In the early hours of a cool morning in October 2020, the Cardinal traced a creek through the outskirts of Cincinnati and lumbered into Union Terminal. The enormous and echoing train station was nearly deserted. For months, as death spread and the world watched desperately from homes, afraid to go outside and afraid to breathe, the Cardinal left Union Terminal at 1:41 a.m. as it always has. Courtesy of Rita Brooks...
Earlier this month, a 33-year-old visitor to Arkansas’s Crater of Diamonds State Park found the second-largest diamond in the park’s history. Kevin Kinard visited the park on Labor Day with some friends to sift through the diamond search area. For a few hours, he walked up and down the plowed rows and picked up anything that looked like a crystal. When their search was over, Kinard and his friends went to the park’s Diamond Discovery Center, where park staff identifies visitor finds and registers diamonds....
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opens March 4 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida, inviting guests to experience the world of Mickey and friends in the first-ever ride themed to Disney’s most iconic characters. Step into a Mickey short and take a ride on the Runamuck Railroad with Goofy as your conductor as you’re immersed in the world of the mouse that started it all. With a catchy theme song, inventive visual effects, and more hidden Mickeys than any other attraction, this ride is a new classic, perfect for all ages....
Some campers in Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park are being reminded of their trashy behavior during their visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site, located about 100 miles northeast of Bangkok. Government officials have packaged up the garbage they left behind and mailed it back to them — to stress the importance of not littering in the natural environment. The garbage, which appeared to include plastic beverage bottles and chip bags, was sent back to the campers with a note: “You have forgotten some of your belongings at Khao Yai National Park....
New Zealand is known for having breathtaking views and beautiful, natural spaces to explore. But as an environmental threat looms over some of the country’s most popular trails, some hikers are only adding to the problem. According to Lonely Planet, the New Zealand government has enforced some trail closures over the last few years to help control and eradicate a disease that is ravaging the unique kauri trees across the country....
The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt are about to get even more tourist-friendly. According to Lonely Planet, the country’s number one tourist attraction will be opening a brand-new cafe, restaurant, lounge, and visitors center soon. The new facility is part of a wider plan to renovate the 4,500 year old site. 9 Pyramids Lounge will be at the southern end of the Giza complex, Lonely Planet reported. Though the site is easily accessible to tourists, the Pyramids of Giza didn’t always seem like a luxurious place for relaxing in the middle of the desert, but the new lounge and visitors center looks like a good place to sit and refresh after seeing this wonder of the world....
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. St. Lucia is offering discounts up to 65% off for visitors looking to escape the winter weather. In a new promotion by the St. Lucia Tourism Authority — aptly titled, “It’s Time for St. Lucia” — travelers can find discounts and perks at hotels, resorts, and villas across the island for stays booked by March 20....
The Chrysler Building is an iconic part of New York City’s skyline, but right now, visitors can only see inside the lobby or sneak a bird’s-eye view from their flight in or out of the city. That might change after the building was sold earlier this month. The new owners, Aby Rosen’s RFR Holding LLC and Signa Holding GmbH, purchased the Art Deco-inspired skyscraper for $151 million and told Bloomberg that they would consider turning the building into a hotel....
When Taco Bell announced it was opening a pop-up hotel in Palm Springs, California, taco fanatics freaked out. Rightfully so, considering that the hotel is designed to “celebrate and pamper the world’s biggest fans of the fast-food chain,” as Travel + Leisure previously reported. Now Taco Bell has released important details of how Chalupa-lovers can actually book one of those nacho-cheesy hotel rooms (pun intended). Starting on Thursday, June 27 at 1 p....
If you simply cannot wait for the holidays to begin to give (or receive) gifts, you’re not alone. There’s something about the cozy glow of fireplaces and holiday lights around every corner that have many of us dreaming of Christmas morning weeks before the big day. So what better way to start celebrating early than with an advent calendar full of tiny presents? The Best Beauty Gifts You Can Buy at Nordstrom Right Now...
