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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. Destinations like Florida and Hawaii may be experiencing rises in COVID-19 cases, but that hasn’t stopped Americans from planning Labor Day vacations there, according to data released Thursday from travel organizing app TripIt from Concur. While cities in neither state can claim being the most popular destination for Labor Day flights — that honor belongs to Las Vegas — both Florida and Hawaii have seen a notable increase in flight bookings for the holiday weekend....

As time rolls on, it’s getting harder and harder for sneaker brands to truly wow the shoe shoppers of the world. A sneaker with a shock-absorbent sole? Been there. A pair with a water-resistant upper? Done that. But a light-as-air shoe made entirely from sustainable materials like bamboo and recycled plastic? Well, that’s something new. Brazil-based sneaker brand Cariuma produces comfy, supportive shoes that last, and they do it without harming the Earth....

A college student in Kentucky has invented a clever solution for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities in need of facemasks during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Those who rely on lip reading or ASL to communicate are often cut off from their source of communication when doctors and nurses don surgical masks,” Ashley Lawrence wrote on her GoFundMe page. “The solution seemed clear to me: just like there are fabric surgical masks being made, so too does there need to be masks made that are adapted for people who are deaf or hard of hearing....

Wuhan and the Hubei province — the original epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak — reported no new local cases of the virus on Thursday. “Today, we have seen the dawn after so many days of hard effort,” Jiao Yahui, a senior inspector at the National Health Commission, said, according to The Associated Press. Although this is a great feat, China as a whole still reported 34 new cases, which were all brought back by travelers who had gone abroad....

Tourism is on the rise in Croatia and there’s no wonder why. This beautiful Central European country along the Adriatic Sea was Travel + Leisure’s Reader’s Choice Destination of the Year in 2016 due to its gorgeous beaches, historical points of interest, picturesque national parks, and delicious food. And frankly, there’s no sign of the country’s popularity waning amongst international travelers after only a few short years. One of the crowning jewels of Croatia still has to be its Dalmatian Islands, one of the country’s four historical regions known for its pristine beaches, limestone cliffs, crystal clear waters, and beautiful vineyards and olive groves....

Delta Air Lines has teamed up with an artisan company out of Oaxaca, Mexico for their new sustainable amenity kits launched on Tuesday — a partnership that Travel + Leisure just so happened to have a hand in. After Someone Somewhere caught the eye of the airline’s director of supply chain management, Sam Sibble, thanks to the December 2020 issue of T+L, he reached out via LinkedIn in hopes to connect for a project....

In a matter of weeks, we’ve gone from a relative closeness to an immeasurable social distance. Yes, scientifically, it should be six feet. However, emotionally, it’s felt much greater. For now, medical experts say it’s best to avoid spending time in groups, going out to crowded spaces, and, of course, no more dining out in our favorite restaurants. However, there is one way people seem to be skirting the system: Drive-in movie theaters....

Tote bags are often a go-to for commuting, traveling, and everyday wear, but it can be hard to find one that’s stylish yet functional for a variety of uses. Luckily for shoppers, Cuyana, a Latinx- and women-owned brand that Meghan Markle also happens to love, just launched a sleek tote system with attachable accessories that will help you customize your perfect bag. The 15 Best Tote Bags for All Your Travel Needs...

Noma is often regarded as one of the world’s best and most influential restaurants in the world. It currently holds three Michelin stars; has topped the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list five times, most recently last year; and many of the chefs who have worked under René Redzepi have gone on to create successful businesses around the globe. Reservations to the award-winning establishment in Copenhagen are hard to come by, but those in New York City from May 16-20 may have a chance to meet the man behind the lauded establishment and taste his innovative creations....

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have canceled more sailings, becoming the latest cruise lines to be impacted by the recent omicron-led surge of COVID-19 cases. Celebrity Cruises, which is part of the Royal Caribbean Group, has delayed the return to service of its Celebrity Eclipse ship so the cruise line can “focus on our ships currently sailing in the Caribbean and our brand-new ship launching in April,” a company spokeswoman, confirmed to Travel + Leisure on Tuesday....

