Auctions, will be one of its most extensive of the year and includes more than 15,000 items available for bidding. Those items even include a few bobbles from the Royal Suite, which British royalty called their home away from home for decades....

As hotels cautiously reopen for the summer travel season, health and safety concerns are top of mind. Gifted with acres upon acres of land, sprawling luxury resorts — from wilderness retreats to private islands — provide plenty of space to feel comfortable without being crowded. And it’s these properties that are in an optimal position to lead the way. “Properties with fewer people and more space far away from cities are going to be big hits for travelers who are ready to hit the road again,” said John E....

Are you ready for spring? Astronomically-speaking, it begins on March 19. For many of us, the spring equinox — also called the March or vernal equinox — is merely a date on the calendar of little real-life significance. However, equinoxes and solstices are natural waymarkers in the year, and they remind us of the changing seasons, the wax and wane of the days, and of our own place in space....

Legrad was once a thriving town - so much of an urban center that it had the second-largest population in Croatian territory. But ever since the Austro-Hungarian empire collapsed in 1918, it has continued to suffer from depopulation over the course of the last century, Reuters reported. In response, the town has been luring in new residents with homes for just one Croatian kuna, or the equivalent of about 16 U....

Christmas is almost here, but it’s not too late to find the perfect gift for anyone on your holiday shopping list, thanks to last-minute shipping from some of our favorite brands and online stores. Whether you’re looking for a stocking stuffer or a show-stopping present, we have you covered. The Best Gift Ideas for Travelers As far as stocking stuffers go, you can also find tons of must-haves available to ship before Christmas, such as a Dior lipstick that comes in 43 stunning colors or a pair of cozy crew socks from Ugg, which you can shop for $18 at Nordstrom....

For travelers who frequently book rides on Amtrak — the largest passenger railroad service in the United States — there is no reason not to join Amtrak Guest Rewards. Amtrak’s loyalty program allows members to earn two points per dollar spent on every Amtrak trip (with a 100-point minimum). There’s a 25 percent bonus on points earned when members spend money on Business Class travel, and a 50 percent bonus on Acela First Class trips....

“Squid Game,” the Korean smash hit TV show following an intense high-stakes competition, has taken the world by storm. Since its release on Sept. 17, the drama has taken the no. 1. most-watched spot on Netflix — and now, the game is coming to life. The Korean Cultural Center in Abu Dhabi is hosting a real-life Squid Game this week. With a few crucial differences: winners won’t take home a $38 million jackpot and the losers are simply eliminated and become spectators....

Winter is about to get a whole lot sweeter this January when a Nutella-themed pop-up hotel opens in California’s Napa Valley. Hotella Nutella, the ultimate breakfast destination, will bring three Nutella superfans into a weekend filled to the brim with the beloved hazelnut spread. Guests who are lucky enough to snag a reservation at the exclusive hotel will have plenty of experiences including “Nutella-inspired hotel items and larger than life breakfast décor....

Alaska Airlines is making a bid to be the “Official Airline of Rescheduled Events” in their latest sale with fares for as low as $39 one-way to jumpstart people’s vacation plans. The sale, which lasts until Aug. 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT, includes $39 flights from Los Angeles to San Francisco and San Jose to San Diego, according to the airline. For those who want a more tropical getaway, you can fly to Maui from San Jose for only $99 each way, Portland to Kauai starting at $149 each way, and Seattle to Kona for $149 each way....

Australia will once again welcome tourists from around the world for the first time in nearly two years, setting an official opening date for later this month. Starting Feb. 21, Australia will allow all fully vaccinated travelers — including those from the United States — to enter the country for tourism. Travelers will have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR or rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours of their departure, Tourism Australia shared with Travel + Leisure....

Not all pools are created equal — and it’s fair to say that a pool in a castle that has appeared in a Lady Gaga music video is a step above the rest. You could spend your summer days relaxing at your local public pool — but if you’ve got the extra cash (and some luck) why not attend the California’s most exclusive pool party? The iconic Neptune Pool at California’s Hearst Castle is hosting four exclusive pool parties starting in July — and the public is invited....

As a busy, thirty-something constantly seeking the fountain of youth known as wrinkle-free and glowing skin, I’ve been perfecting my easy yet effective skincare routine for years. And it wasn’t effortless. I’ve spent countless hours hunting down anti-aging skincare products that actually work, and as a shopping editor, I have tried numerous serums, toners, cleansers, and moisturizers. However, one brand that’s consistently won me over to become a mainstay in my lineup?...

You’ve heard of goat yoga, but for those craving something with a bit more of an edge, why not try eagle skiing? A restaurant-slash-aviary in the French Alps is offering visitors the chance to ski down the slopes while an eagle follows them. Les Aigles du Léman is the brainchild of falconer Jacques-Olivier Travers, who hopes that by introducing people to the white-tailed eagle, Europe’s largest bird of prey, they’ll become passionate about the animal’s reintroduction to the wild....

Practicing social distancing and limiting excursions like grocery shopping means stocking up so you don’t run out of essentials like toilet paper and coffee, but for any culture fiend, the real travesty would be running out of books. While many bookstores have temporarily closed, there are still options for having new books delivered to your door (or e-reader). Now, just in time for World Book Day, hotels around the globe have opened up their private collections to transport you to faraway locales with destination-inspired stories....