Tucked away in Arashiyama, a small district located in the outskirts of Kyoto, travelers will find a hotel so in tune with its natural surroundings that it’s hard to know where the accommodation begins and Mother Nature ends. The Hoshinoya Kyoto is perhaps one of the most stunning hotels in the world, and it’s all thanks to its unwavering commitment to showcasing its gorgeous surroundings. Courtesy of Hoshinoya To get to the hotel guests must be willing to fully immerse themselves in nature from the get-go....
Yet again, TikTok has proved to us that we’re pretty much doing everything wrong — including how we sleep on planes. If you’ve ever been on a long-haul flight, you’ve probably tried to get some shut eye on the way to your destination. And, unless you were in a fancy, first class cabin with lie-flat seats, you probably had to find the perfect position to use your travel pillow. But what if we told you that we’ve all been wearing our travel pillows backwards?...
One of the most fun things to do in Tokyo is to visit the famous Tsukiji Fish Market first thing in the morning, so make time to catch a tuna auction and enjoy sushi for breakfast at nearby Nakaya Sushi or Daiwa Sushi. Go out on a limb and order the omakase, or chef’s choice, which guarantees the freshest, most seasonal seafood will end up on your table. If the day turns out clear, head to observation deck at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building: not only will you be dazzled by the sprawling metropolis, but you may even catch Mount Fuji’s silhouette in the early morning sun....
One company is giving Americans the opportunity to redefine what working remotely truly means. Starting today, Busch Light is taking reservations for its pop-up outdoor workspace in northern Colorado, called TreeWork, which promises all the conveniences of an indoor coworking space, minus the walls. Courtesy of Busch Light “Beyond the picturesque backdrop of the Colorado wilderness, amenities at TreeWork include a sleek and well-ventilated office space, powerful Wi-Fi, Busch Light happy hours, on-site grilling, and campfires....
Yosemite National Park will implement a reservation system to limit capacity this summer, reverting to a protocol the park used to manage crowds throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Park goers will need to make day-use reservations to enter the park starting May 21, the National Parks Service said on Thursday, including annual and lifetime pass holders. Each reservation will be valid for one vehicle for three days. “The temporary day-use reservation system will allow the park to manage visitation levels to reduce risks associated with exposure to COVID-19,” the NPS wrote in a statement....
The age of social distancing has created a very unique experience at hotels all over the world — if you can afford it. Jumping on the bandwagon of resorts offering people exclusive access to their luxury hotels, some even going so far as to give people their own private island for a few nights, the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa has two new packages that allow you to have the entire resort (or most of the resort) to yourself....
Now is your chance to win a quick getaway — as long as you can travel light. Do you think you can spend two nights in Philadelphia with only the clothes on your back and a fanny pack? If you’re one of those non-fussy travelers who are happy with nothing but a toothbrush, you could win a short summer getaway with Visit Philadelphia’s “Pack Light. Plan Big” giveaway. Beginning today through Aug....
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. A road trip is a classic American vacation, but it takes planning to make it great. We’ve rounded up some of the best family road trips around the United States, ranging from quick, single-day jaunts to worthwhile journeys that can take over a week....
Amsterdam’s famous city center red light district’s days could be numbered. Amsterdam’s mayor has proposed closing down city center brothels and relocating the area’s nearly 200 workers. The local government is proposing moving sex workers to a purpose-built “erotic center” outside of the heart of the city, but the union for red light district window workers, Red Light United, says most women don’t want to leave the city center. Amsterdam’s red light district occupies a collection of narrow streets in the heart of the city near the central train station....
The Bali Tourism Ministry announced Sunday that in accordance with its three-phased reopening plan, the destination will welcome tourists back in September. As their reopening plan starts on July 9 by easing up on local restrictions, over a thousand people attended a sacred ceremony, Yadnya Pamahayu Jagat, also on Sunday, to ask for “permission, blessing, guidance, and protection” as Bali phases back into “normal life,” Reuters reported. In a press release, the tourism ministry explained that after locals are permitted to travel on July 9, travel rights will be extended to all Indonesians on July 31, and travelers from around the world will be able to return to Bali on September 11....