The Sunzel Bike Shorts are made from a soft, stretchy, and sweat-wicking blend of polyester and spandex that will move with you and keep you cool and comfy. They have a high-waisted fit and a wide, supportive waistband that won’t dig into your side, ensuring long-lasting comfort and a figure flattering look that will hug your curves. Plus, they have a deep slip pocket on either hip, providing space for keys, cards, and other small essentials....

As South Africa’s COVID-19 case numbers decline, the nation reopened its land borders on Monday, with at least 20 entry points now open to travelers from surrounding countries, the Associated Press reported. The hard-hit nation had previously closed off all its borders on Jan. 11, as the new 501Y.V2 variant, which was first detected there late last year, started spreading. Among the border posts now open are Lebombo with Mozambique, Beitbridge with Zimbabwe, as well as crossings to Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)....

Southwest Airlines canceled more than 2,000 flights over the weekend, and into Monday, blaming weather and air traffic control issues. The carrier canceled more than 800 flights on Saturday and more than 1,100 flights on Sunday, Reuters reported. The Sunday cancellations accounted for at least 30% of its scheduled flights. As of Monday morning, Southwest had canceled just over 340 flights, according to FlightAware.com. The widespread cancelations stranded passengers during the three-day weekend and resulted in hours-long wait times to talk to customer service representatives....

Long before he agreed to take over as host of the Late Show, Stephen Colbert was just another Charleston boy—swimming, fishing, and skateboarding down the quiet streets of what he recalls as a “sleepy Southern town.” Today, the South Carolina city is still one of his favorite vacation spots. Read on for Colbert’s down-home haunts. Stay: Growing up, Colbert helped his mother run a now-defunct B&B in their house in the South of Broad neighborhood....

Two days after the Eiffel Tower lit up with fireworks for Bastille Day, the Parisian icon is celebrating another kind of landmark. After a nine-month shutdown caused by the global pandemic, the popular attraction is welcoming visitors again today, July 16. This was the longest closure since World War II. The daily capacity for the 1,063-foot iron structure will be limited to 13,000 visitors, which is roughly half of its regular level, according to Agence France-Presse via France 24....

The National Park Service (NPS) recently released 2020 visitation statistics from its 400-plus parks. Though the numbers decreased by 28% — mostly due to temporary park closures and capacity limits for social distancing — the National Park System still garnered more than 237 million visitors. Blue Ridge Parkway, the longest linear park in the country, snagged the number one spot for most-visited NPS site of the year. Passing through 29 counties in Virginia and North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway saw more than 14 million visitors in 2020....

A very unusual relic from the Civil War called “The Hairy Eagle” is almost exactly what it sounds like, an eagle made from human hair. However, the name doesn’t let on that the hair used in the artifact is from a very famous head: President Abraham Lincoln. Sandy Roe/Photosat1020/Courtesy of Onondaga Historical Association “The first time I saw it, my jaw hit the floor,” Robert Searing, a curator at The Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) in Syracuse, NY, where the piece is on display, recently told Smithsonian Magazine....

Finding the perfect travel outfit can be difficult for anyone, but it can be especially hard for business travelers. If you have to head straight to a meeting or the office as soon as you land, your options are typically limited to either wearing a suit or some sort of uncomfortable professional outfit (that’ll inevitably get wrinkled throughout your journey), or wearing flight-appropriate clothes on the plane and having to rush to change in the airport bathroom as soon as you land....

The one-bedroom, one-bath property for two is a visual treat, which is no surprise since the homeowner is a successful Swiss photographer. Created out of ethically sourced 60-year-old naturally felled timbers, this architectural gem puts privacy and relaxation first. And with seamless indoor-outdoor integration, the elevated terrace leads into a secluded garden with a private pool. Other on-site amenities include a yoga deck, large comfy sofas, a fully equipped kitchen, and an elevated dining area with a view gazing over the forest canopy....

A brand new luxury hotel is the perfect destination for anyone who’s ever dreamed about living like an 18th-century French noble — and it’s less than an hour away from Paris. Adam Lynk/Courtesy of Hotel Château Hotel Château — located in the French Loire Valley — is a 45,000-square-foot hotel and the former home of Baron Jacques Pineau de Viennay, who entertained some of the greatest figures in European history at the time, including Voltaire, Mozart, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau....